Two sides to every story

Monday's front-page of the Wildcat reported on a three-month-old story about my fraternity losing its appeal with UA. The independent University Hearing Board actually overturned the dean's recommendation, and recommended one year of probation. The Dean of Students Office came back and requested two years. We decided not to fight and focused on the future and moving forward. The past cannot be changed, but we can direct the future. The future is where we are focused. Delta Chi will be the number one "no-hazing" fraternity on campus.

In keeping with the "old news" line, the story brought up alleged rapes that occurred while members of the chapter were in grade school, in 1991 and 1994. From my research, UA and the police fully investigated these allegations, and Delta Chi was found to have nothing at all to do with these acts. Nothing was substantiated and no charges were brought forth. If UA did not feel it was resolved, they wouldn't or couldn't have granted us full recognition.

This in my opinion was a breach of trust by the news media to not report accurately and with both sides of the story.

The reporter confirmed other facts with members of the fraternity, but forgot the alleged rapes. Was it overlooked? Or considered relevant because of the photo of the rapist on the front page, in full color? Or was it done to provide background information? I think it was a mistake and had nothing to do with the situation at hand. It was a breach of trust and a disservice to the readers of the Wildcat. But then again, there are two sides to every story.

Repeat something enough times and it will start to sound true. Please stop this. It's not fair to your readers.

The Delta Chi fraternity has nothing to hide and has expressed its openness to everyone. "No comment" is not our policy. We have extended invitations to dinner, lunch or just to stop by to reporters and administrators alike. Nobody from UA has taken us on this offer lately! Who's only telling part of the story? When you have an impartial exchange of ideas and don't hide anything, everyone is better off.

Delta Chi is currently rushing for new associate members who will take part in our model no-hazing pledge and mentorship program. We are extending an open invitation to stop by and find out first hand. We're located at 1701 E. First St. (520) 322-0617.

Michael V. Woolbright
president, Tucson Delta Chi House Corporation
international treasurer, Delta Chi Fraternity

PC police victimize Wilbur

A little over a year ago, Jefferson Middle School in Fort Wayne, Ind. set the new standard for PC silliness when they "touched-up" a mural of the long-standing school mascot ÷ a Minuteman ÷ painting out the very tool that identified him as a Minuteman: his ever-present musket. Proponents of the change all sang the same sorry tune: that the presence of even a mere picture of a firearm, even in the context of a proud symbol of our nation's struggle for independence, "sends the wrong message." One can only suppose that history classes now teach that we won our independence through peaceful protest and a few convincingly worded but non-confrontational letters to King George. And if you think that's funny, that same year officials at a Massachusetts elementary school asked the parents of six-year-old student Joshua Smith Wessen to legally change the boy's name, because they were distressed by its similarity to the name of firearm manufacturer Smith & Wesson.

I've long derived a great deal of entertainment from this obsession suffered by some folks over the supposed "talisman" power of the mere concept or image of a firearm.

As though we were all so weak-minded and naive that the sight of a cartoon rendering of a gun, or the very mention of its name will call forth doom and destruction.

This sort of nonsense is now unfortunately commonplace, having spread like wildfire throughout the K-12 level under the excuse that it's "for the children." But in case you're feeling left out, don't worry ÷ UA can now stand proud with the likes of hand-wringing elementary and middle school PC watchdogs everywhere, as our decidedly western mascot, Wilbur Wildcat, has finally been disarmed.

That's right ÷ UA is in crisis-management mode, the long-ongoing brain drain is exacerbated by drastic budget cuts, layoffs, and suspension or elimination of services, axing entire programs of study. Students here are getting the least education bang for their tuition buck than ever before.

But that's OK, because our impressionable little minds are finally being protected from the looming threat of a cartoon cat's dangerous cartoon six-shooters. The UA now officially considers its student body on an emotional and intellectual par with elementary and middle school students all over the country ÷ and in need of the same ridiculous "protection."

Regardless of how you feel about real guns, you've got to be at least a little insulted by this condescending attitude and displaced priority. I know I am.

Scott Benjamin
senior staff technician, optical sciences