Letter writer's prejudice against Greek system stems from ignorance

On behalf of the Interfraternity Council and its member fraternities, I would like to take this opportunity to respond to the letter by D.B. Caulfield in the Monday edition of the Wildcat. Your animosity towards the Greek system has apparently clouded your judgment as evidenced by your letter. For example, there is not a single chapter on this campus that encourages its members to deny their non-fraternity friends. To blame the Greek community for losing touch with some of your friends is to irresponsibly place the blame.

You also speak at length as to how pride cannot be gained if one "pays to surround oneself with others who have paid for the same privilege." What you fail to realize is that every dime that is given to the fraternities by its members is put directly back into the benefit of the chapter at large. The money goes for many things including a large portion for scholarships and scholarship programming, alumni relations and outreach, repairs and upkeep of the chapter houses etc. There is not a fraternity in the world that is hoarding fortunes on the backs of its paying brothers.

Finally, to term the Greek community and its governing bodies as "pathetic" while displaying your lack of information on the subject is at best, irresponsible. Fraternities and sororities do more in the way of community service and charity fund raising than any other student group or organization on this campus. If you do not wish to join a fraternity or acquire any more information on the matter, then don't, but do not make stereotypical blanket statements about the pride and actions of three thousand Greek students at this University.

By Brian L. Szatkowski (letter)
Arizona Daily Wildcat
March 31, 1997