Deckhead:

Paint the Town Red

Body:

It’s not like the Greek system needed anything else to bring down its reputation. For years, reports of hazing and elitism have dogged fraternities and sororities nationwide. Often students choose not to join houses for these very reasons. At DePauw University however, the atmosphere seemed different, more inclusive. At least that’s what the sisters of Delta Zeta thought, before their national body decided to “revamp” the chapter. Two weeks ago, 23 women were demoted to alumnae status as undergrads, allegedly because they lacked “commitment,” when in fact it was because of their appearance. The former members of Delta Zeta reported that the only sisters kept by the national sorority were “generally pretty and slender” while those cut from the chapter tended to be either overweight or minorities. The sorority justified its actions by stating that those women cut from the chapter were unmotivated in recruitment.

Deckhead:

Re: "Free to Choose," Opinion, March 8

Body:

To the Editor:

Ari Rabkin’s recent column “Free to Choose” at first promises to promote choice, until it becomes apparent that Rabkin is instead out to marginalize an entire political party’s ideology. Instead of doing his research, Rabkin takes the challenging route of characterizing all Libertarians as extremists: blind to anything but the mantra “freedom is good” and wanting harm to come to every American by privatizing services to efficient companies and granting dangerous personal freedoms.

Deckhead:

Re: "A Special Relationship," Opinion, March 6

Body:

To the Editor:

Comrade Laura Taylor ’07 impresses all with another stellar column. She has proven herself a true iconoclast.

I mean, who but Taylor could have seen what all others were blind too: that the reason the Great Satan maintains its special relationship with the Zionist entity is because it wants access to the vast natural resources of the Middle East. Sure some will argue that Israel barely has any oil or natural gas production and that in order to gain greater access to the these precious resources it would be smarter to spurn Israel in order to curry favor with other countries in that oil rich and vehemently anti-Israel neighborhood. But Comrade Taylor sees through such analysis. She has little use for facts.

Deckhead:

The Scorpion King

Body:

As I peered out my ice-glazed window this morning, it occurred to me that Cornell must be one of the only college campuses in the entire world where spring break is colder than winter break. Together with the ominous burden of prelims, this week’s obscenely low temperatures have left Cornell students eagerly counting down the days until March 17th, which marks the beginning of our school’s annual spring recess.