In response to this week’s front page story by Will Housley (“Six responsible for newspaper disappearance”), I regret the omission of the names of the individuals responsible for the missing Oracles on Feb. 7. This omission was not a choice on behalf of The Oracle staff, but rather the decision of certain Tech employees in high positions of power.When The Oracle staff members met with these employees for an explanation concerning the omission of names, we were met with resistance.
I began to write this article with every intention of criticizing certain University powers for withholding the six names. However, I realized that my concern shouldn’t focus on good-‘ol-boy University politics. I understand that the administrators who withheld the names are bound by student privacy laws. Instead, I write this article to those responsible for taking The Oracle.
I will remind the readers that one of the men was wearing a Kappa Sigma shirt in the surveillance footage. I am not implying that the unnamed six who walked out of the RUC on Sunday afternoon with bundles of The Oracle were all Kappa Sigmas. It is true that anyone can wear Kappa Sigma apparel, but the painful fact remains that the Kappa Sigma letters are clearly displayed on the surveillance footage.
That fact alone could generate a negative spin upon the entire Kappa Sigma fraternity.
According to the Kappa Mu chapter of Kappa Sigma Web site, “The Fraternity is focused on being the top organization in the nation through building an educated brotherhood of young men with the leadership skills necessary to succeed in all aspects of life.”
An aspect of being a leader is taking responsibility for one’s actions, regardless of the consequence. I am certain that the individuals responsible for taking The Oracle would not have done so if they realized that the act would affect a fellow Greek organization.
Page six of the stolen edition of The Oracle displayed an advertisement that was funded by the Kappa Delta sorority. The thoughtful, congratulatory ad listed the names of Kappa Deltas who had made Dean’s List. Unfortunately, when Kappa Deltas went to the main Oracle distribution bins in the RUC for a copy of The Oracle, there were none to be found.
I regret not having access to the names of the responsible individuals. It is unfortunate that the actions of the six individuals might negatively reflect upon the entire Kappa Sigma fraternity because they are more concerned with protecting themselves instead of the reputation of the organization.
I ask the six individuals responsible for the disappearance to consent for the release of their names to the public. Prove your devotion to Kappa Sigma. After all, one of you was willing to wear its letters. Shouldn’t you be willing to live by the Kappa Sigma value of “building an educated brotherhood of young men with the leadership skills necessary to succeed in all aspects of life”?
As of press time, the investigation surrounding the Oracle theft is still in progress.
