Northwestern University (Evanston, Ill.). Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life

Dates

• Existence: 2002    

Biography

The Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life (OFSL) began to operate circa 2002, under the Office of University Residential Life. In the academic year 2003-2004, the Office had 30 staff members: 2 professional staff, 1 support staff, 1 graduate student, 1 residence-hall coordinator, 1 shared professional staff, and 29 undergraduate Greek Student Counselors. (The Graduate Student Counselor Program originated circa 1979.) 2004-2005 was the first academic year that the OFSL operated as an independent department, within the Division of Student Affairs. The stated purpose of OFSL is to "[serve] as liasion between the collegiate chapters, parents, alumni, (Inter)National organizations, and Northwestern University. The goal is to provide educational programs services, and resources towards holistic growth; and to support the ideals of fraternity by challenging members to live by their organization's purpose. The OFSL is recognized to provide students with a small group, living experience that facilitates growth in the area of scholarship, personal and leadership development, campus and community involvement, and clarification of values." [See file: Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life Report, 2003-2004, Box 52, Folder 3.] The OFSL works with undergraduate chapter members and leadership, alumni representatives from graduate chapters, House Corporations which manage the chapters' housing operations, and House Directors (employeed by the House Corporations) who are adults or graduate students living in residence at the chapter house. Before the so-titled Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life was formed, similar functions were performed by staff in these roles (also represented in the collection): Associate Director for Residential Life, Associate Director for Greek Affairs, Assistant Director of Undergraduate Residential Life, Sorority Advisor, Fraternity Advisor, Greek Advisor, Vice President for Student Affairs. The first fraternity at Northwestern University was the Illinois Alpha Chapter of Phi Delta Theta, established in 1859. Related organizations represented in this collection include the Interfraternity Council, consisting of 18 (inter)nationally recognized fraternities; the Panhellenic Association (often referred to as PanHel in documents), which consists of 12 nationally recognized sorority chapters; the Multicultural Greek Council (founded in 2002); and the historically African-American National Pan-Hellenic Council.

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