Lambda Chi Alpha's Apology Letter (Please Read Again)
As I recalled the Greek Life focus group a few weeks ago, I realized that this was one issue (more generally cooperation between fraternities and sororities) that we had discussed. Tim sent this letter out in an email on March 7, 2008. Please read this again and take to heart what it says:
To the men of Beta Theta Pi:
First of all, I wanted to congratulate you guys on your championship basketball victory. It was a fun game; I wish you guys hadn’t run away with it in the end, but we all still enjoyed it. As everyone knows, this is just another step for you guys towards this years IM championship, but next year will be a different story I hope.
The real reason I wanted to contact you guys is to apologize for Lambda Chi’s behavior at the game. I absolutely support competitive rivalry between fraternities. It makes a fraternity stronger as a whole, and it is a hell of a lot of fun to win. However, I think that we surpassed the level of good competitors and went straight to assholes. Chants like “Wooglin”, “You take our rejects”, and others are just disrespectful and I sincerely want to apologize. It is not classy, not sportsmanlike and it is not how any fraternity should behave at such a game.
I think that cohesion between fraternities desperately needs to be worked on. I have mentioned this with upper classmen in Lambda Chi, and more than once I have been told “fuck the betas” or “fuck sig-ep,” and it really pisses me off. I am asking that we can take small steps towards removing the animosity between Lambda Chi and the Betas. I have all but given up hope on some of the upper classmen in achieving this goal (I really don’t think I need to mention any names), but I have hope for the younger men who think very much like me.
I have nothing but respect for Beta Theta Pi. I consider you all men of class, and I hope that we can come to a point where the general consensus of our fraternities is a mutual respect. I ask that you accept our apology and that we can work towards a better, more agreeable future.
With much respect,
Steven Richmond
Lambda Chi Alpha Classes: Fall 06, Spring 07, Fall 07 and Spring 08
P.S. I do not believe that Greeks are totally supported by the Truman administration, and for that matter, by many of the non-affiliated students here. General enrollment is down, and while both of our organizations are taking good-sized classes, it is imperative that fraternities be seen in a positive light in order to secure our futures. Please help me take this effort beyond just Lambda Chi and Beta Theta Pi. We are leaders and capable of positively impacting Truman. Help us… help yourselves by revealing to the student body that we are a good and necessary thing at Truman.
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332.pkilgore - Fri, 03/14/2008 - 8:19pm
However, he has a point.
342.ARupp - Fri, 03/14/2008 - 2:26pm
Oh Clifton, you're like a miniature, Filipino Buddha.
357.CRicana - Fri, 03/14/2008 - 12:39am
I think they were goin for what in effect would be saying in vain what we hold dear, but as Jordan said was ineffective. However, I think that this is a sincere apology and we should be the classier men by accepting this apology.
The last paragraph to an extent sums up many of the problems with Greek Life, Administration, and enrollement. Adminstration, in their efforts to promote the quality of education at Truman, sometimes loses sight of the other necessary aspect of the college experience: fun. We should make an effort to work together instead of against each other, as the General Fraternity has done by being active in NIC. In this way we can show the administration the good side of Greek Life and maybe they will be more accepting to the greek community, aiding the enrollment side of the problem. (Maybe letting us be more active during Truman week or actually mentioning greek life in their info presentations and brochures.) As was mentioned during focus group, administration sometimes forgets that before we had chose to go Greek, we had chose Truman and are the type of people who are proactive and cooperate to achieve and excel in the classroom, socially, and in life.