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The Miami
Vol. 91, Issue 12 | Oct. 4 - Oct. 7, 2012
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HURRICANE
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STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI IN CORAL GABLES, FLORIDA, SINCE 1929
STUDENT ORGANIZATION
GREEK LIFE
Up ‘Til Dawn event makes a splash
Panhellenic to add Chi Omega as eighth sorority Group will return to UM for 2013 BY STEPHANIE PARRA NEWS EDITOR
HOLLY BENSUR // CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER FREE FALLIN’: Sophomore Zoe Gapayao falls into the dunk tank during an Up Till Dawn event Tuesday on the Rock. To read more about the fundraising event for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, see page 4.
Effective spring 2014, UM freshmen interested in joining a sorority will have more options. The Panhellenic Council at the University of Miami approved Chi Omega’s application to recolonize at UM. Though plans to undergo Panhellenic extension have been in the works for approximately three years, action began this year. According to Panhellenic Association President Caitlin Giles, the popularity of Greek life on campus has grown exponentially. “Since I was a freshman, our numbers in recruitment have doubled,” she said. “Almost 500 people go through recruitment. This year we’re expecting close to 600. There are only seven sororities, so you could tell how large our chapters are becoming. Since we don’t have houses, we can’t really accommodate chapters that are that large.” According to Tony Lake, associate dean of students and director of judicial affairs, an “extension committee” composed of one current undergraduate student and one alumni advisor from each of the seven sororities on campus, came together to discuss how to better expand. The committee decided to publish a statement in the national Panhellenic newsletter inviting organizations to apply. Out of the 26 Panhellenic sororities in the nation, UM received 13 applications, according to Giles. During the past summer,
several organizations visited campus. They then submitted information packets that, according to Lake, “formally announced their interest in becoming a part of our community.” The committee then selected three finalists – Alpha Phi, Chi Omega and Gamma Phi Beta. At the start of the semester, the three groups visited campus. They participated in interviews, gave presentations and interacted with community members. After, the committee recommended Chi Omega return to campus and recolonize. “The University of Miami Panhellenic Association is happy to announce the return of Chi Omega Women’s Fraternity,” Lake said. “Chi Omega has a proud history of having been a part of the Hurricane family for many years previously and is excited about their pending recolonization.” On Tuesday night, members from the Panhellenic Association’s seven sororities unanimously cast a vote and approved the extension committee’s recommendation. According to Lake, Chi Omega officially accepted the offer Wednesday morning. Giles said that advisors from Chi Omega will visit campus in fall 2013 to participate in informal recruitment. This means that Chi Omega will run recruitment during the fall on their own, and “not through Panhellenic,” Giles said. Though freshman cannot rush until spring, upperclassmen will have the opportunity to join the sorority in the fall and later conduct formal recruitment for freshmen during spring 2014. SEE CHI OMEGA, PAGE 4