10 - The Michigan Daily - Orientation Edition 2003 OP/ED I It's not the date rape seminars, its the date rape JON SCHWARTZ TO SIDES TO EVY SCHWARTZ T here are many rea- sons that contribute to my general dis- taste for the Greek system at this University and fra- ternities and sororities in general. There's the phoni- ness of dealing with rushees, the cruelty in handling pledges and, quite simply, the ease with which I can improve any rough day with a quick jab at this fraternity or that sorority girl. Largely, the reason people like myself can so often sling mud is because of everything that we saw during the first half of our freshman year, when flocking to ZBT with our 60 closest friends was the only way we knew of to imbibe. In my case, it also has something to do with the fact that since that time, I've surrounded myself with people who feel the same way. But in reality, the biggest reason is just that the Greeks make it so damned easy. I think it is beyond dispute that, at least on this campus, the Greek system fosters an environment that encourages the proliferation of many societal dangers. Now, before any of you frat boys sign on to your e-mail account to attack me for that last statement, think about it this way: What message did you give to potential brothers when you were holding your rush activities? Did it sound anything like this: "The Interfraternal Community at the University of Michigan is dedicated to working together to promote a shared vision of integrity, academic excellence, brother- hood, service to community and commitment to the highest ideals of Greek Life." That's the statement the Interfraternity Coun- cil posts on its Web site, and it's a noble and impressive goal. But to credit the IFC for hav- ing high-reaching hopes does not excuse the Greeks themselves for failing miserably at reaching these heights. Like it or not, the Greek system on this cam- pus is synonymous with drugs, alcohol, deaths and date rape. And that isn't by accident. The image that the system gives off to those on the outside, including me, is that while it obviously doesn't explicitly encourage drinking yourself dead or becoming so drunk that you take advantage of another partygoer, it does little to stop these things from happening. I know that what Ijust said sent IFC President Joel Winston into a fit of madness. But again, my problem is not with Winston or the IFC. I think it's noble that the committee reacts to these issues by changing the rules for their parties and holding seminars to teach the wrongs of date rape. My problem, though, is not that they hold the seminars - it's the fact that they need to hold the seminars. I can support the fact that they put sober monitors at all their parties - I just wonder what kind of society of college-aged people needs sober monitors. Let me point out that I understand the dan- gers of condemning the Greek system, or any community, based on allegations. But if the defense against my claims is simply that the accusations are not always true, then I must question why this system is so prone to facing such allegations and attacks. I've been to many parties since coming to the University. My house even hosted one recently. Not once have I been asked to remain sober at a party to ensure that no one killed himself. Not once, in the week before my house or apart- ment invited people over, have I gone to a semi- nar to remind me that when I start having a good time, it would be an insensitive and wrong thing to do if I chose to take advantage of someone partying with me. And yet I have never been to a party and watched someone drink or drug himself to death. I have never been to a party that led to a date rape. Further- more, I've never even dealt with false accusa- tions of such things directed at my housemates or me. Does my successful record at throwing and attending parties (knock on wood) mean that I'm some sort of righteous person and I know how to pick a lame party? No, it means that I'm a civilized human being. So are my friends. It's not that we shun alcohol, but rather, that we can also be counted on to remain legitimate mem- bers of society, even after a few drinks. If the Greek system wants to shed these repu- tations, it needs to stop handling these issues reactively. Forget about seminars; start getting rid of the animals that don't belong in the frater- nities, let alone at our dear University. The fraternities on this campus cannot hold themselves to different ideals than their organiz- ing body. Something has to give - either all our Greeks need to adapt their beliefs to the morals of the IFC, or the council needs to give in to the disturbing desires of some of its constituents. But if you're going to dedicate your system to "working together to promote a shared vision of integrity, academic excellence, brotherhood, service to community and commitment to the highest ideals of Greek Life," then stop recruit- ing people who need to be taught how to act like decent people. LETTER TO THE EDITOR Bush failed to address relewnt ques- tions, or to sway fence-sitters on affir- mat'ie action TO THE DAILY: In listening to President Bush's recent comments against my university's admissions policy, I found myself feeling a mix of disappointment and uncer- tainty. The fact is I do not know how I feel about the policy. On the one hand I value the diversity on this campus and the contribution it has made to my expe- rience, but on the other hand I still find it difficult to accept that race should be such an enormous aid or detriment to an applicant's chances for admission. Over my years in Ann Arbor, I have waited anxiously for someone to make it all make sense and to outline a system that is fair, but also preserves many of the values of the university. On Wednesday, my disappointment and indecision continued; I am beginning to think that such a system will never exist. In listening to the president's words, I hoped to hear him offer some brilliant alternative that would resolve everyone's worries, but I didn't expect much. I hoped to hear him speak out against a legacy system in admissions similar to the one he no doubt benefited from at Yale University, but I didn't expect that either. Now, with these two historic cases pending in the U.S. Supreme Court, I am hoping to see the University release to the public all the rele- vant data. I am hoping to see the numbers and find out exactly how diverse this campus would be with- out the affirmative action policies in place. I am hop- ing that this kind of disclosure will help people like me, now firmly planted on the fence, to finally gain the perspective needed to decide what is right and what is wrong. I am hoping for all of these things, but if there is one thing that I have learned, it is not to expect much. RICHARD MAYK Business senior 4 4 Jon Schwartz can be reached atjlsz@umich.edu. Piccolo Clarinet Alto Saxophone Tenor Saxophone Trumpet Horn Michigan Marching Band Open Auditions During Orientation Auditions start at 3:00 PM Playing Auditions will be held at Revelli Hall on the final day of your Orientation Session. Audition will consist of: * two major scales - one chromatic scale two octaves - two excerpts of contrasting musical style no more than one minute in length Trombone Euphonium Tuba Percussion Flag Call 764-0582 for more information Twirler