NEWS ANALYSIS: Greeks' loss of UA majority reverses trend

For the first time in three years Greeks will not have a majority on the student government body. In a sharp turn of events, next year's Undergraduate Assembly will see a marked decline in the number of fraternity and sorority members on the body. For the first time in three years, Greeks have failed to secure a sizeable presence on the UA in the body's spring elections, landing only between nine and 11 out of 23 seats. It was unclear last night whether two of the winners were affiliated with fraternities or sororities. Last year, by contrast, 18 out of the 25 students elected to the UA were affiliated with fraternities or sororities. And in 1997, 20 of the 25 spots were filled by Greeks. The issue bears significance because a Greek minority could make it somewhat difficult for the InterFraternity Council to secure funding next year from the UA's $32,500 discretionary fund, which in the past was the primary source of funding for IFC events, such as Greek Weekend, TIPS training and a 3-on-3 basketball tournament, and IFC co-sponsorship of events such as Loveline and the Dating Game. In February, the UA decided to stop directly allocating funds from its discretionary fund -- which then totaled $30,000 -- to the IFC, making that money available to all student groups. Although the discretionary fund was always available to non-Greek student groups, its primary function had been to fund IFC events. While it's doubtful the UA would leave the IFC strapped for funding, it is now questionable whether the IFC would again be able to secure an amount as large as $30,000 from a discretionary fund open to others. UA member and College junior Michael Silver said he is confident that the IFC will still be able to grab hold of enough of the UA's fund. "I don't see the [UA] not voting for a good Greek [budget] proposal," the Phi Kappa Psi brother said. And IFC Executive Board members said they were not concerned about losing access to the discretionary fund. "I don't think that the composition of the UA will decrease the chances of the IFC and the UA co-sponsoring events together," said IFC President and College junior Mark Metzl, a Tau Epsilon Phi brother. At the UA's annual budget meeting in late February, the body amended its constitution by adding a formal budget request policy for all groups requesting funding from the UA. The policy requires groups funded by the Student Activities Council -- which includes most groups other than the IFC -- to receive permission from the SAC Executive Board before approaching the UA for discretionary funding. With other groups now looking to the UA for money, it is dubious whether the IFC would again be able to secure the same $30,000. However, since the IFC is not already funded by SAC, the chances seem likely that the IFC would secure more money from the fund than any other group. Members of the Greek system have spent the past few years aggressively campaigning to get its members elected to the UA. Preceding the past three UA elections, the IFC and Panhellenic councils urged their members to seek UA seats to allow the Greek community access to UA-dispersed funds. Other e-mails sent over Greek house listserves encouraged fraternity and sorority members to vote for fellow Greeks. And last year's race for UA chairperson was marred by accusations of a conspiracy among the nine Zeta Beta Tau brothers to elect their brother Jeremy Katz, now a College senior, to the position. Katz lost the election to Wharton junior Bill Conway, a Phi Kappa Psi brother. But Silver conceded that this year's UA -- which is less Greek -- will more aptly represent the University. "I think the [new UA] is more representative of the University community, percentage wise," Silver said, noting that about 30 percent of students belong to a Greek organization. "A lot of the people [on the UA] that are Greek, like myself, have loyalty to a lot of different groups. I don't see it being a one-issue constituency at all."

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