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I keep seeing the word "elitism" thrown into this discussion. Somebody please make me smart about this. Since the whole concept of "PC" has been reduced to the status of laughingstock in the real world what has this to do with anything? Greek houses, by the very fact that they are selective, are by definition elitist. Is this such a bad thing? I don't look down on independents or other Greeks, but I am damned proud of MY house. I am likewise proud to have graduated from a university that has somewhat tough admission standards and a good academic reputation. I am likewise proud to have served as an officer on active duty, to have earned an MA from a British University, to have been Master of my Masonic Lodge, and I am likewise proud to have gotten into law school and survived 1L, and I am 27 as of last birthday. I worked at summer jobs and part time jobs since I was in High School, I paid for my car, my spending money, and a good sized chunk of what I could not cover with scholarships. I am sure not going to apologise for this and while I think I have been very lucky I also think hard work had something to do with it. Does that make me elitist? If so, so be it. I honor those who strive and accomplish. I am less impressed by those who screw off for four years and accomplish little or nothing, are not selected for inclusion by their peers, and earn no honors. Sure, we all know some nice guys who fall through the cracks, and we know good guys who chose not to affiliate, but lets get real - elitism if meant to hurt and put down is just as out of place as hazing, but elitism as a sense of accomplishment brought by recognition of earned distinction can't be such a bad thing.
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