4A -Thursday, April 3, 2008 74bC ffiidiipan 4ia4,,1 Edited and managed by students at the University of Michigan since 1890. 420 Maynard St. Ann Arbor, MI 48109 tothedaily@umich.edu ANDREW GROSSMAN EDITOR IN CHIEF GARY GRACA EDITORIAL PAGE EDITOR GABE NELSON MANAGING EDITOR Unsigned editorials reflect the official position of the Daily's editorial board. All other signed articles and illustrations representsolely the views of their authors. The Daily's public editor, Paul H. Johnson, acts as the readers' representative and takes a critical look at coverage and content in every section of the paper. Readers are encouraged to contact the public editor with questions and comments. He can be reached at publiceditor@umich.edu. Factoring in the faculty University needs a diverse faculty, not just student body When discussing diversity at the University, the percent- age of underrepresented minorities admitted each year is considered the key indicator of whether this campus is an accepting and welcoming one. However, the Univer- sity is made up of more than just students. As a new report from the Committee for a Multicultural University details, recruiting, maintaining and retaining faculty members from underrepresent- ed minority groups is an area where progress has been sporadic and underwhelming. The University must recognize the impor- tance of these findings and improve its record. The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com It's clear the people of Zimbabwe have voted for change." - Gordon Johndroe, a White House spokesman, calling for Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe to step down after losing the recent presidential election, as reported yesterday by The New York Times. CHRIS KOSLOWSKI I . UT T PATjE E-MAIL KOSLOWSKI AT CSKOSLOW@UMICH.EDU id you bear that Gore is So the man actua ly cares Wo et ethnol launchinga $300 million about the environment and is .Combine Gore's bat airwith Global Warming ad campaign? willing to put some money your, and there's the What adisgustingIwaste where his mouth . Is there solution to our foidga something wrongwith that? oil dependence problem. Giving Greeks press GDI: The label carries little the leaders tell me to do, so my broth- as devastating. Then the Greek sys- importance outside of its ers or my house don't lambaste me. tem only looks a lot more suspect, entry on UrbanDictionary. See where the problems come up? especially when its members aren't com and its use by Surely on the surface, anti-media allowed to speak for themselves about fraternity boys as a Greek policies make sense. Even as internal issues. somewhat aggres- a member of the press, I can appre- And this is what leads to the bad sive term to belittle drate the IFC's motivations. Having press. us non-Gceek hea- designated, rehearsed spokespeople, Like the hostility between the Penn thens. instead of Joe Fratboy, speak for StateIFCandtheCollegian,therehave However, the the Greek system is a good way to been similar sentiments expressed by label represents preserve its image - the same way other Greek councils towards their the culture of dis- - that many other organizations have respective college newspapers -most trust and cynicism spokespeople. Why give the media familiarly, The Michigan Daily. "The between the Greek THERESA anything more than it already knows Daily hates Greeks," I have heard -it and the non-Greek KENNEL LY or sees, especially when itseems eager hundreds of times. But until Greek communities. And to negatively spin any Greek news? councils address the culture of dis- it seems that in Yet, looking at the deeper issues respect and distrust between Greeks some fraternity and sorority councils wrapped in these anti-press policies and GDIs, the University's Greek sys- around the country, this distrust has - which exist formally within indi- tem shouldn't anticipate good press provoked councils to instruct their vidual sororities and fraternities at - there are just too many concerns members to withhold Greek-related the University of Michigan and infor- that a lack of transparency causes. information from us "God Damn mally within the University's Greek Independents." Specifically, the worst councils - a whole mess of concerns GDIs of them all: the press, arise. Most importantly, this lack of Most recently, this was highlighted transparency can lead to an atmo- The bad press at Penn State University's Interfrater- sphere in which members are silently nity Council. In a seemingly out-of- compliant and others are even more that comes the-blue reform earlier this semester, skeptical. This is bad for Greek and the tFC at Penn State changed its pub- non-Greek students alike, with distrust lic relations bylaw to require Council Anti-press policies breed a culture oversight when any person in a frater- of silence. This intimidates people oity speaks with the media. While the into acquiescence. And in the case of bylaw change was understandable, the Greek system, allows the govern- From my previous experience writ- hoping to funnel coverage of Penn ing councils to control whether or tog on Gyreek issues, I can predict t;he State's Greek system through specific not knowledge is handed over to the reaction: Some Greek couricil will dfis- people, then-IFC President Abe Git- untrustworthy GDI press -- unless agree with what I write, saying it is terman took itsa step too far. After the of course, tattletalers want to get g very tprgsparent and l1astnanyafe- change, Gitterman sent out e-mails phone call from the IFC boss. guards to account for potential Greek emphasizing the seriousness of the A culture of silence goes beyond problems. The only thingcthatcworries changes, telling all Greek students to anti-press policies, it seems that me is that the only responses people "NOT under any circumstances" talk Greek councils have been cultivat- will be willing to put their names on to the press, as the Penn State ito- log a whole system of keeping issues wilibe those draftedbythe governing dent newspaper The Daily Collegian inside the Greek bubble. Sure, inter- boards of Greek councils, reported. Anyone caught speaking fraternity councils have hazing hot- The best advice I can offer to the to the press would "be getting a call" lines and judiciary committees that anonymous, silenced Greek masses from Gitterman. hand out due punishments, and these is that speaking out when there is a I, for one, am already intimidated, give Greek members a voice and make problem is a Iot better in the long run After receiving an e-mail from my Greeks more accountable. But when than keeping quiet, Really, what's IFC president, there would be no way issues remain harbored within the the worst that can happen? You will that I would answer questions from Greek system and are keptcsecret from be kicked out of your fraternity? Just the press about allegations of haz- non-Greeks, there is still a transpar- don't let the door hit you on your way log or the pressure I feel to consume ency problem, Maybe Greeks don't out. unhealthy amounts of alcohol at my owe non-Greeks anything. However, fraternity on the weekend. I would this lack of transparency leads to cur- Theresa Kennelly is a former certainly remain silent about my fra- ruption, or at least the perception of associate editorial page editor. She can ternity's issues and comply with what corruption - and that can be equally he reached at thenelly@umich.eds. I E ,