In reading the letters regarding Thon, I noticed a recurring theme among them -- pride. In Laura McNally's response ("Fraternities and sororities should take pride in their work," Feb. 20) she managed to talk more about herself than Thon. True pride has to do with acknowledging and respecting who you are and what you can do, without any outside confirmation or approval. But members of Thon have managed to embody the other type of pride: self-righteousness. Their T-shirts, sweatpants, away messages, e-mails, banners and balloons all say the same thing: "Look at me: I am charitable and fabulous for being so." Thon is Penn State's model for self-deification, and it absolutely pains me to go to a school that prides itself on its pride.