I was disappointed when I read the article about the Boston University fraternity member that was arrested at the Phi Delta Theta fraternity party (“Police arrest 2 at frat party,” page 1, Nov. 22). This is just another example that can be used to validate the negative perceptions that many students have about fraternities. I would like to take this opportunity to point out a vital piece of information that was omitted from that article: Phi Delta Theta is an underground fraternity that is NOT recognized by the Boston University Inter-Fraternity Council. The chapter applied for IFC recognition last year and was granted recognition as a colony. In order to gain recognition as an actual chapter, the colony had to display to the IFC that it could present its members in a manner that reflects the ideals that all recognized fraternities have adopted, including meeting the academic standards and displaying a desire to serve both the university as well as the surrounding community.
During their time as a colony Phi Delta Theta failed to meet these requirements and was not granted recognition. The actions of the members of this fraternity are not in any way consistent with actions promoted by the IFC and its seven recognized chapters. Furthermore, the front-page coverage of this story only advances the societal trend of attacking Greek-letter organizations.
Throughout my time at Boston University I have read numerous stories in this publication that repeatedly illustrate the negative actions of such groups, actions that are not in any way exclusive to the Greek community. During that same stretch I have seldom, if ever, read of the positive contributions made by these groups. Several chapters participated on many levels in the Brian Honan 5K run in Allston-Brighton and received no recognition. Every chapter holds individual philanthropic events each semester and they receive no recognition. Yet the moment that an unrecognized chapter has a party broken up by the police it makes the front page.
If the media is going to continue to be so quick to illustrate the negative actions of a few select chapters they should also disclose all of the social, academic, philanthropic and leadership opportunities that are available to all undergraduate and alumni members of this campus’s fraternities and sororities, as well as the positive contributions that we continue to make to our community.
Steven Stutsman CAS ’06 President BU Inter-Fraternity Council