We can’t deny the existence of incidents of alcohol abuse, sexual assault, hazing and racism involving fraternity and sorority members at different universities.

Nor should we.

We need to openly discuss these serious issues. But this discussion should not start with blaming Greek Life as a whole.

You’ve probably heard about the scandal at the University of Oklahoma where a video surfaced of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity members’ racist chants on a bus to a formal event.

The national organization shut the chapter down, and the university President David Boren said its affiliation with OU is “permanently done.”

Two students, if not more, leading the chants face expulsion.
And they deserve it.

We all should have no tolerance for racism at any institution at any level.

Pull the chapter’s charter, expel the chant leaders and don’t condone that repulsive behavior.

But do not punish the rest of us with Greek letters on our chests for what we have not done. I feel that I can speak for all Greeks when I say discrimination isn’t an ideal of any of our organizations.

I refuse to stand for racism and hate speech. I also refuse to be grouped with those fraternity members.
Do not place the actions of a few on the whole.

As you might have guessed, I’m a proud Greek woman at ULM. I will never regret my surprising decision to go Greek.

This shy freshman gained skills and confidence to follow my academic and professional passions. Though I’ve had to follow (and enforce) many rules,

I do it because I want my being Greek to make positive impacts.

Many are quick to bash us. Few acknowledge the benefits.

In the U.S., over 9 million college students have gone Greek, and I believe most did it for the right reasons. According to USA TODAY, the first female astronaut and first female senator were Greek.

Graduation rates are 20 percent higher among Greeks than non-Greeks. All but three U.S. presidents since 1825 have been members of a fraternity.

Scandals always make a splash in the news, but who takes notice of the philanthropic work that our organizations do?

Take this from the high school graduate who would have been voted “least likely to go Greek”: Going Greek does not make me better than anyone else.

Being Greek means I have opportunities for close friendships, leadership roles and standards that hold me accountable because I represent my organization.

I strive to make my sisters proud of me.

Let my actions and not another’s define me.

Though I’m not perfect, I don’t support any behavior that degrades another person, so my role should not be the one that receives blame for what OU fraternity chapter members do.

My role as a Greek needs to be proactive in the discussion of how we can halt racism on our own campus.

These issues such as racism exist outside of the Greek system and could continue despite attempts to blame or ban us all.

Keep in mind: When done right, Greek organizations mean to complement the university’s mission to educate and enhance students.

My organization instilled in me respect for all regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation or any other qualities.

We’re all humans deserving of love and acceptance.

So accept that not all Greeks are like those fraternity members in that video. Pointing your finger only perpetuates a problem that we all can solve by first accepting one another (yes, I’m cliché).

Don’t be so busy with the blame game that you’re not part of the progress that our society obviously needs.