On behalf of the Interfraternity Council and the Greek community of the University of Illinois, I wish to express my utmost disgust over your recent portrayal of fraternity men on this campus and elsewhere. The editorial cartoon entitled “Pick a New Mascot” (Feb. 21) labels fraternity men as “racist, misogynist and homophobic,” which further epitomizes the very stereotyping that students across campus have worked to erase.

While I acknowledge that the aforementioned issues do exist within our fraternities, I am infuriated that your cartoonist has blanketed all Greeks with this lowly repute. Do Greeks not deserve the same respect and protection from such antagonism as any race, nationality or creed?

I question why you have allowed a mockery of all fraternity men as bigots and chauvinists while their efforts to prove otherwise find no publicity.

The Greek community is already taking great strides towards bridging the gaps between these differences. Each month the four Greek councils will continue to sponsor events on education and awareness as it relates to diversity in our campus community.

Expansion of the Fraternity Peer Rape Education Project is a priority for the IFC in the coming year, though 18 fraternities have already participated since its inception. In the fall, fraternities will implement new member education programs to explicitly focus on improved etiquette, respect for women and the integrity that should accompany the letters they wear.

Despite popular belief, these efforts are in place and will continue to improve.

As a fraternity man and the representative of over 3,400 Greek men on campus, I am sickened by the hypocrisy you have created by stereotyping our Greek community in print and in drawing.

You continue to amplify the barriers between Greeks and non-Greeks that we work to crumble. If you wish to right your wrong, I challenge you to bring attention to Greeks on this campus leading change and improving our society in their everyday.

Our Greek community will continue to promote the education of its members in these matters, and we ask for your support as we move forward in doing so.

Jason C. Mueller

President

UIUC Interfraternity Council