The Daily Egyptian is published by the students of SIU at Carbondale. Except during vacations and exam weeks, The Daily Egyptian is published Monday through Friday during the fall and spring semesters and TWThF during the summer semester."

Pikes are silent for good reasons

This letter is in regards to the column titled "Pikes should address death," in Tuesday's DAILY EGYPTIAN. The DE has done nothing but speculate and point fingers at Pi Kappa Alpha and the greek community since Brent's death. Stop making a distinction between "students" and the "greek community," and start focusing on the life of Brent Johnson rather than the circumstances surrounding his death. It is entirely unprofessional to accuse them of activities such as hazing, or performing secret rituals, because the truth is you have no idea what happened. You haven't talked to them. The only thing you know is that it was a camping trip and most people we know have been camping before. Why don't you spend your time writing a story on all the great things about Brent?

The silence of the greek community and the Pikes since the death of Brent has had more to do with legal issues than anything. The fact is that there are legal issues and guidelines that fall a little higher on the scale of importance than the student newspaper filling up its pages. Anyone who has someone close to them pass away knows that words cannot describe the amount of pain the Pikes are going through and will probably continue to go through throughout the rest of their lives. Pointing fingers and condemning them is only adding to the pain they are already suffering.

It could have happened to any group of friends and has in fact happened on this campus before with minimal publicity. If getting a reaction from people is important enough to print false accusations then here's a reaction. Leave those of them who cared for Brent the most alone long enough to mourn and deal with this tragedy.

Sincerely,

Becky Fisher,

Sigma Kappa president, 2002-2003

Sarah Hanson

Sigma Kappa president, 2003-2004

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