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Letters to the Editor

Columnist did not understand service
On March 25, the Skiff published a column titled “Equality not promoted” by Eugene Chu. I attended the “Celebration of the Matriarchs” service to which he refers.

The intent of the service was not to “promote equality” — women and men are already equal before God. Nor was it to bash men. Mr. Chu had to look hard through a seven-page handout for something to quote, and unfortunately, he misconstrued the things he took out of context.

Patriarchal culture is both subtle and blatant in its manifestations. For example, Mr. Chu worked hard to say that he is not sexist and yet (perhaps unconsciously) uses the phrase “women should be allowed to ...” Allowed by whom, Mr. Chu? It is patriarchal to insist that women must have permission to do anything.

Perhaps Mr. Chu misunderstands the term matriarchs. The service celebrated the women (named and unnamed) who have come before us and set examples of faith. The reference in the program to “young men ... bearing the scent of cologne and lamb chop dinners” was a succinct way to point out that wealthy males were permitted an education and that women were denied much during our history. The phrase also quietly denounces racism, classism and elitism as much as gender discrimination.

For the women and men in attendance (other than Mr. Chu), this service was a refreshing change in which women were recognized rather than ignored or incorporated into the generic use of “men” for everyone.
— Debra Reagan, senior Master of Divinity student, president of Brite Women’s Group

Greeks are an important, effective part of campus
Editor’s note: This letter is in response to a March 27 column by Josh Deitz.

I wish you would have done some, actually any, research into the Greek system before writing a column filled with half-truths and false realities.

I’m not exactly sure what else you would have TCU do to scrutinize and evaluate Greeks. TCU’s Greek system is one of the strongest and most regulated Greek systems in the country. Perhaps a little research would have discovered the chain of command in the Greek system. I’m not exactly sure how much more assessing can take place by the university.

Your numerous references to “For Greeks to truly have a place on this campus ...” left my jaw on the floor. Greeks don’t truly have a place on this campus? Forty percent of the student body doesn’t truly have a place on this campus? Greeks are this campus, just as much as any other student or organization is.

Furthermore, it is narrow-minded to say that an assessment of whether Greek organizations have a place in universities must begin with their impact on the academic life of their members. Yes, academics are a central, integral part of being Greek but the purpose of Greek organizations is, and always has been, to encourage individual development in all aspects of life — academically, socially and morally. But, I will take your argument that to fully evaluate the place of organizations on this campus we must be judged on the impact we have on the academic life of our members and make a commitment to service.
— Julia Phillips, senior advertising and public relations major