The Greek-letter life community is without a director nearly three full weeks into the semester after Dean Harwood, the previous director, accepted a position at another university this summer.
Student Activities Center Director Tim Miller is in charge of finding a suitable candidate to fill the position, but the search has yet to yield a compatible candidate. Miller said he hoped to have someone in place before sorority recruitment and fraternity rush, which begin later this month. Now, he hopes to have a director by Greek Week at the end of October.
Miller has been the acting Greek-letter life director since the semester began.
“I really want to get the right person, and if it means I’m working a few more hours every week in the meantime, I’d rather do that,” Miller said.
Miller said that Harwood’s impact on the Greek-letter community would be felt for years to come, and as a result, wants his replacement to bring a lot of experience to the table.
Miller said he does not want “someone who is just coming out of graduate school. I want someone who had two or more years experience at another institution who can really come in and understand the system.”
The committee in charge of interviewing candidates has included former chapter presidents, Greek-letter life officials and University administrators.
So far, 70 candidates have applied, nine have had phone interviews and three have had interviews on campus, Miller said. In total, he expects about 100 candidates to apply.
Miller and Greek-letter life members agreed that Harwood’s job would be difficult to follow.
“Dean helped us overcome some of the challenges of having Greek life on an urban campus, especially notable was the substantial growth of the Greek community under his guidance,” Interfraternity Council President Bill Hulse said in an e-mail. “I cannot predict any changes, but I am sure the new director will bring some great ideas and a valuable new perspective.”
Other members of the Greek-letter community have expressed apprehension about operating without someone specifically in charge of Greek-letter life.
“The fact that there is still no Greek director, and no one to give the attention to Greek-letter life that Dean did, has caused such a tense relationship between the University and students now,” a former Greek president said. “I really don’t think we are going to have these problems with the University once we have a Greek director in place who has the time to focus on just the Greek community.”
Panhellenic President Renee Nichols said she appreciates the time Miller has put into the community since he stepped in this semester.
“Tim Miller has been incredibly supportive of the Greek community. He has made himself available for everything, even down to the minor recruitment details we need help with,” Nichols said.
