We would propose that the IRS begin sending letters to all Greek organizations putting them on notice that if they discriminate, their tax-exempt status will be revoked. They can retain their tax exemption if they demonstrate that they do not discriminate based on race. This provides Greek organizations with a choice. If they are willing to comply with the norms of society, then they can enjoy the benefit of their tax exemption. If they do not wish to conform, they can explicitly signal that desire by forgoing the public subsidy implicit in being exempt from taxation.
… [W]e should also leverage the universities’ tax exemptions. The time is long past for universities to condone — or, at best, turn a blind eye to — this type of behavior. If a university wants to ignore the discriminatory behavior, then it should also be required to clearly signal where it stands.
Not a problem for the frats. Just keep the system intact: The ME BIG BOY thing graduates American capitalism’s most successful predators. They can easily make up for the loss of the tax exemption.
As for the universities: A place for everything, and everything in its place. The absence of the tax exemption will reveal which universities the country’s corporate elite will want to consider.
March 15th, 2015 at 10:57AM
This will apply equally to the black fraternities and sororities, too? What about the numerous black student organizations? Or, for that matter, Hispanic, Asian, and other ethnic-related organizations that operate under a university’s umbrella? Women’s groups? I’m not sure that the good professors have quite thought through all of the implications.
As usual, in the end the lawyers will be the big winners.
March 15th, 2015 at 11:15AM
And what about the universities themselves, which discriminate based on race in their very admissions policies?
March 15th, 2015 at 9:11PM
This will apply equally to the black fraternities and sororities, too?
Of course. I believe historically black fraternities and sororities have been accepting students of all races for decades now. And at every university I’ve attended or worked for, students of all races could join the Black Student Union, La Raza, etc.
March 15th, 2015 at 11:52PM
That’s right Dr. MECHA allowed anyone to participate….
March 16th, 2015 at 7:22AM
@Dr_Doctorstein: at my graduate school, back in the palaeozoic era, not only did the BSM not have any non-black members, it was demanding a stand-alone, de-facto-segregated building for its own use. The admin realized how bad it would look and tried to persuade the leadership to accept a “multicultural center,” but the admin eventually caved.
@J. Remarque: Yes, it is laughable how virtually all institutions answer “No” to all of the questions concerning discrimination on Questions 5b-d on Schedule E of IRS form 990, while quite obviously doing the opposite in practice.