uw senior holds forth on greek tradition

Columnist Tim Williams of the University of Wisconsin at Madison’s student newspaper, the Badger Herald, has some thoughts about fraternity tradition that he seems to think are original: greeks are immature hypocrites. Referring to an ill-defined but evidently ill-reputed incident (that may or may not have occurred) he dubs “Bucketgate” committed by the local Sigma Phi Epsilon, he concludes that “the Greek system is simply a bunch of people who pay a lot of money to live together.” Not exactly a novel accusation, Mr Williams. He also finds immaturity in frats’ “two faces of community and beer bong leadership.” Would Mr Williams prefer frats practice drinking games by night without philanthropy by day, like most college undergraduates? His critiques ignore the fact that greek men and women are generally leaders on campus and in communities; and among the most dedicated and generous alumni. If they play hard after working hard, does that implicate some kind of janus-faced hypocrisy? The article is mostly newsworthy for commentary it accrued (which may be viewed at the article’s page) and the letters to the editor it engendered: see, for example, this response from a Sigma Phi Epsilon alum.