Next week marks one of NIU’s greatest paradoxes: Greek Week.

The trouble is Greek Week is for white greek organizations. Black greek organizations have their own shindig in April.

And both do their best to identify the difference.

Everyday people on campus are saying how racism is prolific. And NIU just pushed the Unity in Diversity celebration from a week to an entire year to help bring the races—all races— closer together.

Apparently, the folks on Greek Row and those up in the University Programming and Activities Office haven’t heard.

Or they don’t want to venture into shaky waters.

Why NIU has a separate council for white and black greek organizations has puzzled many for a long time. Obviously, with the tensions, ill-feelings and sense of togetherness on campus and especially in the greek community, the merge will be difficult. So we wait. And hope.

But celebrating the week is hard to swallow. “One of the main purposes of Greek Week is to unite the different greek organizations and in turn form a stronger relationship between the whole greek community,” said Greek Week Chairman Dale Spencer.

The week does the opposite.

Certainly Spencer and the others aren’t limiting their goals to the white community. But by separating the weeks—and making a point to explain the weeks are separated—the wrong message is sent out.

It’s too late to change anything now. But it’s not too late to start working toward next year—and April.