To the Editor:
Joanna Patterson's article ("'Frat Free Friday' sparks discussion among Greeks," Feb. 20) was not only poorly researched but also failed to acknowledge the greater issues surrounding both the event and the "discussion" it created.
First and foremost, Patterson failed to speak with Sigma Delta sorority. Instead, she chose to refer to the night as "a backdoor maneuver to promote a party at Sigma Delt." While it appears this description was based off of comments made by fraternity members, that fact needed to be made clear. Also, the date for the open party was selected without knowledge or consideration of "Frat Free Friday." In addition, Sigma Delt was never asked by the Panhellenic Council for their consent to be included in its BlitzMail message promoting the event, nor was the sorority as an institution specifically associated in its planning.
Patterson also failed to address the central issue of whether "Frat Free Friday" is an effective idea. In the article, the event was portrayed as an effort against the fraternity system. Based on Andrew Bailey '06's comments, he suggested that the event was one to "[resent] fraternities." If the event had been publicized correctly, and thus had included fraternities with the planning and perhaps promoting of the event, this misunderstanding might not have occurred. In trying to make a statement about Dartmouth's social scene and its dynamics, one cannot be scared of "some retaliation from the fraternities," as Jimenez had said.
However, one must pay attention to the larger issue on campus. While fraternities do in fact tend to dominate the social scene, the whole Dartmouth Greek and College community must work together to help promote alternate social spaces and make designated female spaces an acceptable alternative. There are three local sororities on campus whose basements are open to play pong every night. And mind you, Mr. [Griffin] Gordon ['06], those members do in fact pay for their own beer. But, until these spaces are seen as an acceptable stop on the "social circuit" at all times, no Greek alternative to fraternities exists. These spaces cannot be considered such a polarizing alternative.
I applaud the efforts of the Panhellenic Council, however the way in which it carried out its publicity for the event was unclear, and thus misunderstood and ineffective. In addition, the Council lacked effective collaboration with the rest of the Dartmouth Greek community. The larger issues of the Dartmouth campus can only be addressed through campus-wide cooperation.
