Greek life has been a part of the DU campus since 1889. Through the years, the various chapters of fraternities and sororities have come and gone, and in the fall quarter of 2014 another sorority will be introduced onto campus.
Chi Omega, (Chi-O) will begin their integration process with the currently existing Greek community in the fall of the 2014 academic year. They plan to begin their awareness implementation after the fall 2013 recruitment bid day by tabling in Driscoll Bridge, according to senior international studies and Panhellenic President, Tasha Fitts from Durango.
“I thought Chi-O had a really strong presentation,” said senior sociology and communications major Marissa Maurer from Woodinville, Wash. Maurer is also Gamma Phi Beta’s president.
A new sorority on campus was warranted in order to keep the pledge classes for each existing sorority relatively small. Adding a new sorority would allow quotas to still be met by each chapter.
“They have a lot of alumni support in this area, and are a really strong chapter all over the US. I think they are going to fit in really well here with the DU community. They value academics, and understand what it is like to be on a small campus,” said Maurer.
According to Fitts, Chi-O related themselves to the current chapters on campus in order to appeal to the Greek Community. This was also not the first time they had appealed to become a part of the DU Greek Community.
They discussed why they were compatible with the other sororities and DU as a university.
Each sorority that came and presented to the Greek Council, a leadership council made up of representatives from the Greek Life chapters, discussed their history, philanthropy and what they stand for as a sorority and as members of the DU community.
Greek Council meets every Monday at 4 p.m.
Chi Omega was one of the most prominent of those presentations, according to senior journalism major and Delta Gamma member, Chelsea Ortega from Bend, Ore.
“They appealed to everyone that they really wanted to be here and would work with us and be flexible with their house and how they colonized,” said Fitts.
As Panhellenic President, Fitts is in charge of overseeing all of the sororities on campus.
The Panhellenic position acts as a liaison between Greek houses and holds weekly meetings with each of the presidents from the sororities. Panhellenic plans greek wide events, help with formal recruitment and deal with specific judicial issues for each of the organizations.
“Every house has their own unique appeal, so it will be interesting to see what their niche will be on campus,” said Fitts.
Fitts is a part of the newest sorority on DU’s campus, Alpha Phi. They established themselves in the spring of 2010 and have become a part of the Greek community.
“Establishing a name for yourself is really important when you come onto campus,” Fitts said.
Chi Omega will begin a full-scale marketing blitz after Fall Recruitment 2013 has been completed, and set up a table in Driscoll in order to promote their chapter.
Their colonization process will begin in January, according to Fitts.
“The community will support Chi-o in several ways to ensure they have a welcoming experience during their transition. They will be attending recruitment parties at all chapters to get a feel for what recruitment is like on DU’s campus. We will also work with them to recruit non-affiliated members,” said senior international business major and Alpha Phi President, Hannah Parkes from Bozeman, Mont.
