This letter is in response to The Northern Star’s editorial on Sept. 13 entitled, “Greeks Reform Doubtful.”

The Star was generous enough to publish their opinion on the changes occuring on Greek Row. However, they were uninformed. The men of Phi Sigma Kappa Fraternity would like to take this opportunity to inform the Star and the thousands of students that they have misinformed.

Yes, Phi Sigma Kappa’s new “Brotherhood Program” was implemented to reduce the occurence of hazing, nationwide, but that is not its sole purpose.

The Phi Sig chapter at NIU is not a hazing chapter, therefore, we are making use of the program’s aspects relevant to our chapter.

In fact, our executive vice president, Tom Recker, was quoted as referring to our chapter as “perhaps the finest chapter in all of Phi Sigma Kappa.”

In the past, our fraternity offered a “bid” to associate with the house. The associate class would spend a semester in a structured program learning our principles and goals.

Under the new program, a “continuing to rush bid” is offered allowing him to become better aquainted with the active members. Contrary to the Star’s belief, a continuing rushee is not another word for a pledge.

This new program allows for a more relaxed atmosphere that benefits both the rushee and current members of the fraternity. It not only eliminates the possible environment for hazing but also offers the following:

(1) the program allows continuing rushees more time for scholastics; (2) it allows the rushee more time for other extra-curricular activities; (3) the program allows the organization to become more familiar with the prospective member; (4) it allows the prospective member to become more familiar with the organization he is joining; (5) when both the rushee and the organization feel they are a match, the program allows the rushee to immediately participate in all chapter operations and in some cases, not wait for the semester to end; (6) the program eliminates the two-tiered system of membership (pledge-active) and puts the rushee on the same level of the current members.

As to the success or failure of this new program, a doubtful Northern Star said the “future will speak for itself.” We are confident that the “Brotherhood program” will be a contributing factor to the continued success of Phi Sigma Kappa.

Keith Stout President and the Men of Phi Sigma Kappa