From a non-greek perspective, I appreciated being able to see from the perspective of ISU greeks and their attempts to eradicate the stereotypes of greek life in the article “MTV’s so-called greek life” on Feb. 27.

However, on the same day I read this article, I noticed a young woman in the rec whose T-shirt front displayed the Delta Zeta letters, and the back of this same shirt displayed her nickname (a personalized screen print): “Lil’ Booze-Hound.”

Representing any organization in this manner is going to provide little room for one to reflect on the true values of the organization, in this case the “loyalty, family-like bonds and lifelong friendships” that greek life can provide. This also does nothing to help prove what the greeks believe, that “their institutions stand for community and campus involvement, academic excellence, and sister and brotherhood.”

I am privileged to know many people in the greek system, who are very fine individuals, and who wholeheartedly stand for these principles.

The individual wearing the T-shirt is one person who should not represent the entire greek community, or even the entire Delta Zeta community.

Many people do not have the privilege of interacting with greeks, or members of different individual sororities and fraternities, and will form an opinion of the greek community or an individual sorority or fraternity by what they hear from others and what they see, be it validated or not.

Choosing to put “booze-hound” on a T-shirt, letting a fellow member put that on their T-shirt or just letting a fellow member wear a shirt representing a member of the organization as a “booze-hound” on their clothing will not help end these stereotypes.

Leaders in the greek system should evaluate what is personalized on their members’ T-shirts and encourage representing the real values of the greek system, so that all members of the greek community are represented fairly and accurately.

Mary Froehle

Sophomore

Exercise and Sport Science