Hazing incident no laughing matter

I'll keep it short.

I obviously misinterpreted that this was the editorial, and I apologize. I do not have the best word choice, and for that I apologize. I am not good with words like you are Clarky.

It's not about news that makes people uncomfortable, its the overemphasis on vague events that blemish the reputation of the UNH Greek System, and that must register with Cameron.

And that's the word I was looking for; sensationalism.

I also find it funny that you wrote this so that "groups of influence and power don't operate from the shadows", because from what I hear, Greek Life has no influence over a lot of the things that they must do - UNH lays out what they have to do pretty plainly.

Greek Life is always in the paper. For one thing or another. I definitely believe there are more relevant stories to the community that need to be written about three. times. in the university's paper than TKE's alleged hazing.

I think @Happy Holidays!'s statement is the most accurate. Irrelevant.

And I do believe that he was a pedophile when he admitted to it, but the years after the incidents occurred made it seem like he did before we actually knew for a fact, which was already inhibiting his reputation. Bad example, but hell, I'm no Superman.

And to your notion, Cameron, I'm glad you hold that organization in such high esteem, knew it from the second this piece hit the shelf.

Waste of ink, imho.

Apparently the reply I posted didn't get through, so I'm using another name. I wrote a very long reply and am not up to the task of writing it again, so this is a little shorter than normal, and probably less eloquent.

I'm saying that the issue here is that he is throwing a perfectly reputable organization down the drain before they have irrefutable evidence that they were, in fact hazing. It's disgraceful. The way that he starts by comparing the incident to a tragedy is misleading, and is the same style that Glenn Beck "Just asks questions". You bring up a situation, revel in its consequences, compare it to another, and then toss around a few if's and what if's and you have an article that leaves an impression. That's exactly how Michael Jackson came to be known as a "pedophile". He was never convicted of pedophilia, but the slander and accusations terribly ruined his reputation and have had grave consequences on his personal life before his passing. If you are going to contribute to the slander and defamation of a respectable fraternity on campus, you don't deserve to be in a position of power on TNH. I apologize for my earlier statement calling for your removal, but I believe that you should not be Executive Editor if you are going to add to the rumors and publicize them.

Do you really want to be Glenn Beck? Judging from your other articles, I suppose you don't. You're a well written, open-minded individual who usually doesn't implement bias into their articles. I rather enjoy some of your opinions, when they have basis and foundations. But not now, when you personally attack a group of individuals who has not yet been proven innocent nor guilty. Also, I am rather irked by the fact that Cameron says this is "...an alleged hazing incident [that] grabs media attention and throws a black mark on all the accomplishments Greek societies work toward. There’s no tolerating that kind of behavior." Yet, with this article, he does exactly what he condemns -- he throws a black mark upon TKE by emphasizing this issue and redundant by bringing it back up again. Do you think they wanted this negative attention and all it brings to the UNH greek system? That makes this article hypocritical, slanderous and irrelevant. When did TNH turn from a newspaper into an opinionated tabloid? You should probably alert the public about this change, because apparently I was misinformed.

There is one fact here, and many comparisons. The author is hiding behind statements such as "Let's not jump to any conclusions" and such because they don't want to be backed into a corner, and don't want to be blamed for their words. They are escape clauses, nothing more. And, if Cameron learned anything here at the University, he knows exactly what he is doing, so he should be held responsible for his words, and apologize. This is slanderous and immature.

You can see the veiled hostility simply by the final statement. "Without hesitation or mercy". That clause, in itself, shows all the pent up anger that this little rant has within it. I find it pathetic that someone with so much influence (whether he knows it or not) abuses his power with such an article. This piece is unnecessary as an announcement of TKE's interim suspension, anyways -- they had a report on it officially in the paper before. This is just a little temper tantrum of someone with a vendetta.

I apologize if this is not as well written as the first one. As you probably know, everyone's busy working hard for finals and I am no exception. The purpose of my rebuttal is to criticize and defend those that deserve to be treated as innocent unless proven otherwise. I believe that's how our laws are based, but that might just be me nowadays. I wonder.

