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Surprisingly enough, I've had quite a bit of traffic to this lovely little website. Plus, many people have been kind enough to sign my guestbook! Let's take a look at their "words of wisdom", shall we?
(Guestbook entries will be edited only for spelling and space.)
Name: Susan
Date: Fri Mar 14 2003
Sex: female
I found it hilarious that some people aren't grown up enough to actually put their names on something they write!
Maria responds: I'm not sure exactly whom you're referring to--my full name is on my homepage, at the bottom.
Name: Bay
Date: Fri Mar 14 2003
Sex: Female
Age: 21
You say that the universities hide all these rapes by fraternities... Well the stats at my school show that it’s not the fraternities committing these crimes, it's the athletes. If you want to look at cover ups, take a look at the sports. They are scouted out and have the PROTECTION of the school, meaning the school is less likey to punish them since they bring in money for the school.
Maria responds: Indeed, male athletes commit their share of crimes too, I'll readily agree to that. However, they aren't the only ones bringing money to universities. Fraternity men generally come from families with above-average incomes, plus, many fraternity men come from long lines of the same. Wealthy parents, especially those who are GLO alumni themselves, give quite generously to educational institutions. They set up funds, serve on committees, and are very involved with the organizations and the schools. Colleges know that it is in their best interest to placate these people--they have money, and thus, power. The schools don't want to lose them.
Name: URALoser
Date: Fri Mar 14 2003
Hahaha...very funny. I love how ignorant and hypocritical some people can be when they don't even have the balls to find out what Greek Life is all about. How about instead of doing research locked in you room in front of the computer all day long, you actually go out and meet some of these alleged horrible fraternity guys that you hate so much. Don't bash something you know absolutely nothing about.
Maria responds: Perhaps someone should buy a dictionary for 'URALoser'. Ignorant in this instance would be a way to describe someone who denies facts. I'm not denying facts, in fact, I'm splashing factual articles all over my website! Hypocritical in this case would describe me well if I were to insult something that I was really a part of, or supporting. For instance, if a person were to talk all day about how people shouldn't smoke, and then light up a Camel, he or she would be acting hypocritically. I, however, am not. I'm not a member of a Greek Letter Organization, never have been.
'URA' also challenges me to get out from behind my computer and meet some of these frat boys I profess to abhor. Already done it, URA. In fact, my husband is a former (before he wised up) member of ATO. I don't think it's accurate to say I "know nothing about" fraternity members--I married one! (Well, he'd left the frat by that time). I certainly know him, I knew some of his friends/brothers, and I knew what the scene entailed. Don't presume to have me figured out. As for staying locked in my room all day, I wish! As a wife, mother of 3, and full time college student pulling a 4.0 GPA, lounging around the net is the exception around here--NOT the rule!
Name: Toro
Date: Wed Apr 16 2003
Sex: male
Age: 21
Fraternity/Sorority Affiliation: ATO
Yeah, some houses have problems but maybe you should take the time to research some of the positive things fraternities and sororities have to offer. One other thing for the record, it's not just sororities that can't wear letters while at parties. Take the time to join a house and then maybe you can comment, but until then you really don't have any right stereotyping everyone involved in the greek system.
Maria responds: Sure, I've read about some of the good things GLOs do, and that's great. However, having done the research I've done, I think the benefits do not justify the risks. As for frat boys not being able to wear their letters at parties, I think you and I both know that fraternities are much more lenient about this than sororities. Even if they weren't, what would that prove? All it shows is cult-like respect for the "club". That kind of reverence can get out of hand, fast. As for my not having the right to "stereotype" frat boys because I've never joined a house--I do not think one must get involved in a troubled organization to point out its faults. For example, I'm sure you would agree that the KKK is a dangerous and hateful group, and you know that even though you've never been a member of it, either.
Name: Jason
Date: Wed Apr 23 2003
Sex: male
Age: 20
School: UCLA
Fraternity/Sorority Affiliation: Kappa Sigma
I just wanted to say that no matter how many dicks I had to literally suck on to get my letters...it was worth it. If I have to engage in homosexual acts as a pledge, I don't complain..I just do it ! that's what it's all about, determination and love for your frat!
