OPINION & EDITORIAL
Comic misrepresents Greeks
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by Letters to the Editor
Monday, September 24, 2007
On behalf of the Panhellenic Association and the Interfraternity Council, two of the four governing bodies in the Greek Community at the University of Wisconsin, we are regretfully responding to the "Gyrating Hag" comic from the Sept. 11, 2007 issue. We, as members and leaders in the Greek system, saw this comic as cruel and offensive. It was not humorous and appears to have been printed with malicious intent.
It is disheartening to see the portrayal of fraternity men threatening to destroy the home of a new fraternity. It is even more disappointing that they are defaming a fraternity for progressive men. This is not what Greek life stands for. Greek life stands for strong community service, self-improvement, scholarship, leadership and friendship. The Greek community is extremely diverse — comprising all shapes, colors, sizes and sexual orientations.
As a community, we pride ourselves on our ability to welcome anyone who desires to be a part of our organization. We are extremely proud of our latest addition, Delta Lambda Phi.
Though we advocate freedom of the press, the comic was an unprovoked attack on the Greek community, especially fraternities. Not only did the community find this comic hurtful, many students question the journalistic integrity of someone who finds humor in putting another down. Why this person felt the need to attack such a large and productive organization is unknown.
Furthermore, the Greek community on our campus has strict zero tolerance policies on hazing. If hazing is discovered, the chapter faces harsh repercussions, such as expulsion from campus. To prevent such occurrences, there is a Greek Judicial Board as well as the Vice Presidents of Risk Management, organizations for both men and women. There is also a multitude of programming promoting safety and awareness within our community.
As a paper that prides itself on reflecting the interests and tastes of UW students, it is imperative to rethink portrayals of student organizations, even in the comic section. The comic wasn't humorous; rather, it was offensive, cruel and tremendously inaccurate. Student organizations are some of your largest supporters, but with false and vindictive assertions such as this, these organizations may think twice about their readership.
Mollie Shambeau
Vice president of public relations and communications for the Panhellenic Association
UW senior, retailing and family and consumer journalism
shambeau@wisc.edu
Sarah Anderson
President of the Panhellenic Association
UW senior majoring in political science and social work
Drew Willert
President of the Interfraternity Council
UW senior majoring in business
Anonymous (September 24, 2007 @ 2:42am):
oh yeah right, that doesn't prevent hazing. My buddy was hazed last year so badly his frat was "suspended" and that did jack.
Anonymous (September 24, 2007 @ 8:04am):
mollie, sarah, and drew are my heroes... awesome letter!! it expresses the sentiment of the majority of the greek community really well... of course hazing incidents happen like the person above said, but they're really looked down upon and are NOT the norm
Anonymous (September 24, 2007 @ 9:46am):
Thank god. The media is always trying to portray fraternities in a certain way, and they couldn't be more wrong. And for the Herald to go so far as to let a comic be printed that makes fun of a gay fraternity, especially in the most liberal city in the country, is disgusting and there is no place for it.
Anonymous (September 24, 2007 @ 12:07pm):
I'm happy to see fraternities portrayed the way they really are. I look forward to watching them squirm with all the bad publicity they get. They earned it.
Anonymous (September 24, 2007 @ 4:48pm):
That artist is foolish to assume that DLP will be ridiculed and rejected by the other fraternities on campus...To the artist: Have you actually talked to fraternity men (not just two or three assholes at Brats) and heard them verbally reject DLP? Homophobic closed-minded fools such as the artist are the problem with the community...Shame on you for proliferating fact-less arguments. I DARE you to ask any of the hundreds of fraternity men involved in Humorology how they get along with DLP. I will take a page out of the artist's book and ASSUME that all relations have been a positive step for the Greek community.
Anonymous (September 24, 2007 @ 5:06pm):
Yeah! Stop stereotyping us!
I'm going back to my keg now so I'll be drunk when I get my tramp stamp. It doesn't matter that it's 85 degrees outside -- I'll still be wearing my North Face jacket and Uggs.
Anonymous (September 24, 2007 @ 7:34pm):
As the guy who made that comics page, and a former fraternity member, I thought the comic was both poignant and hilarious. A lot of that type of thing happens in fraternities; I've witnessed it. Granted, it usually isn't quite what the authors depicted, but people don't listen to points made in comics unless they are extremely over the top. However, if we get right down to it, it was a cartoon above all else. Just like the comments posted about Monty's cartoon today, you're not complaining to the right people. The change in attitude won't come from people not making a cartoon, it will come from fraternity members proving themselves to be the wonderful, hazing free community they say they are. Actions speak louder than words. Remember that at the next party you throw where people are doing things they can't remember the next day.
Anonymous (September 24, 2007 @ 10:34pm):
7:34 - Did you actually witness fraternity men forcing oral sex on pledges? And if so, did you report it to police or IFC? No? Then you're a part of the problem.
Anonymous (September 25, 2007 @ 12:15am):
"Fraternity men"
lol.
That's a PR stunt by the Greek community. No one uses that rhetoric.
aepi hazed their kids so bad last year one of them went home crying to mommy
Anonymous (September 26, 2007 @ 6:54pm):
Only two of three major issues were brought up on this blog about what was wrong with the cartoon:
The first being that it is a negative stereotype of Greek Life
The second that it is putting a negative view on what the Greek Community has been commending and celebrating...A new fraternity on our campus that adds to the diversity of our Greek System. Of course in saying "Gay Fraternity" in the comic strip itself, the author/artist has in fact proven that they know nothing about DLP. Because those who do know something about them know that they are a fraternity who welcome men of all sexual orientations!
Most importantly what has been ignored and not brought up is the fact that the comic strip in itself is disgusting and tasteless! The fact that it was even allowed into the newspaper is astonishing. I am fully aware of the first amendment and the rights it gives people in terms of freedom of speech, press, etc. But this is plain crude and two-steps away from being pornographic. I would think that as an educated College student the author/artist would have found a better way to get their point across.
Anonymous (October 4, 2007 @ 3:32pm):
I dont think you know what a publicity stunt is.
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