Re: "CU frats make wrong choice," April 29 editorial.
Counter to the assertion in The Post's editorial, our fraternities absolutely will not stand for "business as usual." This is why we agreed to new standards established by the North-American Interfraternity Conference.
We recognize that we must do a better job of demonstrating our commitment to academic excellence, leadership development and service, particularly as they relate to social issues. Otherwise we allow people to lose sight of who we are and what we contribute. The standards include tougher policies on how we hold ourselves accountable for these things, including a prohibition of alcohol at recruitment and new member events.
The University of Colorado needs to stop suggesting that deferred recruitment will change the alcohol-based culture on the Boulder campus. These issues require diligence and teamwork among campus and student organizations to educate students about the dangers and consequences of inappropriate behavior. The Guidelines and Objectives of Responsible Drinking established by the Greek community is a good example.
Deferred recruitment would create disparate treatment between fraternities and other student organizations, including athletic teams. It would also deny incoming freshmen the right to join an organization with which they wish to associate - a basic right in the United States.
Our desire is simply to be treated equally by CU, compared to the other student organizations and the rest of the student body.
Craig Templeton, Richmond, Va.
The writer is executive director of the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity.
Also see this link to the news story.