Maria responds: Jason, you rule. Your humor is not wasted on me ;-)
Name: Pissed Off
Date: Wed May 14 2003
Sex: Male
Age: 19
Well now, I only read two paragraphs and well my IQ dropped about 100 points. Most frats are somewhat expensive, it is reasonable when u realzie that they don't have to move out over breaks and so forth. As for destruction, many socities have as one of they key building blocks COMMUNITY SERVICE! While at my college the socities tend to drink a lot, and are somtimes destructive, the GDI's are far worse, since society members realize that anything they do reflects on their society as a whole.
Maria responds: Gee, 'Pissed', judging by your flair for English grammar and spelling, I gather that you didn't have many IQ points to spare in the first place! I do apologize for costing you those 100...
It's nice that so many GLOs can spout off about their high ideals, goals, and moralities; however, their actions aren't consistent with what they promise. Yes, they might pick up litter in the park one weekend, and yes, they might dole out soup at a shelter around the holidays, but all the other days they spend drinking and hurting people (and themselves) more than cancel out any "altruism points" they may have acquired.
Name: Steven
Date: Tue May 20 2003
Sex: Male
Age: 21
School: UVA
Fraternity/Sorority Affiliation: APO
You posted a link at a coed service frats website. You are probably just as misinformed about other frats as you are about ours. Sorry that you're bitter, suck it up and move on.
Maria responds: But see the thing is, Steven, I'm not bitter. I don't have anything to be bitter about--I've never wanted to join a GLO, if that's what you're implying. I am angry, though. I'm angry at the amount of women being victimized and I'm angry at the way society looks the other way. I don't believe I'm misinformed, however. Look around at all the news about frat boys. There's no need to live your life in denial.
Name: Die Fem Shitbag
Date: Mon Jun 09 2003
Sex: Male, of course
Age: ageless momma
School: SUNY Buffalo
Fraternity/Sorority Affiliation: ATO
I blow my load on whores like you.
Maria responds: Whoa. Are they giving a class at SUNY Buffalo on how to prove my point in 8 words or less?? Sweet.
Name: Amanda
Date: Mon Jun 16 2003
Sex: female
Age: 22
School: wsu
i'm sorry that you weren't asked to join any greek organizations, but with that winning personality displayed throughout your website, i can bet that you weren't asked to join anything. don't judge unless you have been in one, other than that, just another completely uniformed opinion floating around on the internet.
Maria responds: Amanda, I'm sorry too. I'm sorry that you have obviously been beaten down so many times, you just don't know how to stand up any more. The evidence is staring you in the face, my sister: fraternity men are statistically more inclined to victimize women. Yet, you still stand up against a fellow woman to defend your oppressor. I'm so sorry for whatever it is that happened to you to kill your sense of self worth. You don't deserve to be objectified, no matter how you manage to rationalize it. Also, just as an aside, I wanted to let you know that ad hominem attacks weaken your argument. Take care.
Name: Andrea
Date: Mon Jun 16 2003
Sex: Female
Age: 20
Being female, the idea of rape scares me, but it also doesn't take a fraternity boy to do this. If you do a ratio (just an example) saying that overall 1 in every 100 men will rape someone, but when you apply that statistic to a fraternity with 100 members, that means one member in that frat will rape someone. The person would have probably done it reguardless of the frat or not. But of coarse, if he does do something the entire org. gets blamed, not the actual rapist.
Maria responds: Dear Andrea,
Being a survivor of more than 1 sexual assault, let me tell you, it should scare you. I'm not saying that to scare you, I'm saying it in the hopes that you will take steps to protect yourself. One of these steps could very well be avoiding fraternity members. On my research page, http://mariamarchita.iwarp.com/whats_new.html I cite multiple sources that provide evidence disproving your statements. If you do some investigating, you'll find that fraternity men are more likely than non fraternity men to sexually assault a woman. The number will not be the same if you sample 100 men out of the general public and then 100 frat boys. Also, you said that if a fraternity member rapes someone, what's likely to happen is that the whole GLO will be blamed for it. First, I'd like to say I don't think that is entirely true. Fraternities are wealthy and powerful groups, more capable of covering up their actions than the average rapist is. Second, I'd like to point out the culpability of the fraternal organizations as a whole. If men in GLO living situations are more likely to rape, couldn't it stand to reason that the GLO "life style" may have something to do with it?
