Wow. Brian, I want to say I'm impressed with your treatment of this story. As a former member of the Greek system, I'm comforted by your accurate yet fair portrayal of the partying aspect of life north of 45th. You give credit to the fraternities who do try to keep partiers safe as well as the fact that frats aren't entirely at fault, yet acknowledge much of the "grey area" regulations that happen. If the topic has to be covered (and it seems it does, especially in light of the recent proposed Student Code of Conduct expansion), I'm glad you covered it the way you did.

How is Rebecca Griego’s death related to Greek life? FYI Gould Hall is no where near Greek houses.

One word for the article: ridiculous. I'm glad your pathetic attempt to write a "gritty" news article turned into a completely biased and outrageous portrayal of the Greek system. Instead of offering an investigation of violent acts around the U-District Brian turned the matter into a way for him to write a pretentious article filled with oversimplifications and exaggerated propaganda. “Smell the pheromones?” Really?

Please do not bring up the tragic and gruesome death of an innocent female with a vague reference to subjectively backed-up immorality with regards to persons with whom you do not regularly interact. She was murdered, in cold blood, and you choose to toss it into an article headlined by trashcans.

As a reporter, it is not objective to qualify the verbs in your story. Not even looking at the context, it is irresponsible as a journalist to say people were dancing "provacative" or "awkwardly." This is Journalism 101. Your opinion stays out of it. You report they were dancing, and that's it. You let facts paint the picture, or you loose all credibility.

It is clear to me that the author of this article intended to write a biased article even before he started his "research." He even lied, saying that he was doing research fora sociology class, when he was talking to Sigma Phi Epsilon brothers. This article is a disgrace to the University of Washington.

The Daily is a student newspaper. NEWSpaper. Give us the news, not narrow-minded, illegitimate opinions. Oh, and no one calls it "Frat Row." Women live in the Greek System as well- in sororities.

Nice article. Objectivity is overrated and news is obviously biased anyways... it is sad that people who obviously disagree with your viewpoint suddenly ask for objectivity once a newspaper that is filled with biased articles posts one that they disagree with... hehe... selfish fools

I am extremely disappointed in the editor for allowing the article to be printed, Brian for his lack of journalistic responsibilities, and the Daily as a newspaper. This article is littered with Brian's opinion and exaggerated comments. He also attempts to portray a negative light on the Greek system by bringing up the tragedy of Ms. Griego. This is completely unrelated to the topic and Brian owes an apology to Ms. Griego's family and friends for attempting to use her tragedy like he has. Being a Greek student myself, I am personally offended by this article and its purposefully misleading comments.
In the future, I hope the Daily will be a little more strict about the kind of material it decides to print.

While reading today’s edition of The Daily I was appalled by anti-greek sentiments and accusations in the article, “Off-Campus Life North of 45th Street.” Not only was I dismayed by anti-greek sentiments in your article, but also with the validity of many statements your paper construed as facts. This lack of reliable journalism shows lack of integrity your paper. I would like you to set the record straight and provide the readers with valid information from people who know “Life North of 45th Street” best: greek women. Also known as “women with done-up hair in halter tops and stiletto passing the time by checking our makeup and text-messaging party directions” (Off-Campus Life, 3), I would like you to know that there are not just “Frats” on “Frat Row.” Not only did this make you a greek-hater, but a sexist as well. One example you made about litter does not take in account the other low income housing found between fraternities and sororities that also perpetuate the problem. Not only were there problems with minor details, but also construing large events as well. You incorporated the stories of two shootings and one homicide- all of which perpetrators were unaffiliated with UW. You also said that our generation has taken partying to another level previous generations have not, however you reference John Belushi from Animal house which was filmed in the 1980’s and set in the 1960’s. I will also have you know that Mark A. Emmert and Eric Godfrey both have daughters in sororities and the average all-greek GPA is higher than the all-UW GPA. Although I have considered The Daily less than mediocre before, you have shown us all to have no confidence in this newspaper whatsoever. I think you need to take a few more journalism classes and loosen up a little bit and have fun during the remainder of your college experience.

PS. 3 6 Mafia does not sing “Ridin’ Dirty.”

As I will reiterate, there is absolutely no reason to bring up Griego's death or the rape allegations. Those are things that were tragic and definitely took it's toll on much of the Greek system and the behaviors of Greeks. There is absolutely no reason that you should put us in our place, especially if you are just attempting to get a story. You don't hear the Greeks talk about any deaths related to drug overdose or suicide in the dorms. Not only are you possibly deterring people from going Greek but you are also directly attacking all the unfortunate events that we have buried. This is extremely biased journalism and I hope you are able to see that.

another stereotypical portrayal of the greek system......i never saw in the article people studying and getting better grades than the UW population as a whole. we never see articles about the hundreds of thousands of dollars we raise as a whole or the community service we perform. The facts aren't right and how this guy was allowed into a party blows my mind. what a tool.... using information that i feel i have heard about the greek system for years now. People are afraid of what they don't know and what they can't have or be a part of. I think it's safe to say that the Daily is going to take a huge hit in the money it recieves from the greek system and all (more than you know) of its affiliates as well losing many of its readers. Many people don't take the Daily very seriously and this article is just another extreme example why

Can we burn some books while we're at it. I mean that would be hella tight yo. GO DAWGS!

