Greek awards recognize chapters

Screams echoed through the IU Auditorium as Kappa Sigma was named the most improved interfraternity chapter.

“We did it. We’re number one,” screamed one member from the back row.
The annual Greek Assessment and Awards Program recognized chapters Sunday night in six chapter categories and individual awards.

In order to be a greek chapter at IU, houses must participate in GAAP. Chapters have to write a one-page summary on what they do with each pillar of excellence. They then create a booklet with summaries, pictures and whatever else they want to include and present it to a panel of judges.

“It is a way for the Student Life and Learning Office to check up on chapters that we don’t know need help,” Shaffer Intern Kelsey Morrissey said.

Chapter awards go through the judges, and individual awards are decided by the four council presidents. They take the names off of the submissions to keep it unbiased.

This year, the event had 92 different judges, who  gave feedback with thoughts and comments. Judges range from people who are very familiar with the greek system, such as former chapter presidents to the IU Student Association president.    
“We work to round out judging,” Morrissey said.

There are four councils, and they do not compete against one another. There are winners in every category for each council. The four councils include the Interfraternity Council, Multicultural Greek Council, Pan-hellenic Council and the Panhellenic Association.

“There is such a difference between the councils that it isn’t fair to put them against one another,” Morrissey said. “Chapters of 500 girls can do great things, but so can chapters of five girls.”

After all of the scores are calculated, the Student Life and Learning Office go through the score sheets and meet with chapters based on their needs. They also keep the score sheets every year so they can see how chapters are improving.

“It is a way for us to seriously know what’s going on,” Morrissey said.

Event organizers are trying to make GAAP a big thing, Morrissey said. Last year, 500 people showed up to the event. This year their goal was 2,000. She said the auditorium counted 1,503 people plus 75 people on stage. So, she estimated there were about 1,600 people in attendance.

“We are trying to make it more fun and competitive so they will try and do well,” Morrissey said.

Former Panhellenic Association president Kendra Allenspach said GAAP was a good chance for chapters to reflect back on what they’ve done.

“Sometimes we get a bad rap,” Allenspach said. “People only hear the negative. This is a chance to show all of our positives. It is an incentive for chapters to work even harder.”