 "Photo: Jessica Smith")
The Fraternity Council voted Monday night to admit Pi Kappa Alpha into its ranks.
Pi Kappa Alpha, or "Pike," was voted in by a vote of 19-1. Fraternity Council President Zach Baker said Pike's representatives would be able to join the council's weekly meetings as early as next week.
"This is a big day for Fraternity Council," Baker said. "We've added a new fraternity that obviously has its act together and is going to bring a lot of positive things to the table."
Representatives from the Office of Greek Life reported on fraternity grade reports. Gena Runnion, director of Greek Life, said the all-fraternity average GPA is 2.99, which is higher than the all-men's average, a 2.95. Six USC fraternities averaged above the all-fraternity average, the highest-scoring being Pi Kappa Alpha with a 3.34.
"We actually had dipped the last couple of semesters; the all-fraternity was below the all men's average," Runnion said. "I'm really glad to see that it's back above; this gives us really great ammunition."
Baker said there have been several cases of vandalism in the Greek Village, and the campus police will most likely increase patrolling in that area.
"We try to eliminate negative stereotypes in the Greek community," Baker said. "I really don't see how we can do that and how we can encourage people to join up with us and increase our numbers when people can't feel safe from vandalism in the Greek Village."
Baker also reported on a fraternity council dinner with Student Body President Tommy Preston Sunday night.
One issue discussed with Preston is how the university is no longer clearing lots for more Greek housing.
"We thought we had an understanding that once we started building the Greek Village, if you could put together a housing corporation and front the money that you could in fact get a house," Baker said.
Baker said the council will also try to work with housing to allow freshmen to move from campus housing to the Greek Village without having to pay a $500 fine for breaking their housing contracts.
The council also discussed a new parking decal that will allow Greek students to park in the Greek Village during designated meal times when students meet at their chapter houses. Baker said he hopes this will take effect by the fall 2007 semester. However, he said the stickers would not necessarily allow students to park in the Greek Village during formal rush period.
Aaron Olson, a program adviser from Alcohol and Drug Programs, led a discussion on what causes men on campus, particularly men in Greek organizations, to fail in college. He suggested bringing in a speaker for Gambling Awareness Week later this month.
The council also heard from several other guest speakers, including representatives from a community service group called City Year and student body treasurer candidate John Carroll, who told the fraternity members he wanted to see an expansion in Greek organizations on campus.
"I really think it would be really advantageous to get more kids involved in Greek life on campus," Carroll said. "I really want to have a larger turn out for recruitment."
Other topics discussed were the Fraternal Values conference on March 24 and a Greek wide service day on April 21.
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