Council swears in new officers

After being on the job for only one day the new Panhellenic Executive Council is already making big plans. The members hope to revamp the council's image from a mere governing body to a support group and friend of the greek community.\n"We really want to show the chapter presidents that we're there to support them," said senior Jess Borchert, newly inducted president of Panhellenic Association. "It's a very difficult position to be in, I know."\nBorchert, who along with the rest of the Executive Council will meet with sorority presidents weekly, said the council's actions will speak louder than words.\n"We're their peers," she said. "We're not some holier than thou council telling them what to do. We've all been there and know what it's like."\nJunior Rebecca Solomon, executive vice president of administration, said the greek community is especially in need of support because of the many changes on the national and the campus level.\n"We can serve as role models for the greek community," she said. "It's not going to happen over night, but I'm determined to turn it into what it once was, and what I know it can be."\nOne change made last year was the strict enforcement of a contract signed by sorority and fraternity presidents in 2000, prohibiting alcohol in chapter houses. This resulted in a push toward third-party vendors. \nHowever, Borchert said there were problems, such as an incident at Axis where underage members were issued tickets for loitering by police. Members had been told incorrectly that those who were underage could attend the function as long as they didn't drink.\n"We're trying to avoid a situation like that ever happening again," Borchert said. "We want to give people the best opportunity to have fun."\nBorchert said the council will look into other venues, and possibly work with the University and administration to see what they can offer.\nBorchert said the council will spend much of its energy on making sure chapters understand why changes were made last year, and making sure the right decisions were made.\n"(The changes) were met with a lot of adversity last year," she said. "This year is going to be a stabilizing year."\nJunior Erin Mckeighan, executive vice president of operations, said the council will also work to improve activities such as Serenades, which is when sororities and fraternities pick their pairing for a particular event.\n"We want to revamp serenades to make it more enjoyable," she said. "It should be something chapters look forward to rather than a burden they have to plan and try to get their members to attend."\nBorchert said she hopes the council can help to reverse the declining attitude toward the greek community.\n"People only hear the negative, and not about the many wonderful things we do," she said. "I want to get across what its really like to be greek."\n-- Contact Staff Writer Haley Beck at habeck@indiana.edu.