3 groups petition for IFSC status
By Karen Eschbacher
Daily Free Press Staff Writer

Representatives from one fraternity and two sororities— none of which are officially recognized by Boston University— petitioned to join the IFSC. All three groups already have national chapters.

Susan Tran, a College of Communication senior and president of the Kappa Delta Phi sorority; Dana Torres, a College of Arts and Sciences senior and president of Sigma Iota Alpha; and Jay Cruz, a Sargent College of Allied Health Professions senior and president of the Phi Iota Alpha fraternity each introduced their organizations to an audience of approximately 50 greeks. They also fielded questions from concerned committee members.

Fraternities and sororities must be IFSC members to be recognized by BU, according to Tran. Torres said without university recognition, the groups are unable to advertise on campus and receive other privileges like holding formal rush on campus and having access to university facilities. The IFSC currently recognizes eight BU sororities and five fraternities.

A unique feature of the fraternity and two sororities seeking IFSC membership is their multicultural themes. Kappa Delta Phi's focus is on promoting Asian awareness, according to Tran, while both Sigma Iota Alpha and Phi Iota Alpha plan to concentrate on the Latino culture, Torres and Cruz said.

But representatives said their organizations would not be limited to cultural themes. While Sigma Iota Alpha is concerned with promoting Latino issues, Torres said her sorority also stresses the importance of sisterhood, leadership and academic excellence. Group leaders said membership is not limited to a single ethnic group.

"Basically, we're open to anyone who wants to learn about our culture," Torres said.

Lisa Burkis, a program coordinator in the Student Activities Office, encouraged audience members to voice their opinions.

Tran, Torres and Cruz all said they felt the expansion of the IFSC would increase the number of students who rush greek organizations each year. But not everyone agreed.

COM senior and Alpha Delta Pi member Meredith Eckert expressed concern that the addition of new fraternities and sororities would be detrimental to already dwindling rush numbers. And the IFSC's focus must remain on the fraternities and sororities that are already recognized by the university, said Eckert, IFSC chapter development chairwoman.

"You have to understand... that we have our own needs," Eckert said.

Bradford Morse, a senior in the College of Engineering and president of Lambda Chi Alpha, said his major concern is not IFSC expansion but the prospect of fraternities and sororities that have a cultural theme.

"I'm for expansion, but I'm not sure about expansion with a cultural theme," Morse said. "I don't want to see a separation take place for groups that have a main theme that is culturally based."

Expansion will add to the IFSC and increase involvement, argued Saul Lookner, a COM junior and president of Zeta Beta Tau.

"Basically, they can draw from groups that we've never seen before," Lookner said. "I'm all for it."

While discussion often dealt with the cultural aspects of the prospective chapters, Eckert said it is important to remember that the focus of the discussion was expansion, not cultural expansion. She added that many fraternities and sororities were founded on religious and cultural themes.

"My own sorority is founded on Christian womanhood," Eckert said.

Eckert said no date has been set for a decision to be made. Burkis added that BU requires the IFSC to decide whether it will expand by the end of the fall semester. IFSC members will reconvene on Tuesday, Nov. 19.

"We understand it's going to be a long process," Cruz said. "What we want to do is start the process. We want to start moving somewhere."