To the Editor:
Diversity and understanding are cornerstones of any successful community, whether a nation, a town, a college, or a fraternity. As an institution, Sigma Phi Epsilon is committed to the pursuit of such ideals, and maintains a healthy and productive social and academic atmosphere. As brothers, we have come to understand and appreciate the uniqueness of each of our members, and with that understanding has come both trust and confidence.
With that trust to build on, Sig Ep has become a community whose members are comfortable discussing such sensitive and important topics as ethnicity, religion, and social or economic stature. These discussions can be and have been held with the reverence due such critical issues, but they can also be held lightheartedly, even mockingly -- never, however, has the sincerity of our concern for our brothers, or their heritages, been in doubt. Race is an important issue; about this there can be no question. But among friends, it can also be a topic for levity -- just as are our classes, our families, and our interactions with fellow students. Humor, shared among friends, can be as critical a component to social well-being as diversity. And sometimes, a joke can make the weightiest debates a bit more bearable.
However, it is important also to recognize that the comments in question were directed jokingly at a specific individual -- a valued member of Sig Ep's brotherhood -- whose history as a Cuban, outgoing nature, and national pride have left a significant and lasting impression on our community. Sig Ep is above all a community of friends, capable of trusting each other implicitly and comfortable in the knowledge that everyone is wholly accepted for who they are. The demographics of our membership prove beyond doubt that Sig Ep welcomes individuals of all backgrounds and personalities, all of whom have become important and trusted parts of our community. Comments made within the boundaries of such commitment should not be confused with everyday public announcements or broadcasts to the Dartmouth community at large. To do so would be to remove them from their proper context and to expose them to an audience for whom they were neither intended nor designed.
The Executive Committee of Sigma Phi Epsilon:
Andy Louis, President
Matt Blanchard, VP of Programming
Todd Piro, VP of Finance
Rob Courtney, VP of Brother Development
Aditya Beri, Social Chair
Ian Rose, Chaplain
Eric Wagner, House Manager
Greg Chittim, VP of Recruitment
Isaac Berniker, Secretary
Eun Sohn, Alumni Chair
Joe Fahs, IFC Representative
