To the Editor:
Let Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity establish a chapter! After all, as David Rothenberg '08 points out, "being Jewish is different than belonging to other ethnicities, races, religions and nationalities." ("The Case for AEPi," May 8). We, as a diversity-loving institution, have an obligation to save this fragile culture, lest it be lost "if future generations stray too far from it." Next, I hope that Dartmouth will establish a sorority promoting Norwegian-American culture, tradition, beliefs and values, so that my distinctive cultural identity will not die out because of "assimilation." During the holiday season, there can be a feast between AEPi and my sorority, where latkes, lefse and lutefisk will be served for all members to enjoy! (Or not enjoy, in the case of lutefisk ...).
Just because my skin is the "majority" color and my faith the "majority" religion does not mean I'm not entitled to treasure my cultural heritage. Every culture that is brought to America resists assimilation. Rothenberg's argument, that AEPi is just like other fraternities in that it is technically all-inclusive but still self-segregating, is fundamentally flawed; we should not be striving for or supporting a self-segregating Greek system in the first place. Establishing one culture- and religious-based Greek house discriminates against other cultures and religions, because it establishes a specific culture or religion as more important to preserve than others.
