Once again I’ve been disappointed by a Daily columnist who failed to research her topic thoroughly before slinging insults and derogatory comments.

Amy Peet, in reference to her Oct. 15 column, “Campus greeks expropriating true ‘Greek life,'” might be interested in knowing that fraternities and sororities were not the first ones to call themselves “greeks.” “Greeks” is a nickname started by non-members.

On Dec. 5, 1776, five men started a literary society named Phi Beta Kappa. This started a trend of societies using Greek letters in their name. These letters are often the acronyms of the societies’ Greek mottos. It takes little imagination to see why we called ourselves Greek Letter Societies.

As for us “stealing” these letters, should we suggest the fields of mathematics, economics, physics, statistics and chemistry collectively stop using Greek letters as variables and apologize? And maybe we should also stop using our numeric system that was developed by Arabs. Or what about the Roman-developed letters I’m writing with right now? Several different culture groups have made contributions to the intellectual advancement of mankind without feeling slighted by adoption of their developments outside their own culture.

Also, as for ISU Greek culture groups, it seems Amy was quick to overlook the Hellenic Student Association. Their mission statement can be found just a few clicks from the ISU student organization Web site: “The Hellenic Student Association’s main purpose is to help in the orientation and adjustment of students from Greece and Cyprus as well as to maintain the Hellenic spirit by celebrating Hellenic traditions and folklore.” This group, with no connection to fraternities or sororities, is exactly the group Amy claims does not exist.

Fraternities and sororities make no claims to being ethnically Greek, we simply continue to use the Greek letters that have been in our history since the 1700s.

Grant Blythe

Sophomore

Electrical Engineering