The Georgia Tech Greek Alumni Council, an advisory group made up of former fraternity and sorority members, has held a series of planning meetings exploring ways to serve as advisers and advocates for Tech’s Greek community.

"Greeks make up about 25 percent of the campus population," said Karl Paul, IM 69, a Tau Kappa Epsilon alumnus. "We want to work with the Institute and the Greek system to promote a positive, proactive influence for the entire campus."

Paul said the council has formed a seven-member executive committee and four committees working to recruit, organize and train Greek-affiliated alumni to assist the Greek community as a whole. The four committees are chapter life, facilities, campus and public relations and alumni membership.

"One of the things we have done very quickly is establish a clear line of communication with the Office of Student Affairs," he said. "We want them to know that we’re available to work with them for the support of the Greek system."

Paul said the entire Institute benefits from Greek involvement long after fraternity and sorority members have gotten out.

"The propensity to give to Roll Call for Greek alumni is more than 30 percent higher than non-Greek and the average gift is more than $100 higher," he said. "Over 70 percent of all gifts to Georgia Tech of more than $100,000 since 1919 came from Greeks."

Bill Schafer came to Tech in July as vice president of Student Affairs. He told the committee that he welcomes the opportunity to work with them.

"Georgia Tech has one of the strongest Greek systems I've ever seen," Shafer said. "But there are too many surprises due to a lack of communication. Improving communication is high on my list of things to do to make the Greek system even stronger and I look forward to the alumni participation."

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