Editor,
I find it offensive and rather repulsive that you would allow a comic strip that aims to stereotype fraternities, but, most importantly, one that grossly undermines the issue of rape.
As a member of a fraternity at the UNM campus, I can assure you that the Greek community at UNM does not take the issue of rape lightly, and we work rather hard to challenge such negative stereotypes that are made by ignorant and divisive individuals such as your cartoonist.
Individuals seem to be OK with making it a comedic issue without taking into account the potential damage that it can have on an individual who has gone through such an atrocious act. I can assume that for someone who has lived it, rape is neither a joke nor material for newspaper comedy.
It seems rather ignorant and, quite frankly, biased to assume that every man who joins a fraternity automatically becomes an alcoholic and a sexual assailant by association.
Joining a fraternity has quite the opposite effect. Our aim is to transform young men into gentlemen who, at the central core of their being, learn how to respect authority, one another, and, most importantly, treat every woman as a lady, therefore creating a more productive and well-rounded member of society who readily answers at the first call of civic and moral duty.
It is sad to see that you overlook all of the good that we do on campus and only focus on publishing items that paint us in a negative light in order to get a “juicy” story.
I challenge you and your staff to be present and write articles about our philanthropic endeavors, such as our cancer dinner, which raised over $9,000 for the Cancer Center; Sigma Chi’s fight night benefiting our veterans, which raised over $10,000; Chi Omega’s sponsoring of a child at the Make-A-Wish Foundation; Pi Phi’s effort to reduce illiteracy; Alpha Chi’s “Omega Man” to raise awareness about domestic violence, which raised over $4,000; Omega Delta Phi’s ongoing support of C.A.S.A.; or our upcoming Greek Week philanthropy, which is expected to raise over $10,000 in just a week.
Maybe by publishing the positive things that happen around our campus, rather than attacking student organizations, our ASUNM president, our University president, or our Athletics department, you will be able to turn the reputation of the Daily Lobo from a substandard publication into something that people enjoy reading and that actually brings our campus community closer.
After all, you wouldn’t exist if it weren’t for the student fees that I, as well as my fellow students, whom you so readily attack, pay to the University.
Javier E. Manriquez
UNM Student
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