10 out of 11 spaces filled in annual sorority meeting
CU’s Panhellenic sororities are still deliberating about the future of their affiliation with the university.
The Panhellenic leaders, as well as the Office for Student Affairs, were reluctant to talk about the future of CU-Panhellenic relations after the Panhellenic Executive Council held an annual meeting with the Office of Student Affairs to appoint new leaders on Wednesday, Jan. 20 at Pi Beta Phi.
“We’re not able to discuss the relation with CU because it’s in the works,” said Victoria Garcia, a junior majoring in communications and anthropology major, the newly appointed President of the Panhellenic Executive Council.
Since CU’s Interfraternity Council refused to sign the Registered Fraternal Organizations Agreement in 2005, students have raised questions about whether or not the sororities will eventually follow suit with similar decisions.
The fraternities’ rejection of the agreement turned them into a non-recognized student organization, causing them to lose access to some on-campus privileges.
However, the Interfraternity Council and Panhellenic Council are not currently affiliated.
“We do our thing, and they do theirs,” Garcia said.
For Panhellenic, a new year means a new board of leadership for the nine sororities at CU.
“There are 11 positions, 10 are filled,” Garcia said.
The council is currently taking applications to fill the final position of recruitment guide, which Garcia said it plans to accomplish within a few weeks. All positions last for one year.
Garcia said that the meeting was a success with around 200 women in attendance.
“The Panhellenic Community is very supportive,” said Lauren Wright, a junior advertising major and political science minor serving as the Panhellenic Director of Public Relations. “They are all very committed and determined.”
For the past two and a half years, the Panhellenic Council has worked with the university to strengthen the community, said John Henderson, director of Greek Life.
Assistant Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Deb Coffin said 2007 was a productive year in CU-Panhellenic relations because sororities were “fully engaged” in campus life and hosted many events and community volunteer programs.
“Philanthropy outcomes were excellent,” Coffin said. “CU’s relationship with the sororities continues to be very positive.”
Among plans for the upcoming Greek year is the possibility of the establishment of an all-Greek council of both traditional and multicultural Greek organizations – including the IFC-to bring together all CU Greeks, regardless of their respective organizations.
The purpose of the council would be better understanding and to “bridge the gap of miscommunication and to inform each other of events,” Wright said.
Contact Campus Press Staff Writer Alex Reiner at alex.reiner@colorado.edu.
