RACHEL SACHER
Staff Writer
Pepperdine’s Greek leaders headed north for a retreat in Santa Barbara where they were joined by Dean of Student Affairs Mark Davis and executive members of the Panhellenic and IFC boards to discuss pertinent issues about the university’s Greek system and its future.
In past years, the Greek leaders have attended the Western Regional Greek Conference in San Francisco. But Jacob Gross, Student Organizations coordinator, said the needs of the leaders were not being met there and that it was time for something different, which he said the Santa Barbara retreat provided.
The presidents of the sororities and fraternities left Friday and returned to Malibu on Sunday.
Gross was in charge of the leadership retreat and said the goals of the conference were to “build relationships among the Greeks, promote leadership and to have fun.” He said he came away with a sense of “foundational growth within the Greek system.”
Conference facilitator Steve Whitby gave the keynote address, on the subject of leadership among the Greeks. He engaged the students in extensive leadership development sessions. In addition, Whitby spoke on the methods of improving Greek life and moving it from “good to great.” He also discussed the practical aspects of how leaders can be more effective and the chapters strengthened.
Dan Evans, president of Sigma Chi, said the retreat provided lot of discussions that united the Greek community.
“The conversations were really positive; the administration is really here for us,” Evans said.
Davis addressed rumors among the Greek community that Pepperdine hired a faculty member to check Facebook and was specifically targeting fraternities and sororities. He was well received as he helped dispel these rumors, Greeks said.
In their free time, the retreat members were able to kayak in the Santa Barbara bay and dine out in the city.
The retreat brought the leaders of the different chapters together and took advantage of a chance to get to know one another and learn more about effective leadership.
In comparison to the Greek systems at other universities, such as the University of Southern California, UCLA, and Cal Poly San Louis Obispo, the chapters at Pepperdine are relatively young, with Sigma Phi Epsilon, the oldest Greek organization on campus, celebrating its 10th anniversary this year. Retreats are crucial in the effort to maintain a strong Greek system.
Relationships are formed and the Greek system is strengthened through the unity of its chapters. Junior Ashley Johnson, president of Delta Gamma said she enjoyed the chance to get to know other Greek leaders.
“We had a lot of fun during the retreat and had a great time getting to know one another outside of mixers and meetings,” Johnson said.
Sigma Epsilon President David Nesbitt agreed the retreat was a fulfilling and worthwhile experience. “The retreat was great. It was great because within the Greek community, there are stereotypes and at the retreat the leaders of each organization had the chance to change those stereotypes,” he said.
“The retreat brought us together, and it was a lot of fun,” Nesbitt said. “We all have a common goal and purpose as Greek organizations.”
02-15-2007
