The DZ National folks attempted to use an older version of PR spin that wraps a bunch of empty, jargon filled sentences around something that sounds vaguely like an apology, but isn’t one. The PROBLEM with that approach is that it was used, quite publicly, by a lot of previous PR teams at, for example, Enron, WorldComm, Adelphia, etc.

We have come to easily recognize this kind of doublespeak, and to recognize the kind of people who use it.

DZ has not only lost the PR battle, they are working hard to lose the PR war, which, given the nasty point of view they started with (I’ll call it the “Pretty Girls Only” approach), is completely fine with me. They way the DZ folks have handled this, clearly, the pretty girls at DZ national are pretty stupid too.

Isn’t that exactly what has caused the outrage? The public doesn’t want the diversity of the DePauw Delta Zeta House to be eliminated so it can be “liked” by the campus. It wants the diverse girls (size 12, size 6, black, white, gay, straight, bisexual, short pink hair, cute, ugly, sexy, sexless, theistic, atheistic, long blonde hair, brainy, dull, handicap, athletic, studious, virgins, sluts, math majors, nursing majors etc.) at the DePauw Delta Zeta House to be liked in all their beautiful diversity.

If National Delta Zeta’s business model (or the Greek System) cannot sustain that kind of diversity then that business what good is the business model to society?

Jessi, may know better – but it does not seem that the National Delta Zeta letter deals directly with this outrage and demands for diversity so much as a call to circle the wagons. I do not think this is a successful strategy or one that benefits society or the women of Delta Zeta or National Delta Zeta.

No, I do not know the DePauw campus; I have never been. My comment about shifting blame comes from a PR standpoint only. I’m sure the blame cannot be focused on one person or party in this situation. But, it is always weak crisis management to push the blame to someone else, point out that someone else was also at fault or try to create a smoke and mirrors environment for the press.

I was very happy, however, to see the nice note of apology on the home page of the Delta Zeta website today. I’m afraid it came a little too late, though.

Do you personally know the campus climate at DePauw? It was other students who nasty attitudes that drove the women to lose their motivation to recruit new members. They were up against a campus that told women, “Pledge anywhere but Delta Zeta.” That had to be discouraging. I’m not suprised they women gave up and voted to close their own chapter. But, if you’re not going to give up and recruit new members, you don’t get to live in the house. Alum status isn’t a snub. You’re a member for life. Members who limit themselves to only a college Greek experience are missing out on a lot of potential.

The didn’t decline comment to the NY Times. The times just chose not to use any of the answers they provided through an email interview.