Greeks continue to grow

True to its reputation as a "social Ivy," the University's greek system has grown by 70 percent since 1987, according to the Vice Provost for University Life's draft of a residential living report. Assistant Director of the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs Eric Newman said this growth follows a cyclical pattern of extreme popularity for greek organizations in the 1950s and 1960s and a subsequent period of anti-greek sentiment at the University in the 1970s. "In the 70s with the 'me' generation, people didn't want to be identified with greek letter organizations." he said. Newman added that in the 1980s participation in the greek system increased dramatically. Specifically at the University, he said the institution of OFSA and the Greek Alumni Council in the 1980s added depth to the system and the greek system as a whole became "a lot more visible". Currently 30 percent of University students are involved in the greek system. But Newman said that according to demographic studies, which indicate there will be a much smaller pool of college age youth, he expects participation in the greek system will decline by 1995. Many greek members said they believe the recent increase in interest in the greek system is due to more stringent alcohol enforcement of underage drinking laws on campus and at campus bars. "Big parties are going the way of the dinosaur." said College senior Michael Alfono, who is president of Alpha Chi Rho fraternity. "Stricter regulations" on alcohol accessibility at fraternities imposed by the Liquor Control Enforcment and national fraternity organizations have decreased the number of open fraternity parties. Therefore, he said, more University students feel pressured to join greek organizations in order to attend parties and maintain an active social life. Other greek members attribute greater involvement in the greek system to a calmer and more responsible image of the greek system which appeals to a wider portion of the student body. College senior and Chi Omega sister Hae Sin Kim, who is a PanHel representative in the Greek Social Action Committee, said she believes "the animal house syndrome has started to die down." She added that "the greek system has become more sensitized to other people and issues on campus." College junior and Delta Delta Delta sister Brooke Wurst, who is the assistant prosecutor for the Greek Peer Judicial Board, said "the greek system is becoming more responsible for itself." She added that she thinks the greek system has evolved into "more than just a social entity." The most obvious growth lies within the PanHel groups, who have more than doubled their size since 1987 through the addition of more sororities and increased sorority membership. A number of PanHel members attributed the growth in their organization to the sororities' tailoring themselves to contemporary women's needs. Wharton and College senior and Alpha Phi president Karyn Yeske said "sororities have identified the needs of women and because they've become more pro-active, they've become more organized in promoting the message of those needs." College senior and Kappa Alpha Theta president Nichole Weaver claimed that sororities have shed past images as primarily self-centered organizations which kept its members from taking part in non-greek activities. "Being committed to a sorority now does not limit a woman's independence." she said. "She can be committed to a sorority as well as being involved in other campus activities."