Disgraceful. A new low. And for the Daily, that's saying something.

Over the past four years I have seen everything from fraternity incidents being completely blown out of proportion to inferences that a dead body found on campus might have something to do with the Greek community- since it was found near Greek Row. When will the Daily stop making the Greek Community a scapegoat for negative events and start focusing on all of the good that it does?

I've never been so disgusted in my life. How can anyone write something so uninformed and awful? The articlt bashes on greeks and cops. Not to mention this area is called the Greek System, or at least Greek row.
First:
You are disgusted with how unclean this area is. Every fraternity cleans up after parties and in front of their house, unlike most of the individual houses that are struggling to keep anything clean. Maybe comment on that in the future?
Second:
If the garbage being thrown around bothers you, maybe you should talk to the city of Seattle. There is not a single garbage can at any corner for miles. Maybe if we had those, there'd be less littering.
Third:
I would much rather see a cop drive and look for dangerous situations and violence, as opposed to waste time to write up a drunk minor. Underaged drinking is not good, but considering that we have very few cars patroling the area, someone has to prioritize.
Fourth:
How could you bring up the MURDER of Rebecca Griego!? It is disgusting to portray something so cruel and try to attach it to a group of people who had nothing to do with it. This alone should have stopped the editor from allowing this article to be printed.
Fifth:
Do you realize that the most dangerous drinking takes place in the dorms? Every year there are numerous people taken to the hospital, but why focus on that? It's so much easier to pin the tail on the greeks, who reqiure their members to go through alcohol education on a yearly basis.

To sum it all up, this article is the most disgusting thing I've seen in years. What you most likely achieved is that dormies (both guys and girls) won't be allowed into parties. This leads to... probably more people joining the greeks because they want to have fun and party, not sit in a dorm or apartment and be bored on a Friday night. Good job for making the greeks grow in numbers.
I've never felt so embarassed to go to the school where such things are written and published.
Stop focusing on scandals and start dealing with real issues, such as the drug problems on the AVE or the joke of security we have on campus at night. Oh right... you clapped and praised Emmrett when he hired 6 full time rent-a-cops, which is like having 6 ants protecting the entire anthill.

why do you say people join the greek system for beer and chicks? Not true. I joined the greek system for all those cuties in Sigma Nu.

This article is an inaccurate and misleading portrayal of the greek system and the few facts it gives have been grossly misconstrued to support ignorant and false stereotypes of greek life. By alternating between incidents of violence and misconduct that are unrelated to members of the greek community, including the death of Rebecca Griego, to descriptions of students “sleeping off the effects of last night’s hormone and booze-fueled transgressions” it reduces members of the greek community to common stereotypes and relates them to violence and tragedies for which they are not responsible. Brian, the “Animal House” approach has been done before. Next time, rather than trying to string together misleading facts and depictions of the greek community, maybe the Daily, could actually acknowledge its academic and philanthropic achievements.

The direct slander of this article appalls me. Way to pick out one house and make them seem horrible.

This is was the most pathetic journalistic writing I have ever encountered. Talk about total Biasm! It's funny how this Brian guys talks about the Griego shooting when it is totally irrelevant to this article and the greek system. Shame on him for the total disrespect to Griego's memory and their family. I'm guessing this guy must've been some guy that no frat wanted and is totally out to get the greek community.

Also, shame on this guy for singling out and slandering the Sig Ep fraternity. They've been through so much in recent years with reorganization and new policies. If I were Sig Eps, I would take both the Daily and this Brian guy for slander. You guys do not deserve this and neither does the Greek community.

I suppose my biggest critique of the article happens to be the content. If the article is about "life north of 45th street", I would hope to read about:

1. Party houses
2. Fraternity houses
3. Sorrority houses
4. Homeless people
5. Sex offenders
6. Neighbors
7. Homeless cats/dogs
8. Church functions

I am glad the article addressed a "dry house", but we all know houses only go dry after REALLY MESSING UP. Sorrorities are only dry because they have to, and that is why so many fraternities throw parties, so the sorrority girls have somewhere to drink. Talk about pressure!

"Earlier this week, Houghton said a rock was thrown through Phi Delta Theta’s front window. It will cost $1,000 to be replaced."

The placement of that quote is lame. Insinuate that Phi Delta Theta is being punished for dry status, but don't follow-up and explain what happened.

