Letter to the editor
 

The following is a letter to the editor in the Revielle-the LSU campus newspaper. On first glance, it seems really nit-picky and-well just silly! Curious how others see it.
Seems like this person is just LOOKING for something to bash Greeks about.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Empty Greek section upsets football fan

If any of you were at the game Saturday, you may have noticed how empty the Greek section was after the first half. I personally was offended when I noticed this atrocity. There are many people who have been waiting many years to see a good coach with a team that can win games. For the first time, Matt Mauck was looking really good, and as a whole, the team played very well. So, maybe you can understand why I was mad to see a big hole in the stands. These people represent our school! They are supposed to be doing their part to help the community. Well, if they want to know how to help, I will tell them. For the next home game, donate all of your tickets to underprivileged kids or a charity. Those kids would love and appreciate being there more than most of you appreciate or love anything. Now, for the few of you who do stay the whole game, come and join us in the student section. We would love to have you!

*************
Senior — finance (I especialy LOVED this sentence "Those kids would love and appreciate being there more than most of you appreciate or love anything.")

I deleted the name. http://reveille.stumedia.lsu.edu/tod...nts/index.html

Well, that's...nice. :rolleyes: I'm sorry s/he feels that way.

I wasn't at the game so I can't speak for the LSU Greeks, but I personally find it really hard to believe that any students - Greeks or not - on a Southern campus would pass up the opportunity to watch their team play football. Usually, it's the students who can be counted on to sit through the entire game, regardless of inclement weather, how well their team is doing, etc.

I've been to many college football games in my day, and have yet to see large crowds of Greeks leaving early. (You can normally pick them out from the rest of the students because they're dressed up in badge attire and stand out from the jeans-wearing crowd.) So I'm having trouble picturing a mass exodus after LSU's first half.

It sounds like this kid just wants something to complain about. I suggest that he concentrate more on the game than on what people are doing in the stands. ;)

Sidenote: Concerning the kid's snide comment about inviting the Greeks who stayed to come sit in the student section: Is the Greek section actually separated from the general student section at LSU??? :confused: I've been to a lot of different campuses for games over the years, and have never noticed the Greeks being placed in a different area than the rest of the student body. All I've seen is that they tend to sit together in groups -- but not necessarily away from other students.

justamom,
Considering all of societies ills, this letter to the editor just seems silly.
He/She is really "reaching" to find something to complain about. But thank God we live in a place in which even this writer's petty complaints can be expressed.
violets

I'll nit-pick then:

Atrocity, from atrocious.

Main Entry: atro·cious
Pronunciation: &-'trO-sh&s
Function: adjective
Etymology: Latin atroc-, atrox gloomy, atrocious, from atr-, ater black + -oc-, -ox (akin to Greek Ops eye) -- more at EYE
Date: 1669
1 : extremely wicked, brutal, or cruel : BARBARIC
2 : APPALLING, HORRIFYING <the atrocious weapons of modern war>
3 a : utterly revolting : ABOMINABLE

Lets be realisitic. I find his choice of words to be inflamatory, and it makes him look like he cant clearly state his opinion.

To me something that is barabaric is the attacks on NY, and DC. THAT is barbaric, wicked, appaling, horrifying. Not an absence at a football game.

I won't say that I haven't seen something similar before, just not to this degree. I do notice BIG segregation between Greek and Non-Greek students. I've actually seen Greeks who rather rather associate with their greek RIVAL than a non-greek.
It bothered me most when I was a social greek, I felt that I couldn't have any associations outside the greek system. Anyways it's 100% unwritten.

Greeks at my school come late and leave early at many events given at our school! The logic behind it, I don't know.

However, like you all said, I think s/he overreacted. That in NO WAY was atrocious. Maybe rude, but nothing horrifying.

I was the game Saturday. (I have only missed 4 home games in the last 15 years!) Let me tell you, it wasn’t just the Greeks leaving. There were plenty of non-Greeks and non-students leaving too. As frustrating as it is, it happens. It has always been that if LSU is putting somebody away, the crowd starts to thin after half time. It’s sad. Our group is of the belief that the game ain’t over until the clock says 0:00. When the clock reaches 0:00, then and only then can you leave. As hard core as that may sound, we have friends who don’t leave the stadium until the band finishes.


Dzrose93 – The person was referring to reserved student seating but it’s still in the student section. You have to pay a premium. It is generally about $3 more per ticket then regular student tickets that are akin to general admission. Any student or student group whether it’s a fraternity, sorority, dorm buddies, law school or med school can purchase reserved seat tickets. (It’s nice to be able to go to the same seat week after week.) Fraternities are generally the largest purchasers of reserved seating. The Greeks are most noticeable because they dress up for the game. The standard attire for the gents is white shirt and ties with khakis. With several hundred clumped together, they do make their presence known. The reserved seating sections are assigned by lottery but there are certain criteria that have to be met too. The chief among them are grades. Generally, the group with the highest GPA moves the closest to the 50-yard line. Before hubby, I dated a guy whose fraternity had the highest GPA for a few years running. It was awesome to sit on the 40-yard line with chair backs! At least, that is the way it used to work.

lifesaver, I thought the terms used were overstated, to put it mildly, as well.

