The Observer, April 13, 2007
Volume XXXIX, Issue 24
Panhel expansion provides relief and worry to current Greek chapters
Another new set of Greek letters will be seen around Case's campus this fall with the colonization of the newest sorority on campus since Delta Gamma entered in 2003.
Case's Panhellenic Council decided on April 3 to allow a fifth National Panhellenic Conference (NPC) sorority to colonize on campus. This action was met with mixed opinions by current sorority members and Council executives.
Presidents of the six current sororities on campus (including two non-NPC sororities) met with the Panhellenic executive board and, after much discussion, voted to allow another sorority to colonize on campus, though the decision met with some dissent. Two sororities, Delta Gamma and AXO, voted against the expansion.
The decision to look into expansion was supported by many in Greek Life.
"Panhel Exec Board along with the Greek Life Office investigated the numbers and the trends, which all indicated that Case is not only ready, but also in need of a new sorority," said Lia Majid, president of Phi Sigma Rho. "From there, Panhel Exec proposed the idea to the individual chapters that we expand. Then, at our Panhel meeting on Tuesday, we voted."
The pledge classes for each sorority this year included a maximum of 28 women, an increase from last year's maximum of 21. With the large pledge classes this year, many of the sororities are above the official limit, or cap, of 50 women per chapter, according to Valbona Bushi, president of Panhellenic Council.
"[The decision] was a result of looking at the numbers and deciding the time was right. Quota was very high and quite a few women were not placed. When this appears as a trend, it is time to look at extension," said Director of Greek Life Wes Schaub.
"Even last year the number of girls who went through formal recruitment was high, but the Greek Life office decided to wait one more year to make sure that the trends would continue," said Bushi.
In addition, Majid commented that several groups of women have approached the Greek Life Office interested in starting another sorority on campus.
Greek Life is currently informing national sororities that the campus is looking to add another sorority. The nationals will send informational packets to Greek Life, and three chapters will be selected to make presentations at the May 1 meeting in front of a special voting committee.
The voting committee consists of the delegates from the six voting chapters: the Vice President of Membership of the Panhellenic Council and her assistant, and the new and outgoing presidents of the Panhellenic Council, according to Tessa Turnbaugh, the delegate from Alpha Phi.
After the presentations, the voting committee will select which organization it would like to invite.
"Once that sorority is picked, their national organization will lead the recruitment in fall for sophomore women and up after our current chapters are done with their informals [fall recruitment periods]," said Bushi.
The new chapter will then participate in formal recruitment along with the other sororities during the spring semester.
The process for colonization on campus involves two steps: "Once the new group completes their colonization process, they will petition for membership in the Panhellenic council. They will be a colony first, then petition for full membership," said Schaub.
Most of the sororities are excited about the addition, citing a need for a new sorority in terms of recruitment numbers and general personal development.
"In most cases, our individual chapters are getting too large to support the sisterhood (the memories, the friends, everything) and the individual development that characterizes our Greek community and differentiates it from the Greek communities at many other schools. In addition, while the numbers are pretty complicated to explain, another sorority on campus will make formal recruitment a more effective process in terms of matching women with the chapter in which they'll truly fit," said Mary Manning, president of Sigma Psi.
Majid concurred, saying, "I think being able to choose from more organizations and being able to find the one which aligns with your personal values will lead to not only a more diverse Greek community, but also a stronger Greek community."
If the number of women entering through formal recruitment continues to expand without the addition of another chapter on campus, several sorority presidents feel that the intimacy that characterizes the Greek community on campus will be lost. Thus, the decision to expand seeks to maintain the standard of the Greek community on campus.
However, both Delta Gamma and Alpha Chi Omega voted against the decision, citing current problems with sorority colonies on campus still unrecognized by the Panhellenic Council.
"It is important to mention that some sororities are worried about the expansion because they themselves are not quite stable," said Turnbaugh.
Amy Rector, president of Alpha Chi Omega, said, "I know that [AXO] voted against it for various reasons. Some common concerns voiced were, the addition of a new chapter when we already have colonies in place here trying to establish themselves in the Case community; the effects it would have on numbers for NPC sororities already here; and the lack of an apparent need for this to be done now."
Martine Trinka, President of Delta Gamma, said "Delta Gamma decided to vote no because we were unsure that adding a new group to campus would be in the best interest of Greek community as a whole. We saw advantages and disadvantages to both options but we ultimately decided to vote no as to err on the side of caution."
Trinka also mentioned that the sorority's decision is mainly in support of the two sororities currently trying to colonize on campus.
Despite her sorority's sentiments on the issue, Rector believes differently. "The best thing we can do is support the process. Since it is already underway, negative energy is not going to help anyone. We should focus on the excitement of expanding our Greek community and be positive," she said.
