Response to Ms. Brooke Myers' article on February 3, 2010 in the OU Daily

First off, I want to thank Ms. Brooke Myers for the congratulations she gave me and my fellow brothers along with all newly initiated men in the fraternity system here at the University of Oklahoma. I hope to show you and others another thing we should congratulate ourselves on. While serving as Chief Justice of the Interfraternity Council here at the University of Oklahoma last year, I was able to see fraternity men at their best and occasionally when they were not. The collaborative activities fraternity men engage in, and the lifetime friends and memories created through admission into a fraternity can become an integral part of each individual. Each member of a fraternity, regardless of their clothing brand, footwear, tobacco and hair style preferences, is distinctly individual and his individual experiences are tailored by only one person, himself. It is understandable that we associate and gather with others that we find agreeable and somewhat similar to ourselves. So it is also understandable and probably even natural, to assume that those of us who have similar interest and similar ideas and goals, are no longer unique and have compromised our identity for some semblance of acceptance. However, it has been my experience with fraternity men that as we come into contact with those that closely resemble ourselves we tend to forge our own unique path. Whether its crowding into a car and driving across the country to the National Championship game, congratulating a brother on his acceptance to Harvard Law School, or getting back at your brothers by sticking a goose in their room, fraternity men form bonds (sometimes through unconventional means) that extend well beyond college. So again thank you for the congratulations, I hope to have my honorary plaque on the wall sometime soon.

Kyle Watson

Senior

Finance

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What does going Greek mean? Our founders created fraternities with the vision of creating the “ideal Greek man.” They wanted to fashion the next Socrates, Euclid or Leonidas. They wanted to instill the ideals of excellence in young men for their success now and in the future.

Greeks are scholars. You matriculated in OU to learn and graduate with a degree, and going Greek is a greater commitment to yourself to fulfill this obligation. This is why I have maintained a 4.0 since joining a fraternity. This is why the GPA of Greek students is higher on average than that of non-Greek students.

Greeks are leaders. Of the Fortune 500 companies, more than half of the CEO’s are Greek. Greeks contribute more philanthropy in this community than any other group. U-Sing, Homecoming, Scandals and Big Event would all be miniscule affairs without Greek participation.

Greeks are athletes. Intramural Sports are dominated by Greek houses. While the American obesity epidemic is on the rise, Greeks get off the couch and commit to their lifelong health.

Greeks are gentleman. No rational individual joins a group for the purpose of boozing and womanizing. If such groups exist, they would starve themselves from lack of success. The long-standing tradition of fraternities is evidence that claims to the contrary are unfounded. Sure, fraternities have fun, but paramount is the respect of our fellow human beings.

Consider your values. If your goal is to become the best you can be, then you share much with Greeks.

Matthew Granato is a computer engineering senior and secretary of Pi Kappa Alpha.

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Brooke,

Unfortunately, your article about fraternities is the kind which could come only from someone who is not actually part of one. 
You were correct, even if sarcastically, about your definition of brotherhood and its extents. But you are wrong about almost everything else. As a proud member of OU’s fraternity system, I can tell you that people are not asked to join fraternities because they wear Polo. We recruit intelligent, motivated, and trustworthy young men. And when they're initiated, they lose none of what makes them good people, including their individuality. 
Maybe to someone who has no idea what they’re talking about, fraternity life seems silly. I don't know what you're involved in, but I can tell you that I would not pass judgment on your lifestyle without having experienced it.
 You probably have a sense of pride and accomplishment that cannot be understood by someone who doesn’t do what you do.

Likewise.

There's no conformity in the fraternity system. There's no passing out of "frat gear" to be worn in place of current wardrobes. People are not forced to take up drinking. They're also not forced to get "chicks in bed." I can personally vouch for my fraternity, and I know it holds true throughout the others as well, that there are people who are both sober and abstinent, and respected for it. 
There is, however, a bonding between a pledge class that will hold strong for the rest of their lives.

Also, greek men and women have higher gpa's than non-greek students, on average do more community service, and are more involved on campus.
 Maybe we could all use a little more conformity…

-Eric Smith

Letters Sophomore

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Although the article on Wednesday concerning Fraternities had one or two thought provoking points, most of it was simply empty talk, aimed at defacing the fraternity community on the OU campus. Brooke Myers may have just completed her first semester as a college freshman, but the logic she uses resembles that of a high school student. Allow me to clarify.

