Enrollment in fraternities and sororities at the University has stabilized after a gradual decrease in the number of students applying to the greek system.
According to membership figures for 2004-05 released by the Greek Leadership Resource Office, fraternities had an average of 38 members in each house for each school term, and sororities had an average of 84 members in each house.
The numbers are a slight improvement to the number of people joining greek sororities and fraternities since 2001, when issues including rising tuition at the University and the alcohol ban at greek houses contributed to decreases in membership.
The membership summaries show that since 1999, the number of sororities recognized on campus decreased from 10 houses to 8, and the number of fraternities decreased from 19 to 11. Campus Recruitment Advisor Amy Long said the decrease in the number of recognized houses affected enrollment.
“We’re doing a lot of rebuilding,” said Long. “Membership to the greek system is cyclical, so we are expecting a slight raise,” Long said.
As part of the greek system’s efforts to recruit new members, the Interfraternity Council Recruitment Committee was formed at the beginning of winter term to improve the system’s image. Composed of representatives from 12 of the fraternities, the committee is working with members on the Panhellenic Council on more cooperation between the different houses.
According to Interfraternity Council Vice President of Recruitment and Lambda Chi Alpha member David Cao, the committee is focused on training and unifying the participating fraternities for their recruiting efforts in Spring term.
“Our goal is to promote greek life and greek community at the University,” said Cao. “We realized that we should be working as a whole to recruit new members and to show everyone what it means to be greek.”
The media has also been blamed for contributing to declining membership because of its portrayal of greek life, which is seen by many in the greek system as presenting an inaccurate image.
“We know within the houses that the stereotypes are not true,” said Cao. “We want to educate people who have the wrong stereotypes about greek life because of the media, because that is not what it’s about.”
Sigma Chi member Marshall Ball said his fraternity had 19 new members when he joined in his first year, but last year about 24 new members joined, and the fraternity is expecting more to join this year.
“Greek fraternities are like a group of people with similar interests,” said Ball. “But we go out and make a difference in the community and raise money for charity.”
Greek enrollment at the University contrasts with greek enrollment at Oregon State University, which has seen decreases in enrollment to its fraternities and sororities. A recent article published in the Daily Barometer reported student memberships in the greek system have decreased, even as overall enrollment to OSU has increased.
Coordinator of Greek Life Robert Kerr said the houses at OSU are also trying to emphasize the benefits of joining the greek system, such as its philanthropic work, community service, academic standards and possibilities for career networking.
“We’re breaking stereotypes by showing that greek life is not what the media shows it to be,” said Cao.
Contact the city, state politics reporter at [email protected]