The number of Multicultural Greek Council organizations at Syracuse University will double next semester, as the council welcomes Mu Sigma Upsilon and Nu Alpha Phi to the family.
Juanita Williams, associate dean of students, her staff and the MGC student executive board met Nov. 26 to delineate the conditions of the organizations and made a decision to accept them both three days later. Only two organizations petitioned for acceptance into the council, said MGC President Grace Kim.
"Of course, we are very happy; it is a very big step for us as a chapter to get recognized," said Nu Alpha Phi President Yushen Wei.
The ability to utilize SU as a resource is an incredible opportunity, said Mu Sigma Upsilon President Melissa Escano. "Through programming and community services, we are looking forward to being as active as we can be."
Though the MGC council was established 10 years ago, Kappa Phi Lambda has been the only steadfast organization within the council. With Delta Lambda Phi rejoining this fall and the acceptance of two additional councils, Kim hopes new interest in MGC will keep the ball rolling.
"The executive board positions of the council are solely held by Kappa Phi Lambda, but now that the two new groups have joined, we might vote again," Kim said.
There are complications, however, because unlike Panhellenic Council, MGC executive board members hold the position for the duration of the academic year, Kim said.
"MGC is still a baby council, so it's growing, and the logistics have to be worked out," Kim said.
Previously, there has not been any formatted structure because there weren't any other organizations to structure besides Kappa Phi Lambda, Kim said.
"There was no need for structure, but now that four organizations are in MGC, there has to be a better framework. Basically, it's a brand new start of MGC, and they are setting the precedence," Kim said.
Kappa Phi Lambda is the only Asian-interest sorority on campus, Nu Alpha Phi is SU's first Asian-interest fraternity, Delta Lambda Phi is a progressive fraternity and Mu Sigma Upsilon is a multicultural sorority.
The four organizations have varying motives, so it will be a challenge to fuse them into a solid council, Kim said.
"Everyone has their organization's best interest at heart, so we have to work together as a group," she said.
The MGC will meet today to discuss issues that pertain to being a new organization on campus, Escano said. Since organization budgets already been allocated, the council will have to organize special programming for funds.
"As far as I can tell, we are already working really well together," said Wei, Nu Alpha Phi president.
Mu Sigma Upsilon recognizes that it may face some developmental challenges at the onset, but it will only make the members stronger, Escano said.
"We are definitely excited and looking forward to working with the other organizations," Escano said. "Because of the fact that we have different levels of experience, I feel that we can learn from each other."
Mu Sigma Upsilon was one of the pioneering co-founders of the national MGC, so it was fitting that the Gaia chapter joins the ranks at SU, Escano said.
Six women formed SU's Gaia chapter of Mu Sigma Upsilon in spring 2006, but only Escano, Leticia Negron and Maryann Acosta remain as members on campus. The sorority needed to show that its agenda was inline with the national group's views and agenda.
"We have been trying for a while to get recognized on campus, and after a long process, we finally achieved our goal," Escano said.
Nu Alpha Phi started at SU last spring, and currently has seven members. It hopes to expand by means of informal recruitment next semester. Though it is recognized as the only Asian-interest fraternity at SU, Wei said that membership is not exclusive to other ethnicities.
"We encourage people to stop by the house and to see who we are and what we stand for," Wei said. There are no details about a formal induction ceremony in the spring yet, he added.
Mu Sigma Upsilon is also expecting to recruit more members next semester and will hold periodic information sessions.
"Potential new members are welcome to find out about the history of the organization and meet the sisters," Escano said.
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