2008 Woodie Awards
Financial burden on Greek organizations
Cara Gallivan & Aria Walfrand
Issue date: 10/18/07 Section: News
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Three years ago this fall, Union introduced the Minerva system to its campus, immediately evoking fear, and in some cases bitterness, from Greek members and their supporters. The seemingly cushy $30,000 budget that each Minerva would receive only added to the tension.
But over time, the tendency to view Minervas and Greeks as diametrically opposed or competing forces has only detracted from the potential of each system. These two fundamentally different and independent organizations can, and have, collaborated as social forces on campus.
Just last Friday, the brothers of Sigma Phi Society collaborated with Golub and Beuth houses to host Oktoberfest, an event that brought out the best in each organization. However, it remains unclear to what extent this sort of cooperation will catch on, in part because of the vastly different budgets and priorities of Minervas and Greeks.
For any social event that Greeks host (be it with a Minerva, another Greek house, or for the community at large), the student members pay out of pocket through their dues to fund the festivities. Sigma Phi's members put forth $400 for Oktoberfest alone. The participating Minervas, on the other hand, were provided the necessary monetary resources for the event through the College's budget. This hefty expense can be problematic for Greeks, especially when some members would prefer to see their money go to events that more narrowly benefit their houses.
As IFC President and Sigma Phi's Philanthropy Chair Dave Conelias explained, "by having this event, we essentially had one less social event [as a house], because $400 goes a much longer way when expensive German beer is not being bought. Some brothers did not like giving personal money to the house and then it being used for an event that is not at our house and is not specifically for us."
This is not to say that Sigma Phi does not benefit in other ways from hosting such events. Conelias noted that the house can "take pride in holding such positive events. It was a great event for administrators, professors and alumni to enjoy. The student responses are great, too. They enjoy an event that incorporates alcohol and education."
But over time, the tendency to view Minervas and Greeks as diametrically opposed or competing forces has only detracted from the potential of each system. These two fundamentally different and independent organizations can, and have, collaborated as social forces on campus.
Just last Friday, the brothers of Sigma Phi Society collaborated with Golub and Beuth houses to host Oktoberfest, an event that brought out the best in each organization. However, it remains unclear to what extent this sort of cooperation will catch on, in part because of the vastly different budgets and priorities of Minervas and Greeks.
For any social event that Greeks host (be it with a Minerva, another Greek house, or for the community at large), the student members pay out of pocket through their dues to fund the festivities. Sigma Phi's members put forth $400 for Oktoberfest alone. The participating Minervas, on the other hand, were provided the necessary monetary resources for the event through the College's budget. This hefty expense can be problematic for Greeks, especially when some members would prefer to see their money go to events that more narrowly benefit their houses.
As IFC President and Sigma Phi's Philanthropy Chair Dave Conelias explained, "by having this event, we essentially had one less social event [as a house], because $400 goes a much longer way when expensive German beer is not being bought. Some brothers did not like giving personal money to the house and then it being used for an event that is not at our house and is not specifically for us."
This is not to say that Sigma Phi does not benefit in other ways from hosting such events. Conelias noted that the house can "take pride in holding such positive events. It was a great event for administrators, professors and alumni to enjoy. The student responses are great, too. They enjoy an event that incorporates alcohol and education."
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