[adduncan]

Get facts straight about Greek life

By Jasmine C. Marrero, CAS '04; VP of New Member Education, Sigma Kappa Sorority and Recording Secretar
After reading Richard Saunders letter on March 28, I was left very dismayed ("Union needs revolutionary slate," pg. 6). The "True 2" slate is not ignorant about Greek life, Mr. Saunders himself is.

First, "True 2" is not trying to get us more money. We don't receive any funding from the university. The money we use for events such as the Welcome Back BBQ are paid for by dues that each individual sorority and fraternity pays from their budgets. With funding from the university, we'd be more able to continue putting on events such as the Day of Service and The Welcome Back BBQ. I commend the "True 2" slate for seeing past our stereotypes and understanding our contribution to the Boston University community.

Secondly, Mr. Saunders is ignorant of the fact that Greeks were kicked off campus in the ’70s but were eventually allowed to return, and the Inter Fraternity-Sorority Council is now the largest student organization on campus. Did Mr. Saunders conveniently forget that we're one of the groups co-sponsoring this year's Dance Marathon? Not to mention all the other philanthropic projects that individual sororities and fraternities take on every semester.

And as for the "glorious Bacchanalian orgy of alcohol and Doric columns," this is just another unfair stereotype perpetuated against Greeks that doesn't deserve to be given a second thought. He also mentions that students chose to come here despite the lack of Greek life. First of all, there is Greek Life here, and though it may be different compared with that at large state schools, I wouldn't give it up for anything in the world. I would bet money on the fact that many of the Greeks here didn't come to BU with the intention of joining a fraternity or sorority. I know I didn't.

In conclusion, Mr. Saunders, if you have a problem with the Greek system here, that's your business, but next time do your homework before you go making weak arguments with no factual basis. A college senior should know better.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
'True 2' understands Greek life

By Shelby Ebert, SED '04; VP, Sigma Delta Tau
Mr. Saunders, I was wondering if you really go to Boston University, or if you just watch what goes on here from the little bubble you live in ("Union needs revolutionary slate," March 28, pg. 6). It concerns me that you are so behind in BU news; have you been quarantined or held captive for the past 20 years? If not, then you have no excuse to make such false comments regarding the Greek system or "True 2."

Though it is your belief that all that we do is drink, party and watch TV, you are sadly mistaken. If you can look around campus — yes, we were allowed back on campus nearly two decades ago — you will see all of the work the Greek system has done. Not only have we helped clean up BU, but we have raised money for battered women, AIDS research, cancer research, the soldiers' families that are impoverished ... need I say more? However, you continue to go on about your cable television and its importance. Well, Richard, cable TV is not actively helping the community raise money for causes, nor is it cleaning up the trash that covers the Charles River. And it is certainly is not dancing in the Dance Marathon, a Greek event for the BU community, not some all-Greek party. We, as a Greek community, have members who are active in student government, sports teams, mentoring programs, FYSOP and many more of the outlets BU has to offer.

So now can you see why "True 2" wants to give us money. It's because we are not lazy couch potatoes like yourself; we are actively making a difference. So stop your whining and recognize that "True 2" is capable of giving you your TV and giving us the money we ask for to help undo what people like you have caused. And just to let you know, Richard, if you took the time to read about "True 2," you would see that they want to bring educational cable into the residence halls. But then again, if you recognized that piece of their platform, you would have to be actively living on BU's campus, not in your bubble.