As leaders for the Virginia Tech Greek community, Interfratenity Council President Matt Penny and Panhellenic Council President Camille Waldron aspire to dispel negative stereotypes associated with Greek life.
Penny said many television shows and popular movies portray fraternity members as living a heavy-drinking, disruptive lifestyle.
"For us it's a huge, huge task getting that negative image away," Penny said. "It's probably the number one thing we target, especially with fraternities."
Waldron said a major part of Greek life is making the surrounding community a better place than it was before.
Both Penny and Waldron feel the solution can be found in the proactive education of new members and by reaching out to them as soon as possible.
"Our biggest tool is education," Waldron said. "We don't want women to come into this community thinking sororities are all about drinking and hazing. We want women who can come into the community looking to get involved with philanthropy or want to attain a leadership position on campus."
Penny said that the best way to educate new members is to teach them about Greek life at Tech and the university and IFC policies on things such as hazing and alcohol.
"We've taken the approach of doing educational events for freshmen before recruitment happens," Penny said. "They're used as a recruitment tool, but they're also used as an educational tool to show them what Greek life is really about versus what people think from stereotypes and movies."
Penny and Waldron also like to focus their roles on other things, such as giving the Greek community new and exciting events that can have a positive influence on the Tech campus and surrounding community.
"Last semester we had a Greek Week, which I thought had a really good response from it," Waldron said. "Many other schools sort of use Greek Week as a second homecoming, social-type thing, but we really focused on the philanthropic aspect of it, and many members really appreciated that."
Penny also pointed to a program intended to welcome visiting football fans.
"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."