4A - THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
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OPINION
WEDNESDAY,DEC.12,2001
TALK TO US
Kursten Phelps editor 864-4854 or editor@kansan.com
Leita Schultes Christina Neff managing editors 864-4854 or editor@kansan.com
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Tom Eblen general manager and news adviser 864-7667 or teblem@kansan.com
Matt Fisher sales and marketing adviser 864-7666 or mfisher@kansan.com
BRUNO PIERONI/KANSAN
PERSPECTIVE
Blacks, Latinos not only minorities in greek system
At a university where issues of diversity are constantly being addressed, the focus has turned to the Greek community as an "island of White isolation." Why? The focus could have easily been the racial make-up of the faculty, scholarship halls, or the Kansan staff itself. But it is the Greek community that falls prey to bias disguised as facts.
I am writing as a contributor to "A Sense of Brotherhood," the Dec. 11 article about diversity in the greek community.
Some of the terms that were used throughout the article should first be defined, "Blacks" and "Latinos" were used synonymously with "minorities," although minorities are not limited to these two ethnic groups. Let's not forget Asians, Native Americans, those with physical challenges, gays, lesbians, Catholics, Jews and non-traditional students, to name a few. "Diversity" is also offered as a substitute for "ethnic diversity" although the word "diversity" simply refers to differences.
Commentary
Jennifer
Bacani
Guest columnist
opmionakarsan.com
The article claimed that the greek community should have at least 285 minorities to coincide with the university statistics, but it was unclear who this should include. Our greek community exceeds this amount, when the true definition of "minority" is employed.
In addition, Black is an adjective. It may be used to describe a person, but should not be the noun by which a person is classified. As a Filipino-American, I was surprised that I was lumped into the "White" category, along with the other nine Asian-American women in my traditionally Caucasian sorority. In an article wrought with ideas of political correctness and equality for all, the
research about the terms that describe these ethnic groups correctly is lacking
Regarding recruitment efforts that did not "target or succeed in recruiting Blacks and Latinos," I believe that nothing should be done besides educating everyone about the opportunity to join any organization where they feel comfortable. If I found out that I became a member of my sorority simply because of my ethnic background, I would make that an issue worthy of a front-page article on unequal opportunities for different races.
Skewed "facts" somehow found their place into this article as well. The method of collecting statistics about minorities in the Greek community was an unconventional one to say the least. It does not seem accurate to count only the people in the yearbook who appear to be minorities. This is especially inaccurate when some of the chapters were not represented in the yearbook.
Even simple mathematics seemed to be biased. When one takes the total number of members (3,146) multiplied by the percent of the KU student body that is African-American (2.6 percent), one obtains a product of 82, not 114 as was stated in the article. One then begins to wonder where the number came from of minorities that we "should" have as members.
Although this was undoubtedly a researched story, it must be said that just because an article contains facts does not mean that it is unbiased. The facts in writing, as well as how quotes are used, are at the hands of the writer. It is true that the ethnic diversity at the University of Kansas could be improved, but the University, as well as the Panhellenic Association, Interfraternity Councils and National Pan-Hellenic Council are already addressing this well-known fact.
The article simply perpetuates separations between people who don't even consider themselves separated.
Bacani is a senior in chemistry from Fredonia.
FREE for ALL 864-0500
Free for All callers have 20 seconds to speak about any topic they wish. Not all of them will be published. Slanderous and obscene statements will not be printed.
For more comments, go to www.kansan.com.
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My roommate is sitting on the couch, talking to a stuffed cat. If anyone needs a roommate, give me a call.
I'm selling my body so that I can go to Australia with Conchor Choir.
Sex icon? Britney Spears is a sex icon.
I walked in the door of my sorority house, and I see six minor women
On my study abroad, I'm going to bring life-size pictures of my friends' heads and take pictures of them with me so it looks like they're there too.
Was the Sex on the Hill section some kind of parody? We're all really confused.
Did you know that 38 percent of all statistics in newspapers are made up?
Life ain't easy for a boy named Sue
Eww. Who let Meghan Bainum out of the house with no clothes on?
One of the most difficult things is breaking up with someone you are still head over heels in love with.
I'd like to wish myself a Happy Birthday on Dec.15.
加
I was just wondering who died and made Meghan Bainum the resident sex adviser at KU.
Is it just me, or was Jesus Christ a damn fine man?
This is just to correct the Latin for divorce: it actually means to rip out a man's genitals through his wallet because he deserves it.
I'd never go to the University of Kansas — way too many liberals.
Peter. What's happening? Yeah, in case you didn't get the memo, we're using a new cover sheet for the TPS reports, so if you could go ahead and do that, it'd be great.
I'm Jewish and I was wondering if that counted as a minority.
Sexicon? Space Ghost is a sexicon.
$50,000 for a penis? Wow, I got a deal, I got mine for free.
PERSPECTIVE
Most people end up living in segregated housing
A recent Kansan article insinuated that racial exclusion is rampant within the greek system. As an African-American, a KU student, a member of Sigma Chi fraternity and the Interfraternity Council Vice President for education and scholarship, I disagree with this attack on the integrity of the greek system.
Fraternities and sororites have been pigeonholed as racially exclusive organizations, when simple analysis will prove the unfairness of singling out the Greek system.
