Dean Goldsmith aims to redefine being greek at IU

Dean of Students Pete Goldsmith is preparing for his first year of work at IU, and high on his to-do list is to kick off communications with the greek system, an area where he will have considerable impact.

Goldsmith said his main goals for the greek system include getting back to the ideals sororities and fraternities were founded on and defining what it means to be a greek in the 21st century.

“All the pieces are in place,” Goldsmith said. “I think all the chapters and all the organizations have the right ideals at heart, but they may need to change how they think about them and how they present those ideals to members, nonmembers and the community.”

Greek leaders remain optimistic about relations with Goldsmith and the future of the greek system.

“We recognize the need to get back to all the values we were founded on,” Panhellenic Association President Annie Raeder said. “Sometimes those values get lost in a college setting, and we all may need a reminder.”

It is unclear what lies ahead for the greek system, but Goldsmith assures all students that their individual well-being is a top priority. 

“I want the greeks to be successful, but above all I want individual students to be successful,” Goldsmith said. “I do think that the greek organizations can be a part of individual success.”

The greek system at IU involves more than 5,000 students and 65 organizations, according to the University’s Web site.

“We have large numbers, which gives us a lot of influence on the campus,” Interfraternity Council President Colin Nabity said.

It will be Goldsmith’s responsibility to uphold the general welfare of IU’s students and oversee campus life.

Goldsmith oversaw student affairs and enrollment management at Kent State University since 2003 and has experience with a greek system at a large university.

“By its size, the greek system is going to play a very visible role on campus,” Goldsmith said. “I think it is very important for me to maintain successful communication with the greek leaders.”

An advisory board consisting of presidents of select student organizations meets once a month with the dean of students to discuss upcoming events or issues, Nabity said.

He then said that these meetings were instated by former Dean of Students Dick McKaig and have been instrumental in shaping campus life. McKaig retired this past summer.

“As members of the advisory board, we worked very closely with Dean McKaig,” Nabity said. “He was incredibly accessible, and it was great to bounce ideas off of him.”

Traditionally, the dean of students oversees how all the greek chapters are doing and has final say over many decisions, Raeder said.

“I think it will be different because Dean Goldsmith is new, and it will take him some time to learn the lay of the land,” Raeder said. “I am sure there will be things he does differently that we will have to adjust to.”

While Goldsmith said overseeing greek life is important to him, he does not have any set plans for change.

“I am in intense listening and learning mode,” Goldsmith said. “I do not come in with an agenda.”

The greek leaders plan to shape communications with the new dean of students much like they did with Goldsmith’s predecessor.

“All of us who will work with Dean Goldsmith are waiting to see what his style is and what he does so we can react and adapt,” Nabity said. “We are going to go into this the same way we did with Dean McKaig.”