President polices his peers

Fraternities sometimes dread the "powers that be" that hold their fates in their hands. Whether it is a financial situation or an alcohol violation, greek houses know any infraction can hurt their reputation.\nSenior Evan Waldman has the duty of not only being a greek member, but having to police his peers as president of the Interfraternity council.\n"Imagine the small things, like having to sit out in front of the rest of the chapter at a chapter meeting and look out at 100 of your closest friends and fraternity brothers and tell them something they don't want to hear," Waldman said. "But there are no questions asked. (I have to tell them), 'these are new policies and we have to do this.'" \nStill, despite the conflicts, Waldman had a goal as a freshman at IU -- he wanted to become president of the IFC.\n"I approached the IFC president from three years ago as well as Dean (Richard) McKaig (Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs and Dean of Students) about the position and I was simply inquiring," Waldman said, recalling his interest in the position as a freshman. "I said 'that's a neat job. I'd really love to get involved on campus."\nAfter joining a fraternity, Waldman, a senior studying communications and culture, got involved in some organizations on campus and within his fraternity, becoming a member of Greeks Advocating the Mature Management of Alcohol and the Junior Greek Council.\n"I absolutely loved it," Waldman said. "From there I decided that I'd take on a leadership role in my own fraternity and I became chapter president."\nAs IFC president, Waldman said he spends an average of 12 to 15 hours a week working with IFC issues.\nAccording to the IFC Web site, the president's duties include the following: serving as chief spokesman for the IU men's fraternity system, carrying the overall responsibility of the operation of the IFC.\nIt may be difficult to have a peer as your boss, but greek members respond well to Waldman. Samuel Locke, vice president for Membership Development of the IFC, said it's easy to work with Waldman.\n"He is always willing to make the decision that is best for the entire greek community, often regardless of his personal feelings on an issue," Locke said. "He has been an advocate for changes in programming that allow the greek community to be presented in a brighter light and for programs that even the playing field for all IFC chapters, regardless of size or stature."\nMcKaig agreed with Locke.\n"Evan has been an excellent president of IFC," he said. "He has been most effective in realizing the challenges facing men's chapters and building a consensus to make necessary changes. His latest work in changing the officer structure of IFC will allow more individuals to be involved and more chapters to be represented at the leadership level."\nHe also feels he has built a strong network base here at IU.\n"Networking is such a great thing. I always take IU as a microcosm of the rest of the world," he said. "The more people you meet the better off you are. Walking around campus and seeing someone you know is a reassuring feeling that the campus has become smaller in your point of view.\n"You meet more people, learn about more people and experience different types of personalities and how to work with people on different levels."\nWaldman also described the people skills he has acquired while serving as IFC president.\n"I sit down and have a very different conversation with President (Adam) Herbert than with Drew (Goldberg), the Union Board president," he said. "You learn a lot about how to know your audience and how to give people what they're looking for. You pick up a lot of people skills on the way."\nWaldman said his experience with greek life has been an amazing one. \n"You get what you put into it," he said. "IU is a great place for opportunity. When you're a freshman, seize the day and do it early. Don't wait. Get yourself involved in one of the 500 clubs and organizations that IU has to offer and if you don't like one of those 500 plus, start your own. Do something you really enjoy and learn something about others and … about yourself."\nThough Waldman loves his job, the duties and priorities that come with being president can cause stress.\n"There's nothing better after a long week than going home, sitting around the poker table with all the roommates and just having a nice conversation about nothing greek related."\n-- Contact staff writer Brittany Hite at bhite@indiana.edu.