The article also fails to note that Sigma Phi Epsilon, with all the parties, booze, and mischief, ranks 3rd for GPA. Dry Phi Delts are 14.

i know this will end up being a greek vs. non-greek issue, but i'd like to look past that. as a non-greek, i am just as appalled at the lack of editing, the lack of research, and the lack of objectivity that was apparent in this article. there's no need to retaliate by insulting "dormies" or arguing that greeks have a higher GPA. that is hardly the point, and really? it only lessens your agrument.

the point is that a poorly written article was placed in the daily, that honestly is offense to most college students, not just greeks. i know the usual theme is "everyone against the greeks" but i don't believe that's the case here. i don't know brian- maybe he lives in a dorm. or maybe in an apt north of campus. or maybe in tacoma. i don't know. but the point isn't A vs. B, the point is a lack of research and a lack of unbiased journalism that the daily should take responsibility for. i'm tired of having to mumble when i say i work for them-- quickly followed by a "NOT the editorial side"

To the editor of The Daily
My name is Tyler Meuret, and this letter is in response to the Daily article published on May 31st titled “Off-campus Life North of 45th Street”. As it may concern you, I am the “Ty” that was interviewed for this particular article. The purpose of this letter is reveal to you the misrepresentations and flat out lies which are present in this article.
I would like to first address the unethical manner in which the “journalist” gathered this information. When approaching myself and other members of the fraternity, he identified himself as sociology graduate student conducting research for a sociological experiment. Although he never specified that this information would not be published, he blatantly misrepresented (if not lied outright about) himself and his motivations. After requesting information on what it was like to live in a fraternity (what the advantages and disadvantages are, changes that have been made, etc.), why Sigma Phi Epsilon is different from other fraternities, and what our (myself and other members) plans for the future are, the author of this article wrote a personally motivated attack on our fraternity and the Greek System in general. I can not be thankful enough that I did not answer his persistent and badgering
questions about other fraternities, and “which ones were the bad ones”. I find it hard to believe that the Daily supports this type of unethical journalistic behavior, but it appears from the two page spread that this may be so.
Secondly, the content of the article itself will be examined. The information following “as Ty later reveals” was simply the reporters uneducated observation from the outside of the house. The phone call in which I “ducked inside” to make was not made to the bartenders, as specified, but to the president of the fraternity, who then proceeded directly to the party entrance in order to escort the officers around the house. This is our so-called “system of dealing with police” (the author implied that I said we confuse, trick or lie to the police, which is not true): the president escorts them around the party after I call him. No phone calls are ever made to bartenders, and we do not “loudly announce” the arrival of the police. Our sober members are not present to warn of police arrival, either. The sober members ensure that none of the party goers themselves have provided alcohol to underage
guests. Also, there is no butcher paper or any other type of barrier inside the house stopping the police from taking the most direct route to the party. The paper is in place as a means of crowd control, and in fact provides a direct route and access to the social function.
The article also implies that after 1:00 am. random “sketchy” people are allowed to enter the party. This is not true: the security measures which we take prevent this from occurring. In many areas of the article, much of the information is implied to have come from me. As stated earlier, this is simply not true. I never used words or phrases such as “party down” or anything close to them. I also do not manage this event as the article states. Kegs are not allowed in any fraternity, and Sigma Phi Epsilon absolutely does not violate this rule.
I have no intention of concealing these statements in order to avoid the “ire” of other members in my house. My statements were made openly in the presence of other members of our chapter. Is it really reasonable to think that not providing a last name (and other members present) will conceal my identity? Had I known that this was an interview for an article, I probably would have given any pertinent information, including my last name. The only things in this article that have drawn my brothers' “ire” are the author's inaccurate and deceitful words and methods.
These are only some of the errors, misrepresentations and utter lies which are listed as part of my testimony, the house of Sigma Phi Epsilon, and the Greek System in General. The article is also full of generalized quotes and pictures that have been taken around north campus, and may now be directly attributed directly to this fraternity. This article is entitled “Off-Campus Life North of 45th Street”, but turns into a rant against Greek life, with our fraternity placed squarely in its sights. Countless other untruths are also prevalent, but I imagine other emails and letters directed to you or your associates will probably address these. I hope the rest of the articles written in this publication (The Daily) are not as inaccurate and are not based solely on the personal sentiments of the author.

Sincerely,
Tyler Meuret
Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity

I’ll skip the clever opening sentences and go straight to the point: put simply, the Daily’s May 31 article is some of the worst journalism I have seen at any level, including high school. The article contains not only factual errors (“Ridin’ Dirty” is by Chamillionaire, not Three Six Mafia; fraternities are not allowed to have keg parties; you can’t smell pheromones), but also loaded words and phrases, ludicrous amounts of bias, and, apropos of nothing, a reference to the tragic Rebecca Griego shooting. Perhaps Brian Slodysko skipped the day the rest of his class was learning about concepts like “balance,” “objectivity,” and “fact-checking,” because none of these concepts are present in this article. Words and phrases littered throughout the piece like “hedonistic excess,” “a way that almost skips foreplay,” “miserable job,” and “sweeping a large pile of dust under the rug” may make your article sound prettier, but the goal of journalists is to present a clear, unbiased picture of the facts. Slodysko makes a half-hearted attempt to tell the other side of the story towards the end of the article (after many have stopped reading), but it’s too little, too late. Perhaps he should have listened more to Eric Godfrey, quoted towards the end of the article, and less to his personal disdain for bureaucrats and Greeks alike.

