Editorial on community service misses point

We understand that there are a lot of rumors traveling around campus about Greekfest but I feel that I need to state the facts. For one, Greekfest is a very productive week not just for greeks but for the campus and community. This year’s project was to raise money for Red Cross and we were very successful. In one week we raised over $7,000. For the year 2004, we raised over $140,000. Greekfest is not just for the trophies. The sororities and fraternities “see the need, not the cause” and we act on it as best as we can.

We do many things on and off campus I believe we do more in one week than some will do in their whole four years in college. When we do things as a whole we accomplish so many great things together and it pays off in more ways then one. We get personal satisfaction for helping others and when we see a finished product.

I know Chi Omega raised over a thousand dollars in one night for the Make-A–Wish foundation, and Alpha Omicron Pi raised thousands of dollars in one night on a BBQ during a basketball game for arthritis research. Alpha Delta Pi helps children and families with the Ronald McDonald house and in one weekend Zeta Tau Alpha raised money, walked for the cure and took hair donations for wigs to help cancer patients. We are very active all year round and we help support each other as well.

Sometimes I wonder if there will be a cure for breast cancer, arthritis or children with diseases but if being greek helps speed up the process to finding cures and helping others, then why would I want to spend four years just sitting around.

There is no limit to our generosity and you never know if that person may be you we are helping raise money for, because your insurance wouldn’t cover you anymore or your house burnt down and we all donated clothes and food to help you and your family make it through your time of need. So before you judge us and our minor discretions think about the ultimate good that comes from it other than the fun times we have together and the fact that we hold some of the highest GPA’s in this university.

Stephanie Dowell Communications Franklin

Fault lies with those that drink, not fraternities

I am writing to express my opinion on the issue of the article, “Student taken to hospital after frat party”. I am a Greek and I think that the way that The Pacer displays things are not always the truth, just because she was at a “frat party” doesn’t mean that they forced her to drink and to get alcohol poisoning.

Through out the whole article it is made out to be the “fraternity’s” fault, when really it was her own d--- fault. If she was stupid enough to drink that much than she was stupid enough to get alcohol poisoning. Their are people all over campus not just greek’s that get alcohol poisoning, but these stories are never in The Pacer it is just when an athelete or someone that is greek gets alcohol poisoning that it makes it to The Pacer.

The greek community does great things all the time, but those are never in there either. When people of the community and non-greek people read The Pacer then they think that greeks are wild and crazy when in reality we are not at all. When parents read The Pacer and they see the things that are bad about greeks then they don’t want their child to be a Greek or they look down on us because we are greek.

Tara Bowers Nursing Greeneville