[hoosier]

I think the first letter - from a Delt - continues the real sharp DTD response so far.

--------------------------------------------------------

Letters to the Editor

January 29, 2004


Daily coverage of Delt incident will hurt today's brothers, alums

A story in Tuesday's Daily about the suspension of Delta Tau Delta included serious allegations against both current and former members of the fraternity.

An anonymous Communication freshman, recounting an incident between her and a Delt pledge, said, "Some guy is supposed to have sex with the girl up in their library. I do know they have this tradition. I've heard they've done that to several girls in previous years."

Reporter Jerome C. Pandell then wrote that "the tradition took a strange turn" when 20 other fraternity members entered the room and refused to leave while three members took lewd photographs of her.

As told, the incident is no doubt abhorrent. But the story left the impression that the pledge was simply following a custom endorsed by fraternity members past and present.

That is not the case.

I will not deny that consensual sex took place in Delt's chapter room -- not library as reported -- while I was a student. The participants, however, were fulfilling their lust, not some crude fraternal ritual.

Let me be clear: I applaud The Daily for publishing the accuser's version of events, and for doing so anonymously to avoid resulting harassment. But printing an assertion -- based on unverified hearsay -- that the incident resulted from a "tradition" was irresponsible journalism._

In my view the culprits were those who barged into the room and took photos and, if he was in on the plan, the pledge who lured her upstairs. Now, thanks to The Daily, other current and recent Delt members, especially those on the job market, could well suffer from guilt by association.

Ben Winograd

Medill '03

Former Daily staff member

Delta Tau Delta member

Anonymous woman must look at own actions, not blame others

I was positively astonished by your article "Officials examine incident at Delt." I am a woman, I was at Delta Tau Delta that same night and I consider myself to be a strong proponent of women's rights, especially in cases of sexual harassment and sexual assault. Please keep that in mind when I express what I have to say.

The events stated by the female "who asked to remain nameless" are grossly exaggerated.

She says, "I just don't understand how these people were raised." I find it ironic that, at that time, she was engaged in sexual relations with a pledge on a mattress in a commons room that people trafficked in and out of during the night. Pictures should not have been taken, but perhaps she should reflect on her own immodest behavior before pointing fingers at other people.

She also seeks to inform us that this is a tradition. I am a senior and have known and respected the members of that house for the past four years. I might not know their national secret rituals and formal ceremonies, but I know their unofficial chapter traditions passed down from the seniors we looked up to when we first arrived on this campus.

To the freshman: Thank you for educating us of the traditions of this campus -- you must really have a rich knowledge from all the things you've learned over the past three months.

She also claims she wants to remain nameless. Apparently she does not understand how to handle this matter privately, because if she did she would never have granted an interview to The Daily. I would want to be careful about blaming-the-victim syndrome here, but I cannot seem to find the victim. I only see someone who participated in a consensual act in a public place and was caught.

Jacqueline G.

Weinberg senior