Greek Life celebrates major milestone

As Case Western Reserve University celebrates its bicentennial, the Office of Greek Life is commemorating a major milestone of their own—185 years on campus.

Greek Life was first established at Western Reserve College in 1841 with the tenth chapter of Alpha Delta Phi. Consisting of six charter students, the organization would go on to initiate nearly 200 members before Western Reserve College moved to Cleveland in 1882.

Since the founding of that first chapter in 1841, thousands of CWRU students have joined fraternities and sororities as a way to enhance their undergraduate experience through the values of leadership, scholarship, citizenship and ritual.

“With the 185th anniversary, we are excited to expand our knowledge of Greek Life through the Greek Life History Project,” said James Silay, director of the Office of Greek Life. “We will research our past, connect with alumni and highlight the contributions of Greek Life at CWRU and beyond since 1841.”

Greek Life History Project

With a rich and unique history at Case Western Reserve, including the federation of two institutions, the Greek Life community has a storied history.

“Some fraternities had two different chapters in operation when Western Reserve College and Case Institute of Technology co-existed,” said Silay. “On the sorority side, some chapters began as local organizations and remained that way for their entire existence, while others affiliated with a national organization.”

Recognizing that staff knew some of the unique characteristics of the community, the Office of Greek Life aims to tell a complete history of fraternities and sororities on campus. By utilizing graduate student employees, Greek Life Assistants and hiring a student employee dedicated to the membership experience from active members to alumni, Greek Life has dug deep into digital archives to uncover chapters that once were on our campus, and stories that illuminate the early days of Greek Life at Case Western Reserve. They look forward to sharing their story through their website and social media throughout the year.

Additionally, the Office of Greek Life has increased alumni outreach in substantial ways. The Greek Life Advisory Council is now composed of 12 alumni members with the aim to support the current community while infusing the alumni perspective into the future vision of Greek Life. They have also formed a LinkedIn group for alumni and current students with the aim to bring together alumni of all decades, foster meaningful connections and more easily share historic and current highlights.

Looking ahead

After 185 years on campus, Greek Life at Case Western Reserve now boasts 14 Interfraternity Congress (IFC) chapters, 10 Panhellenic Council (PHC) chapters and two National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) chapters, allowing all students the opportunity to find somewhere they belong.

This fall the Black Greek Council will be revitalized, bringing more visibility to the CWRU students involved in the city-wide NPHC chapters. Greek Honor societies like Order of Omega, Gamma Sigma Alpha and Lambda Eta Mu, a service-based honor society, and community-wide initiatives such as Greek Games and Students Meeting About Risk and Responsibility Training (SMARRT), give members across chapters additional opportunities to network and take part in different projects. Now, roughly 20% of the undergraduate student population at CWRU is involved in a Greek organization.

As they look ahead to the future, the Office of Greek Life is noting one major change: sorority recruitment will now be held in the fall semester for the first time since 2004. In recognition that IFC permitted fall recruitment of new students, the PHC community started a dialogue about changing their recruitment timeline a few years ago.

“Part of the discussion highlighted how a shift from spring to fall semester would provide members an extra semester of membership and help to ensure those that plan to live in the chapter are making their decision well before the housing lottery,” said Silay.

“We have noted an increased excitement this fall, knowing that all chapters can actively recruit and engage with potential new members across academic years,” said Sara Jurkiewicz, manager for Greek leadership.

Those interested in joining a sorority can learn more, reference the Sorority Guidebook and register through Thursday, Sept. 3, at noon. There is no cost to register for recruitment.