A new sorority is coming to the University of Tampa. The Panhellenic General Assembly will meet to decide which sorority will be chosen after the organizations pitch presentations on why they would be a good-fit for campus.
There are eight sororities under consideration to join UT. These organizations have already submitted extension applications and are now being reviewed by the Panhellenic General Assembly. These sororities include Alpha Delta Pi, Alpha Omicron Pi, Delta Phi Epsilon, Kappa Delta, Kappa Kappa Gamma, Phi Mu, Pi Beta Phi and Sigma Kappa.
“The College Panhellenic Association had a unanimous vote in the fall 2012 general assembly to open for extension,” said Brent A. Grunig, coordinator of Fraternity & Sorority Life, Leadership Engagement Team. This decision was based on a report that showed an increase in the number of women Panhellenic recruits over the past five years. The report also indicated an increase in the number of girls each organization must take, following formal recruitment; that current quota is set at 58 new members. Average chapter size increased to approximately 125 members.
Grunig said expansion is the key to accommodating the increase in girls interested in greek life. “With the continued demand for membership and unfortunately the limitations on space to hold organizations of this size, the only way to grow the Panhellenic community is to add an additional organization,” Grunig said. This growth will come from a very detailed and in-depth process carried out by the Panhellenic community. Twenty-six sorority organizations were notified of UTs plans for extension of the Greek community, followed by many meetings of interested organizations.
Applications for the new sorority are currently in review and were due Feb. 15. The three final organizations chosen will be invited to campus for presentations in March and April and given instant feedback from The University of Tampa. This way, the selection process will be efficient and effective in choosing the new sorority.
Member of sororities already established on campus have mixed feelings about the expansion of the Greek community.
“I personally don’t like [the expansion] because our sorority is still the newest and we haven’t fully redeemed ourselves, but expanding the Greek life here will be a good thing I think,” said Kappa Alpha Theta member Valentina Castaldo.
“I’m really excited for a new sorority to come on campus,” said Rae Lurie, a junior Delta Zeta member. “There is a lot of interest in Greek life, and if we didn’t bring more options, than a lot of girls wouldn’t be able to get bids because there’s just not enough available spaces for future sisters.”
The Panhellenic community hopes the addition of one more sorority will be the chance for more young women to create a lasting legacy on campus with the opportunity of starting a new chapter. “I think adding another sorority/women’s fraternity to the College Panhellenic Association community is truly an exciting time for our entire Greek community,” said Grunig.
The addition will increase the total Panhellenic membership by 100 women, while adding more programming and education to campus, increase leadership availability for young women on UT campus.
“For women who have gone through recruitment in previous years and did not find her ‘fit’ this organization could possibly be the fit that was missing,” said Grunig.
Mia Glatter can be reached at mia.glatter@theminaretonline.com
Yasi Sherbaf can be reached at yasi.sherbaf@theminaretonline.com