News
By Natasha Altamirano
|
May 17, 2003
Since the members of the class of 2003 began their undergraduate careers, they have witnessed breakthroughs in the evolution of University Greek life, from its 150th anniversary to its remarkable growth in chapters and multiculturalism.
Last November marked the 150th anniversary of the University's first fraternity, Delta Kappa Epsilon.
Last semester also marked the anniversaries of three sororities, Chi Omega's 75th anniversary, Kappa Delta's 70th anniversary and Zeta Tau Alpha's 50th anniversary.
The University's second oldest fraternity, Phi Kappa Psi, will turn 150 next year.
"We have now begun a period in which we are marking significant anniversaries," said Aaron Laushway, assistant dean of students and director of fraternity and sorority life.
The Greek system currently consists of four governing councils, the Inter-Fraternity Council, the Inter-Sorority Council, the Black Fraternal Council and the Multicultural Greek Council.
"In a lot of ways I feel like Greek life has stayed the same, and in certain ways it has evolved to take on a more political aspect than in years past," said graduating College student Mike Dunkley, a former BFC co-chair.
Currently the IFC includes 32 fraternities, the ISC includes 16 sororities, the BFC governs five fraternities and three sororities and the MGC governs three fraternities and four sororities, Laushway said.
At the time of his arrival in 1996, the IFC consisted of 33 fraternities, the ISC included 17 sororities, the BFC was composed of one fraternity and three sororities and the MGC was nonexistent, Laushway said.
A transfer student from the University of Maryland approached Laushway in 1999 about founding a chapter of Omega Phi Beta, a Latina sorority no longer active at the University.
"At that point there was discussion about where it belonged," Laushway said.
