Dartmouth's Greek Community Attempts Serious Discussion

After an incident in which members of the Theta Delta Chi fraternity allegedly hurled objects and insults at Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority sisters, the Greek community at Dartmouth College gathered this week to discuss "issues of Greek stereotypes, intentionality, comfort levels in Greek basements, self-respect, and the role of alcohol in male-female interactions," the Dartmouth writes.

Sound boring? The Dartmouth article offers these details:

1. After Kappa members complained that not enough personal apologies were offered for the incident, a fraternity brother vigorously defended his lot by saying the house functions "as a unit" and "a lot of guys were really drunk" and might not have remembered what happened.

2. Another brother spoke up earlier, objecting to the use of the word feminism, which he labeled divisive, placing women above men. Students in the audience and on the panel quickly informed him that the term refers to a doctrine advocating equality between men and women.

3. Lastly, some women expressed concerns over the atmosphere of "sexual intimidation and aggression" at fraternity houses. A Theta Delta member countered by constructively opining that the walls of the Kappa Delta Epsilon sorority "kind of freak me out." —Alison Go