A 19-year-old college student's commitment to the #FreetheNipple campaign has caused her to part ways with her sorority.According to PEOPLE, the issue arose after Lauren Forsythe shared a photo on Instagram in which she happily posed in a TaTa Top, a line of flesh-colored bikini tops that feature printed-on nipples. After she refused to remove the pic, she received an ultimatum from Phi Mu, who gave her two choices: resign voluntarily or face disciplinary action. In the end, the Belmont University student took a stand for the cause by choosing to leave the Greek organization.
"If I had taken the photo down it would have gone against everything I believe in," Lauren told PEOPLE. "I believe every man and women should have the choice to be shirtless."
In a statement to Cosmopolitan, the sorority offered a formal response to Lauren's resignation.
"When Lauren was a member of the Theta Chapter, the Chapter President asked Lauren to remove a photo from Instagram because it appeared in the photo that Lauren was topless. As a (then) member of Phi Mu, Lauren was held to the same expectations of all collegiate members in representing their chapter and the organization, including, from the Phi Mu Fraternity Policy on Human Dignity/Noble Womanhood: 'Members should emulate the highest standards of conduct at all times,'" the statement read.
The organization's focus "noble womanhood" is obviously misaligned with that of Lauren and the founders of The TaTa Top, who are clearly more focused on challenging social norms than conforming to them.
