By Jennifer Russell



Having read a recent wespeak (Tuesday October 30, 2001; “Take Back the Night Shows Beta Hypocrisy”), I am once again overwhelmed by what seems to be an unfortunate trend on this campus. Many of us are quick to judge harshly those people to whom we have assigned a negative stereotype, whether or not our judgments have a solid basis. Yes, Beta brothers were playing pool during Take Back the Night, but somewhere across campus there were a hundred students playing video games, taking a nap, writing a paper, or talking with friends, and these individuals have not been publicly slandered. The choice to come to Take Back the Night is exactly that: a choice. It cannot be assumed that any individual chose not to come because he or she didn’t care, but rather we must consider the right of every Wesleyan student to decide if this event will be a safe place for them. Further, we must consider the right of every Wesleyan student to choose whether or not to support any given function on or off campus. Take Back the Night, the Queer Alliance, WARN…although excellent things, these are not mandatory events or groups, and it should be acknowledged that some people will not feel welcome or comfortable going to them. The brothers at Beta chose to what extent they felt comfortable or welcome participating in Take Back the Night, and that is a choice we must respect.

In years past, Beta has met with some criticism for trying to give more support to Take Back the Night, and it is hardly fair to criticize them now that they have altered their involvement to fit the apparent desire of those involved. As president and university house manager of Alpha Delta Phi, I have worked with several of the Beta brothers, as well as individuals from the other frats on campus, and none of them have ever failed to treat me with anything short of respect and courtesy. These are not men who would intentionally show disrespect to something like Take Back the Night, and that is important to keep in mind before we criticize their actions.

Most importantly, however, it would seem Wesleyan has begun to practice a terrifying habit of late, of which this most recent criticism of Beta is an excellent example. While it is generally (I recognize there are exceptions) acceptable among students to be liberal, queer or questioning, and/or a member of an activist group, it is not acceptable to be more conservative, a Greek brother or sister, or of certain religious beliefs. Because we have all seen the effects of discrimination in the world, we should know better than to bring it to Wesleyan in a different form, with a new object.

I challenge the students, professors, administrators, and parents of Wesleyan University to consider the importance of accepting those with ideas that differ from our own, especially if we want to ask the same of them. I challenge all of us to remember that there are as many beliefs on this campus as there are students, and that we should perhaps try to make allowances for some things that we don’t value or understand ourselves, and not demean them because of our own ignorance. Not to do so would be the worst kind of hypocrisy.

Jim Pesek, undergraduate governor and steward for the Middletown Chapter of the ADP Society, and KJ Iribe, the historian for Middletown Chapter of the ADP Society, offered support with this piece.



Russell is a member of the class of 2003 and she is also the President, Middletown Chapter of the Alpha Delta Phi Society (ADP).