Reputations have a nasty habit of sticking around for a very long time.

And for the new men of the Pi Kappa Alpha, or Pike, they have their work cut out for them, trying to turn the reputation of the fraternity around.

Eight years ago, Pike was disassociated from CSU after a long string of policy violations, drunken debauchery and a trashed hotel room. It did, in almost every way possible, fulfill the stereotype of the alcohol-fueled party house that so often unfairly defines many Greek organizations.

This new group, however, seems to be doing a lot to try and differentiate themselves from the group of eight years ago, and that says a lot. Reaffiliation with CSU would subject them to a higher standard of conduct, something that would force them to avoid the kind of behavior that got them in trouble in the first place. It also gives them the presence on campus to engage with the student community and prove to them that Pike has changed.

But it is going to be a very long road. Despite the new blood in Pike, the name is still one that is tainted by its past. But they seem sincere, and for that we wish them luck as they return to CSU.