The University's Greek community gained a new voice in the administration this summer with the establishment of the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life.
The new office is "a manifestation of increased support for fraternities and sororities," according to Assistant Dean of Students Aaron Laushway, who serves as the office's director.
The office aims to provide resources and support to the four Greek governing councils on Grounds - the Inter-Fraternity Council, Inter-Sorority Council, Black Fraternal Council and Multi-Cultural Greek Council.
Its major goals include "to promote unity among all four governing councils and to help each chapter and the respective governing councils strengthen themselves," Laushway said.
The office opened its doors July 1 and is temporarily located across from Observatory Hill Dining Hall. After this semester, the office will move into the basement of Madison House. It may eventually move into the proposed new student center, which may open by 2003.
Although offices dealing with fraternity and sorority life are common on other college campuses, it is a first for the University. The strong University tradition of student self-governance could mark one reason why a similar office never before existed on Grounds, Laushway said.
Resources and services the office offers include leadership development training, assistance in promoting and organizing pre-existing programs, such as the upcoming Greek Week, and the ability to act as a liaison between Greek organizations and University administration.
The office will also work with the Center for Alcohol and Substance Education to implement a two-year grant CASE received earlier this year from the U.S. Department of Education. The grant will be used to educate Greek members on how to drink responsibly.
"An office like this can help to provide continuity," CASE Director Susan Bruce said. "I think that it will help to strengthen the entire fraternity and sorority system."
Fraternity and sorority leaders said they are equally excited about the new office and grateful to have such a devoted staff at their disposal.
"I believe that it will be an incredible asset to our council," ISC President Kristin Braggins said.
Black Fraternal Council President Kevin Stokes said he agrees the office represents a valuable asset for the Greek community.
"They provide us with an enormous amount of resources and insights that we as students would not otherwise have access to," Stokes said.
One challenge the office still faces is to become a better known part of the University community, so it can better forward the goals of fraternities and sororities, Laushway said.
Read More
Students say package deliveries are unpredictable on 14th Street
By Lauren Seeliger | 1 hours agoStudents say delivery drivers are careless when placing packages on doorsteps, sometimes resulting in delivery to an entirely wrong building.
From the Archives: Celebration and Reflection (4/28 - 5/4)
By Clara Franklin and Annabelle Nee | 16 hours agoFrom The Purple Shadows breaking into the Dean of Students’s office to multiple student athletes accused of honor code violations, the graduating class’s four years were a wild ride.
PBS NewsHour correspondent speaks on bringing humanity to international conflict
By Grace Little | 2 days agoSchifrin's work exploring Putin’s Russia, his coverage of COVID-19 and his reporting in Afghanistan and Ukraine have earned him various accolades.
