Actions speak louder than words
The viewpoint, “Greek actions will speak louder than words,” echoes a challenge we issue our students every day. Unfortunately, the editors failed to examine important facts about our community.
The editorial urges Kappa Alpha to act “as if the organization was starting a brand new chapter at the University.” Kappa Alpha is doing just that. The chapter was closed in 2005 and no members remain from that time. No members from that time are involved with the new chapter. The current recruitment effort focuses on men who will commit to Kappa Alpha’s founding principles. The Department of Greek Life has worked closely with national fraternity staff and alumni to plan for this return to campus and we expect Kappa Alpha will create an organization that exemplifies all aspects of a positive fraternal experience.
The editorial also challenges Kappa Alpha and the entire Greek community to focus on service rather than cloaking a “wild party as a philanthropic fundraiser.” This misconstrues the service commitment of our fraternities and sororities. In 2008 to 2009, N.C. State Greeks performed over 50,000 hours of community service, an average of 30 hours of hands-on service per member. Our organizations held 121 philanthropic events and raised over $176,000 for various charities. None of these were “wild parties” masquerading as philanthropies.
Technician is correct that actions speak louder than words. I believe the actions of our students in the arena of service and philanthropy speak volumes.
John R. Mountz
director of Greek Life
Where is Wilson?
I have a question. What has happened to the viewpoint articles by Marlena Wilson? They were so eloquent and dripping with sarcasm that every one I read brightened my day at this bricked over University. I’ve loved every one of them so much that I have made a collage on my wall in the shape of a heart. I’ve even begun a small shrine in the back of my closet in tribute to her literary greatness. My poor hamster was just freezing away after I started keeping (and better yet, reading!) the paper instead of using it for cage lining. It just seems so incomplete now that her articles have disappeared from the pages of our beloved Technician. Please bring her back. I could just die without her!
Joshua Souther
senior, bioprocessing science
White missed the point
Hey Zakk, saw your piece about President Barack Obama winning the Nobel Peace Prize, and knew that I had to write in. I voted for the guy, and I’ll admit, Friday morning I was also surprised. I thought (in a sentiment echoed by many, it would seem) “why is he winning this” and, “what has he done to warrant that?”
I suppose the difference between the two of us then, is that while you stopped there to go write your editorial, I kept digging, trying to find a valid reason for this decision. Did you know that in 1984, Archbishop Desmond Tutu was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his work against apartheid? Did you also know that this was 10 years before Apartheid was finally abolished? Surely the Archbishop doesn’t deserve the Nobel Peace Prize — he hadn’t done anything yet. Were you aware that in 1935, the Noble Peace Prize was given to a German journalist named Carl von Ossietzky because of his opposition to Hitler and the rising power of the Nazis in Germany? He “hadn’t done anything” either — he opposed Hitler, but Hitler rose to power all the same. Who cares about those who tried to stop him, right? They failed, Hitler still achieved totalitarian power — their effort needn’t be rewarded. President Jimmy Carter was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his pursuit of peace in the Middle East. Oh, but wait — he shouldn’t have won that either: we don’t have peace in the Middle East yet, do we? Let’s wait until we do, and then we can give it to him.
The other thing is that your editorial leads me to believe you didn’t even research Obama’s acceptance speech. Yeah, he admitted he didn’t think he deserved it, but then he went on to point out the above lauretes and admit that sometimes the Nobel Peace Prize represents a “call to action” and he would strive to live up to the prize.
I guess what I’m getting at is that I wish all the “Anti-Obama Peace Prize” folks did a little of their own research before they start ranting, wailing and caterwauling about how unfair, undeserved or unworthy someone is.
Evan Kochuk
junior, computer science