I especially enjoyed Slodysko’s efforts to protect his sources. A 20-year-old political science major named Ty from Sigma Phi Epsilon – but I’ll be damned, there’s no last name! Time to call Sherlock Holmes – we’d get our fellow Greeks to do it, but we’re still too drunk from Saturday night’s party to solve this mystery.

Men, sweaty, sweaty men, thats why I joined the frats, not to forget the amazing group showers, and glory holes galore. I have numerous voyeur cams situated in many frat showers, at showercam.com. Also you'll see me on campus with my splattered Papa Johns shirt.

As a member of the UW community and resident of the dorms, I would like to say that if the author of this article represented a majority of the campus community I would let a frat HAZE THE SHIT out of me before I let myself be associated with the likes of Brian here... and the funny thing is, they don't even haze anymore. Several of my friends joined houses out of high school and I have heard nothing but good things about their experience. To write such a biased article in an effort to gather attention on yourself is the most petty thing I have ever heard, especially seeing you muddy the names of houses that surely hold higher standards for membership than you could EVER measure up to. Brian, your blatant disrespect for me as a Daily subscriber offends me. I and all the people here calling you out are too intelligent to be fed your garbage. Go back to pulling hair on the playground.

The article was entitled "Off-campus Life North of 45th Street", so one would assume that the author would actually present FACTS about off-campus life north of 45th and not fill his article with negative stereotypes and slander about the greek community. If you are trying to get an inside perspective of greek life, why don't you "investigate" what really goes on in the daily lives of greeks? Each year the greek community raises tens of thousands of dollars for various charities around the Seattle area. What other group of students even comes close to raising that amount of money? Oh thats's right, there are no other student groups that come close to raising the amount of donations raised by greeks.. What about greeks having higher average GPAs? That must be due to the outrageous, out of control partying and provacative dancing that fill our "daily" lives. With all that dancing and drinking, how could the greeks possible find time to study or be involved in the community? Weird...
The author tries to imply that his main argument is referring to the proposed Student Conduct Code, which is obviously not the case, if that was in fact what he was trying to get at why would the article not be entitled "proposed student conduct code"?? This article was a bias, untrue attempt at journalism, the Daily should be ashamed they printed this trash and allowed such a childish, unprofessional author to be a representation of their so-called "news". Next time the Daily wants to take a look at the life north of 45th they need to support it with factual journalism and not blame the greek community for tragedies that do not involve us.

After reading this article, I cannot say I do not feel the inherent goodness of the world fading away. I was there when this so-called sociology major came and said that he wanted to interview Ty for his discertation. This person may or may not have been Brian, but was very friendly and told us all about his past and his undergraduate years. He said he was 26 and from the looks of his scruffy beard, we didn't doubt it. This sociology major asked Ty many prying questions, but Ty being the nice guy that he is decided to answer these questions in order to help this guy. Ty, by the way, is a good friend of mine and a person who never hesitates to help another person out such as helping a sociology major write the piece of work that's going to get him a Ph.D. Although there were many awkward questions being asked, the interviewed was conducted on pretty friendly terms. At the end, the interviewer kept up his act by asking for contact information of a person in the house for follow-up interviews. My informations was given to him and needless to say, I did not recieve any subsequent calls.

What came out of the interview can only be described as shocking. The fraternity mentioned was the victim of bias even worse than Fox News' portrayal of The Democratic Party. Not were there many factual errors such as the song "Ridin," this journalist had the audacity to mention Ty but not his last name to protect Ty from his fraternity brothers. I'm sure that SigEp's are not going to know which person in their house is named Ty, because apparently the house is consumed with debauchery and irresponsiblness. Also included in the article were mentions of the recent shootings on campus and the resulting death. I don't know what those happenings had to do with the Greek System considering that the shootings occured because of random gang members hanging around and a stalker guy. If this author chooses to associate the Greek System with these atrocities, why not just blame the Greek System for child poverty, genocide, and the declining population of pandas. Talk about bias, I wonder if Mr. Christian Caple somehow ignored that part about the article. This article about the Greek System was about as false as the notion of Benjamin Chalabi as the savior of Iraq. I sure hope this biased article with many inaccurate facts isn't considered a good or even fair piece of journalism.

