Propaganda reinforces stereotypes about fraternity, sorority life

  Bishoff is a third-year political science student.

By Noah Bishoff

As much as I want to ignore Kirra Steel’s unfounded attack
on the Greek system, I simply cannot allow it to go unchallenged
("Systematic sisterhood promotes
intolerance," Daily Bruin, Oct. 5). I am a third-year student
and have been a member of a fraternity since fall quarter of
freshman year. My experiences, as well as those of the people
around me, are completely different than the experiences described
by Steel. First, I must start by refuting some of the stereotypes
to which Steel adds fuel. The Greek system is not “morally
reprehensible, elitist, and divisive,” and certainly does not
“promote racism, hate, and social inequity.” In fact,
the opposite is true. I am Jewish. I have never felt one bit of
racism because of my being a Jew in the Greek system, nor have I
ever seen racism directed at any of my fraternity brothers. In my
fraternity alone, we have Hispanics, African Americans, Persians,
Indians, Asians, Jews, Catholics, Mormons, as well as many other
minority groups. We also have people from many different social
backgrounds. I am not rich. I have a part-time job during school, a
full-time job during vacations, and I pay my own fraternity dues.
Nobody ever looks down on me for that. According to Steel, we are
all brainwashed and oblivious to the fact that we are part of a
racist and socially unequal system. What an absolutely ridiculous
assertion! It seems a little egotistical for Steel to claim that
the rest of us are all brainwashed, and she is the only one who has
“managed to escape.” I also take serious issue with
Steel’s claim that the Greek system has you “so
brainwashed that you begin to question your own beliefs and
morals.” Again, the opposite is true. My fraternity has
enabled me to reinforce my beliefs and morals, and be proud of who
I am. Having long conversations with an African American fraternity
brother about the similarities and differences in our experiences
and our lives has been one of the most important things I have done
here at UCLA. Conversations like those make me proud of who I am,
and who I surround myself with. My fraternity has taught me things
that no class at UCLA can teach me. It has taught me about life.
Another issue Steel has with the Greek system is the method used by
sororities during rush. What she neglects to mention is that this
method is dictated to them by the Greek Council. Just about every
sorority member you ask will tell you how much she wishes rush was
conducted differently. They simply do not have a choice in the
matter. Many people outside the Greek system feel that the
friendships we talk about are superficial. Those are the beliefs of
people who are uninformed. In two years, I have been through so
much with my fraternity brothers, that I am as close to many of
them as I am to my friends back home, who I grew up with. I came to
realize that it is not about how long you have known someone, but
what you go through together. Fraternities and sororities are
designed so that a lifetime of experiences can be attained in only
four short years. It is unfortunate that Steel was unable to have
the same experience that most Greeks do. That is her loss, but it
is certainly not characteristic of the Greek system. I am not
trying to be naive here. Every college campus has a few
“animal houses,” and every fraternity and sorority has
some members who are stereotypical Greeks. But the Greek system is
so much deeper and better than Steel gives it credit for. Steel
urges readers to not “let your years at UCLA be filled with
regret and shame by going Greek.” How sad that because of her
unfortunate experiences, Steel is trying to rob others of an
incredible college experience. Do not be swayed by the propaganda
of the few. Check it out for yourself, and you will see the virtues
of going Greek.