Editor,
I often read the Greek bashing in the Daily Lobo and just let it go because it is obvious that people have no clue what they are talking about. Many know nothing about the Greeks and yet assume they know everything.
Due to the events that have happened during this semester, I feel that it is necessary to get my opinion, not that of my house or the Greek System, heard. I know that many who enjoy hating Greeks and living in ignorance will tune this out, but that's okay.
I heard many times in the last week, from various students, the question, "Why raise fees? So Greeks can have more keggers?"
My response is that no chapter or Panhellenic/IFC funds can be used to purchase alcohol. Also, there are no "kegs" allowed on fraternity or sorority property.
The money given to Panhellenic goes for sending members to WRGC, a Greek leadership conference. Every member of a sorority pays dues not only to their individual chapter, but also to Panhellenic for officer budgets and recruitment. There are also many organizations (Welcome Back Days, Scribendi, NMPIRG, Ice Wolves) who receive more funding.
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Another myth that is bothering me is the one that Greeks don't "...reach out to high school youth" or youth in general, for that matter. The Greek ambassadors talk to high school students not only about being Greek, but also UNM in general. Many Greeks were campus tour guides for High School Senior Day as well.
As far as youth in general, last year during Greek Week, Greeks raised more than $10,000 for the Elizabeth Glaiser Pediatric AIDS Foundation. If anyone would like to tell me that the money did not make a difference in the life of a child, I would have to say he were crazy. This was not a one-time occurrence, either.
Past philanthropies include St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Operation Christmas Child and countless others that Greeks do on a daily basis. Our very own UNM Greek System did so well last Greek Week that we won a contest in our region and Scott Wolf is coming to our campus as a result.
Many other activities are sponsored by Greeks on campus as well, such as the Alpha Chi Omega Women's Fair and a speaker about the risks of smoking sponsored by Chi Omega. So after dispelling a great many myths, I now have a challenge for you: find another organization that does so many good things and is so hated.
Skye Morris
UNM Greek
