People are constantly criticizing The Daily Eastern News. I hear it everyday, and sometimes I just want to turn around and say to them, “You have no idea what you are talking about.”

Most of these people are greek, and I, like them, see the stereotypes non-greeks have on them. My question to them is, “Have you ever tried to put your heart into something just to have people tear you down and criticize what you do?”

Contrary to popular belief, the newspaper just doesn’t magically appear from the paper fairies every day. People on staff actually spend countless hours in the newsroom and get paid a minimal amount. In fact, some staff editors are in the newsroom so much, I have often wondered if they had a home because basically, these people sleep in the newsroom.

These are the same students who are constantly criticized for their work and what they put in the paper. So my advice to the complainers out there is to come on in here and just try it for a week. I dare you.

Being a journalism major, naturally I decided to try it, and after becoming features editor, I have gained more respect for the people on staff than I ever had before. Ever since I could remember, I have wanted to be a writer, and I am thankful every day I can practice here and learn from other editors to become better. I truly love writing, and it is my true passion.

Even though it was quite scary to walk into the newsroom with letters on at first, I overcame my fears and realized I will never be a newspaper groupie because I am greek, but I am still a writer.

What is so hard about being in a sorority and working for the paper is I do not have 40 hours to spend here a week. That time commitment could be why many greek students, even journalism majors, turn away from the paper, simply because they are too busy. No, I’m not sitting around Ike’s, but attending chapter meetings, practicing for Greek Week and holding positions in positive organizations which are greek-related such as Natural Ties, GAMMA, and Honorary Order of Omega.

After four years of wondering why the paper doesn’t cover every aspect of every sorority, I learned that doing that would be biased. If you have an article about Sigma Kappa’s philanthropy project, then members of Alpha Sigma Tau will want their philanthropy project included too, followed by the other six sororities who all do philanthropies each year.

While it is frustrating indeed that every aspect of greek life cannot be covered, the paper does cover greek life in some ways, and the potential is always there for the paper to cover fraternities and sororities.

Panhellenic Council and Interfraternity Council, which sponsors community service projects for every house can send The Daily Eastern News a press release, and maybe all the chapters will get the recognition they deserve. Then everybody from the different organizations are happy, and the paper is not showing any bias. The paper also devotes an entire guide to greek activities during Greek Week.

Another way greeks can get publicity is by being in a weekly feature starting this semester called, “Getting to Know Your Campus.” There is no guarantee any RSO can be covered, but if a group wants a story, it can always call the paper and give them ideas. There are a countless number of RSO’s greeks are involved in, and this is a way to be recognized.

I bet after spending countless hours in a newsroom and seeing how small a staff is responsible for getting the paper out everyday, you would wonder how it is even done. And don’t forget that we are one of the smallest schools in Illinois to even have a daily paper.

So while my time here is almost up, I encourage younger members of greek organizations to stop complaining, think positive and wear your letters with pride because after all, we are a part of this campus and deserve respect.

If you don’t decide to write for the paper, whatever your niche is, be passionate about it because passion is infectious, and others will see it. If you respect other people’s passions, they will respect yours.