Council Corners:

Interfraternity Council:

Working Towards a Better Greek Community

Josh Palmer, President

Our council has stepped into a very important time for our Greek Community.  In past years we have struggled with many issues and been halted in progression towards building real community and restoring values.   We are in a time of change, and as the weeks go on I am ever more proud to share that our Fraternities are already beginning to lead the way in modeling what we expect of them.

Many new focuses have surfaced this year.  Things such as community building, responsibility, respect, and values seem to be important topics to our new leaders.  As a council, we are leading the way for our chapters to model these ideals.  We have reviewed policies that will promote community shared risk and responsible social behavior, and promoted community from the top down within our organizations to rid the barriers of Fraternal separation.  It has been long overdue, and the time is now to make giant steps forward with these ideas.

As a council we are in the midst of finishing the previous council’s agenda with ideas such as improving safety, though we are moving forward in many other directions as well.  We are aiming high to see improvement in all aspects of fraternal life at WSU including philanthropy, service, scholarship, values integration, and brotherhood amongst all chapters.  It can be done with our new leaders.

I am very eager to work hard for our community in this upcoming year.  It takes a lot of work and commitment by our council, but also the members of our community and alumni to truly impact this change we hope for.  The more whom are involved will leave a greater impact on what actually gets done this year!

 

National Pan-Hellenic Council:

NPHC Organizations Unite for “Now is the Time” 

Alicia Saldivar, Coordinator of Multicultural Student Organizations

At the start of Black History Month, the National Pan-Hellenic Council launched their inaugural “Now Is the Time” Event.  Now is the Time was organized to help bring awareness to all 6 NPHC organizations on campus and offer interested students, or members of the community that would like to know more about NPHC organizations, a venue to have their questions answered.  With a planning committee of affiliated faculty, staff, students and the Center for Fraternity & Sorority Life, Now is the Time included informational tables from each of the organizations, an address by the Director of the CFSL, workshops hosted by each NPHC chapter and key note addresses from Mrs. Bernice Buchanan, a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and Mr. Ira Davis, a WSU & Kappa Alpha Psi Alumnus.  The NPHC Council plans to host another Now is the Time in Fall 2008.  To get involved in the planning or for more information, please email: nphc@lists.wsu.edu. 

Panhellenic Council:

Serving the Community through Education and Accountability

Jen Patterson, VP of Programming and Development

This semester’s programming has been a success. Students attending programming events related to diversity, alcohol abuse, hazing prevention, and sexual assault prevention. The councils sponsored two large scale presentations, held in Beasley Coliseum, to bring awareness to sexual assault and mental health issues.

 Kelsey Meyers, VP of Policy and Procedure

This semester the Panhellenic Council worked hard to uphold the values of the Greek community. We are working harder than ever to implement a successful Greek Standards Board where our members are held accountable by their peers; in addition, we are working closely with Student Conduct and the discipline decisions they make. Our focus this semester was to help chapters to work with their members in order to better educate them as to why their actions are so important and how to effectively sanction their chapter members. This is a time for change in our community and we are fully dedicated to making this happen by helping to educate our members and providing them with the tools they need in order to make the necessary changes.

United Greek Council:

The United Greek Council hosts “WOE: Week of Events”

Alicia Saldivar, Coordinator of Multicultural Student Organizations

The United Greek Council, which is home for 7 culturally based fraternities and sororities on campus, hosted its first “Week of Events” or “WOE!” at the end of January.  The week of events, hosted to celebrate and bring awareness to the seven affiliated chapters included an informational fair in Todd Hall and on the mall, mini yard shows in the residence halls, a canned food drive and was topped off with a campus-wide dodge ball tournament.  UGC was pleased with the turnouts for all events, and is thankful for the support they’ve received from various campus departments.  The council is currently working on developing its structure, but plans to host similar events in the future to help reach the larger WSU Community regarding their diversity and community minded organizations.  For more information, please email ugc@lists.wsu.edu.