By Rebecca Flannery
Staff Writer
The university will be adding an additional fraternity by the end of the spring semester in an effort to expand Greek Life at Baylor, according to several sources within the department of Greek life.
Matt Burchett, director of Student Activities, said Kappa Alpha Order, Lambda Chi and Pi Kappa Alpha, also known as Pike, have given presentations to the Interfraternity Council over the past couple of weeks. Only one organization will be selected.
“All organizations have been previously chartered at Baylor University,” Burchett said. “There are about five to seven steps to complete before a fraternity is chosen.”
Cypress senior Omar Fierros, an IFC representative, said he and other members of the council will come to a conclusion about which new fraternity to suggest to the expansion team. Baylor IFC assists with chapters and membership development and education of the member fraternities, according to their website.
“It’s very much a customer-seller relationship,” Fierros said. “The organizations come pitch themselves to the group and we’re able to deliberate from there who we’re going to suggest.”
The expansion team is comprised of representatives from the IFC Board, the Multicultural Greek Council, National Pan-Hellenic Council and the Baylor Pan-Hellenic Council as well as at-large members from the Greek community and professional staff.
“Until the vice president of student life has signed the charter, the process remains incomplete,” Burchett said.
Meetings will be held in subsequent weeks to vote and decide which group will fit in best with the university. Burchett said the Charter Council expects to hear from the IFC about their recommendation next week.
Every four to six years, an expansion will take place after the Greek Life team evaluates Baylor’s ability to sustain another organization. Fierros said Baylor committed to sign on another fraternity last year at an expansion meeting.
“Once a new fraternity is selected, representatives from the national fraternity would live here and recruit students on Baylor’s campus to become the founding fathers of the new chapter,” Fierros said.
An expansion for sororities hasn’t been proposed this year, Burchett said, but they will have until Oct. 1 to make that decision.
