FEBRUARY 26, 1987
- Collegian
PAGE 4
Greek Life brings friendship and family
This is my fourth attempt at writing a response to the depends upon what you put into it. This is true of Being there when your brothers or sisters need you
"Letter to the Editor" featured in the last edition of the everything, including Greek life. If, for example, a does not mean that you must give up your own identity.
Collegian. I'm sure you know the letter-it was the one member of the organization only attends parties, then It does not mean that you must give up your morals, old
that referred to all members of Greek life as "dregs of naturally that particular member knows of nothing but friends, or family. It does not mean that your life
society." parties. In order to know of other things, the member revolves around beer, parties, and the clothes you wear.
In my first three letters, I offered defenses to each one must attend meetings and other functions. Rather, it means that you have many new friends. It
"of the assertations made in that letter. But, I feel that To experience the fulfillment of promises pertaining means you have a new family to be there for you when
-people have a tendency to believe what they want to to sisterhood or brotherhood, one must first BE a your own is miles away. It means that you retain your
-believe, and all of the defenses in the world won't "sister" or "brother". In other words, one must take individuality, and add to it everyone else's in order to
change that. So, I decided to discard the others letters. the time to get to know everyone, and one must act like create a unique blend of friendship. It means you have
Instead, I would just like to offer a few thoughts on he or she .cares about the people. Let me rephrase that- someone to share things with. It means there's always
the matter. one must not just act, but really care. However, this is someone there to talk to. It means there's always so-
First of all, I'm sure that everyone has heard at one impossible if the person is never around. If you're there meone there to care.
-time or another that what you get out of something for your brothers or sisters, they'll be there for you. Yes, sometimes one does have to "play silly games in
the middle of the night outside in the cold". Those "sil
ly games" are called inductions, and that night is one of
the most important and memorable nights in a soon-to
be-full-fledged member's life. Anyone who had any
concern for their particular Greek organization would
be more than willing to suffer the cold in order to see the
look on a newly inducted member's face.
Individual development
stressed in Alpha Sigma
In April, the sisters of Alpha
Sigma Alpha are looking forward
to the installation of our colony to
chapter status in the national
organization. To achieve this status
we must fulfill established goals,
while closely following national
guidelines. These goals are geared
towards the development of our in
dividual members as well as the col
ony as a whole.
To become a chapter of a na
tional organization, such as ASA,
Epsilon Theta colony must meet
certain criteria. Alpha Sigma
Alpha promotes, reinforces, and
recognizes high scholarship. If a
member's or pledge's grades fall
below a 2.0, then she is excused
Criticisms to Sigma Theta Chi only
I would like to express my most criticisms were directed towards called Nazi, have threats made on ladies of Sigma Theta Chi have
sincere apologies to Kappa Delta Sigma Theta Chi; and to them, I my life, become a victim of obscene already proven my point.
Rho, Sigma Kappa nu, Alpha - make no apology. name calling, or discover cut-up Michelle Grasmick
Sigma Alpha, and all the other When I wrote the letter to the photos of my fiance and myself .
valid fraternities and sororities on editor, I of course, expected a pasted together in compromising" ( 6 ,e,e_ d (_,(,(,6 ,Y•-•f c „. c ., et e_,, ze _e
campuS. T intended no offense strong reaction by members of on- positions.
towards them in my previous letter % campus fraternities and sororities. I thought I would have'to defend
to the Collegian. My main However, I did not expect to be my opinions in this issue, but the Fourth Semester, Psychology
Spiteful attack on sorority
I am writing this letter - in
response to the article in the last
issue of the Collegian, written by
Michelle Grasmick. That article
was nothing more than a spiteful
attack on a "valid" organization,
of which she is no longer a
member. The organization under
fire in her article is Sigma Theta
Chi, a local Greek faction which is
very active in many areas that Miss
Grasmick is completely unaware
of.
