Rely on China for American foreign policy initiatives? Really?
The recent New York Times Week in Review column, “Look Who’s Mr. Fixit for a Fraught Age,” written by Steven Lee Myers, points to China as the most important partner in American international relations today. Mr. Myers is not wrong. Myers argues, correctly, that when both countries’ interests are aligned much can be achieved. He points to China stepping up pressure on North Korea, successfully bringing the rogue nation — which it had formally vehemently protected — to the table … and reaching a deal! (True, the deal only dictates that North Korea must cease and desist all nuclear manufacturing, but still allows Kim Jong Il to hold onto the weapons he has already amassed.) Myers acknowledges China’s efforts to increase pressure on Sudan to stem the flow of blood in Darfur and to reach a peace deal with the major rebel parties. (True, this pressure comes years too late and only after hundreds of thousands have been murdered and millions displaced). Myers goes so far as to mention the role China has played in the Association of South East Asian Nations’ press release “strongly deplor[ing]” the Burmese junta’s recent oppression of the pro-democracy protests led by monks. (True, the word “condemns” was notably absent in the release as it was too strong a word for China’s liking, and the junta remains in place without any change in its behavior to date.)
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To the Editor:
In Michael Kreicher ‘08’s article “Fixing the Rush Process” (Oct. 12), I agree with him on a few points: The fraternity recruitment process does exist “in stark contrast” to its female counterpart, the sorority recruitment process is “grueling,” and, yes, there is reasoning behind the more formal sorority process, namely that women need a chance to familiarize themselves with houses they typically have not been given the opportunity to visit before. I will not claim the sorority recruitment process is perfect, nor will I attest to loving the logistics of the “mysterious computer program” whose intricacies I have come to learn in the past week.
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By
Kate Robb, President, Panhellenic Council Executive Board
To the Editor:
As a woman who has been on both sides of the Panhellenic recruitment process — both as a Potential New Member and an affiliated woman — I was appalled by the blatant factual inaccuracies that formed the “foundation” of Michael Kreicher ‘08’s “Fixing the Rush Process” (Oct. 12). Kreicher’s “conclusions” are based on hearsay and campus myths, not the facts. For example, his accusations that a computer program, not the chapters or the PNMs, ultimately make the decision as to which house a woman is placed is complete fallacy. The Panhellenic Council does utilize a computer program in order to sync the lists produced by the chapters with the PNMs’ preferences. The Interactive Collegiate Solutions (ICS) software program is merely a time saving device, not a “Magic 8 Ball” of rush. If you, Michael Kreicher, want to hand match 300 bids, be our guest. You can drag Panhellenic recruitment out for many more days and sleepless nights. Panhellenic recruitment is a “mutual selection” process where the wishes of the PNMs and the seven Panhellenic chapters are taken into account.
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