Many students have a single view of A-frame signs laden with Greek letters and T-shirts encouraging them to "Go Greek," but there are options outside the Interfraternity and Panehellenic Councils.
The United Council of Fraternities and Sororities is an umbrella organization for six fraternities and sororities based around ethnicity and religious beliefs. Additionally, there are numerous "uncounciled" fraternities and sororities based around academic and professional support and development.
Senior international studies major Andrew Ton, current president of the UCFS, said that the smaller, newer council is a good source of support for smaller Greek organizations.
"It's a way to build that community base," Ton said.
Since the UCFS organizations, both counciled and uncounciled, are based around specific interests and lifestyles, many of the groups have smaller numbers of members who know one another well.
Senior civil engineering major Erin Burdick is the current president of Alpha Omega Epsilon, an uncounciled sorority for female engineers.
"You don't have a lot of girls in your engineering classes," Burdick said.
But with about 60 sorority members taking the same types of classes, "I have built in homework buddies," she said.
Alpha Omega Epsilon is both a professional and a social sorority. Because it is composed solely of female engineers, "we're all in the same boat," Burdick said.
Upperclassmen willingly tutor underclassmen, saving notes and knowledge to pass on to future classes. At the same time, the group participates in philanthropies and social activities with various IFC and PHC organizations, as well as other independent student groups.
Other uncounciled groups focus more closely on the academic side of life.
Senior accounting and information systems major Adam Sharrow heads Beta Alpha Psi, the professional co-ed honors organization for accounting and finance majors. To be accepted, students must be a junior or senior with a minimum GPA of 3.0. The group focuses on supporting members' future professional careers.
At every meeting, at least one speaker from an accounting or finance firm comes to talk with Beta Alpha Psi members.
"You get exposed to recruiters and professionals in a one-on-one setting every other week," Sharrow said. "You don't get that in other situations. It really gives you a leg up on the competition."
Beta Alpha Psi also offers tutoring to underclassmen enrolled in accounting courses. Additionally, it participates in a volunteer-run income tax assistance service. Many members of Beta Alpha Psi are also involved with other Greek organizations.
Other groups, notably those involved with the UCFS such as Sigma Psi Zeta, focus on supporting their members' lifestyles and backgrounds rather than their academic concentrations.
Junior marketing major Judith Hwang, Sigma Psi Zeta president, categorized her organization as a "multicultural Asian interest sorority."
"It's sometimes harder for Asians to adjust to PHC sororities," Hwang said. "There's not a lot of multicultural girls in PHC."
Sigma Psi Zeta works to promote multiculturalism on campus. It also associates closely with other student organizations, such as the Asian-American Student Union.
Ton originally got involved with the UCFS while seeking friends from his own cultural background that he may not have found in larger organizations.
"It's more than just a general pool of students," Ton said.
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