Date functions at the University might have a new spin next year with the potential addition of a new fraternity to the University.
"Out on Rugby," a probationary fraternity, hopes to promote the interests of male homosexual University students while offering its members the benefits of Greek life associated with mainstream fraternities.
The group, whose membership now stands at nine, is designed to create a new social space for homosexual students.
"It was something that various people had been thinking about for a long time," said Luke Ward, Queer Student Union president and co-founder of the new group. "We thought it would be a good way of diversifying what's typically seen as the mainstream social scene here."
In order to establish a new fraternity or sorority at the University, interested students must first apply for CIO status and be recognized by Student Council as a group with the explicit purpose of bringing a fraternity or sorority to the University. Next they apply for sponsorship from one of the four Greek governing councils.
"Out on Rugby" completed both these steps and was granted "interest group" status by the Multicultural Greek Council at the beginning of this semester.
"As an interest group they have been sponsored by MGC to research fraternities that they might want to bring to the University," said MGC President Melody Han.
During this probationary period, the group should act as if they are an established group with programming and service, she said.
"Out of Rugby's" president and fifth-year Education school student Anthony Whitten said the group is prepared to do just that.
"We'll have philanthropies and parties and the other things that go along with being a Greek organization, just not a national title yet," Whitten said.
There are several national fraternities committed to promoting the interest of homosexual males, including Delta Lambda Phi. The fraternity was formed in 1986 and has 18 chapters, including one at Old Dominion University.
After a four-month research period, "Out on Rugby" will make a presentation to the presidents of the seven member organizations who will then vote on whether to accept the proposed fraternity into the MGC.
While there are homosexual members of IFC fraternities, IFC President Ryan Ewalt acknowledged the difficulty homosexual university students may face when attempting to participate in mainstream Greek life.
"I have no idea how many homosexual men are in IFC fraternities specifically but I think it would be a difficult environment," Ewalt said. "I think that because the majority of men in IFC fraternities are not homosexual I could see that as being an uncomfortable situation for both homosexual and heterosexual men, but I think that's reflective of society," he said.
Until now, there has been no formal attempt to push homosexual university students to participate in rush.
"The IFC has neither encouraged nor discouraged homosexual men or any other minorities from rushing," said Ewalt, noting a change in policy that will see the IFC attempt to reach out to minority students this year.
"We're very hopeful that minority rush numbers will increase this year," he said.
Aaron Laushway, associate dean of students and director of fraternity and sorority life, however, said while previous generations of minority students had worked to integrate themselves into mainstream Greek life, "Out on Rugby" may be further evidence of a trend toward building Greek life around ethnic and cultural differences.
"In the same way that up until very recently Asian-American and Hispanic students had been part of the mainstream Greek system, we have an emerging new world of ethnic fraternities and sororities," Laushway said. "I see this as yet another step in enriching the fraternity and sorority system at the University."
While the MGC was designed to make the Greek system more inclusive, "Out on Rugby," is an expansion of the definition of diversity for MGC member organizations, who until now have officially been comprised only of ethnic minorities.
"The MGC has more broadly-defined culture with the petition of 'Out on Rugby,' for membership," Han said. "In our mission statement it states that we are committed to diversity but it doesn't say of what sort.
Han added that he thought "the gay community at U.Va. is entirely underserved. The guys from 'Out on Rugby' might just be the kind of Greek leadership that's needed."
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