OWU Greek Community Report

OWU Greek Community Report 

by Dana D. Behum
Assistant Director of Student Involvement for Fraternity and Sorority Life

The OWU Greek community  is continuing to thrive. One third of our student population has found a home in a fraternity or sorority and as January quickly approaches, our students shift their focus to recruitment season! Advertisements, banners and email invitations are bombarding the campus with invitations to come to ‘the hill.’ Our students have been hosting holiday dinners, game nights, themed dance parties, mixers, and networking events to encourage new members to consider Greek Life.

As change is constant, our students have implemented new philanthropic events or updated their houses; however they continue to value the tradition of their chapters. Regardless of affiliation, OWU continues to encourage the pillars of Greek organizations as we focus on scholarship, leadership, service and brotherhood/ sisterhood. Their continued commitment is represented by more than 6,000 hours of service and approximately $27,000 raised for the individual chapters’ national and local philanthropic partners.

As of May 2011, 530 students were initiated members of a Fraternity or Sorority on campus, representing approximately 30% of the OWU student body (239 men – 31% of males; 291 women – 30% of females). Our campus is home to the following Greeks: 7 Fraternities— Alpha Sigma Phi, Delta Tau Delta, Phi Delta Theta, Phi Kappa Psi, Sigma Phi Epsilon,Sigma Chi, Chi Phi, (1 Colony FIJI returning in Feb. 2012)

7 Sororities — Alpha Kappa Alpha, Delta Delta Delta, Delta Gamma, Delta Sigma Theta, Delta Zeta, Kappa Alpha Theta, Kappa Kappa Gamma

OWU’s Administration is very supportive of the Greek community, and this past year approved a proposal for Fraternity Expansion. The timeline for expansion was as follows:

• A recommendation to expand the fraternity system was presented to President Jones and Vice President of Student Affairs, Craig Ullom in March, 2011.
• An Expansion Committee was established to review all fraternities who formerly existed at OWU
• Research was conducted and reviewed by committee members
• A letter of invitation was sent to three fraternities who were best positioned to return; Phi Gamma Delta, Alpha Tau Omega, and Tau Kappa Epsilon
• Two fraternities accepted our invitation to present to the Expansion Committee in Sept. 2011
• From the two presentations, FIJI was selected and invited to return to campus during the spring 2012 semester for recolonization, and recruitment. Expansion Committee members included professional staff, current OWU Greek students representing both Panhellenic and the Council of Fraternity Presidents, and representatives from Alumnea Panhellenic and Alumni IFC.

In addition to support from the OWU administration, our chapters continue to receive valued guidance and support from our Alumni. In February 2011, Alumnae Panhellenic hosted an event for senior sorority members to network with OWU Greek Alumnae. The women enjoyed the chance to mingle with their mentors and discuss graduate course options, and career path opportunities. As the year came to a close, a celebratory event was organized. Specifically our Greek seniors were invited to Senior Wine Tasting event with both Alumni Interfraternity Council and Alumnae Panhellenic.

This fall our alumni councils again made connections with our Greek collegians by co-hosting a leadership retreat with the OWU Student Involvement Office. Round table discussions were organized by hot topics such as recruitment, hazing prevention, alumni involvement. The students were assigned groups that mixed members from different chapters, and allowed students to see Greek leadership outside of their own chapter. The event was well received, and plans for a similar spring retreat are in the works.

Our students maintain active academic and social schedules. Between those commitments, they have found time to organize and host a variety of educational and engaging activities outside of unique chapter events. Below is a sampling of events sponsored by the Panhellenic Council, Council of Fraternity Presidents, NPHC organizations, and the Order of Omega. Additionally, a few key chapter/alumni events of note are included:

• Sorority Open Houses during Orientation
• Panhellenic Trilogy – Sharing my Ritual
• Greek Carnival
• Council of Fraternity Presidents (CFP) Trilogy – Fire Safety in Fraternity Houses with Delaware Fire Department
• Homecoming/Family Weekend Greek Song Fest & Banner competition
• Heritage Day Trilogy for Fraternities and Sororities
• Fraternity Community participates and encourages “OWU Lights”
• Panhellenic Trilogy – Professional Image workshop for women
• Phi Kappa PSI 150th Anniversary at OWU
• ‘FIJI’ Pig Weekend
• Order of Omega Annual Greek Awards
• Alumni/ Reunion Weekend Greek Open Houses and all Greek Reception

Greek life is growing at OWU. An excitement for recruitment and recolonization is evident, and the campus community is supportive. We invite you as always to keep up with us by visiting greek.owu.edu.

 

Dana D. Behum’s address is
Student Involvement Office,
HWCC 143, 61 S. Sandusky
Street, Delaware, OH
43015; 740-368-3170; email
ddbehum@OWU.edu