Starting in 1996, the Interfraternity Council began writing a strategic plan to summarize its organizational goals. The plan, entitled “The Pillars of Excellence,” is rewritten every five years.
On Wednesday evening, the IFC held its first town hall meeting to discuss its next five-year strategic plan. The Vice President of Strategic Planning at IFC, College senior Dave Dobkin, will write the new plan based around the issues and concerns that arise during the meetings.
The bulk of Wednesday’s meeting was spent discussing the University’s policy on alcohol consumption in chapter houses. Some in the meeting voiced concerns that the current policy is too strict and encourages binge drinking off campus. Dobkin and IFC President Christian Lunoe, a Wharton senior, assured the brothers in attendance that the IFC is working toward addressing these concerns.
According to the Vice Provost for University Life website, “kegs of any amount of beer are not allowed in any University-managed undergraduate residence.”
Another University stipulation requires licensed bartenders to distribute beverages at all registered on-campus events. Students that provide identification to prove they are 21 or over are provided wristbands in order to be served.
The consumption of hard alcohol is also prohibited at all undergraduate on-campus events.
Dobkin said the IFC has formed a committee to survey fraternity presidents and executive boards to gauge the community’s sentiment regarding the University’s policy on alcohol and party registration, while simultaneously surveying undergraduates, in order to accurately describe drinking habits on campus.
“If the results indicate risky behavior, such as a high number of students pre-gaming in unregulated environments, then it is clear that there is a disconnect between the policy’s intentions and the student body’s reaction to these regulations,” Dobkin wrote in an e-mail.
After the surveys have been taken, the IFC will write a proposal to bring to the Office of Alcohol and Other Drug Program Initiatives, Lunoe said.
Dobkin stressed that the purpose of town hall meetings and the strategic plan is to facilitate a partnership with the University community that is in accordance with the goals of students, faculty and administrators.
Other IFC initiatives discussed during the meeting include building better relations with alumni and faculty.
Lunoe wrote in an e-mail that the IFC is seeking to “develop the Greek alumni base further and get the constituency more active in Penn’s Greek Life after they graduate.”
Dobkin was enthusiastic about the prospect of having better alumni relations. Facilitating the ties between alumni and fraternities will not only serve the Greek community, he said, but also benefit the University by bringing alumni back to Penn. It would be a “win-win,” he added.
Another issue that arose during the meeting was the problem of insufficient funding from the University. The IFC doesn’t receive as much funding from Penn as some other student groups, Dobkin said.
In addressing this issue, Lunoe mentioned that a personal goal of his is to pursue a complete endowment from the Office of Student Affairs/Fraternity Sorority Life over the next year.
Another recurring theme that was discussed was the concern about the tenuous relationship between fraternities and administrators and the goal of strengthening these ties.
Dobkin said the visibility and reputation of the Greek community at large can be a problem. “Perception is a big problem with Greek life everywhere,” he added.
Lunoe also mentioned during the meeting that steps are being taken to explore a health-and-wellness component to Greek life at Penn by forming partnerships with offices like Counseling and Psychological Services, Student Intervention Services and other Vice Provost for University Life branches.
Another town hall meeting has been tentatively set for October and will also involve the Panhellenic Council. It will be open to the University community.
