The Interfraternity Council laid out plans to expand GW’s fraternity system and maintain self-governance despite past failures at its first meeting of the semester Jan. 22.
GW granted the IFC partial self-governance in September, allowing fraternities to oversee cases that involve minor infractions.
The University has also accepted the application of one of two fraternities the IFC approved earlier this year to possibly begin a chapter on GW’s campus. The IFC heard the proposals of six national fraternity organizations and chose the two to present to the University.
IFC President Jared David read a letter from GW notifying the IFC of its acceptance of Pi Kappa Phi at the meeting Tuesday. The fraternity will likely begin colonizing on campus next fall with official IFC recognition next spring, David said.
GW did not approve Chi Phi’s request for University recognition, the other fraternity that applied in the fall.
David declined to discuss the specific reasons why the University rejected Chi Phi, but said he supports the school’s decision.
The University’s choice may have been reached “if they found that there were problems or if they simply felt they wouldn’t fit here on campus,” David said.
University officials were not available for comment.
With the acceptance of Pi Kappa Phi, the IFC has made ambitious plans to add a fraternity by next spring or fall 2002.
To promote the planned expansion, the IFC has also made plans to increase fundraising efforts, David said.
David Schaffer, IFC executive manager who manages the group’s accounts, said he has several plans to raise funds for IFC activities.
The IFC plans to regulate fraternities more strictly to increase revenues from fines, Schaffer said. He advertised an open cabinet position for a fundraising chairman to coordinate events on and off campus.
David said he hopes the IFC will be able to raise funds through a cooperative plan at the MCI Center that allows non-profit groups to man concession stands in exchange for 10 percent of profits. David said the initiative could raise as much as $1,000 for the organization.
IFC members hope to co-sponsor a sizable benefit event during alumni weekend next fall, but event planning is in the beginning stages, David said.
With more funds, David said he hopes the IFC will be able to sponsor scholarships and co-sponsor IMPACT, a development program run by the National Interfraternity Conference, to improve Greek-letter life at GW. David said the event could take the place of an annual fall retreat.
The IFC also plans to increase its control over current and new members, David said.
David said he wants complete self-regulation for the IFC.
In the past, Student Judicial Services placed fraternity and sorority members on the University Hearing Board when cases involving another member of a Greek-letter organization came before it. The board made rulings and recommendations for discipline in these cases.
Under the current system, Student Judicial Services hands cases involving minor charges, such as alcohol violations and misconduct, to the IFC president. The IFC vice president of judicial affairs then investigates the case to decide whether to charge the fraternity or fraternity member.
The IFC then convenes a judicial hearing board, which determines whether the charged organization has violated Greek-letter code. SJS retains judicial control over matters involving more serious infractions, like hazing and sexual harassment.
To garner support for self-governance, the IFC made clear its intentions to strictly regulate the activities of fraternities during Spring Rush.
David and Brian Finnegan, vice president of recruitment, said Spring Rush, which begins Tuesday, will be alcohol-free. They told IFC members that a recruitment patrol will make unannounced visits to each fraternity house at least twice a night from Tuesday through Saturday to enforce regulations.
