Lashing out at Lucas: Part 2
After reading an article titled "Sorority girls' intentions to join are questionable" in the Jan. 24 edition of The Signal by Kenneth Lucas, we, along with many of the other sorority women on campus, were in shock.
A sorority or fraternity is similar to an athletic team or club that promotes time management, leadership and working together. The valuable skills gained from being involved in one of these organizations propel people to do great things. Famous Greeks include Maya Angelou, Katie Couric, Georgia O'Keefe and Florence Henderson. We understand that sororities are not for everyone; it is an individual choice that should be made based on research, experience and not prejudgment.
A sorority is not merely about the "myths" of community service and diversity. While these are all a part of who we are, sorority girls are called Sisters for a reason: a sorority is a second family, people you can turn to for friendship, laughs, help and fun. If these women were in social groups "where the parties are endless and hooking up is easier than Paris Hilton," surely these organizations would have died off and would not still be in existence today.
Belittling community service of any kind is absurd. Who are you to say that bake sales are worthless? When you also state you have never seen a sorority girl "give a march on Washington," you must not have done your research. Ruth Bader-Ginsburg and Sandra Day O'Connor, both Supreme Court justices, were sisters of a sorority. I doubt they were the Paris Hiltons of their time. Dr. Condoleezza Rice, heard of her? Yup, in a sorority. Nancy Ostrander, Barbara Boxer, Pat Schroeder, Margaret Chase Smith, Andrea Seastrand: all politicians affiliated with a sorority. Lynne Cheney, Elizabeth Dole: both First Ladies, both sorority sisters. As for "protesting against discrimination," what do you think we are doing now?
We're not trying to change your mind, because it seems yours is already decided. We're sorry that you think of us as dumb "chicks" and even sorrier if you speak to your girlfriend in that manner. But, until you join a Greek organization, you will never truly understand our argument.
"From the outside looking in, you can never understand it. From the inside looking out, you can never explain it."
The Sisters of Kappa Delta
Needle exchange proven to be effective
Regarding Terence Grado's Jan. 31 opinion article, needle exchanges have been proven to reduce the spread of HIV without increasing drug use. They also serve as a bridge to drug treatment for an especially hard to reach population.
Drug users are not the only beneficiaries. U.S. Centers for Disease Control researchers estimate that 57 percent of AIDS cases among women and 36 percent of overall AIDS cases in the U.S. are linked to injection drug use or sex with partners who inject drugs.
This easily preventable public health crisis is a direct result of zero tolerance laws that restrict access to clean syringes. In the interest of containing the HIV epidemic, let's hope more politicians acknowledge the drug war's tremendous collateral damage sooner rather than later.
Robert Sharpe
MPA Policy Analyst,
Common Sense for Drug Policy
Professor's ironic end
I recently saw an article on your Web site concerning the Gene Carte Memorial Award (April 26, 2006). In that article it stated that Gene Carte was killed at the University of Cincinnati while coming to the aid of a student who was being attacked. This is not how Dr. Carte died.
I was a student of his at the time of his death and later attended the murder trial of his killer. Dr. Carte was killed about five miles from the campus while visiting a social service agency with his wife. While he was there two subjects came into the office to commit a robbery.
They were armed with a shotgun and ordered those present to get down on the floor. Dr. Carte resisted and attempted to physically disarm the individual with the shotgun. It discharged, striking him in the upper body, neck and face. He reportedly died instantly.
This was a shock and tragedy for those of us who knew Dr. Carte. It was also ironic - one of the classes he taught was "Analysis of Robbery," during which he discussed that most robbers did not seek to harm anyone when they committed their act unless their victims resisted or attempted to thwart the robbery.
We will never know why he failed to appreciate and follow this thinking when involved in a robbery himself.
Sheriff A.J. Rodenberg
Batavia, Ohio
