Fraternity pledge denies hazing

On the evening of the Sept. 16, 2009, I was arrested by the Athens-Clarke County Police for being a minor in possession of alcohol. In the course of my arrest, I lied about being hazed and forced to drink alcohol by Pi Kappa Alpha.

The brothers of the Alpha Mu Chapter have never hazed me. I am terribly sorry for embarrassing myself, my family, but most of all, Pike.

The Pikes extended a hand of friendship and made me feel welcome. One brother embodies the best attributes of any man: he is a wise leader and an understanding friend.

Jared Swanson, the president of Alpha Mu, not only has supported me through this self-inflicted debacle but he has shown me the man I should aspire to be.

Again I would like to stress that I was never hazed and that the Pikes do not deserve this tarnish to their reputation.

RY THOMAS MERCADO
Sophomore, Warner Robbins
Computer science and computer systems engineering

University already provides life skills to its’ students

In response to Stephanie Jackson’s Monday column, “Univ. should teach life skills,” the English department has bestowed at least one skill upon you: the ability to make an issue out of nothing and then argue both sides of it. You need to be forced to learn basic skills AND you have the initiative to acquire them on your own? Which is it?

I, along with UGA and any of your prospective employers, assume a college degree means you also possess a high school diploma or G.E.D. along with a pro-active attitude that gets you to class without the threat of your parents being called if you don’t show up.

Need help finding Iraq? Try taking a middle school geography class if you haven’t already or avoid the awkward stares of children and check out Google Maps.

Need help with your checkbook or mortgage? If your major coursework gets in the way of the not so sporadic HACE courses, you can consult the Peer Financial Counseling organization.

Rather than calling for the University to put the student body through elementary training for independent living, maybe you should venture outside Park Hall, past the Journalism building to the Career Center’s satellite hours at the MLC, a seminar on personal finance, or befriend a freshman and ask to borrow his political science notes.

A.J. SMITH
Senior, Buford
Marketing