A 'crazy idea' for a straights-only sorority at Smith goes viral

A Tumblr post from a Smith College student Thursday of an email she received calling for a straight-only sorority on campus quickly exploded through social media.

The post by Tumblr user aquietriotter on the Lipstick Feminists page

"So I have this crazy idea but tell me what you honestly think," the email begins. "I want to start a sorority at smith (Delta Gamma/DG), which would basically just be an exclusive group for straight girls, a little friend group." The student suggests "sorority mixers with Amherst men, weekly dinner dates, weekly photoshoots where we would dress up nice, baking nights" and "Sorority apparel (even Lily Pulitzer has the cutest DG stuff!)"

The unnamed student complained of feeling marginalized as a straight student at Smith -- a progressive women's college in Northampton, Mass. "I feel like the minority, and I think this could be a really great way to socialize with people we identify more with at smith, and to meet more guys."

The proposal met with wide derision as it began to wind its way through the blogosphere Friday after being picked up by Slate, Buzzfeed, Jezebel and other sites.

"Did this girl not know what she was getting herself into when she signed up for Smith?!?" one reader replied on Jezebel. "If she didn't feel marginalized before, she definitely will now—no way Smithies will stand for this attitude. I hope she's a first year and can transfer to UMass or Amherst."

It's been a bad week for sorority supporters.

The University of Alabama's halting steps to integrate its sororities lurched forward this week after a scathing student news story uncovered the role of alumnae in effectively barring black pledges. And a Delta Gamma sorority student at the University of Maryland penned a expletive-riddled primal scream at her "boring" sisters that also went viral, leading to her subsequent resignation.