The only invalid things in the
whole issue are her claims made in
the aforementioned article. Miss
Grasmick claims that Sigma Theta
Chi does nothing for the communi
ty and revolves solely around beer
and parties. She probably used the
fact that she only attended parties,
not meetings, while she was a
member, as the basis for the latter
claim. If she had attended any
meetings, she might have been
aware of Sigma Theta Chi's par
ticipation in charity benefits such
as the "Toys for Tots" campaign.
Of course, Miss Grasmick did not
participate in this or in any other
activities throughout the semester
(including inductions), therefore
leading to the termination of her
membership. As in any organiza
tion, one must participate and meet
the requirements in order to remain
active in the organization.
As the roommate of the article's
author, I can confirm the fact that
she did not uphold any of the pro
mises she made when she became a
sister. Michelle Grasmick never
knew the meaning of sisterhood
and therfore has no solid ground of
judgement on the matter. Sisters of
Sigma Theta Chi respect each
other, which she did not. Sisters to
not tear each other apart with
criticism which she did. Sisters do
not hate other sisters, which she ad
mitted to in the privacy of our
room. Furthermore, sisters show
interest in the sorority, which,
again, she did not. Thus, the deci
sion was rendered that we would
wear our letters proudly for a long
time to come. . . and she would
not.
This wise decision naturally
caused some resentment on her
part. However, anyone who
understands the real meaning of
Greek life and sisterhood can see
that her perceptions were incorrect
and could not be tolerated.
from chapter activities and tutored
until her grades are back up to
standard.
To ensure the girls do not limit
their talents or friendships, the
Contract for Chartering also re
quires the sisters to be involved in
other campus activities. You will
find ASA's involved in Choir,
ROTC, as Campus Tour Guides,
Cheerleaders, and in Departmental
Clubs.
Alpha Sigma Alpha's National
Policy Against Hazing is enforced
and closely monitored by the Na
tional Representatives, the
Membership Director, and the
Chapter Advisor. Right now our
membership consists entirely of
In closing, I would like to thank
Michelle for the one positive result
of her article. The accusations,
although directed at Sigma Theta
Chi, managed to offend all of the
Clearing some misconceptions
I would just like to start by say
ing that Michelle's letter dated Feb.
12, 1987 and titled "Priorities of
Greek Life Under Fire" must have
been a personal gripe directed
toward Sigma Theta Chi, or else
just written to cause discontent
among the Greek organizations
here at Behrend. Nonetheless, My
Grievance is that it wasn't only
directed toward Sigma Theta Chi,
but also at all Greeks as a whole. I
would like to clear up a few of her
misconceptions.
First of all, speaking for Kappa
Delta Rho and Alpha Sigma
Alpha, the two national organiza
tions, are strictly prohibited from
hazing. Page tweleve of Kappa
Delta Rho's Bi-law book states:
"Hazing is indicative of weakness
in a chapter's organization. If
memebers find it necessary to haze
in order to get pledges respect, they
`ain't doing something right! "'
I can't speak for Sigma Theta
Chi or Sigma Kappa Nu due to lack
of knoWledge of their constitu
tions, but our feeling is that hazing
is kid's stuff. I agree, carrying pad
dles or -wearing clothes backwards
isn't exactly normal, but is shows
Inter Greek Council formed
Unknown to most students, an
organization has just this past year
been founded which unites all
social Greek societies here at
Behrend College. This united
group is the Inter-Greek Council,
comprised of the four Greek social
organizations: Sigma Kappa Nu,
Kappa Delta Rho, Sigma Theta
Chi, and Alpha Sigma Alpha .
The Inter-Greek Council (IGC)
meets twice a month with the
presidents and two elected
representatives from each
organization to, discuss common
problems, inter-Greek relations,
promotion of common fund raisers
for charity, and the continuation
Alpha
pledges; we do not haze.
We are a unified group, con
sisting of diverse individuals, work
ing toward achieving the same goal
of induction to chapter status. We
believe national sororities offer
students the chance to become part
of something bigger than
themselves: a chance to develop in
dividual talents while working
closely with others who share the
same goals. As a national sorority,
we stand alone in what we offer
and ask the college community to
recognize our contributions.
