Wearing of the Gray, No Mas

Looks like the KA's will wear Confederate uniforms no more:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100422/ap_on_re_us/us_old_south_fraternity_3. It was a peculiar institution, the tradition of KA chapters donning gray uniforms during their traditional Old South week each spring, and as the world has turned, it became increasingly a source of trouble for all concerned--I'm surprised they lasted this long, even in the Deep South and Texas where people don't like being told what to do by their more progressive betters.

I happen to be a KA and participated in many Old South celebrations long ago, wearing some fairly horrible costume rebel unis. The coeds loved LOVED Old South--even the ones who were ostensibly progressive politically--there were (and are) few women who in the cold light of day can turn their back on the opportunity to replicate Scarlett O'Hara and slip into a hoop skirt and the overall kit of a southern belle. They could be screaming their lungs out at a rally opposing US force abroad or whatever and if someone whispered into their ear, "Hey, your KA friend, Thad wants you to go to Old South" they would immediately sprint SPRINT back to the dorm to get going on assembling the belle gear. Fact.

In the old days, we didn't think much of the whole enterprise in terms of Old South offending anyone. Battle flags were flown--hell, we even hauled down the Stars and Stripes and ran up the Confederate colors at the administration building to announce our yearly "secession from the university." We just thought it was fun and didn't think that we were oppressing anyone or hurting their feelings. Now, those days are gone. Gone with the wind powered turbines and hybrid cars. Or, just plain gone.