Interfraternity Council President Rick Groves released a statement in response to remarks made by President Eric Barron last night and “questions surrounding [the IFC and Panhellenic Council’s] suggestion that students refrain from the media,” he told Onward State. In the statement, Groves clarified that any suggestions to members to refrain from talking to the media were “in the hopes of reducing the dissemination of misinformation — not to stifle what is undeniably an important issue.”

Additionally, the IFC supports Barron’s suggestion that this is an opportunity to re-evaluate the Greek community.

“Despite the many good outcomes produced by members of the fraternity and sorority system at Penn State, there is surely merit in calling together students, alumni, national organizations, university administrators, and others to discuss ways to strengthen the system and reclaim its standing,” Groves wrote.

The full statement can be read below.

The question of how women are treated, both at Penn State and in modern society, is an important conversation that must not fall by the wayside. However, with an ongoing investigation, rumors abound, and news outlets requesting statements from intoxicated students waiting in line at bars, we must ask ourselves what we’d like the structure of this conversation to be.

As previously stated, any suggestion to refrain from speaking to the media was in effort to reduce the dissemination of misinformation- not to stifle what is undeniably an important issue.

Last night, President Barron mentioned the possible benefit of re-evaluating the fraternity and sorority community; the IFC echoes this sentiment. Despite the many good outcomes produced by members of the fraternity and sorority system at Penn State, there is surely merit in calling together students, alumni, national organizations, university administrators, and others to discuss ways to strengthen the system and reclaim its standing.

Our community has always been one of continuous improvement, and disturbing events like those at Kappa Delta Rho show the need for improvement now more than ever.