The Sisters of Epsilon Theta
Colony
Greek factions on campus and, in
turn, caused us to unite•together to
fight, and eventually conquer,
narrow-minded opinions such as
Michelle's.
devotedness, not unlike wearing a
boy/girl friend's ring on .a chain
around your neck. What should be
considered hazing though? Are
athletes who are put through
vigorous physical conditioning be
ing hazed? Hazing is anything that
causes physical, mental, or sexual
abuse. Cearly that is not our intent
or policy.
In the paragraph dealing with
friendship, dues are not a price for
friendship, but for keeping the
organization, like any other, runn
ing. One doesn't lose identity. One
of the greateset feelings of pride in
my lifetime was my induction night
into Kappa Delta Rho. I felt a sense
of accomplishment and lifetime
friendship with many others, who
before me, joined for a common
cause.
Kappa Delta Rho policy is
scholarship before fraternity. My
G.P.A. rose to 3.06 during
pledgeship. It didn't decline.
As a member of _ the student
senate, I know the general consen
sus .of former Dean of of Student
Aftuirs Dohn Harshbarger and the
current Acting Dean of Student Af
fairs Art Costantino: The more
and betterment of Greek life here
at Behrend College.
This letter is in response to the
letter to the editor written concern
ing Greek life here at Behrend in
the February 12, 1987 edition of
the Behrend Collegian,
The members of the ICG have
discussed, in great detail, the ac
cusations made about Greek life in
the letter during our February 16,
1987 meeting. Though we are all
different organizations with dif
ferent pledging and membership re
quirements, we feel that as in
dividual groups our individual
policies and practices are just and
sound.
letters to the ed
Pledging takes time
Swallowing the basic repugnance
I felt regarding Michelle
Grasmick's viscious attack on
Greek Life in the last issue of the
Collegian, I would like to take the
opportunity to address some of the
charges that she has put forward.
Initially, I would like to recognize
the obvious fact that Ms. Grasmick
may have legitimate complaints
stemming from her extremely brief
tenure as a sister of Sigma Theta
Chi (a local Behrend sorority).
Whatever personal difficulties she
experienced is irrelevant to the fact
that her article was greatly misguid
ed if not libelous.
Crisi Clark
Fourth Semester, English
Greek organizations, the stronger
the campus. We don't only have
parties, but also service projects:
Valentine's Day Flower Sale, Car
washes, Dances, Bake Sales and
numerous other projects.
I'm sure I can speak for Kappa
Delta Rho, Sigma Kappa Nu,
Alpha Sigma Alpha and Sigma
Theta Chi in saying that I'm sorry
you, Michelle, felt the way you did
about all Greeks, but obviously, if
you felt your relationship with
Sigma Theta Chi wasn't worth it,
you weren't living up to your end
of it. You only get out of
something, what you put in. No
Greek organization makes a pledge
rush. An individal himself decides.
Fraternities and sororities owe a
rush nothing. We want the elite and
the best. If one doesn't match up,
it's the organization's choice not to
take him as a pledge.
Fraternally
i d tici,,",l
1, 5 - 14 4 msit44L 4
Michael Shanshala, Expansion
Secretary,
Kappa Delta Rho
Because Greek organizations are
made up of such individual
policies, we, the IGC, will not
answer the accusations directly. We
'will instead allow the various
members of our organizations to
speak for us. Though we may be
different organization we all share.
basic, common bonds and goals
and we hope the students of this
college will be able to see which
follow to disprove any accusations
made concerning Greek life.
John D. Fronko
P ident, Inter Greek Council
There always have been and always will be people
who weren't cut out for Greek life. Unfortunately, some
of those people join a fraternity or sorority, and later
harbor bad feelings toward the particular organization
which made the mistake of accepting them. It's just too
bad that these people openly show their resentment,
because anyone who knows anything about Greek life
finds the opinions humorous. And, in reality, the per
son is only hurting himself.
