First and foremost, I’d like to thank the staff of The Oklahoma Daily for allowing me the opportunity to address the student body. These opportunities are rare, and we are extremely fortunate to have such a relevant and popular student voice. Secondly, I’d like to thank Brooke Myers for shedding light on a couple of issues that I as Interfraternity Council President have been fighting to correct — her article serves as a reminder to all of us within the greek community our system isn’t perfect, and our work to better it will never end. However, as its president, I can’t help but defend the greek system’s unmatched contributions and successes on our beautiful campus.

Oklahoma’s greek system has long been viewed as a flagship in the armada of American fraternity life. But rather than explain the impact Oklahoma’s greek system has had on me personally, I find it much more appropriate to discuss what this unique group does to benefit the greater university community — the one that we all share.

Ms. Myers mentioned the idea that after initiation, we are all just “numbers”. When I think about “numbers” and the Greek community, I think about the tens of thousands of hours of community service our members spend each semester helping local organizations like Big Brothers Big Sisters, CASA, CASP and others, making the Norman area and our campus a better place to live — for all of us.

Speaking of letters, Ms. Myers also describes a prospective member’s pursuit of those “prized” greek-letters. Once again, Ms. Myers and I differ in opinion. When I think “letters” and the greek community, I think of the letters G, P and A. Since the 1960’s, the average all-IFC GPA has been consistently higher than the all-male average (the most recent statistics available indicate a 3.01 vs. 2.89 for spring 2009).

But the greek system’s achievements cannot be recorded on mere transcripts alone. Its achievements are apparent in the more than 300 executive committee positions on campus chaired by greek males during the fall of 2008 and the spring of 2009. Events such as Homecoming, Howdy Week, Winter Welcome Week, HSLC and many other events that serve our university’s interests as a whole are made possible by the leadership of hundreds of greek students.

To rebut each of Ms. Myers’ sweeping generalizations would have been neither feasible, nor worth a reader’s time. But I must admit, some of her statements indeed wield merit. Some of our members do in fact attend parties on weekends, engage in youthful indiscretions, wear similar clothing and even adopt similar mannerisms and behavioral patterns. But what group of students or people in general is immune to such environmental adaptations? In the court of public opinion, we would surely all be found guilty of this apparent crime. Yet my aim is not to convince nongreek students that fraternity houses are without John Belushi posters, Solo cups or Copenhagen logs. That would be a foolish endeavor and fruitless nonetheless. Instead, my aim is to plead that we as a student body begin to appreciate the contributions that other students make to our beautiful campus, without regard to “greek” or “nongreek” labels and stereotypes. The use of such labels and stereotypes is inherently divisive and counterproductive.

I would also like to encourage other greek students not to view Ms. Myers as an enemy of the greek system, but as an opportunity — an opportunity to change a mind through good deeds.

Finally, in the spirit of unity, I would like to formally invite each of you to participate in Delta Upsilon’s Water Project For Haiti. Let us use this opportunity to unite as a student body behind a noble effort. Check Facebook for more details.

Daniel Edward Jones is the president of the Interfraternity Council