"Pairing" problems solved at Mizzou

[hoosier]

Missouri Greeks vote on new competition changes
By John Sahly, Associate Editor.__ Posted April_05,_2005.
The Panhellenic and Interfraternity Councils have proposed a change the groups said could make pairing houses for Homecoming and Greek Week less like a Kansas-Missouri Border Showdown and more like a friendly competition.

The change would attempt to emphasize philanthropy events, rather than house pairings. In a meeting Monday, the executive council discussed changing the system to eliminate “courting” and use a preference pairing system, President Jenn Watkins said.

Under the current system, sorority and fraternity houses sometimes spend more than $500 “courting,” or trying to persuade other houses to pair with them for Homecoming and Greek Week events.

Watkins said the changes are meant to eliminate the “heartbreak” some sororities feel if courting efforts do not pay off.

Watkins said houses spend their money on things ranging from making cakes for potential pairs to buying flowers. She said it’s difficult to regulate how much houses spend, because doing so requires houses to report their own expenditures.

“The current rule allows for only a $500 limit on courting and serenades,” said Margy Fischer, PHA vice president of public relations. “As executive councils, it’s very hard to monitor that.”

The council will meet again Tuesday for a final vote on the amendment. IFC will vote on the amendment today.

“Even though this amendment strays from tradition, this amendment will bring about positive change for the Greek community,” Watkins said.

The amendment would institute a change to the preference system, so that fraternities still would be paired according to size, ensuring equity in the number of fraternity and sorority participants.

But unlike past years, houses would only be allowed to seek partners by sending formally addressed letters that would first be submitted to the Department of Greek Life. After sending letters, both fraternities and sororities would submit a preference list of seven chapters for pairings.

In the immediate future, Watkins and IFC President Cameron Hill would pair up houses according to the preference sheets, but Watkins said a computer program that could match houses might be used in the future.

“It was tough for chapters to compete on an equal level,” Hill said. “There were arguments and it was just unnecessary. I know that chapters have spent more than the $500 limit.”

Fischer said MU is one of the only schools in the Big 12 that uses an open courting system and said there are many benefits to switching to the preference system.

“It still lets chapters know whom they’re going to be partnered with, but it provides a lot more control over the whole event,” Fischer said.

IFC will vote today by secret paper ballot. Hill said each of the 28 IFC chapters would have one vote.

“The exec board created it, but in the end it will come down to the chapter vote,” he said.

In order for the amendment to take effect, it would have to pass both councils.

Watkins said she is confident the amendment will pass in the Panhellic Council, but she is concerned IFC might be “set in their ways.”

Hill said he isn’t entirely sure the amendment will pass, but thinks it’s necessary.

“The chapter presidents understand the importance of this,” Hill said. “I have to think that it will pass.”


— News Editor Jenna Youngs contributed to this report.