The results are in. The newly elected greek executive board has many issues confronting it in the upcoming year, and some of those issues have been around for a long time.
The Greek Council held its annual elections on Monday in the Union.
Both the Panhellenic and Interfraternity councils elected a president, vice president and recruitment chair. Afterward, both councils combined to elect the five member Greek Council.
“It feels great to be elected by your peers,” said Cory Peterson, newly elected president of the IFC.
Although nominations were conducted last week, the floor was open during the election.
Peterson, who served as the IFC vice president two years ago, and as the Pi Kappa Alpha chapter president last year, is optimistic for the future of the U’s greek society.
“I’m extremely excited with the executive board elected today,” he said.
Low involvement and recruitment is a concern for Jessica Rogers, elected recruitment officer for the Panhellenic Council. Greeks need new methods of recruiting individuals into the system through different kinds of activities, she said.
Peterson, along with the new executive board, faces many significant issues, including public relations, recruitment and the ongoing neighborhood problem.
“We raise so much money, but that’s not where the focus is,” said Marcus Lopez, new recruitment chair for the IFC, in regard to public relations.
According to Sean Gibson, newly elected scholarship chair on the council, there may be a reason.
“Our involvement level has dropped, our morale has dropped,” Gibson said.
Concerns of neighbors have included noise levels, loud parties, garbage and early morning disruptions.
Last April, the greeks and neighbors signed a memorandum of understanding, in which a 24 hour mobile phone?in use since September?was initiated so neighbors could report disturbances directly to greeks. Also, neighbors agreed to suspend any legal action until October 2001. That date has not been formally extended, although the neighbors have taken no legal action.
“This is a problem which has been going on for a long time now,” Peterson said.
Sigma Chi, for example, has been in the same house since 1911. According to Peterson, the fact that long-time residents are beginning to get sick of garbage and other problems is understandable.
According to Peterson, recruitment numbers have steadily gone down over the years, and that is a much more significant problem.
“Only 3 percent of the students at the U are in the greek system,” he said. According to his sources, that’s nothing compared to some universities, where 10 to 12 percent is considered “low.”
As for problems with neighbors, both greeks and neighbors agreed upon a formal document with achievable goals to make both sides happy, Peterson said.
The neighborhood relations committee, a 10-member board of greeks, U administrators, neighbors and Salt Lake Police Department, is sufficient for handling problems.
No lawsuits have been filed and relations are generally positive with neighbors, according to Peterson, who is on the committee.
“All the problems get worked out there,” he said.
Nonetheless, nearly every nominee made a reference to the issue during the elections.
“I do not think the neighborhood problem is as big as everyone made it out here. That’s not to say the neighbors aren’t there and important?On my agenda, recruitment will be No. 1,” Peterson said.