Sorority stereotypes unfair

"Actions speak louder than words"... or do they? During the past nine months, the Duke community has been highly scrutinized and criticized by the outside world. While the main focus of attention has tended to be the lacrosse team and their teammates' impending trial, in the process, the media has marginalized another prevalent group on Duke campus: Sorority girls.

While national attention to Duke sororities is relatively recent, the negative publicity centering around Duke sorority women is not. For years members of the Duke community have negatively typified sorority women. Typically we are characterized as exclusive, morally loose, vain, shallow, unintelligent conformists.

As a sorority girl whose national president recently visited because of the extensive amount of negative press, I have experienced the huge impact that this attention has had on our reputation. Nationally, our sororities are now embarrassed by their affiliation with us. Sadly, their embarrassment is completely unnecessary. The characteristics claimed of Duke sorority women are unfounded and completely untrue.

The definition of a stereotype is an oversimplified standardized image or idea held by one person or a group. The current portrayal of Duke sorority women is a result of a stereotype that continues to be perpetuated by people like last year's DukeObsrvr, Jake Grodzinsky and others who know only what they have heard about us from others.

Sadly this stereotype of Duke sorority women has blinded others to our true actions and the values that we as sorority women embody. No one notices our philanthropic endeavors in the community. For example, have you ever heard of the Pi Beta Phi scholarship fund, or the fact that over the past two years we have raised almost $30,000, with the help of other fraternities and sororities to be used to help fund underprivileged children in their quest for higher education? Do people ever discuss the loyalty among the sisters and our dedication to our respective organizations? What about our dedication to our fellow students? Who was behind starting the Duke Students for an Ethical Durham campaign?

If you didn't know, it's sorority girls. In regard to the moral characteristics of sorority girls, and how we choose to conduct ourselves in public, I can say only that I believe all women desire to have integrity and to carry themselves in the way that is respectable. That's not to say that we all don't make mistakes, but in general we strive to be upstanding women.

As to whether or not we are exclusive in a negative manner, only associating with certain types of people, or only dating men who are in certain fraternities or on sports teams, I suggest that you take a closer look at our women and those with whom they choose to associate. I seriously doubt you will find such a strong level of consistency as is claimed.

In conclusion, I ask you to help discontinue the perpetuation of this stereotype. Let our actions speak for themselves, and take a closer look at us before you judge us. Allow the veil placed over your and others' eyes to be lifted, and see that sorority girls at Duke are not as you have heard. We are intelligent (come on we go to Duke), classy, caring, loyal, unique, diverse individuals who just happen to want to have a little fun, meet some new girlfriends, and in general, be a part of an upstanding organization that gives back a lot more than it takes.