To the Editor:
I am in a fraternity, and I am also Greek. Rather, I am a first-generation Greek-American, since my father was born and raised in Thessaloniki, Greece.
I was walking down Webster Avenue yesterday and I noticed something written in chalk on the pavement: "Stop Greek Homophobia Now."
Now that's a change. Usually I get lots of annoying stereotypical jokes about sex with little boys. How can a country which is smaller than several states have offended the gay community at Dartmouth? I don't know of any recent Greek legislation banning homosexuals.
A recent report on diversity said that the "Greek" system at Dartmouth was detrimental to diversity. Well now, we're going to be more diverse by banning a whole ethnic group? When the College had "Greek week" did Thayer serve Gyros and Spanakopita? I think not!
My point is that all of you groups out there who are anti-"Greek" system are complete hypocrites. If you're going to refer to it as the "Greek" system, you offend me, all the Greeks at Dartmouth and the entire nation of Greece.
Just because some of the houses on campus happen to use Greek letters doesn't mean they have anything at all to do with Greece. The words fraternity and sorority are Latin! When I tried to explain the concept of a fraternity to my grandparents, it was a completely alien concept.
Let's face it, "Greek system" is an outdated concept. How can a college that nitpicks over the use of first-year student vs. freshman be so blatant in its abuse of an ethnic group?
The appropriate terms for all of you PC nuts out there is "CFS system" or at the very least "Greek Letter system," although I think some houses such as Bones Gate or Tabard might disagree with the latter designation.
If you're going to be PC and hate me because I'm in a fraternity, then at least tell me that you have a problem with my fraternal affiliation, not because my father is from a small country on the Aegean.
If you really want to get involved with Greek issues, you can read up on the debate over the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and its misuse of an ancient Greek name and symbol.
