New sorority comes to campus community

By Paolo Posadas

The Greek system is thriving three years since its separation from campus. Kappa Alpha Theta, a new sorority, has joined the Santa Clara scene and membership in fraternities and sororities has increased.

President Paul Locatell, S.J., announced in March 2001 plans to phase out campus support of fraternities and sororities in order to better allocate finite resources. Members of the Inter-Greek Council then chose to disassociate from the school and operate independently, saying it was a matter of "survival."

Today, students still have the option of participating in Greek life, but it must now remain off campus.

The goal of the decision was not to deny students the opportunity to be a part of the Greek system, but the school decided it would no longer provide the infrastructure to support it, Dean for Student Life Jeanne Rosenberger said.

In response to growing demand, the Greek system expanded this year with the addition of Kappa Alpha Theta.

"We are excited that the Greek system is growing. This is proof that the system as a whole is flourishing," Cal Phi fraternity President Luke Reese said. Cal Phi is a local house that is autonomous from any national organization.

Rosenberger was surprised to see Kappa Alpha Theta come to campus, since colonization usually requires school support, but she said the sorority "seems to be doing well and they're obviously getting support."

The sororities Alpha Phi, Delta Gamma and Kappa Alpha Theta refused to comment on the situation, citing a request to abstain from media interaction by their national organization, the Pan-Hellenic Council.

After separation, the Greek system was forced to develop a new identity separate from the school.

"I'd say losing school support enabled the Greek community to see its full potential because without the backbone of the school, the Greeks had to be independent and rely on its own," Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity President Nick Zolezzi said.

Some current Greeks say that thus far, disassociation has proved to be beneficial to the system as a whole.

"I guarantee each house is stronger than they have ever been without having Santa Clara on our back," Sigma Pi fraternity President Louis Zumpano said.

To compensate for the loss of student activities as a result of Greek system's withdrawal, the Center for Student Life expanded social programs intended to create a student-friendly campus atmosphere.

Some of the initiatives included the opening of the Bronco, expanding hours in the gym and library, and creating two new programs: Midnight Breakfast and the Bronco Bus.

Midnight Breakfast offers free food in Benson on the first Wednesday of every quarter, Bronco Bus is a shuttle that brings students to destinations like San Francisco and Palo Alto.

Greek history

The separation of the Greek system from campus stemmed from a request for an inquiry by Denise Carmody, then interim provost. In October 2000, the University Policy Committee was charged with evaluating whether or not the Greek system contributed positively to the Santa Clara community.

Following a five-month review, the UPC recommended the Greek system remain on campus, albeit with tighter controls and increased staff resources, but that Santa Clara should also expand its on-campus social and recreational programs.

Locatelli accepted the committee's recommendation to expand on-campus student activities, but denied continued long-term support of the Greek system. He said current fraternity and sorority members could maintain their affiliation with the university, but banned Greeks from holding future rushes, which would result in the dissolution of the campus Greek system by June 2003.

In a letter to the members of the UPC, Locatelli stated: "One of the preconditions the committee recommends if the Greek system were to be retained is expansion of Greek advising through the allocation of 'substantive resources,' including additional staff and faculty time. It is important to note that such resources are not available.

"The additional resources proposed for Greek life would, in our view, be better spent on enhancing the quality of life for all students," he continued.

As a result of Locatelli's decision, the Nu Alpha Kappa, Pi Kappa Alpha and Sigma Pi fraternities along with the Alpha Phi, Delta Gamma and Delta Zeta sororities withdrew from the IGC, thereby cutting all ties with the university.

Assistant Director for the Center for Student Leadership, Jennifer Acosta, served as a support advisor for the IGC during the review. She said the decision was never a value judgement on the Greek system.

"The decision was made not because the university thought they were a 'bad' organization for Santa Clara students to belong to. It was really about resources," Acosta said.

Then Nu Alpha Kappa president Carlos Orellan said leaving was not due to "dissatisfaction" with the other Greeks or with the university.

"It came down to our survival. If we had stuck within the system, there wouldn't be a next year," Orellan added in a 2001 interview with The Santa Clara,

As a result of the withdrawal, members of the Greek system are no longer allowed to recruit, sponsor events, or advertise on campus.

Greeks have had to find other ways to support each other after the dissolution of the IGC.

The five sororities have formed a Santa Clara chapter of the Pan-Hellenic council, with the sororities now held accountable to the national organization.

The fraternities have formed a more informal group, where all five house presidents meet monthly to catch up with each other. The fraternities now answer to their respective national organizations, except for Cal Phi, which is autonomous.

Numbers have increased

At the time of Locatelli's announcement, there were 388 students involved in the Greek system â€" 240 women and 148 men â€" less than 10 percent of the undergraduate population, according to a university press release.

Disassociating from Santa Clara ultimately resulted in increased membership among fraternities because they are no longer bound to school restrictions regarding the number of incoming recruits they can accept.

Although individual fraternities and sororities differ, in general, involvement in the Greek system has increased.

Nina Nejah, president of Lambda Sigma Gamma sorority said, "I would say the Greek system is definitely bigger than what it used to be, especially for us. We have continued to grow over the years."

According to Zumpano, membership in Sigma Pi, Pi Kappa Alpha and Cal Phi has increased by approximately 25 percent, estimating total membership among the three fraternities to be roughly 180 to 190 people. Sigma Lambda Beta has held in terms of active members, while Sigma Lambda Gamma membership has decreased.

Alpha Phi, Delta Gamma and Kappa Alpha Theta declined to release information regarding their current membership.

The Greek system continues to grow. Acosta remarked that it is "great" that students have opportunities to be involved in off-campus organizations from which they find fulfillment.

û Contact Paolo Posadas at (408) 554-4546 or jposadas@scu.edu.