New greek executives set agendas

Besides adjusting to her spring class schedule, junior Marie Hershberger began this semester adapting to her role as vice president of membership for the Panhellenic Association. \n"This transition has been exciting as I learn the ways in which I can hopefully have a positive influence and improve greek relations in membership development," she said.\nHershberger is one of 14 students holding a PHA or Interfraternity Council executive position. \nThe officers' goals for the semester include raising the standards of the greek community, motivating members to become more involved with activities and creating a more effective philanthropy system. \nJustin Sloan, president of the IFC, said he wants to decrease the negative stereotypes surrounding drinking. \n"The negative stereotypes are often true, unfortunately," he said. "We want to eliminate the wrong that is happening."\nTo build a more positive image, Sloan said the IFC wants to improve its risk management so that social functions become safer. The PHA also has ideas for their social responsibility policy, Hershberger said. Sloan said by combating negative stereotypes, he hopes incoming freshmen will be more willing to join the greek system.\nJunior Mike McSherry, vice president of membership for IFC, said he wants fraternity members to raise their standards, possibly by obtaining a higher grade point average.\nTo accomplish these goals, McSherry said the IFC will invite guest speakers to help motivate members, as well as implement an incentive system.\nThough McSherry wants fraternities to set higher standards, he said his No. 1 goal is encouraging members to become more involved with campus and the greek community.\n"In each house, 10 to 15 people always do the work, so I want more people to step up instead of leaving the work up to the same people," McSherry said.\nSororities also face this problem, Hershberger said.\n"I think all chapters would agree that involvement in other chapters' philanthropy is lacking," she said. "To help with this, we had all chapters turn in their philanthropy dates for this semester. Everyone knows months in advance when events are to take place in order to prevent double booking on a certain day."\nThe IFC also plans to increase awareness about the greek community by revamping the Greek Hoosier Times, IU's newspaper for fraternities and sororities, said Payton DeLong, IFC vice president of communications. \n"We want to reach out to everyone on campus -- not just our members -- so they understand what we're about," he said.\nDeLong said he wants to publish monthly, rather than distributing the paper a few times each year. Last year the Greek Hoosier Times had three issues, and this year only one has been published, he said.\nIn addition to publishing more frequently, DeLong said he hopes to redesign the Greek Hoosier Times into a more organized format and, if feasible, to create a Web site for it. \n"We just need to get our staff on the same page, and everything will fall into place," DeLong said.\nBesides being better known on campus, the greek community wants to service Bloomington.\nHershberger said she wants to pair chapters with non-profit agencies in need of volunteers or fundraising.\n"In order to develop not only as a member of a chapter but a member of a community, one must give back by using whatever abilities they possess," Hershberger said. "There is so much man power as well as financial capability in the greek community, and non-profits in Bloomington are in desperate need of this help. We want to create a positive relationship with the community we live in"