Sororities Reject New Chapter
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Friday, April 20, 20 18 Student Newspaper www.valpotorch.com volume 111:: issue 26 2015 ICPA NewsD, I w\m Sororities reject new chapter will continue beyond this semester. Greek community "At this time, I believe we will re present this idea again in the fall," votes, no additions Whittier said. "It'll probably be ev in the near future ery semester." High numbers in sorority in volvement and chapter housing Lauren Grasham were among the greater factors in [email protected] wanting to add a new group. Whit tier and Nieter believe this would The sorority community isn't help level the number of women in currently looking to expand after each house and help maintain the recently voting against the con relationships the sisters have. sideration of adding a new chap "An additional chapter stabiliz ter for the second time in the past es our chapter sizes so that we can two years. maintain the size we are currently "The sorority community is at," Nieter said. "We have a unit in considering adding an additional the sorority housing complex that National Panhellenic Conference is ready for an additional sorority." (NPC) group, which is one of the "Our membership numbers traditional organizations," said have increased," Whittier said. Carrie Whittier, assistant dean of "Over the last five years soror students for Greek life, leadership ity membership has increased 37.5 and volunteer programs. percent, [as well as] the average The voting occurred after a rec chapter size. The women have in ommendation was made to Greek dicated that they really wished to Brendan Miller /The Torch life that they look into adding a new be somewhere between 70 and 75 Mary Evans addresses the crowd at a press conference this past Thursday, April 19. Valpo Athletics hired Evans sorority. For the voting to occur, total women and the chapters are as the new head coach of women's basketball to replace former head coach Tracey Dorow. one representative from each cur pushing into the high eighties and rent NPC sorority came together are predicted next year to be in the to form an Extension Exploratory nineties. We would add an addi Committee, according to Whittier. tional group to bring chapter sizes After looking at data and statistics back down to that 70 to 80 range Project helps Haitian orphanage of these groups, the committee versus the 80 to 90 range." then suggested that the university However, while house siz WAVES are partnering up most other WRCs. However, consider the option of inviting a es are increasing, both women SALT partners to achieve is to make the orphan WAVES is different because it's a new addition. The final decision also understand why the sorori age more sustainable. They're Valpo organization, blending the was then placed in the hands of the ties aren't quite ready for a new with WAVES doing this by repurposing local and the global aspects and five NPC groups on Valpo's cam establishment old shipping containers as build impacts of this project. pus, who ultimately decided not to "I think the community is con for 2018 World ing material and rooms and "There's that draw from go through with the idea after the tinuing to adjust to being in the attaching solar panels to them. students, I think, that they want results showed a 3-2 vote in favor new sorority houses," Whittier said. Relief Campaign Since Haiti experiences ex to help those unlike them," of extension. For the vote to have "There is a requirement to fill the 25 treme tropical weather, this said Kim Frank, World Relief passed, four or more NPC sororities beds in the sorority houses. That's Sarah Law is ideal because the contain Campaign chair. "But it's differ were needed to vote in favor. been the primary question that has sarah.lawl ©valpo.edu ers are sturdy against the ent as well because we're sup "The vote to add a sorority is come up. Would having chapter storms and the energy won't porting students here in the U.S. solely the responsibility of the five sizes stay in that 70 to 80 range in This past Monday, be dependent on the power lines. as well. We're supporting WAVES NPC groups," Whittier said. "Each hibit a chapter from being able to April 16, the Social Action WAVES started working with in their endeavors because this is chapter gets one vote." fill the beds in the chapter facility?" Leadership Team (SALT) Constant several years ago and also an educational opportunity As a chair of the Extension Ex "I think some members were announced more details has continued to do so since. for them. They get to build the ploratory Committee and 2017 happy they have more time to about their partnership "Right now, the big project is buildings themselves." Panhellenic President, Madefyn strengthen their chapter before with fellow student organiza the vocational school, but after This connection to a Valpo Nieter believed the University was adding an additional sorority," tion, Working Across Voca that there will still be projects organization makes this project more than ready for the expansion. Nieter said. tions Everywhere through that could range from potential and partnership more personal "We met and evaluated the data Nieter also believes that adding Service (WAVES) to aid add-ons to the school or expand and brings an element of the lo we have gathered regarding the a new sorority would make it harder Pwoje Espwa, an orphan ing the solar panel system," Ge cal community into the fold. growth of our current sororities for Greek life to plan more events age in Les Cayes, Haiti for sell said. "We had a really big local and the University," Nieter said. around it since their calendar is al their 2018 World Relief SALT became involved this focus this year in our fall se "The committee unanimously ready extremely packed. Campaign. year when WAVES applied for mester, where we worked with voted to recommend an expansion Looking forward, Whittier and The orphanage was estab their $30,000 grant. local nonprofits and whatnot. due to the growth we have seen Nieter have optimistic outlooks on lished by Edouard (Eddie) "We look at things like sus And we really wanted to bring since 2010." what the future holds for Valpo's Constant, who saw a problem tainability of the project, or how that into our spring semester The notion to vote on the addi sororities. They both have the that needed to be solved in that mission of the organization with the organization that we tion was also mentioned two years women's best interests in mind and his community. He believed aligns with our organization's chose to partner with," Frank ago in 2016. However, the new so want them to vote and act in a man this orphanage would pro mission," said Cory Caldwell, co- said. "And so 1 think WAVES rority homes were just built, and ner that will best benefit them. vide a chance for the children leader of the World Relief Cam did a nice job of kind blending the main focus that year was for "Ultimately, I want the women who go there to learn a trade paign committee. those two needs for a local part everyone to adjust to their new liv to vote the way they feel is in the best so they're more prepared for After reviewing multiple ap nership but also to the students ing situation. Now that the sorori interest of their community, and we their futures and have more plications, SALT ended up pick to support an international proj ties have gotten used to their new want the women to feel good about opportunities as they grow up. ing WAVES. ect." homes, this was the perfect time to that decision," Whittier said. "The impact of this work "Their application was really SALT has been raising money keep bring up the idea of expan "The chapters discussed what will hopefully be on helping well put together," Caldwell said. and receiving donations for a sion, according to Whittier. was in the best interest for their empower people and children "It looked like they had a profes while now, but their next ma "We voted two years ago," Whit own chapter and voted how they in the community and orphan sional grant writer." jor fundraising event will be the tier said. "And we were asked by the felt would most benefit them," Ni age to learn skills that will give Specifically, the money will Rhythm Run, a 5K run on Friday, national organizations to wait two eter said. them a better ability to get jobs be going toward building ex April 20 at 7 p.m. years to allow the sorority houses to "I think this year was a great year and contribute in a meaning penses, which will be primarily Students can still register for open and allow the chapters to get of discussion and determining what ful way to society," said Tanner the shipping containers, solar en this event by going to the site established into the sorority hous areas to strengthen or gather more Gesell, assistant technical ergy expenses and school supply https://runsignup.com/Race/ es. This was the first opportunity for information to help the chapters chair for WAVES's project expenses. IN/Valparaiso/RhythmRun. All us to take the vote again." feel confident in voting yes to an team. In relation to past WRCs, proceeds will be going to the Whittier also thinks the voting additional sorority," Nieter said.