University of Texas Austin - Cactus Yearbook (Austin, TX)

Page 401 text:

TORCHBEARER: Delta Gamma member Margaret Buttemiller, liberal arts sophomore, carries the torch for the Delta Gamma Sigma Alpha Mu Round-Up float. WEIGHING THE ISSUES: The Panhellenic Council discusses the advantages and disadvantages of registering with the Uni- versity. FRONT ROW: Colette Griffith. Quinine Marie Yura. Holly Etta Brewer BACK ROW: Allison Jones, Eveiyne Bennett, Deborah Lynn Roth. Panhellenic Cou icil 397

Page 400 text:

PANHELLENIC COUNCIL The Panhellenic Council at the University took two major steps in 1988. After 20 years, the sororities registered as campus organizations. Some people perceived the move not to register in 1968 as an avoidance of the anti-discriminatory clause on the reg- istration form. However, that clause was only one of five requirements, including the stip- ulation that campus organization membership be limited to students, faculty and staff, thus posing a problem for sorority alumnae. Another obstacle was finding a University advisor who had been initiated and could attend meetings as required. According to Panhellenic Advisor Evelyne Bennett, since the main point of registering was to gain use of University facilities, and since the sororities had gradually moved off campus and become self-governed, Panhellenic chose not to register. Panhellenic continued to enjoy a friend- ly relationship with the administration. But Bennett said campus registration was talked about off and on for the next 20 years. On Nov. 17, 1986, President William Cun- ningham appointed a commission to study the goals of student fraternal organizations, includ- ing the status of the off-campus sororities. As a result of the commission ' s report, issued on Oct. 9, 1987, Panhellenic, backed by a united alumnae group, decided it was in the best interest of the organizations to register. But even before that decision was made, Panhellenic decided to implement an open rush program. Closed rush had been a tradition fairly unique to the University since 1904. Open rush would allow any girl who registered with Pan- hellenic to attend all sorority houses during first round without regard to specific invitations. The closed rush program required that a rushee have an invitation to attend a particular house. According to Panhellenic Council President Christine Yura, accounting junior, many people thought that registration with the University would make open rush inevitable. The two steps appeared to go hand-in-hand, but they were very separate issues, Yura said. Open rush was a Panhellenic Council issue, discussed since October and approved in De- cember. The University registration was voted on in January but had been talked about for over a year. It was talked about strictly with each sorority president and advisor. Council registers with L7] after a 20 year absenc lr n It was a good thing that we made the open rush decision ourselves before we even reg- istered. It looks better be cause we did it for ourselves not because the University suggested it. Yura said one of the main reasons open rush passed was the declining number of rushees. However, the number was not expected to fluc- tuate in 1989 simply because not enough girls, especially small town girls, would be informed about the new opportunities provided by open rush. Similarity, immediate results in integrating the sororities were not expected. Honestly, I think we ' ll get bad press after rush because some people think sororities will be integrated now, Yura said. The intentions are to eventually reach that but they, the people outside the system, have to see it realistically. We ' ve been the same for so long, and we just took two big steps. We ' ll just take it slowly and not expect too much too soon. by Beverly Mullins 396 Pan) cllrnic Council Muh.icl Sir. THE MORE, THE MERRIER: Floats draped with mt bers of sororities and fraternities were the order of the da the Round-Up Parade. PREPARATION: Members of Panhellenic Council look over hand-outs prior to a meeti

Page 402 text:

ALPHA CHI OMEGA For the past two years Alpha Chi Omega has spent its time a little dif- ferently from other sororities. In addition to its annual philanthropy project and regular social functions, the University chapter also partic- ipated in Alpha Chi Omega ' s National Chal- lenge Program the Challenge to Excellence. Each year the National directors choose six of the best chapters to participate. The idea is to pick a few areas that we feel could possibly be better and then set goals, Kristi Warren, eco- nomics senior, said. National chapter provid impetus for improvemei Two years ago, a National officer was sent to meet with the sorority. This officer recommend- ed some broad categories to work on, such as scholarship, and helped the chapter set up spe- cific guidelines for improvement. Upon completion, the chapter sent a report to the National Council which then met in July to review the report. If the Council approved the report, the chapter received a trophy for meeting the Challenge to Excellence. It ' s considered a great honor to be chosen and an achievement to meet the goals, Jennifer Piskun, psychology junior, said. As part of the chapter ' s goals for reacl| excellence, Alph Chi Omega was given National Council award for Financial Man] ment. The Alpha Chi ' s also received the tional Rush award for 1986. by Beverly Mullins GIRL TALK: Sheri Won, Laura Schneider and Mya (I break away from their dares to talk about the ever| events. - m 398 Alpha Chi Omega