Spartan Daily - Serving San Jose State University since 1934

After reading a letter printed yesterday in the Spartan Daily, I feel compelled to write and clarify a number of the points presented. While I appreciate Mr. Knoll's concern for current events on campus and within the Greek community, I feel that he greatly misrepresented the ideology of the chapters that comprise the interfraternity council. In fact, many of the opinions and points of view expressed in his letter directly conflict with what the San Jose State University IFC would like to achieve.

It is because we realize that there is a lack of cohesiveness within our Greek community that the entire Greek community has been working on developing ways to bridge the gaps that currently exist among all Greek-letter organizations here on campus. It is our conviction that through more frequent interaction and communication, each of our organizations will grow stronger. We appreciate and, in fact, encourage the differences in scope and purpose brought by non IFC-affiliated Greek organizations in the same way that we do for those chapters who are affiliated with IFC. These unique characteristics that make us all different are the same ones that lend us our sense of pride in our own organizations and provide us with the perpetual opportunity to learn from each other and see our chapters grow. It is well understood that there is an absolute advantage in having such a diverse group of organizations here on campus, and we recognize that this is an asset to us all.

On a separate but related topic, as a current member of IFC, let me assure you that I completely understand the necessity of a task force that focuses on improving the Greek system for us all. It is not my perception, nor that of a vast majority of the IFC Greeks, that this task force is being created solely because of recent events occurring among those Greek organizations not affiliated with IFC. On the contrary, it is our understanding that it is instead a collection of incidences that have taken place over time among SJSU Greek chapters, including IFC chapters that gave way to the inception of this task force. We are willing to hold ourselves accountable for our actions, and furthermore, we look forward to the challenges that lie ahead. We know that the aim of this task force is to create a Greek system whose future will be brighter for us all, rich in both harmony and tradition, and that through the work of this task force, each of our individual chapters will be stronger and better prepared to provide future generations the great opportunity we have all had through our Greek affiliation.

Joe Lombardo
senior
finance

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