USI Panhellenic Council announced it would open for extension in hopes of bringing a new sorority to campus.
“We are in the beginning stages of bringing a new sorority to campus and we are excited to see this develop and have national chapters look into our growing community,” David Stetter, Greek Life and Leadership program adviser said. “I have no doubt in my mind that a new sorority will be able to sustain itself and prosper in the USI community.”
The Exploratory Committee at USI, comprised of three alumni and three undergraduates from each sorority, Panhellenic’s president and Recruiment and Expansion vice president and university officals, made a recommendation to open for “extension” after reviewing data on campus sororities and campus growth.
The three sororities on campus, Alpha Sigma Alpha, Delta Zeta and Gamma Phi Betta, approved the extension, which allows national sororities to look into setting up a chapter on campus.
“A majority has to be reached by the sororities on campus to allow extension,” said David Stetter, Greek Life and Leadership program adviser.
“It was a unanimous decision between all the sororities, which I think is a strong statement that means the three current sororities think it is time to bring a new sorority on to campus.”
In the past, there have been different sororities like Sigma Sigma Sigma and Alpha Gamma Delta on campus.
Low numbers within the chapters are the reason the sororities are no longer on campus.
“We believe with the research provided, that a new sorority on campus will be able to sustain itself and make the quotas that the other sororities require,” Stetter said.
“Our community has shown increased growth in requirement over the last two years, and that growth will only expand into our fraternity and sorority life.”
Senior Delta Zeta member Ally McDaniel said the difference between there are less sororities on campus than fraternities, and an extension has been needed for a long time.
“As USI expands it would only make sense that sorority and fraternity life do as well,” McDaniel said.
According to the Extension Exploratory Report given to the three sorority chapters on campus, USI has increased its quota, the amount of women required to be recruited a year, from 3.78 percent to 5.02 percent.
If a national sorority decides to place a new chapter on campus, that chapter would begin recruiting members in fall 2012.
“If you are a woman on campus there is going to be a unique opportunity that they can be a part of,” said Jessica Rosenbarger, Gamma Phi Beta member and Panhellenic vice president of expansion. “Women will be able to have an impact on the structure and foundation in that new sorority.”
Adding a new sorority on campus will change the dynamic of sorority and fraternity life on campus, Rosenbarger said.
“With the addition of a new sorority, it will push sororities and fraternities towards change and the next generation at USI,” Rosenbarger said. “It will also make sororities have to compete for girls again.”
