Well, rush is over for the fall of 1993, and I couldn't be more relieved. I'm glad not so much because it is an exhausting experience, but because every year it seems to bring the worst out of Dartmouth students, just for a few days.
During the days of rush, it is remarkable how little respect anti-Greeks show their fellow students and how poorly they regard the intelligence of their fellow students.
I'm not talking about those (I apologize most sincerely for forgetting your name) who stand outside dining halls and attempt to engage students in informal dialogue about the pros and cons of the Greek system.
I'm referring to the "rush terrorists," people who self-righteously proclaim the evils of the Greek system and then retreat into the shadows to congratulate each other's heroism in anonymity. Specifically, I'm writing to respond to the crusaders who took it upon themselves to post fake rush notices all over campus in a clear effort to discredit Dartmouth's Greeks.
Let me offer my reasons why these people did more of a disservice to themselves than affiliated students.
First, the posters in question were fine examples of the author's razor-sharp wit, but really had nothing substantial to say. Because it hits closest to home, I thought I'd comment specifically to the Zete poster which read: "Rush Zete, where we don't let our drunken womanizing interfere with our sensitive guy image, or vice versa."
Aside from the fact that we do not purposefully cultivate this image and make no effort to uphold it, I don't know of any "drunken womanizing" going on in my house, which would be very hard to miss, considering the term "womanizing" refers to "pursuing women illicitly or excessively" and would seem to require a pattern of such behavior.
In other words, the accusation that the brothers of Zeta Psi engage in this behavior is plain wrong and is an insult to the organization that started Greeks Against Rape.
The comments made about the other houses were also, to the best of my knowledge, also completely unfounded. I find it disturbingly ironic that people who accuse the Greek system of fostering anti-intellectualism would take such a clearly non-intellectual tack in their fight to see us abolished.
I was also very angry at the cowardice of those responsible. These posters were unsigned and responsibility was unclaimed. If you're going to be a terrorist, at least do it right. If these people are so sure of their convictions, why don't they stand publicly behind them?
If this College is supposed to teach us to approach issues through dialogue, it is these people and not the Greeks who are holding back progress. We, at least, are prepared to talk.
I would urge all unaffiliated men and women to think and decide for themselves whether Greek life is for them. Talk to people from both sides of the debate and make an informed decision.
Whatever you do, don't cheat yourself by listening to mindless propaganda.
Ryan Victor is the president of Zeta Psi fraternity
