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GREEK LIFE
Fraternities, sororities offer familiar faces
BY RACHEL PARKER editor@kansan.com
Campus newcomers bond through Greek organizations
For students who want to spice up their college experience, the University of Kansas' fraternities and sororites might have a lot to offer.
The University's greek system is more than 130 years old, consists of 40 chapters and more than 3,500 undergraduate students. In fact, 20 to 22 percent of the undergraduate population is greek.
The Greek community strives to promote four basic pillars of values: leadership, academic excellence, community service and brotherhood and sisterhood.
Leadership opportunities are available for students who want to be chapter officials or part of the greek councils. The Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life has many positions for students to represent the Greek community.
Academically, greek students maintain a certain GPA set by their chapters. Students who excel can be part of the Order of Omega program, a national Greek honor society that recognizes the nation's
top 3 percent.
Each chapter commits to different philanthropies to fulfill community service, where students are involved in raising money for national and local organizations. One of the biggest philanthropies is The House that Greeks Built, an activity where students labor and benefit the Lawrence Habitat for Humanity by building a house. The project averages nearly $50,000. The greek system is currently working toward building its fourth house, after finishing its third house in 2003.
Greek students also talk about the life-long friendships they make through their involvement with their brothers and sister because they join chapters based on their interests, and usually live in a chapter house.
Students involved in green life participate in different beneficial events and programs throughout the school year including a blood drive, intramural sports, a theatrical Rock Chalk Revue and weekend
retreats, such as the Greek Advance. Students in these programs become more involved with their chapters, and they increase their interaction with the University and the rest of the students.
Students are informed about recruitment for fraternities and sororities at freshman orientation. There are three different councils that represent the KU Greek system: Interfraternity council (IFC), Panhellenic Council (PHA), and National Pan-Hellenic council (NPHC). These councils hold leadership positions for the Greek students, as well as communicate with the national organizations.
Recruitment is a different process for each of the councils and their chapters. The IFC, which represents 20 campus fraternities, holds a summer formal recruitment for men, and an informal recruitment during the rest of the academic school year.
The PHA, which represents 13 campus sororities, holds an eight-day recruitment process for women
during the first week of school.
The NPHC, which represents seven historic African-American and recently-formed Latino fraternities and sororites, holds an informal recruitment period during the entire academic year for men and
women who already have college credit. Informational sessions are also available for interested students at the beginning of the school year.
Men and women interested in learning more about the University's greek system should refer questions to the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life.
KANSAN FILE PHOTO
Two groups perform during last semester's Rock Chalk Revue. The Revue is a long-running and popular theatrical event produced by Greek organizations.