Campus must welcome all

Omega Delta Phi, a national Latino fraternity is claiming a place in the IU greek community. The new organization provides an excellent opportunity for members of a shared ethnicity to embrace brotherhood. The need for the opportunity, however, may point to a problem on campus. It should lead us to ask: Is this a campus where all are brothers and sisters, regardless of race, ethnicity, beliefs and sexuality? While the IDS welcomes the new fraternity to campus, it is important to recognize the gap between a truly accepting campus and one where people feel most comfortable among people of their own race, sexuality or background. \n Certainly there is great value in sharing common cultural traditions, norms and simply feeling comfortable. Nearly every college student feels homesick at some point, so having a place where the food, language and jokes carry the flavor of home is highly comforting. Places that make the University a smaller place are valuable, and students should take advantage of places that resemble their own homes, and ones they've never visited. \nHowever, the emergence of Omega Delta Phi and Delta Lambda Phi, a fraternity catering to gay students, may point to a breakdown somewhere. The ideal situation at IU is for everyone to respect each other's differences, and embrace what makes the next person unique. IU is a place where someone from a small town in Indiana can make friends with students from around the state, or the world, and see his or her world open up as friendships grow. With gay and Latino students increasingly sequestered in their own groups, friendships and bonds that would have existed may not form. \nIU seeks to provide the fellowship that people from diverse backgrounds crave as they face new challenges many miles from home and far from their comfort zone. La Casa and the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Student Support Services Office offer fellowship and an outlet for students who would be likely to join either new fraternity. While these resources are invaluable to affirming one's origins, it's upsetting that these groups need to create fraternities to feel their culture or lifestyle is recognized and accepted. \nThe new greek houses are certainly welcome on campus, but as they colonize and gain membership, the campus and greek community should make an effort to include them in campus-wide and Interfraternity Council events. Separation can be detrimental to those who are segregated, and even more harmful for those who do not benefit from the group that is set apart. For the campus to move forward in its commitment to diversity, we should all look to a time when there is no longer a need in the greek system for stratification.