To the Editor:
I am writing in response to Dan Richman's column "Frats Must Change to Survive," (April 13, 1995). As a member of a Greek house and the Coed, Fraternity, Sorority Council, I think that we are all aware of the danger the Greek system faces. Yet I felt that the column was typical in the way it attacked the Greek houses for not doing enough.
Houses are not quietly sitting back and letting themselves be run off campus. The two years [I have spent] in my sorority have centered around encouraging the house to evolve with the membership and serve the Dartmouth community. Kappa Delta Epsilon Sorority implemented a program this past fall called the "New Woman Program" designed to enhance the development of the women in the house and to stimulate growth on this campus.
Contrary to Richman's opinion, we are trying to move with the times and accommodate all facets of our sisters' and the student body's interests. In choosing our programming we strive to break down the barriers so often encountered on the Dartmouth campus, and especially to provide support for women here.
The Greek system will become antiquated if it does not stay in synch with the attitudes and changes occurring on the Dartmouth campus, but we cannot be successful in our reforms until we are recognized for the positive contributions we make ... by the faculty and administration. The negative coverage the Greek system receives is a symptom of campus bias designed to weaken and discredit an outstanding representative of students at Dartmouth.
Greek leaders must practically beg to receive coverage for positive programming and philanthropy events, whereas the negative stories are front page news the next day. For example, the Greek awards that take place annually to recognize the achievements of the various houses are held "in secret" and they usually do not reach the ears of the student body and administration.
The most important thing to realize in this debate is that the Greek system is not out to destroy diversity, intellectualism and progress at Dartmouth. So many of the programming events and philanthropic endeavors focus on exactly these issues.
We are a vibrant community of motivated individuals with unlimited resources that give back to this campus if we are given a fair chance. The negative coverage we receive only embitters the community toward the Greek system and alienates the members.
The underlying problem is cohesion. This college desperately tries to encourage diversity while creating an atmosphere of unity, and the Greek system strives to help it in that goal. There is a house for everyone out there which students are never going to find if they are scared away from the system by negative press and attitudes.
In the meantime Greek houses are going to continue striving to accommodate the changing needs of the Dartmouth community. We will make the changes but we can not be successful if we are constantly being beaten down.
