Clashes w/in the Greek system

[AXJules]

This is an article published in Mizzou's Student news last week. It set off a HUGE amount of controversy- I have an opinion but I'm keeping it to myself.
What do you guys think?
Probs between NPHC and Panhellenic

I'll post it here too:

Greek Town Escapades
By Jenny Marinko

Late Saturday night, my roommate got a call from one of her fraternity friends informing her that there was a fight going on outside a fraternity in Greek Town. She got me up and we went to go see what was going on. The cops had already arrived by the time we had made our way over, but we were able to figure out what happened.

In addition this past weekend sorority members from NPHC ripped down philanthropy banners throughout Greek Town and basically paraded around looking ridiculous.

The first thing that happened with two fraternities fighting was not a real shock to me. I mean there are certain fraternities that hate each other and others that get into random fights, which has to be expected with over 20 fraternities on our campus. I was disturbed however, by the fact that sorority members drove to Greek Town just to cause problems. Not to be rude but in all honesty I know nothing about the national black sororities, so how the hell do they know anything about us? I still cannot believe they were tearing down philanthropy banners. What were they accomplishing?

I guess my biggest question is, “Why?” What do they have against our Greek community and what would provoke them enough to drive themselves down here?

Another reason why it caught me off guard was because I did not know that the national black sororities had a problem with our Greek community. In fact I was under the impression that relations had been improving but apparently I was mistaken. Another reason I found it weird is because in the three years I’ve been Greek, I have never really heard of members from NPHC coming to Greek Town just to tear it up. I really have not heard anything about NPHC. I don’t even know how many members belong to it on our campus.

Were they trying to send the Greek community a message that they are better than us or that we should look out for them? I’m sorry, but I’m not intimidated by a few torn sheets. Coming into Greek Town and ripping up stuff means the same to me as Kappa Kappa Kappa getting into a huge fight with Beta Beta Beta. Since I don’t know who they are it’s really not going to send any sort of message to me. I guess we are now in fourth grade tearing up the kid’s art projects that we don’t like. If they think they are better than us that’s great, because their little sorority does not affect my life 99 percent of the time.

I know there has been a lot of talk in the Greek community about getting NPHC involved with our activities. Personally, I really don’t want them to be involved with our events. I’m not saying this because of this past weekend’s escapades, but I feel that NPHC walks around like they are better than Panhellenic and IFC. Therefore, why would I want to include them on something Panhellenic and IFC participate in?

When sorority members from an organization I know nothing about vandalize something I have worked on in Greek Town, it makes me wonder what’s next. Are their letters going to be chalked down Richmond place or is NPHC going to protest outside Greek Week games?

Why don’t these sorority women stay in their little worlds and stay out of ours.

[Senusret I]

Not very well written.

Where are the facts?

[James]

Well, she is saying that the the banners got ripped down. Fair enough.

She is wondering why they would do that, also fair enough.

She is stating that she doesn't see the need to work closer with the NPHC groups. Also fair enough.

*shrug* seems ok to me.

The oddest thing is why she would get herself out of bed to rubber neck a fight. A bit of a voyeur.

[TSteven]

Frankly, and with all due respect to Ms. Marinko, she has not presented anything factual. Perhaps there is more known about this then she wrote. But since she did not let us know, that is poor journalism at best. Something that I would think Missouri - with their strong journalism school - would not tolerate.

Ms. Marinko wrote: "I was disturbed however, by the fact that sorority members drove to Greek Town just to cause problems. Not to be rude but in all honesty I know nothing about the national black sororities, so how the hell do they know anything about us?"

Along with "Why? What do they have against our Greek community and what would provoke them enough to drive themselves down here?"

Simply, what the heck are you talking about Ms. Marinko? If you have any journalistic integrity, then let us know.

Then there was this hit and run statement.

"Another reason why it caught me off guard was because I did not know that the national black sororities had a problem with our Greek community. In fact I was under the impression that relations had been improving but apparently I was mistaken. Another reason I found it weird is because in the three years I’ve been Greek, I have never really heard of members from NPHC coming to Greek Town just to tear it up. I really have not heard anything about NPHC. I don’t even know how many members belong to it on our campus."

While ignores is bliss, stupidity is not.

[veemers]

Originally posted by James
The oddest thing is why she would get herself out of bed to rubber neck a fight. A bit of a voyeur.

That's the first thing I was wondering, too. I'm confused by this article. Is she in a sorority and she wants "her kind" of sisters to be disjoint from NPHC?

I think she has a point in that she doesn't want disrespectful people to be a part of what she is involved with. I would feel the same way.

[AXJules]

Originally posted by TSteven
Frankly, and with all due respect to Ms. Marinko, she has not presented anything factual. Perhaps there is more known about this then she wrote. But since she did not let us know, that is poor journalism at best. Something that I would think Missouri - with their strong journalism school - would not tolerate.

