To the Editor:

Re: “University Cracks Down on Drinking in Greek System,” News, Aug. 25

We, the chapter presidents of the fraternities on Cornell’s campus, are alarmed at the proposed seizure of one of our cornerstones: self-governance. We realize that the system under which we operate has many flaws. There is no doubt that we can improve and move forward to make the processes of recruitment and new member education safer and more enriching to new students who choose to join the system. We acknowledge that our right to decide how these processes should be regulated is fundamental to our very purpose and existence, citing furthermore that real leadership is not developed by implementing a plan handed down by another authority. Rather than mandate non-negotiable, sweeping changes be put into effect with no consideration for student input, let the Greek community partner with the administration in order to come up with a set of challenging, but achievable goals that can improve the experience and target some of the areas we need to reform, such as alcohol abuse and antiquated, uncreative recruitment and new member processes. This sense of partnership and compromise — where students are welcomed to the decision-making table — has proven successful again and again in the past (elimination of hard alcohol, crackdown on hazing, cleaning up of Slope Day, etc.,) and is the best method for continued success. It is in fact the only way to preserve the dignity, integrity, and successful partnership that has been our priority for nearly one and a half centuries.

Justin Burden ’12, ACACIA president

Max Weisz ’11, Alpha Delta Phi president

Matthew Lerner ’12, Alpha Epsilon Pi president

Benjamin Stamp ’11, Alpha Gamma Rho president

Doug Jones ’12, Alpha Sigma Phi president

Sean Gelbwaks ’12, Alpha Tau Omega president

Marlene van Es ’11, Alpha Zeta president

Erik Andrew Foraker ’11, Chi Phi president

Connor Bruns ’11, Chi Psi president

Craig Mason ’12, Delta Chi president

Michael Dalton ’12, Delta Kappa Epsilon president

Michael De Lucia ’12, Delta Phi president

Isaiah Einzig ’12, Delta Upsilon president

Tyler St. Pierre’12, Lambda Chi Alpha president

Eric Vina ’12, Phi Delta Theta president

Ryan Lett ’11, Phi Gamma Delta president

Matthew Kearney ’11, Phi Kappa Psi president

Jason Lustig ’11, Phi Kappa Tau president

Dan Satnick ’12, Phi Sigma Kappa president

Ivi Demi ’12, Pi Kappa Phi president

Andrew Barnell ’11, Psi Upsilon president

Jordan Smith ’11, Seal & Serpent president

Eric Barnum ’12, Sigma Alpha Epsilon president

Jan Bialostok ’12, Sigma Alpha Mu president

Michael Santandreu ’11, Sigma Chi president

Michael Spooner ’12, Sigma Nu president

Evan Caruso ’11, Sigma Phi Epsilon president

Rohan Siddhanti ’12, Sigma Pi president

Steven Wald ’12, Tau Epsilon Phi president

Christopher Nieves ’11, Theta Delta Chi president

Zachary Schwake ’11, Theta Kappa Epsilon president

Alan Garcia ’12, Zeta Beta Tau president

Matthew Riemer ’12, Zeta Psi president