Oregon daily emerald., March 08, 1996, Page 2, Image 2

VIEWPOINTS
Challenges for Greeks
include image overhaul
■ OUR OPINION The
closing erf $*gma CN
fraternity points to existing
problems »n me campus
Greek system
In an emotional letter to
the editor Thursday (ODE,
March 7), a Sigma Chi mem
her articulated several posi
live aspects of the Greek
system and advantage* to
membership in such an
organization To his credit.
Ja*on Wissmilier balanced
hi* upinion by also identify
ing some of the problem*
within the system — proli
lems that put Sigma Chi on
probation for the past year
and eventually led to it*
doors lining closed at the
end of this temi
Apparently, the fraterni
ty's national organization no
longer cared to charter the
house due to it* reputation
of throwing noisy parties,
supplying alcohol to
minors, hazing prospective
memliers and other discrep
ancies sue h a* |»oof chapter
management The fac t that
some Sigma Chi members
real tod to the loss of their
charier by promptly thrash
ing their house over the
weekend did nothing to
help the fraternity's image
These are the kinds of
activities that, if repeated,
will continue to put the very
future of Greek organiza
tion* in jeopardy
But there is a ray of hope
for fraternities anti sororities
— a proverbial light at the
end of the tunnel. And no. It
isn't the headlight of an
oncoming train.
The Greek system ha* sur
vived through the years
because of it* root* in com
munity activism. Also,
Greeks have a long tradition
of training young people to
be leaders and active con
tributors to society,
Through the late 80a.
however, mam fraternities
and sororities had all but
left their foundational roots
for the more detrimental
and shallow pursuits of par
tying hard, abusing alcohol,
harboring under age drink
ing. hating its pledges, fos
tering sexually violent
atmospheres and “network
ing” for the sole purpose of
post -graduation employ
ment
The Greek community
and the University reacted
to those problems by insti
tuting strict under age
drinking regulations, ban
ning hating and creating
alcohol and sexual aware
ness programs
Sint* those days, the
Greek system has gradually
< hanged from an organisa
tion that emphasised soda!
functions toward one that
highlights the importance of
academics and community
involvement
For their own good.
Greeks really have no choice
but to make this transition
back to their more responsi
ble roots,
Greek* and students con
sidering membership need
to take a serious look at the
reasons for being involved
in a fraternity or sorority.
If Greek life means noth
ing but having the license
and opportunity to tarnish
the entire University's
image while providing job
security far the Eugene
police, then the system
should be sanctioned by its
own national organizations
as well as the University —
and yes. people will be
happy to see them go
Hut if Greeks continue to
improve, as they have done
in the past, then they will be
welcomed as productive
members of this learning
establishment.
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Dad’s love speaks louder than rhetoric
Because this it my last column for the
Emerald and the closing of my class
room career as an undergraduate. 1 want
to honor someone who, more than any
one els* in my life, prepared me for college and
helped me through This person, boro 53 yean
ago todav. is Ion Fontana, my father
The most important gift my dad gave me (and
my younger UM«r. Kate). was hi* attention Even
though his work weeks usually averaged at least
50 houn when we were kids (and still do),
when he had us during the weekends, we were
his absolute locus at all times
JEZizrM** m
nun anyplace be wan! BetaoMi
at hit line at work, (hit mean!
•hoot location*, meeting*, edit
ing room* equipment houte*
•ml studio* Name just about 1/4
anyplace in tha San Francisco
film community, and my sister mHUJL
end 1 could probably give you ftltM
e guided tout
Sure, every now and then tee
found it boring to watch out dad take care of
business But. looking hack on those tunes. I
realise that our proximity, our constant interac -
tion. made th# three of us a family This is not
an easy task for a weekend patent
Even during the most berth Saturdays, he
would make a point of driving 20 minutes out of
the way so that wa could get our favorite bum
tos Or, be would rush us home fust in tune so
that we could go and see some goofy movie,
which he would hate but would art through fust
to ba with us
During all of the talk of family values in
recent veers. I've realized that those who speak
of them could never match my dad when it
comet to practicing them
In their spare time, they sit at conferences on
C SPAN and fabber with a bunch of other old
people In my dad's spare time, he doesn't talk
about raising his kids, he simply does so.
My ded also worked hard to instill in us a
sense of persona) accountability and response
btlity When his friends' children would screw
up In school, the first thing they would ask their
kids was: “What did your teacher do?"
If either of us screwed up in school, the first
thing my ded would say was: "What did you
do?”
Although such thinking it now out of date
now that our society is based on blame, it taught
us that because w# were responsible for our fail
ures. we could also be responsible for our victo
ries.
No coach was an excuse for not scoring, no
tee* her was an exc use for low grades We were
taught, repeatedly, that we were expec ted to do
the best we could If either of us stumbled.
When we told our dad about it. he'd ask “Did
ci
During all of the talk of family values in
recent years. I've realized that lhose who
speak of them could never match my dad
when it comes to practicing them.
--99
you do the best that you could?" II ihe answer
was ye*, (hen that was enough.
We knew that in playing game*, we were not
competing against the other person, but against
ourselves The score didn't tell us we had won
knowing we had performed to the beat of our
ability did. This made us good winners and
good losers. (This is only for our competition
with other* When my sister and I compete with
each other, all good-sportsmanship bets are off)
My father also instilled in us an appreciation
for some of Ihe finer pleasure* in life To say the
least, he had an opinion on everything culinary,
moat of them true.
Drinking: "Son, you've got to make a Boodle*
martini,*
Smoking "When it comes to cigars, you've got
to have a long atm.
Cheese Inc Parmesan should not be grated
outre than IS minutes before you eat it."
Pastries "How could that muffin be any good
tf it s in a plasm wrapper7*
Coffee; "Grind the beans the second before
you brew them and always use bottled water."
My father's love and reverence for fine food
was one of the focal points of our social lives If
we were going to entertain during the evening,
we had our routine down pat.
In the morning, we would go to North Beach,
the Italian section of San Francisco, and shop
from a number of small merchants selling meat*,
pasta, focaccia. desserts, fruits and vegetable*
The three of us would walk from shop to shop,
each carrying a hag. all the while kale and I lit
tening to our dad lecture us on the death of
small Italian businesses (hence, my own tax©
phobia) Then we'd spend the afternoon in the
kitchen, my dad looming over the stove, and my
sister and 1 standing at the butcher block, chop
ping hi* ingredient*
When I was young, I didn't understand why
we had to go to to many places, cook so careful
ly and make everything so perfect. At first,!
thought it was the food.
Now though. 1 know that the food was sec
ondary What was primary wa# our time togeth
er. and that a single father took the time and
energy to devote his entire life to hi* children
I love you Dad.
Primo A.I Fontana, a senior ma/oting in eco
nomics. is a columnist for the Emerald