SGA discusses results of sorority focus groups

On Monday evening, Barnard’s Student Government Association examined the results of a recent initiative to explore the issue of Greek life recognition at Barnard.

The council organized focus group meetings over the weekend in which groups of Barnard students discussed the pros and cons of participating in and recognizing Greek life at Barnard. Giselle Leon, BC ‘10, SGA vice president of communications, said at the meeting that 65 students applied to be a part of the discussion.

Leon said the council was looking for diversity in class year and activities the students participated in. Of the students tapped for the focus groups, half were participants in Greek life, and half were not. The council also said that within the group of students who were involved in Greek life, it was looking for diversity amongst sororities the students participated in as well as for members of the Multicultural Greek Council, the Panhellenic Council, and the InterGreek Council.

According to SGA president Katie Palillo, BC ’10, in the focus groups there were “questions asked about sense of community on campus and the Greek life mission statement – whether people who were and weren’t in Greek life felt as if Barnard students should continue to be in Greek life and whether SGA should recognize and fund all the organizations.”

Leon said many transfer students were appreciative of the sense of community that participation in sororities afforded them. According to Leon, minorities in particular characterized the Panhellenic as homogenous, as well as other sororities – with the exception of the MGC.

Leon said that surveying the student body would be a good next step.