SigEps though, got pooped on in the article. Not only was this chapter mentioned in the same article as those shootings, SigEp was painted as a irresponsible house full of drunken debauchery. That is not the case at all. If Brian or Christian bother to paint a complete picture of the Greek System, they should come by SigEps to see how it really is. They might be appalled when they see a fairly clean house with many talented, impressionable, and respectful young men. SigEp has one of the highest grade standards of any student organization and currently maintains a 3.3 gpa. If members get below a 3.0 gpa for two quarters in a row, they get kicked out of the house. Members are also encouraged to connect with alumni in a career field they are interested in through alumni dinners, alumni databases, and a golf tournament. These standards sure makes it seem like SigEp cares about its academics. SigEp also fields many successful sports teams at the IMA. SigEp had two volleyball teams make it to the semifinals this year. This chapter also had a second place football team and crew team last year as well as fielding many teams for ultimate frisbee, softball, soccer, and basketball. SigEp has also engaged in many charitable activities this year including having a clothing drive for the YMCA, co-hosting a senior prom at the Ida Culver Retirement home, and having a chicken wrap feed to benefit the Youth Aids Foundation. Sadly, none of these merits about fraternities were mentioned in the article.

Regardless of how you feel about article, there are many negative consequences for what occured. Ty was just trying to help this guy get a Ph.D, but wound up getting stabbed in the back. Ty will probably be more weary of helping others out and probably won't ever trust another fake sociology major/lying journalist in his life. I guess I should listen to my mom when she said "Don't talk to strangers." I also urge people to never consent to interviews unless they are conducted by people you know and trust or else you may be in the same position as Ty. Is this what life is about? lying and writing deceitful articles at the expense of others in order to further your own journalism career. I sure hope not. Because if everyone behaved that way, the world would be not a pleasant place to live. Overall, I think the net affect of this article has been, more aversion towards
The Daily, a poorer relationship between the Daily and the Greek System, more aversion towards journalists, decreased trust of strangers, and less willingless to help others. I'm no sociology major in a doctoral program, but those things do not sound too good. Congratulations Brian, you made the world a slightly less desirable place to live in and while you were at that, you broke my heart because you never called me.

While this might seem like a repetitive post, I would like to commend everyone who took the time to say what was on the minds of EVERY student at the University of Washington; not only is this article a demonstration of stereotyping to an offensive degree, this is a pathetic display of journalism.

If “Off-campus life north of 45 street” did consist of nothing but riots, littering, drinking and shootings, you would have a pretty accurate article, Brian. Unfortunately, you chose to interview a non-UW student from Edmonds, one fraternity member (who you lied to), and some drunk guy on 17th to find out what life was like up here? Great reporting….and photography. Because we don’t live in real houses or anything, we live out of garbage cans and cardboard huts, right?

Alright, I will stop with the sarcasm and just give you one last thing to think about.

You had an opportunity to do a two-page feature in the daily. You knew it would be read by tens of thousands of people. You had the chance to show your journalism capabilities and possibly add a great piece to your portfolio. This is what you came up with? Show some dignity and write a good article, don’t bend the facts to get the story you want.

Congratulations on not saying anything. Brian, the one thing you have accomplished is nothing more than the oversimplification of the greek system. Not only is your story focused within only two fraternities, you mention shootings having nothing to do with fraternities or sororities, and exaggerated issues, like couches being left in ally ways and garbage cans being too full, having something to do with greek life. You based a single party and a bunch of unfortunate stories solely on us in an attempt to do what? Are you jealous? Yes. Are you arbitrary and stereotypical in your article? Yes. Are you a credible writer? No. Does anyone besides the few people eating this article up care about you? No. You utterly embarrassed to fraternities because you lied to them. Therefore you are a liar, an idiot, a sheltered queer who needs to stop hiding behind your pathetic articles. Please, Go find something else to complain about. Look at the money we raise for a good cause, the grades we get, the athletic activities, and the documented success we have after college, in comparison to papa john's tee shirt wearing retards like you. Congratulations once again, for making me never want to pick up another Daily as long as you write for them.