First of all, the all-fraternity grade point average is consistently higher than the all-undergraduate male grade point average, meaning that as a whole, members of fraternities perform better in the classroom. You might be surprised to learn that many fraternity members are National Merit Scholars and members of the Honors College, and many more consistently make the President's and Dean's Honor Rolls.

Secondly, fraternity membership has its advantages. For many young men, fraternities provide friendships that last a lifetime. Although laced with fallacies, it is true that "there is no bond like the bond of brothers." In a world where true friends are hard to find, fraternities succeed in creating genuine, undying friendships. In addition, fraternities often are a springboard to greater things. Many members go on to become prominent businessmen, politicians, or community leaders. Ronald Reagan, Chuck Norris, Troy Aikmen, David Spade, Brad Pitt, Bud Wilkenson, Jack Nicklaus, Jimmy Buffett, George Bush, BIl Clinton, and Martin Luther King Jr. are all good examples.

Finally, I would venture to say that Brooke Myers has never actually been to a fraternity house. Many of her statements more closely resemble the ABC show GREEK rather than the fraternity community here at OU. Her article is based upon generalizations and flawed conclusions, and is a poor excuse for journalism.

Scott Sheppard

Price College of Business, Management Junior

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

To the Editor (and the OU community at large):

Good morning, afternoon, or evening, everyone! My name is Forrest Bennett, and I am a sophomore and the Pledge Educator for the Delta Upsilon Fraternity. In light of recent speculations into the mysterious world of fraternity life, I thought I’d clear a few things up for everyone.

Let me preface this by admitting that I’m right there with everyone who questions and scoffs at some of the outlandish traditions that surround Greek life. But, I’d be amiss if I didn’t credit my fraternity, at least, for providing me with a positive, reasonable and in no way harmful, pledge-ship (and as far as I’m concerned, its okay to say “pledge”; to me and my friends, both Greek and non-Greek, it has no negative connotation). As Pledge Educator, I will be teaching my pledges how to be better gentleman. I will be teaching them what justice, fairness, loyalty, and open-mindedness can do to change the world. I will be molding them and shaping them to be their own best; I will forbid them from losing their personal identity, and I will forbid my brothers from treating the pledges with disrespect. And all of you recently signed Delta Upsilon pledges can quote me on that.

I admire Ms. Myers’ chutzpah in her recent article regarding my fellow Greek-lifers and me. But sadly, Ms. Myers, there are several errors in your report. Now, in response to your assertion that all fraternity boys dip, I would like to proudly inform you that myself and least 98% of my house do not partake of the habit, and it seems to me that most of us find it to be a nasty habit. But hey, that’s just us. To your suggestion that we all do the frat snap, I’m here to say that my hands sadly do not have the capacity to pull off such an intricate move, and the rest of my brothers here in the house don’t really buy into that much. But hey, that’s just us. To your ideas that our main objective is to get “chicks” into bed, that our grades suffer because we are Greek, and that we all drink I must inform you of the following overlooked factors: My girlfriend, and the fifteen other girlfriends of Delta Upsilon members don’t condone that; we have several members who earned 4.0’s this semester, numerous more who made 3.5 and above, and frankly we shun those who slack off on homework and party instead; and, several members of Delta Upsilon do not drink, because hey, that’s not why our parents sent us here. But again, that’s just us.

But I can almost guarantee that if you talked to my friends at Sig Ep, ATO, Fiji or Lambda Chi, they would say similar things.

Oh, tread lightly with your word choice, Ms. The term “chick” is degrading to women everywhere.

I’d like to thank Ms. Myers for opening up this dialogue, so that the students of OU, both Greek and non-Greek, see some transparency from the fraternity world. Its about time everyone saw just how not-that-bad we really are.

I would like to submit, furthermore, that as a slightly more seasoned college student than Ms. Myers and her peers, I must offer this advice: You are at a major university now. Be careful when labeling others and buying into stereotypes; the University of Oklahoma is an incredible and unique place because people from all ethnicities, all races, all financial and social classes, and all different walks of life can come together and become successful, bright individuals together. Peacefully.

But you must bear an open mind to diversity.

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________