For the first time in UT’s history, all Greek life councils present on campus will be gathered under one roof.
To showcase the variety of Greek organizations available at UT, the Greek Expo will provide new and returning students the opportunity to interact with Greek organizations from all of UT’s Greek councils Monday at 6 p.m. in the University Center Ballroom.
Councils present on Monday will include the Multicultural Greek Council, National Pan-Hellenic Council, National Panhellenic Conference and the Interfraternity Council.
For Tenea Lowery, assistant director of Sorority and Fraternity Life at UT, the expo will provide students the opportunity to “come meet members of our fraternities and sororities to find out what they do and how they contribute to the larger university.”
The expo also marks the first time in the school’s history that all four of UT’s Greek councils will be showcasing their organizations in the same location.
While many of the councils showcased Monday will have already established their footing on UT’S campus, a few have only just begun organizing their group. Sisters of Ethnicity Encouraging Diversity, are just beginning to build a campus presence, and, if successful, will be the first Asian-based sorority established both at the university and in the State of Tennessee. Representatives from S.E.E.D, which is open to women of all races and nationalities, will be present at the expo.
Other organizations, like the Zeta Tau Alpha Sorority and the Kappa Alpha Order, have been on UT’s campus for more than 100 years.
For David Bess, a junior in accounting and president of the Kappa Sigma Fraternity, the expo presents an opportunity to reach out to prospective members at a more relaxed time of year.
“Spring rush is a lot easier than fall rush simply because there aren’t as many people rushing,” Bess said, explaining the smaller number of prospective members allows the fraternity the opportunity to interact more personally with rushees.
Bess said he ultimately sees the expo as a chance to advertise what he sees as a quality organization to any who might be interested.
“Rush is a huge opportunity to market the brand Kappa Sigma has to offer,” Bess said.
Lowery said she hopes the variety of different organizations present at the event will encourage students to consider different perspectives when choosing which fraternity or sorority to join. With at least three representatives from each organization in attendance Monday, Tenea said no attendee should feel “overwhelmed” with the pressure to interact with so many organizations.
“It’s just a one-on-one opportunity to speak with some of the members who are part of the organization,” Tenea said, “to find out what they do in the community and on the national level.”
