The Temporal Front: Rush week full of greed, lies, deceit

Last evening began a process of deception, lies and desperate measures. It is fraternity rush week and the truth will be hidden from pledges for quite some time.

The problem with greek society at Ball State is that it is dying. Nearly every fraternity on campus needs money desperately. To get money they need members. To get those members they will accept anyone with a checkbook and a pulse. But to get them interested, they have to sell their letters.

This is not an attack from some anti-greek punk who has no idea what brotherhood is all about. I was once greek. During the fall of my freshman year I chose to join a fraternity.

They claimed to cling to a higher standard. They said brotherhood was their charter. They were adamant they were different.

They lied.

The exact details of their lies cannot be discussed. My oath and my honor require that I keep all things regarding fraternity matters silent. However, you can rest assured that the lies were many and varied.

My entire pledgeship was a lie. It was a giant mind game I unknowingly participated in. From the night of my initiation, I questioned the wisdom of my decision. No stable thing was ever built on a foundation of lies. My fraternity experience was no different.

I know I am not alone. I know men and women from nearly every greek organization who have learned the real truth. I've heard countless stories of deception and abandonment. There is a greater truth than the one being sold to unsuspecting students.

I entered into greek society with good intentions. I ignored numerous violations of the chapter charter and constitution for my "brothers."I ignored the lies and tried to make the best of things. I did my very best to be a brother.

When I could no longer morally and financially afford to belong, I quit. My "brothers" broke the bonds, and rarely speak to me. The illusion of brotherhood has been shattered for me and I can see the truth.

The point here is very simple. For most greeks rush is business. They have to sell their fraternity to as many ill-informed men as possible. In order to survive they must keep their house full of eager young pledges or they will find the same fate as Alpha Tau Omega. Their house was seized by the university and they are banned for two years.

The rush chairmen will tell you that their bonds are the strongest. They will tell you that they have plenty of money and that they are sound. They must sell to survive.

There's only one solution to this problem: talk to people who have left the fraternity. Do some research and find them. Ask them why they left and what happened afterwards. Use that information to make an informed decision based on the truth rather than a sales pitch.

I honestly believe that greek society was once a noble thing - an institution of true brotherhood and higher learning. Perhaps at other universities it still is. At Ball State, it is not. Here it is about immorality, money, and power.

There is still a hope for greek life here, but if they continue down the path they have chosen, they will all find themselves with empty checkbooks and vacant houses.