OK all
I sent an email to NPC in hopes that they would respond to this guy's ridiculous comments, and lo and behold, we have the response. Here is what the NPC Chairwoman had to say!
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November 11, 2001
Mr. Thomas A. Lorz, Greek Liaison
UMC 420, Campus Box 207
University of Colorado
Boulder, CO 80309-0207
Dear Mr. Lorz:
I read your comments in the Rocky Mountain News with disappointment. As distressed as all of the National Panhellenic Conference groups are about the October 29 incident, it never occurred to us that a university representative would suggest that the women “used their powers over men” to obtain the use of the Fraternity house for this activity. I know that you have been in the Student Affairs field and at the University of Colorado for several years so this is not a comment that can be excused due to inexperience or naiveté.
It is true as you stated that alcohol cannot be consumed or stored on the property of women’s Fraternity houses. It is also true that the NPC groups represented on your campus each have a policy which prohibits them from having a co-sponsored social event at a Fraternity house unless that event is alcohol-free. This policy was put in place for many reasons but one of them was to prevent our women from using the men’s Fraternity houses as a means to obtain alcohol for underage members. Your comments don’t indicate any knowledge of this policy which, although new, is vigorously pursued. Successful implementation has been aided on some campuses where the Fraternity Sorority Advisor works closely with the women’s groups to assure compliance.
The women of the National Panhellenic Conference will continue to work with each other, with the North American Interfraternity Conference members, and with the members of the NASPA Fraternity Sorority (Network) Knowledge Community to change the alcohol-based culture on our campuses in North America. It would be heartening to think that all university representatives would support this effort. Suggesting that the Fraternity men are not able to think for themselves is an insult to the intelligence and strength of character of the men who attend the University of Colorado. I would think your undergraduates would find this attitude offensive.
I hope that you will be available to meet with the representatives of the women’s groups in Washington D.C. later this month. We are sincerely interested in changing the alcohol culture at the University of Colorado and will continue to work with the women and with you to minimize this kind of behavior in the future.
Sincerely,
Sally Grant, Chairman
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