Coed fraternity recognized as student organization
By: Matt Jennings
Issue date: 10/9/07 Section: News
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It took freshman William Scot "Grecco" Bray until the end of his first day at DePauw to realize the University's definition of greek life didn't match with his expectations.
"I didn't know there wasn't that third option," Bray said in reference to co-educational fraternities that allow both men and women to live in the same house.
So Bray did something about it. He wrote a 24-page student organization recognition proposal and constitution for DePauw's first coed fraternity and submitted it to Student Congress. Sunday, Congress deemed Theta Alpha Theta an official DePauw University student organization.
"I put a lot of effort into it, and now I get to see if people want to come on board," Bray said. "Nothing is easy when it first starts. I have to see if people out there are willing to help me out."
Bray, whose parents are both Alpha Theta co-ed fraternity alumni from Dartmouth College, said he wanted to gain approval first to overcome some students' wariness concerning the introduction of a coed fraternity on campus.
"People have been interested, but I have been met with reactions like, 'Wow, that's interesting; good idea, but let's see if you can back it up.' That's why I wanted to get it approved first: to prove to people that Theta Alpha Theta is legitimate."
Though Bray has gotten Theta Alpha Theta established as a student organization, he has yet to gain recognition concerning status as a greek organization.
"Our office has not yet established specific procedures for the process of establishing local greek organizations," said Greek Life Coordinator Autumn Hansen. "Right now, Theta Alpha Theta is in the process of being recognized as a greek organization. But, I don't foresee it being a problem."
Hansen and the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life have been working closely with Bray in drafting and reviewing all of the documents and bylaws needed in order to become a recognized organization.
"I think it's a great alternative," Hansen said. "It is new and different. We have students looking for what Grecco is offering. I just think it's exciting for our campus to have that other option."
According to the constitution submitted to Student Congress, the desire of Theta Alpha Theta fraternity is "to create a unified fraternity that promotes the ideals of unity, loyalty, scholarship, integrity, and siblinghood."
Bray said interest meetings and advertising promoting fraternity recruitment will start either late this week or after fall break. Hansen said Bray isn't certain if Theta Alpha Theta will participate in the rush process along with the Panhellenic and Interfratenity chapters. However, Bray said that current members of other greek organizations would be permitted to join Theta Alpha Theta.
"There are drawbacks to being new," Bray said. "We could benefit greatly from experience that those already in greek organizations could bring. This whole thing isn't about me. I want it to be a full-fledged house."
"I didn't know there wasn't that third option," Bray said in reference to co-educational fraternities that allow both men and women to live in the same house.
So Bray did something about it. He wrote a 24-page student organization recognition proposal and constitution for DePauw's first coed fraternity and submitted it to Student Congress. Sunday, Congress deemed Theta Alpha Theta an official DePauw University student organization.
"I put a lot of effort into it, and now I get to see if people want to come on board," Bray said. "Nothing is easy when it first starts. I have to see if people out there are willing to help me out."
Bray, whose parents are both Alpha Theta co-ed fraternity alumni from Dartmouth College, said he wanted to gain approval first to overcome some students' wariness concerning the introduction of a coed fraternity on campus.
"People have been interested, but I have been met with reactions like, 'Wow, that's interesting; good idea, but let's see if you can back it up.' That's why I wanted to get it approved first: to prove to people that Theta Alpha Theta is legitimate."
Though Bray has gotten Theta Alpha Theta established as a student organization, he has yet to gain recognition concerning status as a greek organization.
"Our office has not yet established specific procedures for the process of establishing local greek organizations," said Greek Life Coordinator Autumn Hansen. "Right now, Theta Alpha Theta is in the process of being recognized as a greek organization. But, I don't foresee it being a problem."
Hansen and the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life have been working closely with Bray in drafting and reviewing all of the documents and bylaws needed in order to become a recognized organization.
"I think it's a great alternative," Hansen said. "It is new and different. We have students looking for what Grecco is offering. I just think it's exciting for our campus to have that other option."
According to the constitution submitted to Student Congress, the desire of Theta Alpha Theta fraternity is "to create a unified fraternity that promotes the ideals of unity, loyalty, scholarship, integrity, and siblinghood."
Bray said interest meetings and advertising promoting fraternity recruitment will start either late this week or after fall break. Hansen said Bray isn't certain if Theta Alpha Theta will participate in the rush process along with the Panhellenic and Interfratenity chapters. However, Bray said that current members of other greek organizations would be permitted to join Theta Alpha Theta.
"There are drawbacks to being new," Bray said. "We could benefit greatly from experience that those already in greek organizations could bring. This whole thing isn't about me. I want it to be a full-fledged house."
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