When most fraternity chapters compile a recruitment list, their members submit names of friends who would be interested in joining that particular house. Not surprisingly, most people contacted are White. Multiple causes result in the lack of minorities at recruitment parties. However, in residence halls or apartments, the same lack of integration exists when individuals pick their roommates.
More importantly the other method of rushing a fraternity or sorority is signing up to be on the recruitment list. Most people either try to rush with a friend from high school or to join a house based on past family membership. Only rarely do people rush by themselves. Friendships made before college largely determine who a person lives with and where that person lives. Therefore, exclusion is clearly not just a "greek" issue, but a campus issue.
A list of people who actually choose their roommates in off-campus settings would likely show that the percentage of minorities living in a house or apartment with other Caucasians is similar to the percentage of minorities living in the greek system.
A major cause of the lack of minorities and Whites voluntarily living together stems from the failure of desegregation policies in many public school systems. Economic and demographic factors increase the amount of segregation in public schools by the way school districts draw boundary lines. This resulted in schools with many minorities and schools with large percentages of Whites The separation of races in school districts obviously fails to foster a healthy environment for interracial camaraderie.
Commentary
Michael Yimer
Guest columnist
opinionkansan.com
The lack of contact, friendships and understanding between different races in public school systems compounds the difficulty for networking and recruiting in the greek system and more importantly, diversity and understanding across the entire campus.
The fact that multiple causes exist for the lack of minorities in the Greek system does not provide a scapegoat for fraternities and sororites, however. Diversity is an important issue, and all chapters need to tackle this problem in a more serious manner.
As vice president of educational programming for IFC, I am partly responsible for overseeing this committee, and many ideas will be implemented to decrease uniformity within the greek system. One of the most prominent civil rights leaders of our time, Martin Luther King Jr. once noted, "I have a dream that one day the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit together at the table of brotherhoods."
As an African-American student, I feel that I have joined a table of brotherhood in my chapter, the Sigma Chi fraternity. Every house will continue to extend an invitation for all to become part of their respective table — no matter what cultural, socioeconomic or ethnic background one comes from.
This year the greek system has already taken strides to increase diversity. Each chapter will appoint a Greeks Raising Awareness of Ethnic Diversity representative to ensure that diversity is increased within his house.
Michael Yimer is a Lawrence sophomore in computer science. He is Interfraternity Council Vice President for education and scholarship.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
EDITOR'S NOTE
The Kansan has received many responses to the Sex on the Hill section and to the article "A Sense of Brotherhood." Due to space constraints they can not all be published. This page offers a representative sampling of responses we have received.
GREEK UNITY & DIVERSITY
The article gave the impression that any minority student who feels comfortable with White people, or could afford it, or has good grades would join an 1FC or Panhellenic group. What the article failed to take into account is that each chapter has aspects that appeal to prospective members for different reasons. Students have options and make their decisions based on what they want to get out of the greek community.
Deareditor.
As leaders in the greek community, we appreciate the Kansan's investigation into an issue that we've gone to great lengths to address ("A Sense of Brotherhood," Dec. 10). That said, the problems facing the greek community were misrepresented.
The Greek community has diverse chapters with a variety of goals and interests. Just as members in each chapter work together for a common purpose, each chapter takes pride in upholding the ideals and traditions that define greek life.
ideas to strengthen the community.
In the future, we hope that the Kansan will recognize NPHC, Panhellenic, and IFC as one greek community, and count its members as such. Instead of continued criticism, we hope that out of all of this will come some constructive
Erin Michaelis
Hays junior
Panhellenic President
Christopher Haydel
Philadelphia graduate student
National Pan-Hellenic
Council President
Andy Knopp
Manhattan sophomore
Interfraternity Council President
SODON'T READ IT
I could start talking about freedom of speech, but that's been done to death too. Instead, I'll point out something which a lot of the Sex on the Hill detractors seem to have forgotten: Freedom of speech does not guarantee one an audience. In other words, you are not obligated to read everything that is printed.
Dear editor.
I'm getting tired of this. Every year, the Kansan prints the Sex on the Hill section and every year, people complain about the Kansan's lack of morals.
You knew what the Sex on the Hill section was when you picked it up, and you knew that it would probably bother you. But — and this is the part I don't understand — you chose to read it anyway. Why? Even if you have never seen the Sex on the Hill section before, the picture of a mostly naked person should have been a clue that there was objectionable material inside.
Right or wrong, college students have sex. Until that changes, I don't see any reason
for the Kansan not to talk about it. If you don't want to listen, that's fine. Please don't plug everyone else's ears. Trust the student body to be mature enough to make their own moral decisions.
Dear editor
Mary Metzler.
Tulsa, Okla. senior
CLARIFYING A QUOTE
J. R. Mendoza interviewed me for the article "A Sense of Brotherhood." Although I felt honored to be involved in an effort to address greek diversity issues, I am very disappointed in the way my attitude toward Black fraternities was portrayed.
The story read "Penn said he considered joining a Black fraternity but the lack of focus on academies caused him to look elsewhere." Anyone reading this could falsely assume I thought Black fraternities did not focus on academics. I highly regard Black fraternities and think academic focus is among their many strengths, which is why I considered joining one. However, Beta Theta Pi fraternity has the highest chapter GPA on campus, which influenced my decision to join.
It is important to address controversial topics, but one must take precaution to portrait views accurately. I resent that I've had to take time to write this letter and respond to all the angry voicemails and e-mails I recently received.
Eddie Penn McPherson senior