To the Editor:

If you’re reading this, you probably have already heard about the article I wrote entitled “A Modest, Greek Proposal” published in The University News last week. As some of you also know, I got quite a response from it. At the Robert Randolph concert held on campus last Friday, I was approached by a large group of former members of the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity. I will not detail the encounter here, but suffice it to say that these gentlemen were less than pleased with the article. While I will say that this incident was not handled very well by these men at the time, I will also say that in the time since I have had fairly civil conversations with and responses from many of the former members of Pi Kappa Alpha.

Some have said they were “hurt” by the article. Others have simply expressed anger. It was pointed out that I did not know most of them on a very personal level. In this past week, after talking to them, I have been shown that some are fairly good people. While I don’t consider myself to be a bad person, I do realize that I have made mistakes in my life and many of these gentlemen were quick to admit that they, and their former fraternity brothers, have made mistakes as well. Thus, I feel that I need to qualify what I have previously said and point out that there are good Pikes who do have good qualities. I do admit that some of the article was overarching. As the article was satirical, this was expected to be the style. I do not condone past mistakes made by some of these men, but do realize that they must not all be clumped together. As a relatively quiet and simple man, I feel that it is only fair that I make this statement.

Rob Gartland
Senior, College of Arts & Sciences