"(Fraternities) teach you how to lie, conform, become racially insensitive and brag ... the Greek system only breeds arrogance."

Thank God, someone finally hit the Greek system right on target. Jonathan Burman you are a prophet, a social critic of the highest order and above all, you are ignorant.

To begin, should I ask for a refund of my fraternity dues because I haven't been exposed to any of Mr. Burman's "benefits." I feel that I must be missing out on some good stuff.

After all, since I, being Greek, am of a "mass-mind" mentality and can't think on my own, it's important that the system is breeding me as it sees best.

The same "decadent system" has given us every U.S. president but two, and over two-thirds of Fortune 500 executives.

And as to Mr. Burman's comment that "Not surprisingly, the Ku Klux Klan started as a fraternal organization," I would point out that so did the Kiwanis, Optimists and Lion's Club, along with the VFW.

But, there was a disclaimer to Mr. Burman's argument: that "fraternities aren't all bad ... and perform ... functions that give a facade of responsible behavior."

I wonder if Mr. Burman discussed this "facade" with any of the parents or children who have benefited from the Four Diamonds Fund, which in turn benefits from the IFC/Panhel Dance Marathon.

Or the kids from the Second Mile, or Strawberry Fields, or the people at the State College Food Bank -- am I making my point yet?

Hopefully I've made my point throughout this letter. Yes, Mr. Burman, in the Greek system there can be found examples of everything you mentioned.

I think that if you looked hard enough, you'd find all of these things in anywhere from a kindergarten class to an army platoon. The fact remains that the Greek system has far more positives than negatives.