E-mail exchange between IFC and Panhellenic leaders could split Greeks in election
An e-mail exchange between Interfraternity Council President Eric Smith and Panhellenic Executive Council President Victoria Garcia is raising concerns about Garcia’s candidacy in this week’s UCSU elections.
Garcia, a junior anthropology and communication member running on the Drive ticket for tri-executive, sent an e-mail to presidents of the IFC fraternities and Panhellenic sororities dated Thursday, April 3, saying she was running as a voice for the entire Greek community.
“I.want it to be clear that I decided to run, not to split community.but to advocate for it,” Garcia wrote.
Smith, a junior classics major, sent his response to Garcia and other Greek community leaders two hours later. In his e-mail, Smith said Garcia made the decision to run without consulting her own sorority or the fraternity community.
Read the exchange here
“.You decided to run on a ticket against your own community without consulting your own Panhellenic Board, the Panhellenic Presidents, the IFC leadership, or the 14 chapter presidents that represent over a thousand men in our community,” Smith wrote in response to Garcia.
Smith told the Campus Press he is also concerned about Garcia’s ability to handle the responsibilities of being tri-executive. Smith said Panhellenic president and the tri-executive positions are both full time commitments, and Garcia may not be able to manage both jobs at once.
“It’s impossible for her to do both jobs,” Smith said. “It’s a very irresponsible decision on her part.”
In response to Smith’s concerns, Garcia said she did consult with Panhellenic leadership at a meeting three weeks ago, but did not go to the IFC because they are a separate entity with their own leadership and rules.
“Even though we’re all Greek together, we do things differently,” she said.
Garcia also said the idea of her being on an anti-Greek ticket had no basis.
“I’m the Panhellenic president- clearly I’m pro-Greek,” she said.
As to her time management skills, Garcia said she has still been eating, sleeping and studying this week in spite of the ongoing elections. She also said taking on both positions will actually make her better at each.
“I’m very capable of managing my time,” Garcia said. “Being both Panhellenic president and tri-executive will make me do a better job at both.”
Her fellow Drive candidates said they agree.
Ryan Biehle, a senior political science major running with Garcia for tri-executive on the Drive ticket, said having the Panhellenic president as a tri-executive would be an opportunity to bridge the gap between the Greeks and the rest of the student body.
“I think the dual roles are going to work to her benefit, and to the Greek system’s benefit as well,” Biehle said.
Members of other tickets said they do not share Biehle’s opinion.
Chance Heath, a junior international affairs major running for tri-executive on the One ticket, said he agreed with Smith that Garcia should have reached out more to the community she wants to represent.
“If she is intending on representing a certain demographic, she should discuss her intentions with them before making that decision,” Heath said.
As far as elections are concerned, Smith said he supports the One ticket, but said there has been no official endorsement of any ticket by the IFC. Smith said fraternity members are free to vote for whomever they want.
“There are 14 fraternity chapters on this campus, each of them is free to vote for whoever they support,” he said.
Contact Campus Press Staff Writer Rob Ryan at rryan@colorado.edu.