Brian,

In am writing in regards to your recent article titled “Students and the Community: Off-campus Life North of 45th Street” I feel that this was an irresponsible article, and contains many false or, at the very least, misleading “facts”. For example, your reference to the 2003 riot being pinned as a Greek community occurrence is a false accusation. Granted, this incident unfortunately, occurred in our neighborhood, but the majority of the constituents of the riot were not members of the Greek community. These rioters were merely part of the ongoing problem of the many external non-residents making their way into our community looking for parties, consequently leading to the bulk of the violence that we are experiencing North of 45th street today. Secondly, your reference to the two shootings that took place is also misleading. No affiliation to the Greek community can be claimed with these events because they all took place at non-Greek house parties. The only recent publicly reported incidence of violence that has occurred at a fraternity function was a fight lacking firearms that occurred this spring. Furthermore, the Rebecca Griego incidence is also completely unrelated to the Greek community. I ask you to consider why she, as a staff member, involved in a lovers quarrel, is being documented in an opinion piece regarding the Greek community.
The information regarding the party protocol also contains incorrect information. The party registration process required by the university does not allow the police to enter and search without probable cause. It is the banquet permit issued by the Washington State Liquor Control Board that gives them the power to enter our facilities and inspect. Moreover, at no point does Sigma Phi Epsilon “call the bartenders” to inform them of police presence, nor do we “loudly announce” their arrival. The system we have in place is to have sober members walk through the party and ensure that none of the partygoers themselves have provided alcohol to minors, which of course would fall upon us in a liability sense. The butcher paper does nothing to keep the police from direct access to the party. It is merely a means to provide a channel for guests who are unfamiliar with the layout of the house to navigate and helps us to regulate access from a more controllable point of our house. Essentially, it is a safety feature that is supported by most security teams and police.
Although Houghton’s statement that: “after 1 a.m., random people start showing up, and it gets kind of sketchy” is a third party quote, it unfortunately lacks validity as well. At no point during our social functions do we have a slip in protocol and I can assure you that if we did, the police would find out and cite us. Plain and simple, if you are not on the list of invited guests you will not be entering at any point during the times listed on the banquet permit (generally 10:30 PM until 2:00 AM).
Lastly, the student code of conduct is not only being backed by Eric Godfrey. The student body as represented by ASUW is in full support, as well as, the Interfraternity Council and Panhellenic which have both passed votes on the issue.
It troubles me both as a student and campus leader that an article with a hook on the cover of The Daily claims to be a “Behind the Scenes on Frat Row”, when your readers are only getting a behind the scenes of only one fraternity. This is in addition to the fact that the article is riddled with false information. The means you took to obtain this fictitious information also lacked any journalistic integrity. Claiming that you are working on a “sociological experiment” rather than a news article and not properly identifying yourself as a reporter gives not only yourself as a journalist, but The Daily as a whole, a bad name and leads to questions of whether or not other articles can be trusted to provide solid facts. I suggest you as a journalist reexamine your ethics and the approach you use to obtain information. More importantly, I would like to stress to you the importance of accurate reporting not only for your sake, but for the sake of The Daily as a means of informing the students and staff of this university.
If you wish to have further dialogue with my fraternity I request that you do it through myself. I also request that we do so on person as prolonged email dialogues seldom accomplish anything positive. In addition, one last false bit of information: Three Six Mafia did not compose “Ridin’ Dirty”; Chamilionaire is the artist. This was probably not an intentional manipulation of data, but a simple research mistake. Nonetheless, it further supports the fact that this article is not only poorly written, but written without sufficient or accurate research on the matter.

Emory Dean
President
Sigma Phi Epsilon
edean@u.washington.edu

This article is yet another reason why Sodoku remains the only reason I have ever opened The Daily.

Okay, first of all Sig Eps don't even party that much and secondly "provocative but awkward" what? Nice writing, seems like college isn't working out for you.

As if the Daily couldn't get bad enough! This is so pointedly trying to make the Greek system and anyone who parties! Well I'm proud to be in a sorority and proud to live north of 45th, cause it's pretty sweet. As for the people who live here who don't go to UW, that too bad they get annoyed with it, but they chose to live here and so they exchange low rent for late night noise. Cool pictures by the way, you really captured the essence of the Greek system. Wow, just WOW. And also, that's really tactful bringing up the tragedy in Gould Hall which really has nothing to do with this situation. You know what I think you should do? RUSH A FRAT! See how that goes for you. I honestly expect a public apology.

Oh, wait, is Brian seeking employment with Fox News?

Just wondering...

I guess I shall refrain from restating what others have said above and the disgust that I felt from reading this article.

One thing many people fail to observe when it comes to looking at fraternities and sororities are the values in which they were founded. From the beginning to this very hour their values, based on principles, stand as their foundation. They are based on principles such as: Integrity, Service, Fairness, and Excellence. These are easily displayed in many aspects of fraternities and sororities. (Philanthropies, Academics, Athletics, and other things mentioned in posts above.)

Look at Sigma Phi Epsilon's Mission statement. “Building Balanced Leaders for the World’s Communities.” The chapter at UW, if you truly get to know them, embodies their mission statement. Leadership is another overlooked aspect of Greek Life. In each fraternity, leadership opportunities exist, and each allows those in positions to learn, grow, and develop. On top of the opportunities offered at the local level, there are opportunities to travel around the country and attend leadership development seminars. Undergraduate Interfraternity Institute, FuturesQuest, Impact, or nationally sponsored seminars.

Last summer I was given to the opportunity to travel to Maine to sail on a schooner for a week. There I worked with my brothers from across the nation, shared stories, learned how to sail, developed my personal leadership, and my interpersonal leadership. I feel it was a very unique and defining experience for someone, wouldn't you say?

Along with leadership development and opportunities, fraternities and sororities are developing the leaders of the future. Maybe your future boss might have been in a fraternity/sorority when he/she was in college? Who knows...

To Whom It May Concern:

I am contacting The Daily regarding today’s article titled “Off Campus Life North of 45th Street” and some severe inaccuracies I find within the article. Aside from the article itself, I have also learned from Sigma Phi Epsilon’s president, Emory Dean, that the reporter never identified himself as such, instead choosing to proclaim that he was engaged in a sociology experiment. As absolutely despicable and completely devoid of ethics I find that, I will try to stay on point and address only the false statements within the article. I will address them sequentially by the order in which they are printed.