The only thing I know is that this year the Greeks did get block seating. How many tickets? No idea. Maybe if ThetaLove sees this she can respond. I just thought it was silly!

Maybe s/he didn't get a bid.

I want my own section.

aopirose! I didn't see your post-thanks for the fill in!

Agree with JustAMom. Perhaps we could hear from some LSU guys as to their take on this? I have only been to a couple of LSU games but I got the impression that Tiger fans are die-hard football fans and Tiger Greeks are right up there with the most dedicated. Also, I was under the impression that Tiger Greeks sat in the student seating block. Is that letter on the level?

AOII Rose,
Thanks for the info. I missed your comments while I was writing mine.
Is this a new trend? Leaving early when LSU is stomping someone flat I mean? My info is six or seven years old but the couple of times I was there I was very impressed by the absolute stay 'till the end loyalty of the students and fans in general.

Aopirose,

Thanks for the info about the seating! :)

Lifesaver,

As usual, I agree with you 110%! :D

Hey guys don’t get me wrong. Tiger Fans are some of the greatest in the world. I’m just saying that there is a certain segment (not particular to Greeks, students or otherwise) that does not stay until 0:00. The reasons are varied: inclement weather, the game is boring, they want to beat traffic, they want to beat the crowd to the clubs, the house has a band, etc… However, when blocks of people start leaving, it is noticeable. It begins as a trickle and then there are gaping holes by the middle of the 4th quarter. The stadium holds 91,000+ and I am in no way saying that the place becomes a ghost town.

Now if the game is good, hardly anyone leaves. A great example is when we beat Auburn with less then a minute. The crowd caused a ground tremor that registered on a seismograph across campus. Another was when we beat Florida and they were ranked #1 at the time. It was priceless to watch Steve Spurrier throw that visor on the ground. ;) :D :D

Oh, geez. This is what happens when bitter people with too much time on their hands have access to paper or a computer. :rolleyes:

I really don't see how staying until the end of a game is part of representing a school or serving the community. What does the writer do to serve the community, aside, of course, from writing snotty letters?

If this is the writer's biggest worry, I'd like to have his/her life. Really.

The joke going around the Ohio University campus for many years was that anyone who didn't leave after the band show (a very big deal) and halftime would be given a full ride scholarship.

Any nobody ever won one.

Things have been looking up for the Bobcats recently.

LOL! Amen to that! :D

Not a response to the letter, a resonse to the attitude of the letter!
http://reveille.stumedia.lsu.edu/tod...nts/index.html

Greeks benefit campus community
Often criticized system brings valuable assets to LSU


Jason Doré
Columnist

Being Greek is not considered the best thing in many social circles. Often we are seen as hard partiers who pay to have friends. This is just the beginning of the Greek misconceptions that permeate many campuses in America. Much of the blame for this reputation lies in the Greek community. We don’t always do the smartest things, and often, our shortcomings are broadcast across the country, which defines us. We also have Hollywood defining us with great movies such as “National Lampoon’s Animal House” and even MTV’s gross depiction of Greek life in “Sorority Life.”
But, the LSU Greek System brings much more than good parties to the table. It develops leaders, forms lifelong friendships and serves the community. LSU Greeks strive for excellence in all those areas. Many students recognize and see everyday the effects Greek students make on campus.
“One of the most important things to me is that students get involved and take ownership in a specific part of LSU,” said Student Government President Darrell Broussard, who is not a member of the Greek system. “The LSU Greek system gives students that chance from the day they step on campus in every aspect from service to leadership to fellowship.”
Greek students often are some of the most involved and active students on campus. The university would have a hard time holding many events successfully without Greeks attending and working long, hard hours. For example, many different activities are held Homecoming week. A few other student organizations, such as LSU Ambassadors and the Baptist Collegiate Ministry, participate, but they are dominated by Greek attendance and effort. I never participated in Homecoming activities until after joining a Greek organization and Homecoming week was one of my favorite weeks in the school year. This is just one of the many ways students show pride in the University and their organization.
Greeks also attend workshops and seminars throughout the school year. The skills they learn are apparent in their leadership development. LSU Greeks hold numerous leadership positions on campus, varying from Student Government members to Ambassadors, to the Golden Girls and LSU club soccer players.
“For students interested in developing their leadership potential, our Greek system provides numerous leadership development opportunities,” said Kevin Price, LSU dean of students said.
Some are aware Greeks are active in philanthropic events but probably don’t know to what extent. According to the LSU Greek Report Fall 2001/Spring 2002 Executive Summary, Greeks at LSU raised and donated more than $120,000 to various charities. The Executive Summary counts LSU Greeks as performing 38,000 hours of community service during the 2001-2002 school year.
One of the most important things students receive from the LSU Greek system is fellowship. Those involved experience brotherhood and sisterhood and make friends who last their entire lives. This especially benefits those who come to college not knowing many people. Many of my best friends are in my fraternity, and many of them I never would have known if I had not gone Greek.
Hopefully, you can see the LSU Greek system is far more than an excuse to party. It’s a group full of people who strive to be their best and while they’re at it, better their university. The nearly 14 percent of LSU’s population that is Greek should be proud and not ashamed to be Greek. I hope all members of the LSU community can appreciate the Greek system for what it adds to campus life and not focus on misconceived stereotypes.

Jason Doré

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