Making a Lot of Lemonade
Though Life May Have Soured for Pi Kappa Phi Members, Some Good Can Still Be Salvaged
By SAM KIM
Monday, July_18, 2005
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As most anyone can expect, I’ve had a lot of people ask me how I felt regarding the recent punishments that have been levied on my fraternity, Pi Kappa Phi. To them I can only say, “What do you think?” While it is a crushing blow to a fraternity that has given and taught me a lot, I’m glad that our existence here at Berkeley remains intact, albeit in a vague semblance of its original self
I guess the most frustrating aspect about the whole ordeal is the lack of transparency in the university investigation. The university conducted their investigation and punished us accordingly for what they believed we did; I have no objections with that. However, a part of me always wonders what the pledge (who, to the extent of my knowlege, was shot with an Airsoft gun, not a BB gun) told them and if the university simply took his word at face value and discredited those who testified on our behalf.
Furthermore, the oh-so-enjoyable media has created such a negative image of our fraternity that I don’t even bother trying to explain our side of the story anymore. While there were certain parts of the story that carry validity, other parts of the story were largely overexaggerated. For those who are willing to lend an ear, I would just like to clarify that this type of hazing that we were found guilty of is not any type of the norm for my fraternity.
When reading about what happened and formulating a horrid image of Pi Kappa Phi in your mind, ask yourself one question: “What self-respecting person would join a fraternity who shot him with an Airsoft gun numerous times?” That’s right, no one. Our membership of more than 30 people testifies to the fact that this is not something we practice regularly. I’m the first to admit that this incident should not have happened. Many members in our fraternity, including myself, were angered when they heard about what happened and appropriately rebuked those responsible. What happened was not right and I apologize to that pledge for having to endure it
I openly admit that we screwed up with the hazing, but the other violations that we were punished harshly for, throwing parties, is something I have a little trouble accepting. Throwing parties is what fraternities do, bottom line. In my time as Interfraternity Council Vice President for Risk Management, I’ve seen many fraternities punished for the same violation. I don’t necessarily feel that this is a problem that can solely be placed on the Greek community’s shoulders; the university has been less than responsive towards any attempt at changing the status quo. The current Greek Social Code (party handbook for those non-Greeks) forces fraternities to jump through hoops, plan months in advance, and pay thousands of dollars to throw a legal party. With this new moratorium, this further exemplifies the unwillingness of the university to work together with us, but rather press on with its own agenda.
I know exactly what many of you must be thinking: “Poor frat boys and sorority girls who can’t have their booze.” Let me be the first to say that I would have been thinking the same thing before I became Greek. The Greek community supplements a person’s college experience and develops a person in ways a classroom cannot. Being Greek has provided me with friends, opportunities for leadership, and exposure to a diverse group of people. Many of those who have had the biggest impact on me have been those I’ve met in the Greek community. Greek organizations do not only exist to party; we are organizations who pride ourselves on leadership, academic excellence and philanthropy. Just this past Relay for Life, the two teams who raised the most money were Greek affiliated. Moreover, my fraternity alone has raised over $30,000 this past year to help people with disabilities. So before you go discounting Greeks and labeling us as selfish, vain alcoholics, know that Greeks are normal college students—we like to have fun, yes, but we also do positive things for the community.
Although I am disappointed that I will no longer to be able to serve on IFC, I have the utmost confidence in the ability of the Interfrater-nity and Panhellenic councils to formulate proactive solutions to the perceived problems in the Greek community. To my knowledge, the IFC has already begun to work actively this summer to devise a multiple-pronged attack to the issues of hazing and alcohol. While it may be a slow process, I feel the university and the Greek community may finally be able to forge a collaborative relationship, rather than the adversarial one it has seemed to be up until this point.
A lot has happened during the past semester and while it has drained my time and energy, I would do it all over again. Yes, the continuous streams of phone calls from media outlets asking for comment not only regarding my house but also the moratorium were annoying to say the least, but I’ve learned a lot from these unenviable situations. With only a year left in college, I plan on enjoying the rest of my career here at UC Berkeley as a Pi Kapp and Greek, regardless of whether the university recognizes me or not.
Sam Kim is former vice president of the Interfraternity Council. Send comments to
opinion@dailycal.org.