Fraternities and sororities are nationwide institutions
which have been in existence since the 1800's, and they
contain thousands of members. As memtioned, there
will always be those who are against Greek life. For
tunately, as proven in the past, Greek life will outlast
those few
Rossi
Fourth Semester, Accounting
Sigma Theta Chi sister
Ms. Grasmick states that not all
rushees will be deemed "worthy"
to pledge. This invokes images of
elitist groups of students handpick
ing future members of their ex
clusive cliques. While it is true that
all rushees may not be given a bid
to pledge her vision of this process
is completely askew. During rush
week certain functions such as din
ners and socials are held for the
purpose of introducing the rushees
to the members of the Greek
organizations. Rushees are after
wards evaluated on the two criteria
of attendance and enthusiasm. I
fail to see any maliscious intent in
this system.
Further charges put forward are
those of loss of individuality and a
drop in G.P.A. I'll not make the
false claim that pledging is not time
consuming. It takes a great amount
of effort and time. The fraternities
and sororities of Behrend recognize
. this and encourage, if-not organize,
group study sessions and strongly
empasize sufficient grades;
(students with a deficient G.P.A.
will not be given a bid to pledge).
To the accusation of loss of in
dividuality I can offer only that
there are two types of people who
join any organization. Those who
blend into the background and let
the organizaton dictate their views
and those who through their own
vitality and personality affect the
organization. In order for Greek
Life to flourish, we strongly prefer
the latter, and the belief that Greek
members tend to cut themselves off
from other clubs and organizations
is wildly inaccurate.
The most critical portion of Ms.
Grasmick's article was the accusa
tion of hazing. This is a tender
nerve in Greek society. I know per
sonally of no Greek organization
which advocates or condones haz
ing. As a pledge I was assured that
no such activity would take place
that was dangerous or degrading.
During my pledge period I was ask
ed to do no such acts. Greek
organizations in existance are cer
tainly the most zealous in the
eradication of hazing techniques.
The trials that a pledge will endure
are not simple. They are designed
to find the people who are willing
to put 100. of themselves into an
Letters to the Editor
intended for .
publication in the
next issue of the
Collegian
must be submitted
by 5:00 p.m. on
March 11, 1987
*All letters must be *
TYPED and SIGNED
or they will be rejected.
itor
organization and not turn around
and attack it due to personal feel
ings of animosity.
Ms. Grasmick contends that
students should avoid rushing a
Greek organization if they are
looking solely for companionship.
I heartily agree. It is much more
than a place to find companion
ship. Joining a fraternity or sorori
ty is an achievement that is earned.
It requires more than putting your
name on a piece of paper and atten
ding an occasional meeting. It is an
experience in which you will learn
more about yourself and others
than you ever knew. It is where
you'll work for the betterment of
something in which you can take
pride, and where you'll learn social
and leadership skills which in the
eyes of a prospective employer can
be as integral as a high G.P.A.
One needs only to ride down
fraternity row at main campus to
realize the awe and prestige that
fraternities can inspire. While
Behrend is only experienceing
Greek life in its humble beginnings,
it is important to realize that great
strides are being made as the
number and membership of Greek
organizations begins to grow. The
betterment of Behrend depends on
the students who have the will to
work towards something, to build
toward their goals: not on those
who pack their bags every Friday
afternoon and go home.
Robert E. Boyle
7e47 1
Sigma Kappa Nu
Mr. Boyle, thank you for a very
well constructed letter. I would like
to point out, however, that
"libelous" is not a word that
describes Michelle's letter. By
definition, libel is constituted by
any statement that damages a per
son by defaming his character or
reputation, damaging him in his
occupation or exposing him to•
public ridicule. Michelle's letter
was not printed as a news article
that constitutes only facts, but as
an opinion letter that appeared
under the page heading "Opi
nion". She is as entitled to her opi
nion as you are to yours.--ed.