Eight students attended the Chancellor’s Roundtable on Monday where they voiced concerns about Greek Life housing, possible increased budgets for student organizations and environmentally friendly options for the 2007 senior gift.

Provost Greg Kvistad and Associate Provost Patti Helton also accompanied Chancellor Bob Coombe to provide responses to students’ questions, comments and concerns.

President of Tri Delta sorority Sarah Reifenberg addressed her concern about the Tri Delta house being unable to meet its $11,000 fall payment due to the large number of girls studying abroad in the fall and not living in the house. Reifenberg stated that this was an immediate concern for many of the Greek houses on campus, because of DU’s strong push for students to study abroad through the Cherrington Global Scholar program.

Reifenberg said that Tri Delta sorority had considered raising its rates in order to meet the $11,000 payment. However, that would deter students from joining the sorority.

Reifenberg also stated that there is a limit of 65 members that can be in Tri Delta, but if the national Panhellenic institution could raise the cap to 75 members, they may have more girls interested in living in the house.

“We know this is an issue for Greek Life in general, but it is one quarter and it’s a question of accommodating that deficit,” said Coombe. “Participation levels will continue to increase in Cherrington and we want our students to go abroad. The best solution would be to raise the cap or attract more seniors to live in the house.”

Junior Kelsey Yamasaki, a member of the Zeta Beta Tau fraternity, also concurred that there is a prominent “housing crunch” regarding the Greek Life houses. According to the AUSA president Aaron Schwarzberg, a member of the Zeta Beta Tau fraternity,

fraternity, their sophomore members will be able to live together on a floor of Centennial Towers next year.

Coombe stated that the university is supportive of the Greek system and there is a benefit of living together, however, fraternity and sorority interest has declined.

“Interest has been declining nationally; although in the Greek life is huge in the Southeast part of the nation. We are currently trying to make certain that there is adequate interest to fill all the rooms in the current houses on campus. We have not addressed the notion of building new fraternity facilities, we need to look at the interest first,” said Coombe.

Associate Provost Helton stated that the current size of a house is 18 to 20 members, which is not sufficient.

“Sororities and fraternities have to be attractive to members,” said Helton.

Another concern regarded increased funding for the Sexual Assault Response and Prevention program.

Sophomore Amy Quinn, a member of the Sexual Assault Response and Prevention program, stated that it would be beneficial for the program to obtain a full-time sexual assault coordinator.

“We view that having a full time coordinator there can be so much more done towards ending sexual assault on campus,” said Quinn.

Coombe stated that the Sexual Assault Response and Prevention program is a significant organization and more resources should be put into education and awareness.

“This is something worthwhile for us to consider, if students feel that it is necessary,” said Coombe.

Lastly, Junior Jake Rokeach, a member of the senior class gift committee, discussed two environmentally friendly options for the senior class gift.

The senior class gift committee is seeking to dedicate either a wind turbine or multiple solar panels. A wind turbine is a machine used to convert kinetic energy into mechanical energy, which is then converted into electricity.

Coombe stated that both of these options are feasible.

“I think they are both great ideas. We have a number of locations that are appropriate for solar panels. The only concern is how effective the wind turbine will be on a campus surrounded by buildings,” said Coombe.

Coombe also added that DU is institutionalizing an initiative for sustainability on campus, and DU is attempting to continue to replace their electrical supplies with renewable supplies.

Provost Kvistad stated that the Provost Conference on Sustainability, which will be held in fall quarter, will now open to students in order to encourage their participation and feedback.