Letters to the Editor

March 22, 2006

Battle of the Bake Sales

Bake sales offer good opportunities for people to raise money for a certain club or cause. However, a recent bake sale at Kutztown University by its College Republicans stirred up controversy. The “Affirmative Action Bake Sale,” as it was called, has been done across the nation on many campuses as a satire of affirmative action. Affirmative Action is the policy where “underrepresented” women and minorities are given special preferences in job hiring, college admissions and other such things. This amounts to a lower standard for women and minorities, while white men must meet a higher standard to receive the same status. The La Salle College Republicans would like to salute those who put on the bake sale at Kutztown and denounce affirmative action for what it is: unconstitutional reverse discrimination.

Section 1 of the Fourteenth Amendment says that a state may not “deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.” Unfortunately, in the cases of Gratz vs. Bollinger and Gruttier vs. Bollinger, involving Affirmative Action at the University of Michigan Law School in 2003, the Supreme Court upheld reverse discrimination by a vote of 5-4. Since the 1960s, we have had laws assuring that one race, gender and creed would not be taken into account in job applications and college admissions. In the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., people should be judged by “the content of their character.” Affirmative Action is a slap in the face to this belief. In the name of “diversity,” people are judged by the color of their skin. Better-qualified people are bypassed because of reverse discrimination. Affirmative Action also implies that the “underrepresented” cannot compete in a free-market system.

If diversity is the ultimate objective, the standards should be lowered. This was the point made by the African-American Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, in his dissent of the 2003 Affirmative Action cases. Also, if “diversity” is so important, we ought to apply Affirmative Action to all professions. For example, whites are clearly underrepresented in the NBA and the NFL, should we force professional sports teams to meet a certain quota of white players? Diversity is only embraced selectively. Affirmative Action never seeks to include those with different perspectives. For example, even though Democrats outnumber Republicans by more than seven to one in most college faculties, there is no desire to include those with different political affiliations. Also, practicing Catholics and Evangelical Christians who respect human life and marriage would bring diversity to many far-left campuses, but do they get special preferences? No! Intellectual diversity is clearly ignored.

Affirmative Action amounts to reverse discrimination. The bake sale at Kutztown illustrated this. Hopefully, with the departure of Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, marked for her willingness to drift from the original meaning of the Constitution to achieve liberal social policy goals, the abominations of the 2003 Affirmative Action decisions will be corrected. O’Connor, writing for the majority, hoped that in 25 years, the country wouldn’t “need” Affirmative Action. Let's hope that her replacement Samuel Alito will realize that such discrimination is unconstitutional today and will still be so in 25 years.

Patrick J. Boyer
La Salle College Republicans Secretary
boyerp1@lasalle.edu

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NOTE: These letters are written in response to “Sorority’s tactics squelch individuality”
(Cory Anotado, Mar. 1)

To the Editor:

In the March 1, 2006 issue of the Collegian, Cory Anotado wrote a very disturbing article (“Sorority’s tactics squelch individuality”) regarding the pledge process of a sorority on campus here at La Salle. What was disturbing about the article, other than what appears to be a traumatizing incident, is the way that Anotado paints a very broad, bleak picture of Greek life on campus. While I agree that the antics that take place in various Greek organizations, both on campus and around the country, are unnecessary and often times demeaning, to imply that most or all Greek organizations operate like this is both unprofessional and uninformed journalism.

Being an active member of a fraternity as an undergraduate for three and a half years and currently as an adviser, I detest that such antics do take place in both fraternities and sororities. However, I find it interesting that the only articles that ever seem to get published in the Collegian are ones that discuss hazing and suspensions. It always seems to be news when a Greek organization, or members within an organization, get into some kind of trouble. How about playing it fair and reporting on the positives of Greek life as well?

Fraternities and sororities around La Salle are constantly raising money for philanthropies, taking part in service projects in the community and actively participating as leaders in other areas around the University. I agree that the horrifying situations in some organizations should be reported, but there needs to be a balance for the beneficial aspects of having Greek organizations on campus.Not all organizations are the same and not all members of Greek life “conform” to their organizations. It has been my experience that the individual thrives in these communities and contributes to the whole in making the organization unique.

Talk to members and friends of various organizations and you will discover that not one Greek organization is like the other. It is your responsibility as journalists to make
sure you are portraying the whole picture to the public, but in the last three to four
years, I have not seen that. I hope this changes in the future and you are more, I hate
to say it, “fair and balanced” with your reporting.

