5/2/08 - Greek community reaches out to professors Many greek organizations on campus host dinners with faculty and staff.
By Emma Carew, Minnesota Daily
Neil Bendle hadn't been exposed to much greek life before setting foot in the Pi Beta Phi house a few weeks ago.
"I'm English," the graduate instructor in marketing said. "We don't really have those sort of things there."
The sorority is just one of the many greek organizations on campus that host regular dinners with faculty and instructional staff members.
Bendle said one of his students in the sorority invited him and "it was lovely" to meet the other women in the house and learn more about the organization and his student.
Lauren Haverly, a biology, society and environment sophomore in Pi Beta Phi, said she invited a teaching assistant from her calculus class to the dinner.
4/15/08 - Greek Organizations Lobby for Tax Breaks By Joy Petersen, Minnesota Daily
Fraternity and sorority members head to alumni when looking for contributions to improve their houses, but large donations aren't tax deductible - something sorority and fraternity organizations are trying to change.
Today, the North-American Interfraternity Conference and National Panhellenic Conference are lobbying at the nation's Capitol for the Collegiate Housing and Infrastructure Act and the College Fire Prevention Act.
The bills - which will likely be attached to another bill before being voted on - would allow large alumni donations for greek housing safety and structural improvements to be tax deductible for the donors.
Currently, greek houses don't count as "charitable organizations," as outlined in the 501(c)(3) code by the Internal Revenue Service, meaning donations are not tax deductible.
4/11/08 - Sigma Pi Fraternity to Receive Chapter Status By Joy Petersen, Minnesota Daily
Like many other fraternities, Sigma Pi has a fraternity house on University Avenue, participates in homecoming and welcome-week activities and hosts charity events.
However, Saturday marks the first day it will be recognized as a chapter in the fraternity's international organization.
The members will take part in an initiation ceremony, in which Larry Rovira, the fraternity's international president, will stamp his approval on the chapter and reveal the traditional ritual to its 37 members.
Rovira said Sigma Pi's "greater visibility on a great campus" equals success when the two century-old institutions work together.
"It's a win-win for everybody," he said.
The fraternity began colonization - the first step in becoming a fraternity - in 2005, when Bryan Roeser, a genetic cell biology junior, met Sigma Pi representatives at an activities fair in Coffman Union.
4/08/08 - Dry House Policies Up for Debate By Joy Petersen, Minnesota Daily
A current lawsuit in Pennsylvania could send a message about alcohol regulations to greek organizations across the country, including fraternities and sororities at the University.
Pennsylvania State University's Phi Delta Theta fraternity filed suit against its national chapter in order to be reinstated as a fraternity after being suspended for drinking. The national chapter considers itself alcohol-free, often referred to as "dry."
Fraternity members filed the lawsuit on March 31 because the chapter's suspension caused "immediate and irreparable harm to the students" and the national chapter guidelines had not been officially adopted by their house.
While alcohol-related lawsuits do happen in college settings, it's usually with individuals, said Bill Dane, a University Student Legal Service staff attorney. He said it isn't common for fraternities to enter into lawsuits with their national organizations.
Dane also said he hasn't seen a case like this at the University.
2/27/08 - Yes, There is Life After the Dorms By Riham Feshir, Minnesota Daily
While some students will continue living on campus next year, others will explore alternative living plans.
Whether they're living at a fraternity house, an off-campus apartment or at home, students shared their thoughts on life outside the dorms.
Greek living
Second-year University student Nick Jenneman said he didn't think he would live in a fraternity house when he first started college. But after attending a couple of events for Sigma Chi and experiencing the bond of friendships, he decided to pledge.
"It is an experience you wouldn't normally get living in the dorm," he said.
The house of 28 members gives Jenneman the opportunity to be a leader and learn from his fellow roommates.
He said living in the house with older and more experienced students who help him with career building is a plus. His roommates provide help with his résumé and interview training.
"They give you advice and words of wisdom," he said.
Jenneman said he also enjoys group social activities, such as formals and alumni dinners.
He said paying $3,500 a semester to live in Sigma Chi includes food, cleaning dues and local and national social events.
But the problem with living with a diverse group of people, he said, is the disagreements some of the members may have with one another.
"Sometimes you're not going to see eye-to-eye on things," he said.
2/13/08 - Groups Seek More Circulator Hours By Amber Kispert, Minnesota Daily
Dustin Norman, president of the Interfraternity Council, has been one of those unfortunate students who runs out of class just in time to watch the Washington Avenue Bridge Circulator leave.
Norman and these other students are out of luck because another bus will not be along - the last bus leaves at 4:45 p.m.
The IFC has partnered with the Panhellenic Council and the Minnesota Student Association to expand the hours of operation for the circulator.
MSA passed a resolution Tuesday supporting lengthening the hours of operation from 4:45 p.m. to 10:15 p.m., but would maintain the starting time of 7:30 a.m.
2/12/08 - Sorority Celebrates 100th Anniversary By Joy Peterson, Minnesota Daily
Monday night meetings at the Alpha Gamma Delta sorority bring the career woman and the domestic woman together, but when Julie Miller pledged as a sorority member in the 1960s, it was etiquette.
Miller said she remembers when Monday night meetings consisted of how to have appropriate dinner conversation, how to interview and how to let someone else light a woman's cigarette.
Monday's meeting broke from traditional etiquette lessons to celebrate the sorority's 100th year on campus.
11/16/07 - House Directors Vital to Greek Home Life By Joy Petersen, Minnesota Daily
s a father of five, grandfather of 12 and a former lumberjack, Marv Skogen, 67, is one tough cookie - but not like the ones he bakes for the men who live in the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity house on campus.
