I am going to write what every single member of a fraternity at UK is thinking: The Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs does not appreciate anything that we do and they exercise double standards.

Since I came to this university in 2008 we have had six fraternities kicked off campus: Kappa Alpha Psi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Lambda Chi Alpha, Sigma Pi, Sigma Nu and Sigma Phi Epsilon. We currently have two on probation, Phi Sigma Kappa and FarmHouse, and one that just got off of probation, Delta Tau Delta.

UK only has 19 fraternities, four that do not have a fraternity house at all. That means 60 percent of fraternities with houses have been kicked off campus or been on some sort of probation since 2008. That is a staggering number.

Now let’s look at what the fraternities at UK have contributed to the community using statistics from the Office of Student Affairs’ own website. Using statistics for fall 2010, in 2009 fraternities donated a total of $42,583 to charities across the country, completed 14,421 hours of community service and had an average grade point average of 2.97, which is above the all-male average.

On top of this, the Interfraternity Council approved the addition of a bylaw that called for all fraternities to have an average grade point average of a 3.0 or face multiple forms of probation.

Given all of these incredible things 1,463 college men do every single semester, you would think UK would work with these organizations and not kick them out entirely.

When a person is caught drinking in a dorm room the university does not swoop in and kick every person living in that dorm out. They provide classes to go to learn what alcohol does to the body. Why then, when one person is caught with alcohol in a fraternity house, does the university kick the organization as a whole from the university? It is a blatant double standard.

Kicking every member of a fraternity off campus or putting them on probation for one individuals’ mistake makes me feel that the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs does not appreciate anything that fraternities do as organizations.

To quote the  Kernel article “Fraternity proactive after suspension, years of sanctions” on Dec. 1., “As a member of the Greek community, you are held to a higher standard. When someone messes up it reflects on the whole community.” Really?

One person messes up and it reflects on the entire community? Using that logic I guess everyone who has flunked out, had alcohol on campus or even smoked a cigarette on campus reflects the image of the entire university. Last time I checked, this great university does not have a bad image.

Fraternities and sororities do great things for this campus and the community, be it from donating money, doing community service or simply getting good grades.

Fraternities will always reflect UK in a positive manner. It is time for the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs to step aside and let us do what we do best.