Although the semester is slowly winding down, the executive boards of the Panhellenic and Interfraternity councils are just beginning their new roles. The Daily Illini sat down with the presidents of both councils, Michelle Rotheiser, junior in Media and Illini Media employee, and Tyler Sendt, junior in LAS, to discuss their roles in the Greek community.
*Daily Illini: What is your role in serving the Panhellenic and* *Interfraternity Council boards?*
*Michelle Rotheiser:* I don’t really have much of a specific event I plan but serve as a go-to person for each of the executive board positions for advice and oversee the entire board to make sure everything runs smoothly. I also work with the other three councils (Black Greek Council, United Greek Council and Interfraternity Council) and meet with them weekly and the adult advisers. I am also in charge of meeting with all sorority presidents and sorority Panhellenic delegates to relay any information about what is going on in the Panhellenic community and to open discussion between those executive boards.
*Tyler Sendt:* I serve as a liaison as a representation of the entire Interfraternity Council as well as the Greek community. I’m a resource for all the chapter presidents on campus, and I help them approach difficult situations. I oversee the other Interfraternity Council positions (as Michelle does with Panhellenic Council) and make sure they’re carrying out their duties.
*DI: What are some of your goals as president of these two* *councils?*
Get The Daily Illini in your inbox!
*MR:* I want to work with the other three Greek councils to improve the Greek community and work with leaders on campus from other organizations to improve campus life and improve the campus as a whole.
*TS:* I want to really unite all chapter presidents of all of the fraternities on campus and build interpersonal relations with them. I was the president of my fraternity (Phi Gamma Delta) this past year, and I wish I felt more comfortable going to other chapters about issues that a lot of chapters experience at the same time. I think it would be a good idea if we had someone we can go to who can see where we’re coming from and build stronger relationships. I also want to improve the organization level of the Interfraternity Council and achieve better things on campus, which can lead to more successful events and smoother transitions.
*DI: Where do you see the future of the Panhellenic and* *Interfraternity communities?*
*MR:* In the past, we’ve worked on creating unity between the four Greek councils, and I want to continue that. Panhellenic Council and Interfraternity Council have worked well together in the past; we promoted the Handicap This! event in October, and that was really successful. I also want to continue working on the role of the Panhellenic delegates and getting the awareness out about what Panhellenic Council is all about. I want to continue to strengthen the positive impact all of the councils have had on campus and for the Greek community.
*TS:* I want to try and unite the Interfraternity Council with other RSOs on campus. I feel like there is a pretty big divide between Greek life and the rest of campus, but each organization has similar goals and work to enhance the college student’s experience. I think it would be really cool for Interfraternity Council to work with RSOs and get ideas from what they’ve done and to work to make events together. It’s important to maintain a positive image for Greek life on campus and move past the negative connotations about it, so getting together with other aspects of campus can really make it more cohesive.
*DI: What is your favorite place on campus?*
*MR:* The Quad. I love it when it starts getting warm in the spring semester and playing outside, whether it’s throwing a Frisbee or just laying out. I also like it in the fall and seeing all of the leaves change color. When I think of U of I, I think of the Quad.
*TS:* The library at Altgeld Hall. There’s nobody there, and it’s really quiet and a great place to go, whether I need to get some studying done or just want to hang out.
*DI: What do you love about being an Illini and part of the Greek* *community?*
*MR:* I love all of the opportunities that I have because I am a part of these communities. I get to meet and work with so many different people and get to be a part of unique events that I wouldn’t have been able to if I wasn’t so involved in the Greek community.
*TS:* The pride that goes into being an Illini. It’s something I take in a lot of honor to be on this campus and in the Greek community. They’ve both done something for me that if I didn’t make the decisions I’ve made, I wouldn’t be the same person I am today.
