Fraternities at Cal State Northridge

I would like to take this opportunity to reflect on the recent barrage of commentary that the news media have directed toward the Greek system at California State University, Northridge. The goal of my discourse is not to perpetuate the tit for tat mentality that has been portrayed over the past weeks, but rather to present a fair appraisal of the merits and deficiencies of the system.

For decades the fraternity system has played an integral role in the societal structure of the college campus. To state that its record has emerged untarnished would be to portray the ignorance of a biased participant. Clearly however, the blemishes that have appeared and healed are consistent with those seen in any organized structure that is subject to growth and change over time.

Let us examine more closely the situation involving CSUN. In the past six months, the anti-fraternity mentality has grown in momentum. While there have been a myriad of causes fueling this progression, the primary catalyst has been an ongoing series of articles targeting the fraternity system as a villain in the campus society. It has always been my understanding that a good representative of the press will ascertain and print the facts lest he be termed a gossip columnist. Additionally, a quality news publication will maintain an unbiased involvement.

There is no perception that the members of the CSUN fraternity system are a group of angels. Clearly they are only human beings and as such will, from time to time, exhibit human flaws. It is accepted that this rationale does not absolve the fraternity members of their actions. At the same time, one should not judge the aggregate merit and/or value of the system on what is the weakness of one link in the chain that makes the whole. Judgments of this kind are comparable to judging the worth of a human being on a sole item such as a physical handicap. The previously stated action is clearly seen as ludicrous, as is judging the entire fraternal system on the infantile pranks of a few members.

The goal of the campus leadership (administrative, student and community) should be to resolve the conflicts surrounding the fraternal system, thereby further synthesizing its role in the community. Through organization such as Inter-Fraternity Council an organized grievance procedure can be established and instituted. Without question, it cannot police and mother its community. Through open dialogue and community support it can establish guidelines that represent acceptable behavior within the university community.

In conclusion, if the university community would put aside their personal prejudices and address the Greek community with the intelligence and professionalism with which they address their own, they would undoubtedly encounter a positive response. Banishing the Greek community from CSUN may in short term provide an easy answer. However, this action will not solve the problem. The Greek community is and should be an integral part of campus life available to students.

MARK FOX

Burbank

Fox is the president of Sigma Chi Fraternity at Cal State Northridge.