Sincerely,
GREEK_SUPPORTER_2

DISCLAIMER - The initial signature of the comment I wrote in no way was intended to say that I had any involvement or information about the incident. As with that, I did in no way write these articles as a personal attack upon Cameron, but rather on his writing. I apologize if my emotions seep through my writing; I am not unbiased, and I will not fake that I am. I hold great respect for the men and women in the greek system and I will use my words to freely defend them.

Many apologies if this hurt any feelings.

I know there is a no tolerance policy for hazing. I'm saying you're throwing a group of men into the gutter before they have a chance to undergo trial. The initial comparison implies that they were doing something devilishly dangerous and should be investigated immediately. I'd like to assume otherwise, as a supporter of the Greek system. I consider all innocent until proven guilty, of which I will emphasize multiple times in my following rebuttal.

Look at the structure of the article. This is misleading. I must've heard three people (while reading the newspaper of the course of the week) say that TKE got in trouble for hazing. Not that they were accused of it, or it was ALLEGED. They were ACCUSED of hazing, which is pending! Michael Jackson was ACCUSED of pedophilia, but what happened? It ruined his reputation and was never proven true! Most people believe that he was, indeed, a pedophile! Should the hazing accusations be the truth, they should deal with the consequences. But, if they aren't, the slander that is being spread because of the RADICAL introduction is devastating to the organization's reputation.

From the article: "...an alleged hazing incident grabs media attention and throws a black mark on all the accomplishments Greek societies work toward. There’s no tolerating that kind of behavior."

Aren't accusations just that, accusations? Sometimes without base, sometimes with. We don't know, unless you have the police report in your hand. Without the proper resources, you are blaming TKE for blemishing the reputation of all greek life, even though they may not be guilty. It is ASSUMED they are guilty. And the fact that you are bringing MORE media attention to their incident is fueling the fire. If you were so concerned about Greek Life's reputation, there would be no article in question. There was already a report previously printed about the incident, thus, this article is unnecessary and goes against your own concerns.

This is the same balogni that Glen Beck pulls. It's deceptive and cunning. You bring in a scenario of which sounds terribly harmful. Then, you relate it to speculation. Then you throw around a few if's and what if's and try and make a point. It's terrible journalism, and it's slander. You cover your hides with sayings such as "Let's not jump to conclusions," or "We don't know this, but" and hide yourself behind prevention statements that are there simply to SEEM neutral. It's pathetic, and it victimizes organizations and people alike.

I'm saying this from the perspective that they are NOT found guilty of hazing, and I am completely honest in my opinion. I will not veil neutrality, and I will not back down. Innocent until proven guilty in my book for any organization or person. But hey, I'm just throwing this out there, because I'm sick and tired of stylistic journalism that twists words for the sake of selling ink. If they are proven guilty, they should meet the appropriate consequences and I trust that UNH will oblige. But, until then, they are just a fraternity on interim suspension being investigated for hazing. An organization under suspicion, not one convicted and tried.

If they are guilty, so be it -- they shouldn't be hazing. But, if they are proven innocent -- think of the damage that you've done to their reputation. I hope that if they are you feel somewhat guilty and apologetic for the slander you've spread.

Happy Clarky? I've probably repeated myself a few times, but that's because this comment box is so small and I often lose sight of what I've already written. I apologize for such redundancy and hope that my rebuttal is well thought out and as concise as I can make it. I also revoke my statement calling for Cameron's resignation -- it was radical, and only for effect. My apologies, Cameron.

Regards,
GREEKSUPPORTER

I find it truly disheartening that you write something this broad and demeaning about the fifty, now seventy, some-odd brothers. I have had close interactions with this fraternity throughout my college career and have repeatedly seen gentleman-like qualities from every single brother in the fraternity. Do you understand the circumstances around the alleged hazing? Do you understand that TKE goes to great circumstances to protect their pledges from "breaking their necks" as you have so described?