First off, John Belushi posters aside, it is a well-known fact that kegs are not allowed in fraternities. The last infraction that occurred in reference to kegs resulted in a lengthy probationary period for the violating chapter.

Also, the 2003 riot brought up did take part within the confines of the Greek Community, but was primarily composed of non-Greek members. Most of the facts regarding the riot are correct, but it is highly inappropriate to attribute its birth to the Greek Community.

Another ethical question comes to light with reference to the two shootings at parties. We have not had a shooting at a UW fraternity during the three years I have attended this university. These shootings took place at non-Greek house parties in the area and were a result of insufficient guest access control, something the Greek Community prides itself in regulating effectively.

We have dealt with ethical issues throughout this article, but the next few statements can be attributed to direct lies. Brian states that wristbands for minors are simply a formality. I charge The Daily to present any proof whatsoever that this was the case. Especially with increased police presence as of late, we constantly remind our member fraternities of the dangers of serving to minors. Perhaps this fraternity was serving to minors; it is not my place to speculate on this. However, I highly doubt that your reporter brought back any hard evidence in support of that fact and would even propose that he was perhaps acting on preconceived notions and expectations.

The university requirement for fraternities to register parties is not a response to negative publicity. This requirement must be included in the recognition agreement with the university by Washington State law. In addition, it is not the university that mandates police inspections. The university requires the purchase of a banquet permit, which in turn by mandate of the Liquor Control Board gives police the right to enter the areas specifically defined within this legal document.

Finally, the extension of the student code of conduct originated within the ASUW student senate, not Godfrey’s office. While Godfrey’s office does assist students with this sensitive subject, it is still a student driven extension. It is worth noting that Greeks hold many seats on the student senate and are in full support of this extension. As a matter of fact, IFC and Panhellenic held a joint vote on the matter earlier this year, which demonstrated overwhelming Greek approval.

I have mixed a number of unethical and completely misrepresented facts throughout my discussion in this letter. I would urge The Daily to sift through this article and reprint that which was literally falsely represented. There are a number of ways in which this article could be labeled a disgrace to The Daily, but I am only specifically concerned with those statements that are obviously twisted and potentially libelous, with little evidentiary support. If this is not possible, we will be investigating various options on our side of the table as to how we will proceed with this matter. At the vary least, please ensure that your reporters do factual research when writing future articles.

Thank You,

Zachary Andrew Meissner
Interfraternity Council President

+1 on Sudoku.

Honestly, I feel like this is a pretty accurate portrayal of frat parties. I've been to my fair share and this is seems like the standard. They're a good time, as they are meant to be. The article obviously wasn't meant to be about what frats do outside of partying, it was a commentary on the problem in the community, and there is a problem. I don't think anyone can deny that. It was unfair to single out sig ep, and I feel like the article could have been a lot stronger with more research and equal attention to other factors such as house parties.

In my usual routine this morning over breakfast, I picked up The Daily and found the article by Brian Slodysko, which I was attracted to by its OUTSTANDING photos. After reading the first paragraph of the article, I knew it would be excruciating to finish, and it was. As a member of the Greek System, I feel that as a community, we deserve an apology. It is apparent that this “journalism” solely represented some built up anger that Slodysko is just trying to release before he graduates, and Brian: those of the Greek community ask you to release elsewhere, where thousands of people won’t see or be offended by. As UW students, we are all trying to get NEWS from the daily, not some cheap fabrication I could pick up and read in line at QFC next to an article entitled “Bat Baby Born, See REAL Photos Inside”.
The facts are that Slodysko is a senior, AND this is the last edition of The Daily for the year in which an article like this could be published. This just shows he was waiting for the last possible second to backlash. What, can’t face the repercussions Brian? Honestly what a coward. I don’t know what the Greeks ever did to you, but it obviously made you mad enough to retaliate. Now, since you are graduating, you better run away from your insecurities Brian, you’re newly found 6,000 “friends” that you made today will miss you so. Good riddance, and just for your information you are not welcome near 17th-22nd anytime soon, that is for sure, we might throw our stilettos and keg cups at you.

Also - How credible is the idiot you found walking down 17th with a red keg cup in hand? Did this even happen? Since you obviously aren’t familiar with our neighborhood, and refer to it as “Life North of 45th” as if we were some alternative universe, you may not know the rules, and just for a little insight, a red keg cup in hand is known here as a “party foul” that can get you a free night in jail. The person you interviewed was unlikely a Greek. I guess since you found him wandering the Greek System, he seemed like a noble source for your ENTIRELY credible stance.

Brian probably didn't make too many friends today

Libel definitions:
1. Law.
a. defamation by written or printed words, pictures, or in any form other than by spoken words or gestures.
b. the act or crime of publishing it.
c. a formal written declaration or statement, as one containing the allegations of a plaintiff or the grounds of a charge.

