U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT ATTACKS GREEKS

Robert Manley, Manley Burke

The November 28, 2005, issue of U.S. News & World Report carries on its march away from news reporting into feature writing with a two-page spread on the evils of the Greek system at Colgate called, “Say it Ain’t So: Frats Gone Mild.”  It is a propaganda piece to praise Colgate for seizing all but one of the houses by involuntary transfer.

In fact, the Greek system at Colgate was in good health; the houses were well-maintained; and the chapters were functioning in a constructive way.

The following is a letter to the Editor of U.S. News & World Report sent by the Chairman of Manley Burke.

Dear Editor:

Your two-page feature on fraternities (November 28, 2005) was an unfair hatchet job.  Colleges have the ability to regulate student activities through regulation without draconian confiscation of the Greek real estate.  Most national Greek organizations have an effective educational program to teach chapter leaders on how to manage their chapters in a safe and responsible manner.

Prior to the 1960s, when colleges began to allow alcohol in the dormitories, fraternities did not have alcohol and sororities have never had alcohol in their houses.  Voluntarily, all of the sororities ban alcohol from their houses and an increasing number of fraternities do not allow alcohol in their houses.  This has resulted in:

• Improved academic standings;
• Increased recruitment numbers;
• Re-involving alumni;
• Stabilizing insurance costs; and
• Better servicing the needs of college students.

For Colgate, or any other university, to act like it is governed by a monarch sends the wrong message.  Fraternities develop leadership ability and fraternity alumni tend to be larger contributors to their alma maters.  Greeks also have a higher graduation rate than non-Greeks.

Hamilton College went down the same path.  After Hamilton College secured a monopoly on room and board, the charges for this service were increased $2,310.00 per year per student.

Dr. Edward G. Whipple, Vice President for Student Affairs at Bowling Green State University, did research that proved the benefits when Greeks voluntarily remove alcohol from their houses.