My name is Vince Landreville, and I am a member of Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity and the vice president of member education of the Interfraternity Council.

While reading Friday’s issue of the Miami Student, I was shocked when I saw the cartoon of a fraternity new member asleep in class with “#Pledging” as the description.

This stereotype is completely inappropriate.

The Interfraternity Council is working hard to rid Miami of hazing and associated stereotypes, and this image only exacerbates the situation. Hazing, including sleep deprivation is not a joke.

I am ashamed that the Miami Student would allow this image to be printed.

I find it very demeaning and disrespectful to all Greek members.

Miami Greeks have received a lot of negative publicity in the past year, and this only adds to the negative image portrayed by the media.

While previous publicity was brought upon us, the decision to print this cartoon was a conscious decision to portray all Greeks in a negative light. 

One of my responsibilities as vice president of member education is to educate fraternities on how to eliminate hazing from the new member education program.

I have been working diligently this semester to ensure that all fraternities are abiding by both their national organization’s and Miami’s anti-hazing stance.

It is very difficult to perform this task when a cartoon in your paper is generalizing hazing.

The image sends the message that this situation is pervasive, and it is acceptable to deprive new members of sleep. Nothing could be further from the truth.

To generalize from what may be occurring in a small number of fraternities is irresponsible of you and insulting to those of us who do not engage in such immature behavior. I ask that you please refrain from printing such images in future publications.