[erica812]

I was determined not to get involved in this particular thread. In an attempt to keep some sense of anonymity, I have refrained from commenting upon OnePlus69Is70's poor experience at UMass in past threads. But now I must speak up!

I realize that everyone's college experience is different. Obviously, people transfer in and out of every college and university all over the world at various points in their college careers. Just like individual fraternities and sororities, what is a perfect fit for one person may rub another the wrong way (sorry for the cliches). OnePlus said that UMass is "a terrible school on all counts." Come on! Just take a look at the list of professors in the English department. When I was accepted into the MFA/poetry program here at UMass, I cried with joy!! I was thrilled that out of hundreds of applicants, I was one of approximately 20 poets chosen to study with UMass's Pulitzer Prize winner. My husband passed up NYU to study with some the absolutely stellar faculty here.

I realize that the reputation of Greeks is suffering due to the misbehavior of some groups. I understand that the UMass Greek system isn't particularly well run. That is part of the reason that I am working to establish a community-based chapter of Beta Sigma Phi. I'm looking for the bonds of sisterhood, not the politics behind a weak Greek system. BUT... I know that UMass, like all institutions, has positive AND negative aspects. I hope that every person who is reading this thread realizes that OnePlus has had an unfortunately high number of bad experiences, and his perspective should not be construed as the whole picture.

OnePlus69Is70....please do not take this message as an attack against you or your views. I'm sure that many students (and staff) at UMass have similar opinions of UMass-Amherst, and I also have quite a few complaints myself. However, I felt that I must defend a place that has provided me with the one of the best post-graduate educations in poetry that this country can offer. I sincerely hope that you can make some happy memories before you graduate so that you can look back at these last few years of your life and NOT wonder why you wasted them. Until that happens, I think it IS important for you to make your opinions known. Without people like you to pinpoint the weaknesses and to offer suggestions for change, the Greek system and the school as a whole will never improve. Good luck in your efforts!

Erica

(edited because I'm a nut for correct punctuation. Hey...I teach freshman comp!)