Greek representatives chastised the Long Beach Union newspaper for disparaging remarks, which were printed in its Grunion page, at a meeting of the Associated Students Inc. publication board here Friday.
Jason Reyes, chairman of Sigma Chi fraternity, led the Greek faction in calling certain statements, such as the labeling of sorority members as venereal-disease carrying tramps and exclamations "F- God" and "God is gay" in the last few weeks, "tasteless and classless."
"We understand the reason behind the Grunion," Reyes said. "But bashing the Greeks and other campus organizations, like the Women's Resource Center, is very offensive and shows no journalistic code of ethics."
"Things like this outrage more people than entertain them," fellow fraternity member Casey Sletten said. "It gives a negative connotation toward the campus and students who pay fees that go to the Union. It's not a fair representation of Cal State Long Beach."
Aislin Ard and Matt Puentes, editor in chief and business manager of the Union, respectively, were at the meeting. Ard responded to the criticism by emphasizing the history and purpose of the Grunion page as a satirical endeavor.
"I agree the remarks cited are vile and crude," Ard said. "But this is a collaborative effort. I shouldn't have the right to decide what is and isn't offensive. The Grunion has a history of embarrassing campus clubs and organizations."
Ard continued, "We can't paint everything as being 'roses.' We have to point out the faults."
Sletten said that Greek letters of complaint were sent to the Union for publication, but were ignored. Ard countered that she would have gladly printed the letters had she received them. She also invited the Greeks to write a Grunion story if they so desired.
Sorority member Shauna Ramsey said that positive Greek efforts, like philanthropic events, go unnoticed by the Union. This supports stereotypes associated with fraternities and sororities while affecting rush participation numbers, she said.
"I have not run certain things in the Grunion [because they were too indecent]," Ard said. "I haven't yet discovered, though, how to draw the line when it comes to the Grunion. I want to give students the freedom to write what they want to write.
"We need the Grunion. Without it, the campus would suffer. Satire can be beautifully done, so [the Grunion] is bigger than one bad issue or dirty article."
Reyes said many Greeks support the representatives' pursuit of this issue with President Robert Maxson.
Members of the publication board, such as faculty advisers Stuart Farber and Fred Sanchez, recommended the Greeks put their complaints in writing so that a grievance process can start.
Board members also expressed concern about the lack of campus news coverage in the Union and its emphasis on arts and entertainment. Ard said very few writers want to cover news or sports and she has been looking for reporters in those areas.
"There's not too much controversial news on campus," Ard responded. "And our writers are truly interested in what they're writing about.
"The Daily Forty-Niner is more geared toward news. They have the market on news, so they can have it. We wanted to focus more on campus life, art, and so forth."
The board decided additional news coverage was needed, and supported the Union in its search for writers. It also agreed to meet more frequently, with the next session scheduled for Friday, April 17 at 1 p.m.