Faces behind the fliers
After posting 1,200 fliers across Grounds disparaging fraternity and sorority life at the University, one University alumnus has stepped forward to speak for the group of 13 students and former students responsible.
Describing their mission as one to "spark discussion and thought," Matt Shields, a Graduate School of Arts and Sciences alumnus, said that the group is not affiliated with any organization.
"Four of us were just sitting around and thought it would be a good idea for someone to highlight some of the detriments inherent in the Greek system," he said. "It was really just a whim."
The first fliers were posted during rush two years ago, and were greeted with controversy.
"The first time, we wanted to be informative," said Shields, a member of a fraternity during his years at the University. "We thought we had something to say and David Hasselhoff and Mario Lopez seemed like fine spokespeople."
Among the topics the group wanted to stress in the fliers were hazing, drinking, superficiality and homogeneity, he said.
"None of the merits to the Greek system are inherent to the Greek system, but the detriments are," Shields said. "After graduating, I'm sort of embarrassed that it took me so long to realize it."
The rest of the group wishes to remain anonymous.
"There's been a lot of criticism about the anonymity," he said. "We're not attacking individuals and we don't want to be seen as individuals."
Though several members of the group currently are in a sorority or fraternity, he said they are "enacting change from within."
--Compiled by Kara Rowland
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