In response to Steven Jones' letter to the editor ("There are reasons behind initiation week traditions," Nov. 15), I must inform him of some misunderstandings.
Traditions are not always the smartest way of survival. In fact, all fraternities are at an all-time low in recruitment. I find it interesting that my fraternity, Sigma Phi Epsilon, has been the largest national fraternity for the past 23 years and is the first and only fraternity to dissolve hazing. Completely.
The U was one of the first Sig Ep chapters to implement this program of zero tolerance for hazing. Instead, we utilize real-world education, a more popular "tradition" sought by the current young gentleman.
Jones, please refrain from making comments such as "it has been proven to work time and time again, year after year." How about we label hazing as having been "proven to fail year after year?" Hazing is something that deters true men of character who wish to build on their own successes-the kind of men for which all our organizations are looking.
Ryan Carrier
Junior,
Business Administration/Anthroplogy
President of Sigma Phi Epsilon
Not sure all the facts are 100 percent correct, but his heart and passion are in the right place.
Hazing doesn't strengthen tradition-it weakens it - Opinion(free subscr. reqd.)
