Concerned that its original name did not adequately underscore the diversity of the organization, the Fraternity-Sorority Council unanimously voted to change its name to the Multicultural Greek Council at a meeting Tuesday night.
MGC also approved a more detailed constitution that clearly delineates who has voting power and how interested organizations can become members.
MGC President Michael McPheeters said Fraternity-Sorority Council was "not the most creative name" and did not sufficiently describe the nature of the organization.
Many people mistakenly thought FSC was the governing body of all the fraternities and sororities on Grounds, he said.
McPheeters said the term "multicultural" is appropriate because it does not restrict MGC's jurisdiction to fraternities and sororities focusing on ethnicity.
"All types of cultures come under Greek letter life," he said.
Co-ed fraternities and Greek organizations focusing on sexual orientation are examples of non-ethnic groups that might fall under MGC's authority, according to MGC representative Amanda Crane.
The MGC, founded in the fall of 1999, is the umbrella organization for fraternities and sororities that do not fall under the auspices of the Black Fraternal Council, Inter-Fraternity Council or Inter-Sorority Council.
Omega Phi Beta, a Latina-oriented sorority, Lambda Upsilon Lambda, a Latino-oriented fraternity, and alpha Kappa Delta Phi, an Asian-oriented sorority, are members of MGC.
The new constitution will enable MGC to become a "long-lasting, sustaining entity" at the University, McPheeters said.
He said he expects the Council's membership to double or triple in the next few years.
Assistant Dean of Students Aaron Laushway said he feels the name change is appropriate.
The organization originally was given a deliberately vague name "with the precise intent that ... the Council would address its own needs and make changes if necessary," Laushway said.
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