Take care and stay safe.
Name: Your Reality Check
Date: Tue Jun 17 2003
Sex: Female
Age: 30
Fraternity/Sorority Affiliation: A local sorority
Get a life, bitch! It is obvious you don't know shit about fraternities and sororities. You are presenting these stupid negative stereotypes without taking time to do your research. Did you rush and get denied bid? It is obvious you did and want us all to suffer for it. Stop proliferating your crap and move the fuck on!
Maria responds: Wow. Testy! She tells me I should take the time to do my research. I'm confused... what's all this writing all over my web pages? Why it's news stories and articles about frat boys! Sounds like research to me. And no, I have never "rushed". Why would I? I think I've made it perfectly clear that I view GLOs as dangerous and exploitative--why would I want to join one?
Name: God hates you
Date: Tue Jun 17 2003
Sex: 19
Age: Male
Don't be pissed at us cause you are a fat and smell like poop.
Maria responds: I'm so glad so many frat boys have come forward with poignant intelligence to prove me wrong and restore my faith in humanity :-
Name: Frat boy
Date: Tue Jun 17 2003
Sex: male
Age: 21
Fraternity/Sorority Affiliation: Kappa Theta Rape-A
Dont sell us out ! it's our god given right as frat boys to rape every single living woman on the planet.
Maria responds: Kappa Theta Rape-A--I like that one!
Name: yourashithead
Date: Tue Jun 17 2003
Sex: male
Age: 19
School: Texas
Fraternity/Sorority Affiliation: FU
Youre a moron. Dont hate because some fraternity (or all for that matter) wouldn't give you a bid. The fact that you spend the time to go against the fraternity system is lame. Your a loser. Your cause is mainly based on the opposition of the fraternity system, how about creating your own morals and beliefs besides going against ones that are already established, yeah, that takes talent and thought.
Maria responds: Again let me say, I have never in my life desired membership in a GLO.
Now onto the advice 'yourashithead' has for me. He tells me to create my own morals and beliefs. I'd say I've already done that, thank you. My beliefs are that women deserve respect as autonomous human beings; they don't deserve the treatment these "men" give them. Contrary to what you might think, I'm not some stuffy fundamentalist or staunch Republican. I'm an agnostic libertarian. I pride myself on deciding on my own what's right and what's wrong. This guy says all I'm doing is latching onto someone else's views--funny, isn't that what one has to do to join a fraternity? Check your free will at the door?
Name: Julia
Date: Wed Jun 18 2003
Sex: female
Age: 22
School: west chester university
Fraternity/Sorority Affiliation: phi mu fraternity
For you to stereotype fraternity men as rapists is horrible and untrue. Sure some men in fraternity's may rape, but so do non-fraternity men. Maybe the problem is men as a whole. I find the fraternity men on my campus to not only be gentelmen but also as some of the most upstanding students on campus, taking on roles as leaders and make honors.brothers.
Maria responds: I am very glad to hear that you've never had a problem with a fraternity man. I wish that were true for all women. Sadly though, it isn't. Look over the research: frat boys have higher rates of sexual assault towards women than other men do. This isn't my opinion, it's fact. It certainly is horrible, but unfortunately, it's not "untrue". Take care and stay safe.
Name: proud frat boy
Date: Thu Jun 19 2003
Sex: male
Age: 22
School: UCSB
I hate to break it to you, but I am a white lower class male that is in a fraternity. Rape is a serious problem and should not be taken lightly. If you feel this strongly about rape, maybe you should spend your time doing something productive to prevent it. Your wasting your fucking time, if you believe that anyone with common sense is going to believe your bullshit. Check your stats, rape doesn't occurr with any greater frequency at fraternities.
Maria responds: First of all, I think your concept of what lower-class means is skewed if you call yourself lower-class yet you had enough money to join a fraternity...
That being said let me state this. The information on my site isn't "my bullshit", as you said. All articles and stories have verifiable resources. I think you should check your stats and stop burying your head in the sand. You can't pay lip service to the atrocity that is rape, and then turn right around and support organizations that churn out rapists in droves.
