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Sophomore Brooke Burgan promotes a new sorority for Webster University at her table, next to sophomore Kevin McWilliams, president of Delta Upsilon, at the Involvement Fair on Wednesday, September 3. "The fraternity has done a lot for the campus, so I thought to do the same for the women," said Burgan. "We want to give back. We want to form solid friendships that will last, bond, give scholarships and the same opportunities the guys have. Otherwise, it'd be pretty backwards."

Sorority interest group forms, faces dissent

By: Elizabeth Campbell

Posted: 9/18/08

Following the establishment of Webster University's first fraternity, an interest group among students has formed to establish a sorority. Some students, however, do not feel that a sorority should be established.

"The only reason they're doing this is because there's a fraternity," said Meghan DeWitt, a junior film production major.

The interest group on Facebook currently has more than 150 members and was created by Brooke Burgan, a sophomore business major. Of those 150, Burgan said that around 25 are interested in becoming members of the new sorority. At the Involvement Fair on Sept. 3, 30 people signed the petition for the establishment of a sorority. Burgan already had 20 other signatures before the fair, which was the minimum required in order to take the next step in establishing a sorority.

Burgan said that because there is a fraternity at WU, there should also be a sorority.

"The women should have an equal opportunity for scholarship and friendship on campus," Burgan said.

Steven Norberg, a junior video major, said that a sorority would be a good way for women on campus to meet and discuss current campus life.

"After the development of the fraternity on campus, this will allow there to be an equal aspect of Greek life on campus," Norberg said.

Michelle Margolies, a junior film major, said that many students come to WU because it is much smaller than other universities without a traditional Greek life. With the establishment of a Greek life on campus, WU would lose its unique appeal, Margolies said.

"WU is so community-oriented anyway, we don't really need a Greek life at all," said Gwen Firmin, a junior film production major.

Stephanie Whitmore, a sophomore
photography major and member of the interest group, said that she believes the establishment of a sorority is "another great way to build a community at WU."

Burgan knows about the controversy over establishing a sorority, but is determined to establish a sorority at WU's campus.

"I know that this process isn't going to be a cakewalk and that people will inevitably have differing outlooks," Burgan said.

The interest group is only the first official step for the students to establish a colony of a sorority on campus.
The Student Government Association must then approve the establishment of a sorority. A notification is sent to the National Panhellenic Conference, which is charge of all the sororities around the country, about the interest in establishing a sorority. The 26 existing sororities decide whether they wish to expand, then the interested ones present to the campus about their mission. The university votes on which sorority should be established on campus and that sorority begins a colony.

The interest group is holding an informational meeting on Sunday, Sept. 21 from 6:30 p.m. until 8 p.m. in the electronic classroom in Emerson Library. During the meeting, the members will discuss which sororities they want to invite to WU for a presentation.

The fraternity on WU's campus, Delta
Upsilon, has been supporting the establishment of a sorority since the interest group formed. Kevin McWilliams, a sophomore advertising major, is the president of DU. McWilliams said that he is interested in a more traditional Greek life on campus. With a sorority on campus, they could have events together, such as formals, he said.

"I think the sorority has the opportunity to be successful depending on how willing they are to put in the work and not back down from adversity," McWilliams said. "It all depends on their intentions and what their goals are
as an organization."