Help From GC?
 

Hello!

I'm from the Beta Omega chapter of Phi Sigma Sigma at Portland State University. Being a commuter campus, and in Portland where "independence" is stressed, many people are anti-Greek. That's fine, we deal with it and try our best to change people's minds. However, our student paper, The Vanguard, never prints any positive issues about us (though we send Press Releases) but instead choose to only print gossipy, negative issues. Please visit:

http://www.dailyvanguard.com/vnews/d...0?in_archive=1

and an additional article written about it at:

http://www.dailyvanguard.com/vnews/d...5?in_archive=1

Since we are a small Greek community here, we do send letters to the editor, but to no real avail. It would be great if you GCers wrote letters as well (you can do so on-line) about your take on the issue. Thanks so much!

Dixobunny

Mm. Some of the Greeks don't come off so good, either. If, as one commenter claimed, it is an internal issue not to be discussed, why do they trash the girl in next sentence?

There's only one way not to lose these media wars (notice I didn't say win), and that is to keep your mouth shut and your chin up high.

I would like to know how many of those people who railed against the Greeks for "giving alcohol to minors" had no problem drinking it when it was offered to them at a non-Greek house party, when they were minors. The law is the same whether it be a Greek group or Joe Blow.

If this is someone who was dating a brother and close to the rest of the guys, they have EVERY right to feel upset and betrayed if she just up and wrote a letter to their nationals, rather than trying to deal with it on a chapter level first.

Also, as far as asking the sisters not to go to KS, were they the only house serving under-21s illegally? If they weren't, and she had no problem with her sisters going to ABC or DEF fraternity where they were serving under-21s alcohol, it does make her look bitter and vindictive.

On the negative press...unfortunately newspapers (well all media for that matter) thrive on "gossip" stories. It means that more people will read what they write. We stuggle with that a lot at my campus.

As to how to get some positive press...def get everything good you do in a press release. If they still aren't printing it, maybe that is something to bring up with administration and your greek advisors. Their job is to help you succed and part of that comes with recognition.

Boo to your paper for no good articles:(
But keep at it...and use all your resources to help you get some positive press! Good Luck!

Buy advertising in the paper.

Media sometimes don't listen to reason... but they can be bribed:D

Excellent idea. Money is the one language that everyone understands. :D

Try a paid column. You could criticize the paper's gatekeeping practices in that.