Greek Organizations Present Event Ideas at Inter Fraternity Council Meeting

11 Fraternities presented their ideas for philanthropic events at a weekly Interfraternity Council meeting at the University of New Hampshire, Wednesday. Each fraternity or society on campus had a representative appointed to attend each mandatory meeting.

Alpha Delta Phi Society, Alpha Gamma Rho, Lamda Chi Alpha, Sigma Chi, And Tau Kappa Epsilon each addressed their own events that their chapters were setting up to raise awareness and money for their philanthropies in the community. 

A tea will be held at Barnes and Noble in Portsmouth this November, where all proceeds will be donated to First Book. A hot chocolate sale will take place at the end of the month in front of Thompson Hall, and another upcoming event will raise money for St. Jude’s Children Hospital.

The Interfraternity Council, or IFC, brings the fraternities and societies of the Greek community together to promote the best qualities of Greek life, including academics, service, and member development. 

IFC members embody their respective Greek chapter. Representatives report their chapters’ specific news to the board and other delegates, such as philanthropic events, and reciprocate other chapters’ events back to their own community to spread the word.

Kimberly Jarry, a senior, represents the Alpha Delta Phi Society, UNH’s only coeducational society. “My sole purpose [at IFC meetings] is to act as the voice of my chapter,” Jarry said.

IFC makes financial decisions regarding $100 fines for each missed meeting. Money, collected through annual dues that each chapter must pay, is invested to put on events such as breakfasts, faculty luncheons and ceremonies that award students for their academic achievements. Ultimately, dues vary each year depending on which events are put on by the IFC.

According to Jarry, the IFC makes Greek life better by bringing everyone together as a whole through collaboration between the Greek community and the rest of UNH. For example, IFC promotes community wide events such as an annual pancake breakfast that is open to all students.

Greek Life at UNH consists of three governing bodies: Interfraternity Council (IFC), the governing body recognized fraternities; Panhellenic Council, the governing council for five sororities at UNH; and United Greek Association (UGA), the governing council for Greek organizations not affiliated with IFC or the Panhellenic Council.

Sara Pope serves as the advisor to IFC. She helps ensure that meetings are run in accordance to Robert’s Rules, helps clarify policies and procedures, and serves as a resource if members have questions. Pope also helps to link IFC, Panhellenic Council, and UGA.

When Greek organizations do not meet policies, members of IFC serve as a judicial board to vote on particular sanctions. Chapters and Greek members are held accountable by IFC through fines when the standards and agreed-upon values are not supported. “The IFC helps develop and implement many programs that members of Greek Life attend and are invested in,” Pope said. “They also serve as the governing organization, so they ensure that chapters are following policies.”

The 17-minute long meeting upheld Robert’s Rules to govern meetings, where the board motioned forward to move from topic to topic. IFC holds their weekly meetings on Wednesday evenings in room 324 of the Memorial Union Building.

“The IFC is also the face of the fraternities,” Pope said, “so they help promote the organizations during Recruitment and make statements to media when appropriate.”