It is an unavoidable circumstance that rumors spring up around college campuses. However, publishing gossip in a campus newspaper seems an avoidable circumstance. For example, a writer chose to bring the SLU community up to date on current gossip (although a little belated) in The University News, April 20, 2007. I’m referring to the article titled “A Modest, Greek Proposal,” in the Op/Ed section. I did not realize that an unjustified, unfounded rant qualifies as commentary, and therefore I will attempt to debunk the non-facts presented in that article.
The untruths created by the accusatory connotation presented in the article need to be brought to justice. The author indirectly attempted to persuade the reader to conclude that the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity was ousted for “fishy” behavior relatively worse than just “alcohol related violations.” Why does it seem so strange that the University Student Conduct board issued a harsh sentence that abolished a student group for not following the University’s alcohol policy? After all, at the time of the alcohol violations, the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity was already on probation for previous alcohol offenses. Consequently, it was the University’s last resort, as the organization did not respond to its previous sanctions. What is “fishy” about this?
Next, this rant mentioned (sarcastically) contributions the Pikes made to the University. One specifically stated that the Pikes “brought honor to themselves.” Here is the graduating senior class of the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity’s profile. Of the 21 seniors, there are four attending law schools, five attending medical school, three obtaining their post-graduate degrees in something other than law and medicine and nine who have lined up employment. Just to name a few of these academic institutions they will be attending: American University, Loyola University Chicago, Saint Louis University and more. Those who are working will take jobs like investment banker, flight instructor, financial manager and more. Surely, they have brought honor to themselves, their families and their community. How can men with the characteristics twisted by the author accomplish such feats?
In regard to the fraternity’s contribution to SLU as a whole, there is a long list. The group raised more than $15,000 in the past five years alone for charity; put in more than 4,000 hours of community service just last year; held all-Greek events that built solidarity within the Greek community; are currently involved in, and have headed, student organizations like the Student Government Association, Oriflamme, Indian Student Association, Finance Club, Student Life and many others. The men of the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity are well-rounded, accomplished individuals. It is obvious that their accomplishments and their involvement on campus are far reaching, even if they go unnoticed by some people.
The article also references a “true story” of Pikes throwing footballs and calling names at those raising awareness of homelessness here at SLU. Although there were members of the fraternity present, no members of the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity participated in this poorly chosen behavior. It is necessary to note that individuals in the fraternity have been written up before, and former members of the fraternity may be written up in the future. However, the number of members without documented violations of the Student Conduct Code outnumbers those with violations. This is also true for the student body as a whole. It seems trivial for this article to single out the Pikes for behavior characteristic of other members of the student body (although surely not the majority). That is, the author failed to address the negative behavior, yet attacked the Pikes for their past behavior.
“As a community of students,” we need to avoid name-calling and reporting gossip to make a point. At the very least, we need to present issues in a way that is factual. Which begs the most important question of this article. If Rob Gartland has “come to know” the Pikes, why not ask them about the situation before writing a pointed, empirically incorrect article about them?
Jarred Conforte is a senior in the College of Arts & Sciences.