Sincerely,
Michael Shinn
AXP Adviser
Class of 2004

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To the Editor:

As a member of a social Greek organization here at La Salle, I couldn’t help but take to
heart the unabashed cheap shot that was taken at all of Greek life in the aforementioned article. The article was nothing more than a clichéd rant about the horrors of losing oneself through pledging. The Greek community, though at times competitive with each other, is a closeknit one. I know more than one member in mostly every organization, and while I feel that there is a certain stigma or aura attached to each individual organization, I do not agree in any way that Greek life stifles one’s personality or hinders personal growth.

Through being a member of a Greek organization, one is introduced to many members of the La Salle community, many of whom they would not have gotten the chance to know due to perceived differences in personality, appearance or social status. One is also able to become more involved with philanthropic efforts. On this campus alone, organizations are heavily involved with Youth Aids, The National Breast Cancer Association, Alex’s Lemonade Stand, The MS Walk, The March of Dimes, ANAD and Toys for Tots, among many others.

As for the excruciatingly demeaning hazing practices that a pledge goes through, according to federal laws and inter-fraternity and sorority standards, hazing is illegal and is not tolerated by any institution, including this university. I would be remiss to infer that there aren’t struggles that one goes through while pledging, and while they may seem unfair and at times excessive, these are traditions that have been passed down for generations. These are traditions used not only by Greek organizations, but also by fire companies, athletic teams (both professional and collegiate), police forces and other professional and social groups to strengthen the bonds of brother and sisterhood.

In closing, it is clear that the article was written out of pure emotion, with little
attention paid to factual details. While I respect the writer’s opinion and personal
feelings, I completely disagree with his defamatory editorial, and hope that in the future, he will research his topic of discussion more thoroughly before writing such a scathing review.

Sincerely,
Ryan Werner

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To the Editor:

As a founding member of one of La Salle’s fraternities and Greek life adviser, I am
troubled when I hear of anyone having to go through a membership process which is degrading. The behaviors described in the article (e.g.: isolation from friends, salutes, secret chants) are examples of hazing, which is illegal under state law, University Policy and Greek organization policy. Some Greeks may act in violation of laws and policies, but many of the Greek leaders and members whom I know are striving to make themselves, their members and the greater La Salle community better. A positive experience in the Greek community highlights one’s personality and encourages growth. La Salle’s Greeks are striving to improve their connection with the entire community through their contributions of service, involvement and leadership.

If you are a victim of, or become aware of hazing in any student group, we encourage you to take the following steps. We ask that you contact a University official who will gather information and inform you of your options (University Response, Incident Report, Philadelphia Police Department report, etc.). We also advise contacting the Counseling Center (McShain Hall, 2nd floor, x1355) for assistance and advice.

I ask that everyone do their part: Greek students—let our fellow Lasallians know of the good work and service and brotherhood and sisterhood you all stand for, and for our fellow Lasallians, please, find out about our Greek life and our Greek community.

Sincerely,
Pete Lafferty
Community Coordinator for Leadership Development
lafferty@lasalle.edu

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Editor’s Note

This year, the Collegian provided coverage of numerous events hosted by Greek organizations. In fact, there has been absolutely no “negative coverage” of either fraternities or sororities (save for Anotado’s article). Please refer to the list below.

*“These girls were made for walking” (Shannon Curley, Oct. 5) An article detailing Delta Phi Epsilon’s involvement with the Philadelphia Autism Walk.

“Gamma Sigma Sigma brings Alex’s Lemonade Stand to La Salle’s campus” (Tara Pizzo, Oct. 12)

“Sorority serves school in Philadelphia Cares Day” (Beth Reilly, Nov. 2) Mu Sigma Upsilon’s participation in the 12th annual Philadelphia Cares Day

Sigma Phi Lambda Three on Three Basketball Tournament (Around Campus, Nov. 11)

Phi Beta Sigma Guest Speaker Omar Barlow (Around Campus, Nov. 16)

“Odds are this night will be a hit” (Dan Sandiford, Jan. 25)
A Spotlight article on Alpha Chi Ro’s Casino Night event

Phi Beta Sigma’s “The African in Brazil Experience” (Around Campus, Feb. 8)

*“Students observe Greek life during Rush Week” (Shannon Curley, Feb. 15)

* front page article