Lately, Daily Egyptian letters to the editor have been more like battles between the Greek and the non-Greek. I would like to try to clear things up for all of us.

Some say the Greek system is just a college version of the typical high school click we all try to avoid. Sororities and fraternities have the reputation of being full of people who only worry about their looks, kegs, and fellow Greeks. Those in the Greek system defend themselves by reminding us of academic standards, community service, and individuality. What we all tend to forget is that nobody can be right or wrong. Both sides stress individuality and being yourself. They tend to forget the actual choosing of being in the system or not is where you become a true individual.

I rushed one month into my first year at SIUC, as did my closest friends here. Out of these seven people, I am the only one who did not pledge. Personally the Greek system is not for me. It is, however, for the others I have grown very close to. They are constantly busy, running from this meeting to that social event. I have more free time. That does not mean that I am not involved in things I am interested in. They have met many more people than I have, but eventually I will meet people also. They will posses high ideals, excel in scholastic achievement and personal growth as Margaret Gubernat says Greeks do, but so will I. We all will reach our goals, not because of how we get there, but because we are determined to get there.

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To all you Greeks and non-Greeks out there decide for yourself what is right for you. Only you know where you want to spend your time. The choosing is where you become a true individual. It is a decision that should require no opinions or convincing from either side. It is time to respect each other’s decision to go Greek or not. Either way we can grow as people and have a good time doing it.