I probably should have said- MU Student News isn't the official student paper on campus. The Maneater is our official paper and has a stronger journalistic discipline. Neither are associated with the J-School, though- Journalism students write for the TOWN paper, the Columbia Missourian.
FAB might be able to agree/disagree here, but in my opinion MU Student News is opinion oriented, whereas the Maneater actually provides the news.

Just wanted to clear that up- I'm very proud of our J school and didn't want this associated with that!

Also, NPHC is planning this huge rally in the center of campus this week, they've asked all of panhel and IFC to go in support. With the size of the paper and it's lack of visibility, I'm kind of surprised there's been this much controversy.

[James]

It did read like op/ed . . .

But still, if you boil her opinion down all she is concluding is that she doesn't see why NPc sororities should feel obligated or compelled to work closer with NPHC groups. I have no problem with that.

Jules do you have any more information on the Banner ripping and other sources of tension?

[LatinaAlumna]

Originally posted by Senusret I
Not very well written.

That was my first thought, too.

This whole story doesn't make a lot of sense. When a more detailed account is written, I'd like to see it.

[DolphinChicaDDD]

Originally posted by James
It did read like op/ed . . .

But still, if you boil her opinion down all she is concluding is that she doesn't see why NPc sororities should feel obligated or compelled to work closer with NPHC groups. I have no problem with that.

Jules do you have any more information on the Banner ripping and other sources of tension?

It wasn't an op/ed?? I thought it was.

I also agree with James on this one...I have no problem with the girl not wanting to feel like they HAVE to work closely with any other group. If your organization chooses to work with another org- awesome. If not, no one should make you.

[ISUKappa]

Originally posted by James
It did read like op/ed . . .

But still, if you boil her opinion down all she is concluding is that she doesn't see why NPc sororities should feel obligated or compelled to work closer with NPHC groups. I have no problem with that.

Jules do you have any more information on the Banner ripping and other sources of tension?

Agreed, felt it read more like a column. And that's what columns are--people's opinions.

[PKTKKG]

Originally posted by James
It did read like op/ed . . .

But still, if you boil her opinion down all she is concluding is that she doesn't see why NPc sororities should feel obligated or compelled to work closer with NPHC groups. I have no problem with that.

Jules do you have any more information on the Banner ripping and other sources of tension?

Perhaps working together on a project or other event would promote cooperation and understanding and prevent these types of things from occuring. I know at our school, we had a common Sorority Council where NPC and NPHC organizations are both represented, work together, and get to know one another. Most of the tension I've observed over the years has been between NPC groups and not between NPC and NPHC.

Just a thought.

[deuika]

This article was rather...BLAH
It read like an opinion piece, and if it was, that should have been stated somewhere on the page. This whole, "WHY" mess is cracking me up. She obviously dislikes the NPHC and that is her choice, so WHY is she asking WHY. I don't get that. If you dislike someone WHY are you surprised that they dislike you? Anywhoodles, I really hope the do something to work on Greek Unity on that campus, there are obviously problems deeper than some posters being ripped. It's sad really, Greeks yell unity all the time, well at least during Greek Week, and then turn right around and say "I really don’t want them to be involved with our events." I thought No Matter The Letter We're All Greek Together extended to all orgs, not just NPC/IFC. She says that she isn't concerned about their little sorority, I REALLY doubt they're concerned about hers. Petty and Asinine.
I'd advise her to invest in some grammar courses before going on a rant.

[Lady Pi Phi]

Poorly written article.

She accuses the NPHC groups of behaving like fourth graders. She is behaving like one her self. She doesn't want to partcipate in activites because they are are "being mean to her". That's pretty juvenille to me. Maybe if these groups actually bothered to take the time to get in contact with the NPHC groups, maybe things like this wouldn't happen. Same goes for the NPHC groups. They are on the same campus and they are all greeks. It's time to start behaving like adults.

Maybe the executives of all the groups on campus should get together and discuss their problems like mature adults.

I think this girl and her article are just perpetuatuing the problem. It's like well their mean to us so we'll be mean to them. She's definitly part of the problem.

[DeltAlum]

OK. We all agree it either is or sounds like an opinion piece and the paper isn't related to the J-School.

So my questions would be:

1) Is there a real controversy, or is it something this "rag" is promoting?

2) Is there more information available on the situation(s)?

3) What, if any, is the relationship between two fraternities getting in a fight and the alleged controversy between NPC and NPHC?

[PsiU_EN]

Well i would be pissed off if someone messed up my stuff. So what if they invited them to a huge rally, the organization involved should apologize and then ask them to do a joint project togther.