EDITORIAL
Dialogue necessary
on heels of protest
Monday's protest against the Phi Kappa Psi frater
nity represented a starting point for examining atti
tudes within the groek system. But before the protesters
go any further, they should reflect on a few things.
First, the protest was effective because it brought
the issue of rape forcefully to the attention of the frater
nity system. Clearly, the Phi Psi s realize there is anger
over the rape charges. They also must know their ac
tions will be scrutinized closely from this point on.
But now that the protesters have expressed their
anger, they must channel their frustrations construc
tively. A protest serves only to heighten awareness but
will accomplish nothing but by itself.
Those concerned must organize a dialogue within
the greek system to rationally discuss the issue of rape.
If there aren't enough seminars on rape for fraternity
members, then argue for more. If traditional male atti
tudes are the problem, discuss these attitudes intelli
gently with fraternity members.
Protesters calling for Phi Psi members to come out
of their house on Monday did not represent an attempt
at dialogue. At that point, the most likely result would
have been a fist fight
The only legitimate discussion of the evening was
when a Creeks Against Rape member took the micro
phone to address the protesters' concern over inaction.
She admitted to the crowd that "the greek system does
condone rape in certain aspects." But the dialogue end
ed there. Before she had a chance to put her statement
into context, the crowd derided her.
If the protesters are serious about improving condi
tions. they should work with Creeks Against Rape Al
though the protesters didn't appreciate Creeks Against
Rape's input on Monday, the group is trying to enlight
en the system from within. It believes the problem is
not the fraternity system itself but ignorance among
certain members
The protesters should also avoid i onvicting the en
tire fraternity system for the actions of a few. All rap
ists in society are not fraternity members. And all fra
ternity members are not rapists. There art; men with
violent attitudes throughout America, and. as much as
some people would like, grtn-ks cannot shoulder all the
blame.
i he leader of the protest, Konnine Niki riaucn,
filed a rape complaint with the administration against
a Phi Psi pledge. It is important to note, however, that
the alleged rape did not take place at the fraternity. Ac
cording to Gerry Mosely, vice provost for academic
support and student services. Rauch claimed she was
raped at her apartment by a man she met at a party that
w;is hosted at the home of another man who was affili
ated with the fraternity. Phi Kappa Psi's connection to
the alleged rape is tenuous at best.
For example, if the men were affiliated with the
marching hand, would it he fair to demand the march
ing band be disbanded? Should the music school he
closed?
This isn't to say rape is not a problem within the
greek system. But Monday's protest looked more like a
war zone than a discussion over greek attitudes. If rape
is the problem, rape should be addressed Now that
protesters have made their point, they should use the
momentum to move toward a more constructive outlet.
Oregon Doth
Emerald
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p0CK_ SEASON^
IIJ 1^1
OSPIRG works
in response to Paul Budlong's
letter (ODE. Nov. 23) It is u
shame that he only walked by
the i:MU on Tuesday evening,
Nov 17 , and no other time all
term, nor has he read the news
paper or watched the news
He would have Iroen fully
aware ol how OSPIKC s hunger
and homelessness group re
trteved more than 2 tons of
food for Food for Lane County
He also must have missed
that we took more than 100
pounds of food and clothing to
the 2 H houseless people
camped out at toss the river
from Armituge, where vve also
took time to change out of our
Birkenstocks (and Wing-Tip*)
to deal with the mud that cov
ers their campsites to listen to
their stories and to their solu
tions
Did he not notice the live
days of t,tilling where 500 stu
dents and faculty donated 30
huge hags of clothes and 450
pounds of canned goods7 Per
haps il these events were held
m front of the new. multi-mil
lion dollar Chiles business cen
ter, he would have noticed
I would like lo ask Paul, if
"most people are painfully
aware ol the plight of the home
less," then why are there more
than 3,000 houseless families
in Lane County, with shelter
spat e for only 700 individuals?
l or lhn.se people, like Paul,
who are interested in working
with us on solutions and have
new ideas, our meetings are on
Tuesdays al li p m In Cedar
Room C
Jim Troloar
Chapter Chairman, OSPIRG
Be constructive
Creeks Against Rape was
founded last winter in a re
sponse to problems in the greek
system VVe believed that we
could use a core group of pf*>
pie from each chapter to reach
out and educate ourselves and
others on rape and sexual as
sault
We admit that there is a prob
lem When I stated. "The greek
system does condone rape in
certain aspects." (ODE, Nov.
24). my point was that an envi
moment is provided when;
drinking and rooms are avail
utile
We do not condone rape My
words were taken out of con
text Mv explanation was lost
in the night, and I want to make
it now.
Creeks Against Rape is work
ing hard, along with the frutor
nilies, lo stop underage drink
ing and upstairs access during
functions Most of all. we are
and have been, holding rape
and sexual assault presenta
tions for the greek chapters
The first stop is education
Induration is what will change
attitudes about the treatment of
women During winter term,
seminars will lie mandatory for
all chapters
All that I have worked for
seems undermined and lost
The march should have Includ
ed us, not alienated us. Both
parties were fighting for the
same side, vet the point of the
march was lost amid the pow
erful feelings and undercur
rents.
1 was not properly Informed
of what my role was Monday
night I was told it was a march
against the greek system, and
that was whom 1 was there to
defend. 1 feel used and taken
advantage of
Jodi blemacn
Co-founder director,
Greeks Against Rape
Untouchable
Having boon homeless almost
three years before entering UO,
I'd like to comment on the sub
ject.
Of itself, living outdoors is
no great hardship Ample food
and clothing are freely avail
able While it is not pleasant
when wet an cold, winter's
sting is easily blunted by plas
tic sheeting, newspapers for in
sulation and institutions with
long hours, like the Knight Li
brary.
What really stings about (*•
ing homeless is the common
factor in the following inci
dents.
1 rented a Community Car
dens plot from the Parks Dept
A voluntoer security program
was in operation to deter theft.
1 volunteered and was told the
program had been discontin
ued ! persuaded a gardener
who lived indoors to apply He
was a<:< opted.
Those three years. I regularly
patronized Delbert's Cafe, often
engaging in small talk with the
staff and the owner's son Re
cently I encountered him in a
local supermarket and said,
"Hi " He gave me a horrified
look, turned and fled to the
checkout Would his humanity
finally triumph over his preju
dice? Sadly, no.
While the pampered morally
outraged among you squabble
over whether OSl’IKC or Habi
tat for Humanity is more virtu
ous, I tell you plainly that nei
ther institution addresses the
real hardship of homelessness.
This hardship is the psychic
rejection, the shunning of the
homeless as a class Forget
what you have been told In re
ality we are a caste society, like
India iln: homeless are Ameri
ca's untouchables.
Graham Lawrence
Biology
Analogy
1 congratulate Men Against
Rape (or furthering my educa
tion with its ad in the Monday,
Nov 2d edition of the Emerald
I, as a male, have felt for the
first time the sting of overt, de
structive sexism I am enraged
The ad extolled in menacing
bold print: livery mon is a po
tential rapist And then to a
woman, it's the safest thing to
assume
To show you the prejudice in
the words, I ask you to imagine
another hypothetical ad placed
in the Emerald on the same
day: livery black man is a po
tential armed robber (or crack
dealer, or unwed father) . to a
white person. It's the safest
thing to assume
Racist? Prejudicial? You bet
Now. how about the Men
Against Rape members taking a
closer look at their own ad,
Joe Huston
Chemistry