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After the 2008-09 formal rush process, Miami University's Panhellenic Association (Panhel) has created a committee and proposed enlarging the Greek community by inviting another sorority to join campus.
On May 6, Panhel will vote to see if the sorority community will expand. The next step will be to send packets out to national sororities they are interested in adding, according to sophomore Kate Wren, Gamma Phi Beta Panhel representative.
Panhel President Brittany Martin said one of the initial steps in this gradual procedure was to form a council to be responsible for ensuring this extension would benefit Miami's Greek program, as well as inform the community of their intent.
"First we had to vote to put together an extension committee to explore the option of extension," Martin said. "This was composed of Panhel exec, Panhel advisers, chapter advisers, chapter presidents and delegates. This committee was open to anyone interested in coming and after doing research, looking at recruitment numbers and hearing everyone's opinions about how this could affect our campus. We had a majority vote from the committee to extend."
Martin also explained the decision to add another chapter is largely dependant on the opinions of the already existent chapters on campus, as well as their national conglomerates.
"The chapters all have one vote on this issue," Martin said. "We have extended this to all national organizations as well to ensure that this is a decision that not only the individual Miami chapters have a say in but also their area and national headquarters."
For members who are unsure of certain aspects of this decision to expand, Martin said the committee is holding a community forum prior to voting, in which individuals can request more information regarding any concerns they might have concerning the proposal to expand.
According to the extension proposal released by the extension committee, there are multiple reasons justifying the importance of the extension. Besides contributing more diversity and new perspectives to Miami's Greek community, the proposal argues that the addition of a new sorority will allow for the pledge class sizes to decrease, hence becoming more manageable.
As stated in the proposal, "Extension will allow the average chapter size to be lowered and create a more cohesive, integrated chapter member experience."
Another rationale for the addition included in the extension proposal was the allowance for more women to become involved in Greek life and eliminate the large numbers of women who were not placed or were recently displaced by the chapter closure of Delta Delta Delta sorority.
Junior Heather O'Connell, president of Alpha Gamma Delta, said she believes the expansion would be beneficial to Miami's Greek life.
"I'm totally for it," O'Connell said. "Despite the fact that we are a small chapter, I think it will be great for Miami."
O'Connell also said although there is apprehension regarding a decreasing pledge class size, she said she thinks it will ultimately provide more opportunities for perspective members.
"I understand that people are concerned with quotas, but I think it will be a good thing for Miami," O' Connell said. "It could fill a niche that Miami might need and encourage more girls to rush."
As for which sororities are specifically being considered for the extension, Kate Moran, Panhel vice president of recruitment, said no definite decisions have been made since the expansion itself must be approved through the voting process before arrangements with other sororities can occur.
Moran also explained a lengthy process must transpire before the addition of a new sorority.
"We created the committee three weeks ago to explore the idea of expansion," Moran said. "We will vote to see if we can expand, and if we can we send out packets to the national headquarters of the sororities and make a decision next semester."
According to Martin, the development of the proposal is the most recent advancement the committee has completed, and the next progression toward expansion is dependent on the voting process.
"That is where we are at now," Martin said. "The extension committee voted to extend and now the chapters are voting on whether they want to extend and add another sorority or not."
