As the university continues the investigation of the alleged hazing event last weekend, The Times-Delphic would like to take this opportunity to remind students that only a few of the 52 members of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity were involved in the misconduct.
The Times-Delphic staff encourages students to recognize that this was an isolated incident that does not represent the actions of all members. Please do not use this event as grounds to insult the men of Phi Delta Theta.
Like most fraternities, Phi Delta Theta members participate in philanthropy events and hold leadership positions on campus. The fraternity also consistently reports a GPA higher than the all-campus average.
At this time, we are most concerned with Nate’s recovery and our thoughts are with him and his family. We are relieved to know that he has been released from the hospital without major damage of any kind.
Let this be a reminder of the serious consequences of binge drinking and hazing. Students must recognize that they need to be responsible when choosing to drink. This near-death incident proves to us all how imperative a call for help is – it can save a friend’s life.
Please err on the side of caution and, when faced with a possible medical emergency regarding alcohol, do not hesitate to ask for help. Drake’s medical amnesty policy ensures that students will not face punishment from the university if they ask for emergency medical help.
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November 12th, 2009 at 1:32 AM
I’m sure stuff like this happens with Phi Delt (or any other Greek houses) members all the time, except this time around, it’s received all of this unwanted attention by way of media, arrests, charges, etc. so I’m not really buying the “few bad apples” excuse. After all, aren’t new members partially selected based on how well they fit in with current members and their own morals and attitudes?
November 12th, 2009 at 9:49 PM
What absolute nonsense.
So let me get this straight, TD staff:
Because the Greek house in question has a good GPA and does good things for the community it’s OK for members of the fraternity to terrorize its new initiates with forced drinking games to prove loyalty? Seriously? That’s the point of your editorial? That’s insane!
Please, I urge you to take a moment and think about the position you just took. It’s offensive and just plain wrong.
It is because these young men have the highest GPA and that they do philanthropic things that we should be horrified by what we have heard. If there are so many leaders in this house, how is it that this took place? They almost killed someone. And the sad part is, this takes place all the time. While people may not reach the point of near death, there are alcohol fueled events that cause harm – and they take place all the time.
This is -not- an isolated incident. I assure you that in every single other house on Greek street this same exact scenario has been playing out – every single pledge class – for years! Yet, we turn a blind eye because of the perception of good deeds. These people are terrible individuals that seek validation through the humiliation of others via alcoholic terrorism.
Making matters worse, the only wise, sage-like advice that is offered is not to drink in moderation or just not drink at all. No, the advice that is given by the wise staff of the TD is to call for help. Call for help? That’s the best we can come up with when a student almost dies?
This is shameful, terrible journalism.
November 13th, 2009 at 8:32 PM
In response to several elements of your comment Joe F.
“Because the Greek house in question has a good GPA and does good things for the community it’s OK for members of the fraternity to terrorize its new initiates with forced drinking games to prove loyalty? Seriously? That’s the point of your editorial? That’s insane!”
I think you are taking the wrong message out of this editorial. I do not see any place where this editorial says that its a chapters GPA and community service make hazing OK. The point was simply to show that the chapter is not completely bad. It is showing another side of the house that otherwise may be villified for actions in one instance. It is not vindicating their poor choices, merely asking people to not rush to conclusions.
“This is -not- an isolated incident. I assure you that in every single other house on Greek street this same exact scenario has been playing out – every single pledge class – for years! Yet, we turn a blind eye because of the perception of good deeds. These people are terrible individuals that seek validation through the humiliation of others via alcoholic terrorism.”
As a member of another fraternity in Drake’s greek system, I find it highly offensive that you would generalize an incident of one house to “every single other house on Greek street.” I am proud of my house for not hazing its members – one of the critical factors in my choice to join the Greek system – something I had never considered before coming to college. I think that you need to re-evaluate your preconceived notions of Greek life or, at the very least, stop using overgeneralizations and use qualifiers to back your unsubstantiated claims. You might find your arguments hold a lot more water that way.
“That is shameful, terrible journalism.”
Those sound the words of someone who is extremely judgmental and cranky. Do also realize that this is a staff editorial and, as such, contains the opinions of staff members of the Times Delphic which is something to consider when reading it.
November 14th, 2009 at 7:56 AM
“Those sound the words of someone who is extremely judgmental and cranky. Do also realize that this is a staff editorial and, as such, contains the opinions of staff members of the Times Delphic which is something to consider when reading it.”
No, these sound like the words of someone that is sick and tired of seeing Greek systems in the entire country (and at Drake) poison their prospective “brothers” (and sisters, no, sororities don’t get a free pass, either) in the name of loyalty, brotherhood, sisterhood or loyalty. I’m also fed up with the acceptance of hazing and alcohol terrorism as the status quo.
I’m also disappointed in the editorial staff at the TD. The journalistic tradition that is the Times-Delphic has been harmed by this editorial in many ways. These may be opinions expressed, but they faulty, illogical and dangerous. The right thing to do is to create a culture where alcohol binge drinking isn’t the norm – where calling 911 is the best course of action. The right thing to say was “It’s time to change the culture of alcoholic binge drinking that the Greek system perpetuates.”
In my entire time at Drake not one single time was I at a party with my GDI friends where I was forced to drink or risk humiliation and dejection from my friends. Yet, the stories from Greek friends painted a starkly different picture. Why the difference? Time after time, we hear tragic stories such as this that demonstrate the need for a major paradigm shift in regards to the acceptance of the Greek system as a “force for good”. Quite simply, they can do all the good that they want, but they’ll never be able to wash away the stain of the poisoning of their brothers and sisters.
I’m not judgmental or cranky. I’m upset and tired of hearing these stories – time and time again – while people look past the transgressions because of how much good comes out of the Greek system. Nonsense, I say. The Greek system is the sum of its parts – all of them. Quite frankly, there is a whole lot of bad that needs to be factored into the equation. You could have a 4.0 house GPA and help 10,000 little old ladies cross the street in snowstorms – but one single alcohol poisoning in a hazing related incident cancels all that out. That’s the point. You can’t wash this stain off of your hands, no matter how much soap you use.
Hazing, in every way, shape and form offends me. The poisoning of Drake students offends me even more. I saw it happen so many times while an undergrad at Drake and continue to see it time and time again. It’s time for a change. Stop poisoning kids, Greek system!
November 15th, 2009 at 11:54 PM
“Hazing, in every way, shape and form offends me.”
I will not, and will never argue with this. Hazing and this particular event sicken me but it is important to distinguish between houses that do not condone hazing in any way and the houses responsible for incidents like this. As a member of a Greek house, I would not tolerate being disrespected or hazed in any way and I know that my house does not just say it doesn’t haze, it doesn’t. My point is that not all Greeks haze. In fact, many Greeks don’t haze. It is the vast minority of Greeks that are involved in incidents like this one and I think that that is something that is important to keep in mind. Greek does not equal hazing.