Independent Council hopes to attract new members

Call-Out Meeting
When 7:30 p.m. Sept. 15
Where Kelley School of Business room 109


A new group on campus aims to bring together women to tailgate, play intramurals and participate in philanthropies.

IU Independent Council founders want to do all of this within the group’s first year.

“We are a social organization,” said junior Annette DiTommaso, who started the council this summer with junior Melissa Feeser, the group’s vice president.

The council is registered with the Office of Student Organizations and Leadership Development as a special-interest club.

“It is a great way to meet people after freshman year,” junior Katherine Stewart, secretary of the council, said. “After freshman year groups of friends are set, and some are in sororities, and it gets harder to meet people. This is a good way for upperclassmen to meet people on such a big campus.”  

The Independent Council will raise money for two major organizations – the Shriners Hospital for Children and the Support our Troops.

The Shriners Hospitals for Children consists of branches throughout the country.
DiTommaso, the council’s president, had previously volunteered for Shriners Hospital, and she said they chose to raise money for it because it is not already supported by an IU organization.  

The Independent Council will also raise money for Support our Troops. Both DiTommaso and Feeser said they thought there could be a stronger representation for military support on campus.   

“Our events will be this spring,” Feeser said. “We are waiting to see the number of girls that will get involved.”

The Independent Council is open to anyone, freshmen through seniors.  
Some goals for the organization include participating in events such as IU Sing and Little 500.

“It will bridge the gap between greeks and non-greek women at IU,” DiTommaso said.
“We will support greek events and participate in their philanthropies.”  

DiTommaso got the idea from her friend who started an Independent Council at Butler University last year. DiTommaso said it was co-ed and has been very successful at Butler. She decided to have the same idea here at IU but exclusively for women.

“We encourage diversity in our members,” Feeser said. “The Independent Council would love to have women with all different majors, interests and backgrounds to become involved.”