Comparing Greeks to terrorists unfounded
Issue date: 11/14/07 Section: Opinion
Dear Editor,
As a former Ripon College fraternity member and as a Jewish professional who lived and studied in Israel, I took offense to Joe Hentz's ridiculous letter to the editor in the most recent issue of College Days ["ResLife and Greek life at RC similar to Israeli (sic) and Palestinian conflict," Oct. 31, 2007]. In addition to being grammatically offensive, the article reflected the author's lack of a sophisticated understanding of both the Israeli/Palestinian conflict and the Greek system at Ripon College.
Fully refuting Hentz's assertion that Palestinian terrorists have reacted appropriately in the face of Israeli "aggression" would take an entire course on the history of the conflict. I used to eat lunch every day in the rebuilt remains of a café that had been blown up three years earlier, killing dozens of young people who were themselves around the same age as the average Ripon student.
Violent conflicts in which neither side can claim to be right should not be summed up with such weak analysis as Hentz's. For example: "I believe the current attitude of Residence Life and the rest of the current administration parallels the injustices that the Zionists and its cohorts began years ago." This is not the first-rate critical thinking that we should expect from Ripon students; using such a ridiculous analogy suggests that Hentz knows little about either aspect of his comparison.
Furthermore, Hentz is a sloppy student of the College's history. He writes, "Since that time [presumably the 1960's], Greek groups have been forced to move from off-campus Greek-owned housing into the dormitories." Hentz should stop by the College's excellent archives or consult with one of the Ripon professors who was actually on campus in the 1960's. To my knowledge, Greek life at Ripon College has always existed - at least for the most part - as part of the college's residential system. My own fraternity, Theta Chi, was founded in 1954 in Bartlett Hall (which was then a dorm). When he speaks of "off-campus Greek-owned housing," I'm not sure what Hentz is talking about (Of course, neither is he).
I don't know Joe Hentz, and I'm sure he's a bright guy. I just wish he'd apply some of his intelligence to the content of his letters to the editor. Comparing Ripon College's fraternity and sorority members to members of Hamas or the Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigade is silly and offensive.
I should also note that I am no fan of Residence Life's current wave of restrictive behavior (if I'm to believe the reports in College Days). I am particularly impressed that students have convened this open forum to address these important issues. It is an example of the good civic values that a liberal-arts education promotes. Hentz's letter, on the other hand, seems to be an example of the weak thinking that Ripon strives to defeat.
Joshua Barkin
Class of '02
As a former Ripon College fraternity member and as a Jewish professional who lived and studied in Israel, I took offense to Joe Hentz's ridiculous letter to the editor in the most recent issue of College Days ["ResLife and Greek life at RC similar to Israeli (sic) and Palestinian conflict," Oct. 31, 2007]. In addition to being grammatically offensive, the article reflected the author's lack of a sophisticated understanding of both the Israeli/Palestinian conflict and the Greek system at Ripon College.
Fully refuting Hentz's assertion that Palestinian terrorists have reacted appropriately in the face of Israeli "aggression" would take an entire course on the history of the conflict. I used to eat lunch every day in the rebuilt remains of a café that had been blown up three years earlier, killing dozens of young people who were themselves around the same age as the average Ripon student.
Violent conflicts in which neither side can claim to be right should not be summed up with such weak analysis as Hentz's. For example: "I believe the current attitude of Residence Life and the rest of the current administration parallels the injustices that the Zionists and its cohorts began years ago." This is not the first-rate critical thinking that we should expect from Ripon students; using such a ridiculous analogy suggests that Hentz knows little about either aspect of his comparison.
Furthermore, Hentz is a sloppy student of the College's history. He writes, "Since that time [presumably the 1960's], Greek groups have been forced to move from off-campus Greek-owned housing into the dormitories." Hentz should stop by the College's excellent archives or consult with one of the Ripon professors who was actually on campus in the 1960's. To my knowledge, Greek life at Ripon College has always existed - at least for the most part - as part of the college's residential system. My own fraternity, Theta Chi, was founded in 1954 in Bartlett Hall (which was then a dorm). When he speaks of "off-campus Greek-owned housing," I'm not sure what Hentz is talking about (Of course, neither is he).
I don't know Joe Hentz, and I'm sure he's a bright guy. I just wish he'd apply some of his intelligence to the content of his letters to the editor. Comparing Ripon College's fraternity and sorority members to members of Hamas or the Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigade is silly and offensive.
I should also note that I am no fan of Residence Life's current wave of restrictive behavior (if I'm to believe the reports in College Days). I am particularly impressed that students have convened this open forum to address these important issues. It is an example of the good civic values that a liberal-arts education promotes. Hentz's letter, on the other hand, seems to be an example of the weak thinking that Ripon strives to defeat.
Joshua Barkin
Class of '02
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GC
posted 8/25/08 @ 5:06 PM CST
Well said... the xenophobia is unfounded.
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