Deserving greeks

I have been at the Indiana Daily Student for a while now. Four years to be exact. Every year, we get the same complaints -- our coverage of minorities sucks, a new reporter misquoted an important source, the Opinion page is too far to the left and we pay too much attention to one party over the other during the Student Association elections.\nBut the complaint that runs through our office the most (and is sometimes the most credible) is that the IDS unfairly represents the greek community. \nIn our coverage, it's difficult to strike a balance between the controversies -- hazings, being kicked off campus, alcohol violations, etc. -- and the good things -- recruitment, philanthropy events and campus involvement. Sure, some IDS staffers are members of sororities and fraternities, but on the whole, greek life is foreign to most of us in Ernie Pyle 120, and for most students at IU. \nTake Facebook, for example. The anti-greek groups include Gamma Delta Iota: God Damn Independent; Oh Boy I'm Not Greek and Damn Proud of It; and I Was Popular in High School So I Don't Need the Greek System. Perhaps the divide between greeks and non-greeks is as wide as the one between East Coasters and Midwesterners. \nNah.\nBut, really. The greek community takes a lot of flak. An alcohol violation? How could they?! Like we're supposed to be shocked that people in the greek community like to party. Yes, we laugh at the frat tuck, sweat bands and aviator glasses. Yes, we sometimes evaluate the sanity of people who desire to live with 200 people of the same sex. And yes, sometimes it's enjoyable to make fun of their frattiness and sororityness. But when it comes down to it, the greeks aren't so bad.\nThey raised $677,000 for Riley Hospital through IU Dance Marathon last year. In 2003, they donated $45,000 and 16,000 hours to the community. Basically, they're involved on campus and in the community. And that's more than many IU students can say about themselves. \nThis week is an especially difficult week for them. They have lost Nichole Birky of Delta Zeta, Christine Wampler at a Phi Kappa Sigma formal in Louisville, Ky., and are remembering Ashley Crouse, a Kappa who died one year ago in a car wreck. Somehow, tragedy strikes this community ever year. And they come together.\nNo matter what squabbles or rivals they have with other houses at the time, fraternities and sororities support each other no matter what. They show class. They show solidarity, and not because they have to. Their strength and involvement is genuine in every way.\nI didn't always think like this. But last year when I saw thousands of students donning greek letters marching down Jordan Avenue to remember just one of their fallen members, I realized this group of people deserves more than they often get. \nSo when you run into a greek, ask them how they're doing. Let them know, for once, that we care about them as much as they care about this campus.