2. anything that is defamatory or that maliciously or damagingly misrepresents.
–verb (used with object)
3. to publish a libel against.
4. to misrepresent damagingly.


Last time I checked libel is considered illegal and jurisdictions allow legal actions to counteract and retaliate the defamatory criticism.

Way to go Daily!!

I am an editor for another state university newspaper. While I usually applaud any attempts to highlight the negative aspects of the Greek system, I am not clapping my hands for this article. This piece represents a random hodge podge of viewpoints on the topic, but with no real connecting thread to tie it together. What does the salary of the president or the death of a young woman unaffiliated with the Greek system have to do with anything?
Also, I'd recommend not commenting on your own story in a public forum. Especially when you label yourself with such a professional title, "dude"

'Non-greek Member' or whatever your name was, agreed that the article was poorly written, yes, yes it was. But really, the 'non-greek' vs. 'greek' issue isn't an issue. Who really gives a hoot (yes, hoot) about the Greek System IF YOU AREN'T A PART OF IT! GET OVER IT! I know that if 99% of dorm residents or commuters were invited to a party, or a BBQ, or a movie night, or what have you, they would more than likely come and enjoy the visit. There are a sack of facts about how successful Greek members become, but besides that it's a place for social life and intra-community building. Why would Brian even care to write this article? Is it jealousy? Is it the fact he's tired of seeing greek letters walking through campus? He's the only one who knows, but he's one amidst the crowd of non-greeks whom shouldn't be bothered the 'rambunctious' and 'distasteful' behaviors of those North 45thers (That includes you too Daryl!). For the dorm residents, the commuters, the off-campusers, and any and all non-greek members; why do you care? When is someone going to publish an article about the drug use in the dorms? Isn't that a little more dangerous than my keystone can in the recycling bin? I'm 21, it's okay! And finally, parties don't happen on Saturday night, so the immense mess of aluminum and red plasic on a mid-Sunday morning (is that like 10:30?) boggles my mind :)...I'm eloquent eh?

So...what does an aspiring journalist do after such an onslaught? Is there hope? Will anyone ever take anything written by this person seriously again? Just curious...

I would like to applaud Sig Ep president Emory Dean and especially Tyler Meuret for taking the high ground in the aftermath of this article. Not only were their responses prompt, professional, and fair, but they were written with a level-headedness that many, including myself, would not have wasted their time on having been so slighted.

If Brian Slodysko has a droplet of bravery within him, he would do well to write a comment on this board after complaint 1000, rather than just complaint 1.

This article has caused us to turn our backs on each other. The UW against the Daily, The Daily against the Greeks, Greeks against other Greeks, Greeks against dormies... lets please remember that we are all members of the University of Washington community, and incidents such as this should unite us, and not divide us. Clearly this was a poorly written, inaccurate, libelous article and considering the enormous backlash I'm sure Brian and the editor of the Daily have now realized that. Mistakes were made, but we must learn from them if anything. My hope is that if and when the Daily publishes an apology, that we accept it and move on.

"Next week, first-year residents will bid farewell to community restrooms, shared bedrooms and the birthplace of some unforgettable college moments, a place they have called home for the past nine months: the UW residence halls."
"From being involved in Relay For Live to studying abroad, my girls are a great example of how the residence halls benefits students."
"[Residence] life is definitely a networking system and I feel fortunate to have met the people I did."

It does not bother me that the Daily decides to shine this sort of light on the Dorms; however, with respects to yesterdays article it is uncalled for to say the least. This will strengthen "Greek" vs. "Dormie" animosity. Also, the bias with which this article was written is also very very inaccurate. UW is consistently rated--by respectable journalist--top 10 worst dungeons, or dormitories. Even as a non-Greek member of the UW community I realize the blatant attack on the Greek system. I encourage the Greek community to take action. You are a large part of this community and should not tolerate these attacks. CALL TO ACTION: Push for a Greek section in the Daily!

When it comes down to it, I just want UW and the Daily to appreciate how strong the Greek Community is. Conveniently, the article was posted the second to last day of the school year, so even if there is a retraction or corrections we won't be here to see it. To the editors of the Daily: you have all of our e-mail addresses, I expect an explaination issued soon.

Daily Editors,

I can only assume you must have no handle on your newspaper to let an article such as this be printed in the first place, so I am going to help you out.

You now have renouncements from:
-Daily Writers
-Daily Advertising staff
-Journalism Majors
-Other Journalist
-Editors of other State University Newspapers
-Dormies
-Non-Greeks
-Greeks
-Pretty much anyone who can read (oh except the writer and his little pal)

Why have you not printed a retraction or even a response?

As a student run organization, is the student sentiment not clear enough, or do we have to have another of your famous "Greek Riots?"

Get your head straight and get on it.

A few things...

1. Your writing is terrible--perhaps you should take some of the intro to journalism classes again, they could do wonders for you.
2. You are misinformed and you should be ashamed of yourself for being so ignorant. Thank god there aren't more people like you in the world, otherwise, it would be a pretty unfortunate place to live.