Greek life at Truman discriminates, is antithetical to University ideal
Issue date: 11/8/07 Section: Letters
I read with amazement Ellie Glenn's self-aggrandizing letter on the state of discrimination toward the Greek community at Truman. To speak plainly, I intend in this letter deliberately to offend Greek life.
To begin with, Greek life is antithetical to the model of the University. The University is a place where the inquiring, individual mind is free to make good-faith academic inquiry. Implicit in this experience is, of course, a social dynamic - one hopes students would seek companionship upon their intellectual journeys. However, when one introduces an inherently discriminatory, superficial and artificial aspect to this dynamic, the wholesomeness of the results becomes dubious.
It is farcical that Glenn would attack perceived discrimination when the groups she speaks on behalf of are inherently discriminatory in theory and practice. The theory of the fraternity or sorority, as I understand it, is to separate the "brothers" or "sisters" from the teeming masses - implicitly stating that the Sigma Kappas, or any other Greek organization members, are better than other people and more worthy of their members' time.
Furthermore, I bring Glenn's attention to the actions of the chapter of the Delta Zeta sorority at DePauw University (Ind.). The sorority evicted some 23 members supposedly because they were deemed not devoted enough to the sorority, according to the New York Times.
In reality, these 23 members represented every overweight and minority member of the chapter - philanthropic indeed. Even if the women in question were evicted because of lack of devotion, that mindset illustrates a general pack-mentality that is typical of the Greek community, which again flies in the face of the free nature of the University.
Granted, nothing on as flagrant a scale as this has happened on campus - at least as far as we know because the Greek system is notable for its ridiculous secrecy. Nevertheless, this is symptomatic of a larger Greek problem. Whatever service a fraternity or sorority has rendered to the University or the community at-large (which Glenn implicitly demands thanks for) is tainted by the discriminatory nature of Greek life.
What Glenn refers to as a lack of open-mindedness on the part of students in the humanities is, in reality, a dislike of the closed-mindedness that the Greek community perpetuates. Nobody denies Greek organization members their right to group themselves as they do. However, they possess no stable moral ground upon which to browbeat the rest of us for discrimination.
Perhaps the dissatisfaction Glenn exhibits actually is indignant surprise at not being treated with the sacrosanct respect that she might think she deserves by being a member of a Greek organization - although I admit that is just speculation on my part.
Robert Topping
Sophomore
To begin with, Greek life is antithetical to the model of the University. The University is a place where the inquiring, individual mind is free to make good-faith academic inquiry. Implicit in this experience is, of course, a social dynamic - one hopes students would seek companionship upon their intellectual journeys. However, when one introduces an inherently discriminatory, superficial and artificial aspect to this dynamic, the wholesomeness of the results becomes dubious.
It is farcical that Glenn would attack perceived discrimination when the groups she speaks on behalf of are inherently discriminatory in theory and practice. The theory of the fraternity or sorority, as I understand it, is to separate the "brothers" or "sisters" from the teeming masses - implicitly stating that the Sigma Kappas, or any other Greek organization members, are better than other people and more worthy of their members' time.
Furthermore, I bring Glenn's attention to the actions of the chapter of the Delta Zeta sorority at DePauw University (Ind.). The sorority evicted some 23 members supposedly because they were deemed not devoted enough to the sorority, according to the New York Times.
In reality, these 23 members represented every overweight and minority member of the chapter - philanthropic indeed. Even if the women in question were evicted because of lack of devotion, that mindset illustrates a general pack-mentality that is typical of the Greek community, which again flies in the face of the free nature of the University.
Granted, nothing on as flagrant a scale as this has happened on campus - at least as far as we know because the Greek system is notable for its ridiculous secrecy. Nevertheless, this is symptomatic of a larger Greek problem. Whatever service a fraternity or sorority has rendered to the University or the community at-large (which Glenn implicitly demands thanks for) is tainted by the discriminatory nature of Greek life.
What Glenn refers to as a lack of open-mindedness on the part of students in the humanities is, in reality, a dislike of the closed-mindedness that the Greek community perpetuates. Nobody denies Greek organization members their right to group themselves as they do. However, they possess no stable moral ground upon which to browbeat the rest of us for discrimination.
Perhaps the dissatisfaction Glenn exhibits actually is indignant surprise at not being treated with the sacrosanct respect that she might think she deserves by being a member of a Greek organization - although I admit that is just speculation on my part.
Robert Topping
Sophomore
Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 13
James Brill
posted 11/09/07 @ 9:49 AM CST
Robert may want to take another year or two of writing classes before he submits another letter. He appears to have use of the Thesaurus down. But he has no idea how to make a point. (Continued…)
Alumnus
posted 11/12/07 @ 12:18 PM CST
And if all you have is his writing style to attack, then you've already lost the argument. I think both sides have valid points, but Brill, you'll have to do better than that. (Continued…)
Jen
posted 11/12/07 @ 12:34 PM CST
I think Mr. Topping's argument is quite clear, and I'm sorry if it took you too long to read his letter. The fact that Mr. Topping sounds intelligent only strengthens his argument, in my opinion. (Continued…)
Former Truman Student
posted 11/12/07 @ 9:03 PM CST
I believe that petty bickering about grammar distracts from the true nature of the article. Mr. Topping feels that the Greek system is exclusive and counterproductive to the philanthropic activities that they provide. (Continued…)
Grant Dail
posted 11/13/07 @ 3:40 PM CST
Mr. Topping claims that Greeks are "Inherently discriminatory" in nature. This can't be further from the truth. True Greek organizations don't simply allow everyone to join but in no way are they discrimantory. (Continued…)
Alumnus
posted 11/15/07 @ 7:45 AM CST
Cole, you also didn't read the comments, did you? Again, if you have to attack the messenger or the style of the message rather than the core argument, you've already lost. (Continued…)
Ryan
posted 11/15/07 @ 10:54 AM CST
Holy cow you people need to calm down. Greek life here at Truman is just a way for us to enjoy ourselves when not in the classroom. People seem to blow this idea up like its some sort of society that is strung up on secrecy and ego. (Continued…)
Dustin Ralph
posted 11/15/07 @ 12:30 PM CST
Just a few questions: Are you, or have you ever been Greek? Regardless of this answer, how is it fair to make such pointed generalizations about a group as large and diverse as the Truman Greek Community? Their are going to be dysfunctional people in ANY organization, Greek or otherwise, so how is it fair to base such extreme judgements based on one's organization?
We're not rapists and murderers! Although some of our activities are considered morally wrong by some, we aren't evil. (Continued…)
Ryan
posted 11/15/07 @ 4:36 PM CST
Robert I had a question. What is your involvement in Greek Life? Or is this just a biased, cheap shot at Truman State Greeks? It's apparent your arguments have no factual integrity, but rather is just self-made speculation. (Continued…)
Daniel Glossenger
posted 11/15/07 @ 6:07 PM CST
Just to clarify a minor point in Ryan's original comment post: letters to the editor are not articles, and are not necessarily representative of the opinion of the staff or the Editorial Board. (Continued…)
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