As with the former commenter, I'd just like to say that you are a disgrace to journalism if you are going to equate a pledge breaking his neck to an ALLEGED incident that reported hazing. To relate life-threatening pledging processes with an unknown hazing event is utterly pathetic. I feel that you, if anything, should be removed from TNH staff, simply because you are attacking an entire group of men who have the fourth highest GPA out of all the fraternities on campus, the highest percentage of attendance at philanthropy events, the highest community involvement and the by far one of the strongest bonds of brotherhood I have ever witnessed in my life. To condemn an entire fraternity from an ALLEGED incident is borderline McCarthyism. You are simply mimicking the disgraces of the American media, such as previously mentioned McCarthy, Glenn Beck, and other various extremists. Do you really want to turn into Glenn Beck?

I think it's also interesting to consider that there were thirty pledges at the beginning of the semester, of which my friend boasted, and have ended with a large twenty, an astonishing recruitment. It's interesting to take into consideration the people that you are attacking, my dear Cameron, new members and old. You probably should consider their reaction, because you are the only voice on campus that every individual, greek or not, has access to. I feel that you should take responsibility for your actions, and revoke your previous statement, for the sake of Tau Kappa Epsilon -- they do not deserve to lose recognition. Your vendetta, bias, whatever the reason may be, should not affect your reporting. You are immature, inconsiderate and ignorant of the circumstances. I feel that, as a responsible individual and the EXECUTIVE EDITOR, you should take responsibility for your actions, and resign from TNH. Like the president of TKE is going to great lengths to preserve the well-being of his organization as a mature upstanding leader, you should do the same for the already dwindling TNH.

I think that people like you ruin the reputation of greek life, because you have a pen and paper and no thoughts to stir the ink. But that will not take TKE, nor any of the fraternities I freely associate with on campus, down. None of the men I have seen go through any of these letters have been anything less than upstanding individuals who deserve nothing less than an intelligent report on their ALLEGED incidents. I think UNH owes you your tuition back, because you have obviously not been able to learn anything while here.

I think it is only fair and just that you receive harsh rebuttal from an individual such as myself who has the capacity to formulate a sentence that does not have ignorant bias behind it. My bias, on the other hand, is that the fraternity in question means something to me, just as all the others.

Oh, and did you go see Mr. UNH? The President of TKE was "Mr. Greek", coming in second place. Oh, or the lip sync? The pledges at that event received second place. Oh, or the date auction? Their brothers were the top on the list. Did you see their house this week? It's stunning. They have an American flag for their multiple brothers overseas. What about their philanthropy for breast cancer? Very admirable. Or any of their other communal events that benefit UNH? This is not even the tip of the iceberg, because I don't know half of it. I would also take into consideration the merits of a society before you condemn them for one alleged report, Glenn Beck. I would be greatly disappointed should you do this to another recognized fraternity on campus in the upcoming years, because they all contribute to the progress of our little college town, whether your pen and paper say so or not.

Also, I was wondering when TNH turned from a newspaper to a tabloid? Maybe these last few years they changed and didn't notify the public. Please be more up-to-date on the changes, if you would be so kind.

Sincerely,
Someone who knows something

You come off as ignorant for defending hazing — which is a felony crime in New Hampshire — as innocent fun and an important part of your organization.

If you are studying journalism at UNH , its times to consider a new major. Your paralysis story (if its even true) is a sad one, but connecting it to what happened to TKE at UNH is shameful and immoral.

It’s clear you have watched Animal House one too many times my friend. To infer the UNH Greek chapter of the year 2006 and 2007, (unhmub.com/greek) has suddenly gone rogue and deserves no mercy is a bold statement for someone who claims they don’t know the facts. Of course you slightly cover yourself with the “if they are found guilty” comment, but we all know your true feelings.

That being said why you don’t stick to writing about things that are a little less complex.