"We are currently engaged in a campaign with Panhellenic and the athletic department's Hokie Respect where we hand out peanuts and other gifts to visiting fans on game day," Penny said. "It's pairing with other groups like that that I feel you can reach out with your message a little bit more."
Penny and Waldron were both elected to their positions in the fall of 2008 with their terms slated to end with the start of the spring semester.
Both the Interfraternity and Panhellenic councils consist of 13 members each, including Penny and Waldron.
As full-time students on top of their positions, Penny and Waldron have to balance the responsibilities with academics and employment.
"It can get a little hard for me," Waldron said. "I also work at the veterinary school in the surgery department, so it can get a little hard balancing work, school and Panhellenic business. I have a really hard time saying no because I want the Greek community to be able to do everything."
Penny said he tries to fit as much involvement into his schedule as possible.
"I don't have a hard time really balancing all the work," Penny said. "It's the meetings that make it hard. I don't think I've once said 'no' to someone asking to meet. My philosophy is every time I say 'no,' that is an opportunity lost."
Penny and Waldron are assisted and advised by Adam Cantley and Lauren Harris, assistant directors of fraternity and sorority life.
"Our goal is to help them reach their goals on campus and in the community," Cantley said. "However, we strongly believe that this is a student organization, so we let them lead in their own way."
With fall fraternity recruitment just ending and both fraternity and sorority recruitment upcoming in the spring, Penny and Waldron hope their strides toward improving Greek life will show in a strong class of new Greek men and women.
"At least go out and try and rush as many fraternities as you want and find the one that is right for you," Penny said. "Do the research and contact someone. I encourage anybody who has questions to contact me directly. I have no problem meeting with anyone."
Waldron said there is no mold that female students need to fit to join a sorority.
"I want to encourage as many women to come out and try recruitment," Waldron said. "Many girls think they are not the typical sorority girl; there is no such thing as a typical sorority girl."
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Sure, maybe 100% of all Greeks aren't all like the steretypes say. But about 95% are. They get more people because of those drinking stereotypes anyway.
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clearly you aren't a member of greek life here
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anon is right. greek life at VT is horrible. most stereotypes are true, and this one surely follows that. how many times on the BT do you hear a girl say "I hate my sorority, I wish I knew more about it before freshman year. I'll just mail nationals and say I have too much schoolwork because this is dumb." Don't PAY hundreds of dollars a semester for your friends.
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Chris you are clearly not a member of a greek organization. I don't understand my non-affiliated hokies feel they have the right to speak so poorly of their classmates. You would never catch a greek hokie bashing a person who chose not to become greek. They respect your decision, so you should respect theirs.
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The fact that you greeks have to differentiate yourselves from everyone else ("non-affiliated hokies") illustrates your unfounded hubris.
Personally, I just didn't see the big deal in being in a fraternity which I didn't get rushed or whatever you call it. It's just so generic - Tech has so many unique organizations. And why exactly would I need to pay a bunch of guys to be my friend? And all the hazing seems really homo-er*tic.
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Chris you are clearly not a member of a greek organization. I don't understand my non-affiliated hokies feel they have the right to speak so poorly of their classmates. You would never catch a greek hokie bashing a person who chose not to become greek. They respect your decision, so you should respect theirs.
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Congratulations, CT. You have successfully swallowed a steaming pile of IFC/Panhellenic PR nonsense and made it a part of the public record. Bravo.
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To Commentariat and those who criticize Greek life: I challenge you to really research what Greek life does on this campus, both good and bad. I have no doubt that you will find some bad out there. BUT you will also find overwhelming amounts of good being done for the campus, and the surrounding community through fraternities and sororities. For instance; Greeks Move In (Members of fraternities and sororities help freshmen and their parents move in during the weekend before classes begin), The Big Event and Relay for Life (many Greek organizations register multiple teams to participate and fundraise in these events), Chapter Philanthropies (On our campus some of the most money raised and hours served for charities, come from Greek organizations. They raise easily in excess of $100,000 a year for everything from cancer research to food banks and local shelters) and the list goes on and includes coaching little league, mentoring children and collecting canned foods etc. All that I ask is before you judge these organizations, research what they’ve done both GOOD and bad.
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No one said they don't do good. We know they do. But to deny the drinking and partying sterotypes is ignorant. Just take a walk around Blacksburg Friday/Saturday night.
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Fraternities are g*y. During rush all of the brothers paddled me and one of them made me touch his wee-wee.
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