Volume 5, Issue 2

Where Are Our Sorority Houses?

Kerri Gass

Well, sorority women should start packing their bags! And they should probably look into renting a storage unit.

As of May 1^st, sororities will have to vacate their chapter rooms located in Cummings and Corlew and find a new home for all of their things. For many sororities, this includes trophies, composite pictures, and ritual items; things that are not easy to store.

But what about those houses? Dr. Fitch, Dr. Glenn, and members of Residential Life met with chapter presidents, national officers, and the Panhellenic Executive council Monday night to discuss the new plans for sorority housing. These plans require a $300,000 contribution from each chapter to begin building. MTSU will own the houses and most likely have the majority input on the design. While they would like to give the sororities input, it is doubtful that will happen.

The houses would hold 15 girls and include a small kitchen and a chapter room. Rent would be paid thru MTSU Housing Services and they are predicting a rent charge of $2,700 per semester/per resident. This would include all utilities and maintenance fees.

            Many sororities had representatives from their national headquarters at the meeting and it was apparent there were a lot of reservations about the housing plan. Many worry about the fact that the current land chosen for the project is located behind Gentleman Jim’s and Campus Crossings South. There are also concerns about parking at night for meetings. Dr. Glenn said women attending their sorority meetings would be required to park across the street in the new lot and ride the Raider Express. There were also concerns that the projected 1,000 sq. foot chapter rooms would not meet the fire codes to hold many more than members than what the sororities already have, leaving little room for growth.

So where do we go from here?  Dr. Fitch asked that each sorority respond by March 1 if they wish to continue further discussion of the current plans.  When asked if there were other options, Dr. Glenn said the next option is to lease us a piece of land and let us build ourselves.

So, What's Up With Step Show?

Kerri Gass

The question on many minds lately has been, “So, what about step show?” So we got the scoop on what’s really going on!

Phi Beta Sigma has had a difficult time finding a venue for their annual Step Show fundraiser event. They informed Panhellenic that they had scheduled Step Show for February 25^th in the Tennessee Room of the JUB. Panhellenic decided as a group that this was too soon for girls to prepare for an event that many hold close to their hearts. It also falls the same week as Zeta Tau Alpha’s Lipsync. Many sorority women felt like this was asking too much of their members, and in too short of time.

Panhellenic delegates decided Monday night to postpone participation in Step Show until the event is moved to a later date. Practices have been suspended until this date is announced and Panhellenic delegates vote to participate. Check your weekly Letters for more information about this issue.

Successful Spring Recruitment for IFC

Todd Smith

Spring Rush week is over, and we now have new men learning what it means to be a leader, and to be Greek. 18 men accepted official bids on Sunday afternoon.

Eight of the bids went to the Kappa Alpha Order, who had more than any other fraternity.  Spring rush gave the new Vice President of Recruitment, Nick Palmer, a chance to learn new ideas, and innovate the ones prior VP’s have trusted on in the past. Nick is already planning the fall rush with new public relation movements and new ways to reach high school students. He urges every Greek to remember that even though rush is only one or two weeks a year, recruitment is year round.

AGC Date Auction

Todd Smith 

Hopefully the date auction brought a few Greeks together who would otherwise be single this Valentine’s Day.

The All Greek Council raised an impressive $900 for the Womack Lane playground. There were 14 participants including a last minute entry of four Sigma Alpha Epsilon brothers who were immediately bought by Gretchen Jenkins for $55. The largest bid of the auction came from the Pikes who cut a $200 check for Leslie Lynn almost as soon as she stepped in front of the cheering crowd. The All Greek Council did an excellent job on the second annual auction. According to the All Greek Council secretary, Patrick Allen, the Date Auction was a "great success, and a blast.”

With the sense of community developed among the organizations and ability to raise funds, the Date Auction should continue as a Greek tradition on the MTSU campus.