[PhoenixAzul]

By Misty DeMichael
Tan & Cardinal Staff Writer

Otterbein Greek life may be expanding with the addition of a seventh sorority on campus.

Several female students have recently started the new chapter expansion process required to form a new sorority.

Sophomore art major Becky mellinger is responsible for heading up this process.

"Starting a new sorority wa sjust an idea I had, and I really wanted to do it," Mellinger said. "I talked to Julie Saker about how to do it, and then I started recruiting other people. Julie sent an email to all the girls who went independent and lots of people started contacting me."

According to Julie Saker, Director of STudent Activities, Greek Life and Leadership, students must follow campus guidelines when creating a new organization.

"With a sorority and fraternity, there is a second approval process," Saker said. "With Panhel and IFC there has to be a vote by the council first approving it as an associate member for a time period, and then a second vote later on to give it full membership status. "

Mellinger and other members are currently working on their consititution which they will submit to Dean Gatti for approval.

"We're building infrastructure right now," Mellinger said.

The women intend to recharter Rho Kappa Delta, a sorority that was last on campus in 1981.

"We want to start something new, but with a hisotry to look back on," Mellinger said.

According to documents in the Otterbein archives, a group of 13 women attempted to recharter Rho Kappa Delta in 1996, but were denied approval by the Panhellenic Council in a letter saying that "The Greek system cannot support another sorority."

Saker said she has similar concerns for this new group of women. "If there are other groups who are struggling, Panhel and IFC will question wheter or not they should add an additional group,'" she said.

Epsilon Kappa Tau Sorority and Tau Delta Sorority, who did not make quota during this year's Recruitment could be affected the most should a seventh sorority enter the Greek system.

Jessica Green, president of Epsilon Kappa Tau sorority, said that the addition of another sorority would not create problems for her sorority.

Senior broadcasting major and president of Tau Delta sorority Alicia Payne said she likes the idea of adding a new sorority.

"It gives us an opportunity to add an element to Otterbein that we don't have. I don't understand why people would want to limit opportunity," Payne said. "I don't feel they'll take anything away from us. I think girls end up where they should be."

Some students do not like the idea of another sorority on campus.

Ellie Hempleman, senior public relations major said there really isn't a need for another sorority.

"If you add a new sorority and it takes off, you're still going to see the same organizations struggle. What would the next step be? Have a sorority remove themselves from campus," Hempleman said.

Nate Jones, Otterbein admissions counselor and one of the refounding members of Sigma Delta Phi Fraternity in 2000 said the process is challenging and rewarding.

"We faced a similar issue with IFC, but we had to prove that we weren't aiming to recruit identical guys," Jones said. "My advice is to reserach other campuses. In some campuses, the numbers interested in Greek Life went up when there as a new interest point."

Mellinger and her group made a small presentation to Panhell at the Wednesday, Feb. 9 meeting.

Alana Moczydlowski, treasurer for Panhel, declined to discuss Panhel's position on the new sorority.

"That information is being kept inside Panhel for now, until we get more information," Moczydlowski said.

The women attempting to recharter Rho Kappa Delta said they don't expect to be active until some time next year.

"I'm in awe of what people at Otterbein have been able to create over the years. I see how much work needs to be done to maintain an organization such as a fraternity and a sorority and I respect that," Mellinger said. " I'm not expecting this to go easily or quickly."