To the Editor:

I recall my freshman year as a proud Stape 2 resident, witnessing the 30 or so women on my hall anxiously running in and out of the bathroom where there was better lighting to view the final product of their make up and even I felt the anxiety of ensuring that your outfit was unique, stylish and expensive from head to toe. For almost a week, I was forced to hear the women on my hall complain over and over about their uncertainty of their outfits before they stepped out onto Greek Row to make their rounds. It was then that I initially witnessed the underlying superficialities that exist within the rush process, and my mind was further molded when I heard various horror stories from the rushees themselves, which I will not repeat for I was not personally there to witness these stories unfold. It was not until I read, " … despite what Greek Life is telling you, it does matter what you wear,” and the recommendation to " … pick out the most expensive pair of jeans that you own, or at least the most recognizable brand" in this past Friday's Hustler that I realized how blatantly true these stories of the rush process were and shook my head that this was publicly admitted in our campus newspaper as if it was OK rather than shameful.

My sorority prides itself on the character of its women and what she can bring to our organization and how she can better our chapter. Daddy's income or the latest Citizen's or Rock and Republic jeans she may be donning will neither work tirelessly to raise money for the chapter’s philanthropy, develop a substantial program that will benefit the Vanderbilt community nor will they represent your sorority with dignity. Instead, it is the woman wearing the designer clothing who is so focused who will. It is disappointing and disheartening as a Greek member that as we encroach on 2009, women continue to judge one another on superficial intangibles that do not, I will repeat, do not matter. It is those who deem these superficial intangibles as an important factor who continue to make them matter.
I encourage women to evaluate what is important. By focusing on "the most recognizable brand" of jeans she may own, you will blind yourself from focusing on the most hardworking, ambitious brand of person who will better your chapter, Greek Life and the Vanderbilt community.

Brittany Simmons
Junior
College of Arts and Science