Skogen has been the house director there since 1999 and is the only greek house director on campus who still cooks for the house's members.
"First, as far as maintenance that's needed, I do an awful lot of it myself." Skogen said. "Then, it's to be here for the guys as, I suppose, a role model."
9/27/07 - Event Shines Light on Hazing Practices at U By Caitlin Cornelius, Minnesota Daily
Stories of Greek hazing incidents always seem to make headlines, but as far as Chad Ellsworth, coordinator at the Office for Fraternity and Sorority Life, is concerned, it's just as prevalent in other student organizations.
As the University observes National Hazing Prevention Week, it's an important concept to keep in mind, Ellsworth said.
Fraternities, sororities, military organizations, marching bands and athletics are all organizations that can fall victim to hazing, Ellsworth said.
9/10/07 - South Asian Fraternity Gears Up for Year Two By Andy Steinke, Minnesota Daily
While the campus greek community holds camaraderie, community service and academic excellence in high regard, some chapters also focus on cultural values.
Multicultural fraternity Beta Chi Theta, which is starting its second year as a University chapter, held three rush events last weekend to raise money for Product Red, which raises money for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS.
The fraternity hopes to raise $5,000 this semester, chemistry senior and chapter president Vnay Bedi said.
9/07/07 - Greeks Kick Off Recruitment By Emma Carew, Minnesota Daily
Like many campus groups, the greek community is relying on an old strategy for enticing new members this fall: free pizza.
First-year students who are interested in becoming members of a University fraternity or sorority this year are invited to the Greek Recruitment Kickoff tonight from 4 to 7 p.m. at the superblock.
"The whole event is new," said Clint Been, vice president of public relations for the Interfraternity Council.
7/15/07 - Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. Wins Four Awards at National Convention On July 10-15, the Psi Chapter (University of Minnesota-Twin Cities) of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. hosted the 78th Grand Chapter Meeting (national convention) at the Minneapolis Convention Center. Most importantly, the Psi Chapter was the recipient of four prestigious awards, including Outstanding Chapter of the Year Award, the Guy Levis Grant Award (Oscar Jerome Stewart), Advisor of the Year Award (Fred Thomas), and winner of the 78th Grand Chapter Meeting Step Show.
04/30/07 - Students Do a Little Spring Cleaning during Spring Jam Volunteers picked up litter and trimmed hedges at Van Cleve Park in the Como area.
By Vadim Lavrusik
04/02/07 - Greeks Sponsor Prom for Elderly Fraternity and sorority members held a Senior Prom at the home Saturday as part of the annual Greek Weekend.
By Vadim Lavrusik
2/26/07 - Fraternity, Sorority Leaders Attend Conference University fraternity and sorority leaders hoped to return to the University today from an annual leaders' conference in Chicago, bringing back with them new strategies for the campus.
By Vadim Lavrusik
2/19/07 - Date Auction Proceeds Eenefit Former U Student With Cancer Phi Kappa Psi earned more than $1,200 to support a student's Relay for Life team.
By Vadim Lavrusik
2/06/07 - University Greek Students Learn New Leadership Skills The University's greek community is taking leadership training one step further for some of its newest members.
1/30/07 - Greeks Work To Form Safety Committee By Vadim Lavrusik
The greek community is in the process of creating a temporary safety committee that will meet throughout the semester in an attempt to resolve safety concerns at the University.
1/24/07 - Emerging Greek Leaders Program Launches The Emerging Greek Leaders Program, a leadership and personal development program for freshmen and sophomores, began its inaugural semester today with 22 selected participants. To be a part of one of the highest honors available to new members of the Greek community, participants are nominated by the chapter presidents of their respective organizations and by participants of the Tom Burnett Advanced Leadership Program, and are then extended an invitation to participate.
12/6/06 - New PHC Officers Step Up The Panhellenic Council selected twelve new executive board officers to serve the Greek community for the 2007 calendar year. Led by incoming PHC President Kristin Gast, the 2007 executive board welcomes back a couple of familiar faces, as well as brings in new perspectives. The new PHC Executive Board met today to begin planning and readying for the upcoming year with Carol Warren, National Panhellenic Conference Area Advisor; Chad Ellsworth, Coordinator for the Office for Fraternity and Sorority Life; and Jay Bergland, Special Assistant for the Office for Fraternity and Sorority Life.
11/15/06 - IFC Elects New Officers The legislative body of the Interfraternity Council elected seven new executive board officers to serve the Greek community for the 2007 calendar year. Led by incoming IFC President Alec Catsuros, the new executive board is a great mix of experience and fresh perspectives.
10/29/06 - Greeks Participate in Community Leaf Raking Effort Over 100 students from U of M Greek organizations helped rake leaves for senior citizens in the North Minneapolis Neighborhood working with the Neighborhood Involvement Program.
10/24/2006 - Greek Community Hosts Inaugural Academic Recognition Ceremony The Interfraternity Council, Panhellenic Council, and Office for Student Affairs collaborated Tuesday, October 24, to recognize each council's top 25 scholars.
Check out the Interfraternity Council page to learn all about fraternity life at the University of Minnesota. [+] more
Panhellenic Sorority Recruitment
Click the link and learn about everything from the Panhellenic Council to the basics of sorority recruitment at the University of Minnesota. [+] more
Councils & Chapters
The U of M has many different Greek chapters on campus as well as different councils that govern the Greek community. Here’s where they're listed. [+] more
