To the Editor:
Yesterday, in a letter to the editor, an anonymous female student wrote: "Coming forward with the feelings and statements included in this letter, I am afraid."
I am that female student. I am one of the students involved in initiating the investigation of Zeta Psi fraternity's newsletters. And after careful consideration, I have decided to qualify my aforementioned confession of fear, as well as express my observations regarding the campus's response to the issue. The revelation of my identity, I realize, is necessary in achieving these ends.
Obviously, I feared the potential reaction of angry and surprised Zeta Psi brothers. If an organization seemingly promotes through these sex papers threatening activities (such as date rape) without provocation, what might it do with provocation?
But beyond the basic fear for my physical safety, I also feared the rest of the campus's reaction. Hoping to avoid the label of anti-Greek tattletale or vindictive "snatch" (to use Zeta Psi's favorite slang), I kept my identity secret.
Now, I address you again, but this time to apologize. I put far too little faith in some of you. Perhaps I projected the disappointment and betrayal Zeta Psi inspired within me onto my peers. That projection was unfair, and I am sorry.
I would like to thank the Dartmouth community for its amazing, heartfelt and profoundly thoughtful response to this issue. All around campus (following the initial shock), I heard productive, impassioned discussions about improving our lives and attitudes. I saw Dartmouth men and women mobilizing to plan events for the evening which would provide forums for discussion and expression.
Thank you, to everyone who spoke out yesterday. You have restored much of my faith in the strength of Dartmouth students. I wish only that this dialogue continues during the coming weeks and months. Working together, we can combat the hatred in our community.
What separates this issue from so many others within our Greek community is the type of response that we have the power to inspire. The actions of Zeta Psi are relatively inarguable: they are unilaterally offensive, and there is no debate over conflicting versions of the story. Freedom of speech? Come on, boys. If you are truly interested in legality, be aware that your right to free speech ends at exactly the point at which you libel someone in print or promote illegal sexual violence. And by attesting that acts described in the Sigma Report are untrue, Zeta Psi is admitting to libeling the women mentioned by first and last names.
In this case, there is documented evidence, and a fair judicial process has already begun. For once we can abandon the he said/she said banter and immediately begin to address the underlying issues: Are Zeta Psi's actions reflective of a larger gender relations problem within the Greek community? Within the entire Dartmouth community?
My answer to both of these questions is an emphatic -- yes!
The solution, however, does not have to be dissolving the entire Greek system. Instead it lies in a continuation of dialogue between affiliated and unaffiliated students alike, as well as a commitment on an individual level by all Greek students to stand up and say, when necessary: "Your actions are not acceptable in our community. If your organization fosters a mentality which threatens your peers, it will cease to exist." There is no longer any excuse for protecting an organization that serves only to weaken its peer organizations and threaten the greater Dartmouth community.
While I must still privately come to terms with my feelings of sadness and violation regarding Zeta Psi's institutionalized degradation of women, I am inspired by yesterday's Coed Fraternity Sorority Council and general student response, and I hope an environment of respect continues to be fostered.
