Permit me a few moments while I shed a few tears for the Greek community. It turns out the term "frat boys" is a very offensive label being applied to the Greek members of our school. In fact, it is so offensive that it could be compared to the unfortunate racial slurs that represent the racism still inherent in our society.
Please.
Before I move on to the other qualms I have with Matt Albert's opinion piece ("Blame the Greeks") in Wednesday's edition of The Spectrum, let's be reminded that the term "frat boy" is in no way comparable to other offensive, stereotypical remarks. I've heard much more imaginative and insulting terms used to describe Greeks, and even those (sometimes humorous) terms do not compare in nature to terms that I deign not to use in this letter.
I'd also like to point out this is not meant as a condemnation of the Greek lifestyle. While I am not a fan of the Greek system, some of my best friends went on to join fraternities in college, and they remain my best friends to this day. Some of the friends I've made here have joined fraternities since I've met them, and some I've met after their involvement. This is not a condemnation of drinking. I, along with many other college students drink, and do so without any serious repercussions. This is instead a condemnation of the Greeks for refusing to be held responsible for their actions.
He furthers the unfortunate trend that is sweeping this country: the "It's not my fault" movement. Greeks in general are partially responsible for this trend. Look at the number of deaths caused by hazing incidents in the past few years. Perhaps it is an insignificant amount when compared to the number of young men who pledge fraternities every year. But, when it happens, we hear the same rallying cry from fraternities across the nation: "It's not our fault!" Albert contends that the Greeks "don't make people drink." That statement itself is laughable. I have friends in fraternities at other schools. They are most definitely made to drink. Some fraternities blame that specific chapter, saying that it was an isolated incident, their fraternity does not partake in such "traditions." Others blame the victim himself, saying that he should've known his drinking limits. But heaven forbid we blame the Greeks. Why, they've been oppressed for so long, how dare we blame the Greeks.
The fact of the matter is that a young man is dead. He attended a fraternity party the night of his death. Perhaps he drank, perhaps he didn't. Is it possible that he, being underage and all, could have drunk alcohol at the party? Of course. (Therein lies the distinction between attending a fraternity party and attending English class, incidentally). Is it possible that he could have drunk at PJ's? No doubt. (The condemnation of that bar also shows that the Alpha Sigma Phi fraternity was not alone in being blamed). Albert wonders why we are intent on placing blame on someone or something for this incident. He says "sometimes events happen beyond our control." He forgets that we are not discussing cancer or AIDS or some other unfortunate incurable disease. When something like this happens, we blame someone so that the problem can be fixed, in the hopes of preventing it from happening again. When a plane crashes, we don't call it an act of God. We find the reason for the crash, and whether it was a faulty part or shoddy workmanship, we fix the problem to prevent it from happening again.
The tragedy here is not that the Greeks are being blamed for this accident, fairly or unfairly. The tragedy here is that a young man lost his life in an incident that, in all likelihood, could have been prevented, even without the hand of God.
