White wrongly advocates status quo

I was dismayed by Lindsay White's column "The nature of the beast" (March 1). White appears to believe that individuals subject to discrimination within private institutions have little right to complain. Sure, they might be ejected from a beloved sorority because they are overweight, Asian or not adequately fashionable, but that's just "the nature of the beast." Observers should remember that these women "were part of an organization in which membership is contingent upon meeting arbitrary standards." These women are not entitled to too much of our sympathy, White implies, because they should have known this before they joined.

I find this line of thinking insipid, if not downright offensive. Any private institution is legally entitled to discriminate against whomever they wish. The more significant issues, however, are whether its forms of discrimination are reasonable and just, and whether it is entitled to our support, either as members or outsiders. Should we merely sit back and shrug when a private country club admits "Whites only?" Can we, in good conscience, allow our "political parties, societies and country clubs" to systematically reject less fortunate, less attractive, less mainstream individuals in exchange for the "prestige, support and... comfort of fitting in with a homogenous population"? It is my hope that the vast majority of the Duke students would answer both questions with a resounding "no."

The appalling actions of Delta Zeta's national officers offer an excellent opportunity to take a serious look at the standards of greek organizations across the country. Perhaps it is time to reassess the value of these organizations if their primary bases for discrimination are superficial, segregating and, ultimately, in conflict with the values we wish communities to embody. White, however, rejects this opportunity and instead offers clichéd arguments in favor of the status quo. I am disappointed.

Tracy Hresko

Trinity '02