Pan-What?

Where can you find some of Washington & Jefferson College's finest ladies gathered together nearly every Monday night at approximately 7:45?-- at the Panhellenic Councilmeeting of course!  "Panhel", as referred to by the members of the organization, is the governing body of W&J women's social sororities: Kappa Kappa Gamma, Kappa Alpha Theta, Pi Beta Phi, and Delta Gamma.  The council is led by an executive board comprised of women voted into office each year who may be members of any of the four sororities and includes the positions of President, Vice President of Programming, Vice President of Recruitment, Treasurer, and Secretary.  Panhel's main purpose is to create a forum for communication where each of the sorority chapters are able to make decisions affecting the Greek and college communities. 

Would you like to become an active part in Panhellenic Council meetings? If so, then there are a few things that you should know!  While any individual in the community may engage in the weekly meetings, in order to become a member of the Panhellenic Council, the individual must be an active member of one of the 26 National Panhellenic Conference sororities and must have participated in the formal recruitment process held each spring.  Each participating sorority must also have one delegate required to attend the weekly meetings.  During these assemblages, the women discuss issues within the greek and campus communities, schedule events such as Greek Week, Snowball Swirl, and charity walks in conjunction with IFC, and organize the formal recruitment process for sororities each spring. 

Along with the community service projects organized by the Panhel, did you know that each Panhellenic sorority has its own national philanthropy or service obligation? For instance, Delta Gamma's philanthropy is Service for Sight.  The sisters of DG volunteer with the Washington and Greene County Blind Association monthly, and hold their national philanthropic event Anchor Splash each spring which is one of Washington & Jefferson college's largest events.  If you're the type of person who loves to lend a helping hand and make bonds of friendships that last for years to come then I encourage you to check out a Panhellenic Council meeting on Monday night and to see if leadership in Greek life is for you! 

Walking our Way Towards a Cure

The annual MS walk is a big event for W&J's Panhellenic Council.  Each year every sorority and a large portion of the fraternities come together to support this worthy cause.  For weeks in advance the women organize various fundraisers with all proceeds benefitting research for multiple sclerosis in hopes that some day a cure will be found.  This event has had such incredible support because many of the sororities on campus have either an active member with MS or an alumna with the disease.  Currently the Delta Gamma Sorority has a sister that has been afflicted with this disease and her father as well.  The event brings the Greek community  together while at the same time raising money, raising spirits, and raising awareness of Greek life.

Events like this are just one way that the Panhellenic Council creates an atmosphere on college campuses that are conducive to unity among Greek women of all sororities. As a part of creating this environment, W&J has planned meetings, events, and philanthropic opportunities for Greek women of varying sororities to share in the benefits of Greek life.  Panhel has also encouraged the participation in campus wide philanthropy events including Delta Gamma's national Philanthropy Anchor Splash, Pi Beta Phi's Singled Out contest, as well as various other charity events.

Photo Provided by www.nms.org

Panhellenic Pride Flying High

Based on an Interview with Natalie Giantsos-Associate Director of Greek Life conducted April 6, 2007 

The women in my family have all had an amazing Panhellenic sorority experience, but within our own organizations.  My grandmother (Delta Delta Delta) , aunt (Alpha Chi Omega) and mother (Delta Zeta) are sorority women but from three different organizations. When it was my time to go through sorority recruitment, it was never stressed to me that I had to join a specific sorority, just that I go through recruitment to see what it is all about. Of course, I found my place in yet another sorority, Alpha Xi Delta. My little sister joined a sorority as well, Sigma Kappa. In the summers, my mother, my sister and I invite our Bigs and Littles for a weekend up at our cottage on Lake Erie. We had 17 sorority women last summer at our party, from 4 different sororities. We all have had a sorority experience, but within our own organizations.  The bonds that we have created from our Panhellenic sororities extends beyond just those of our sisterhood  The similar experiences in Greek life has brought the women in my family closer together as well.

Being the Panhellenic Advisor for this group of women at Washington & Jefferson College has been a joy. I have had the opportunity to learn about 4 National Panhellenic Sororities and I treat each of these organizations as if they were my own . I've also learned more about the history of my own organization from my students. In 1893, Kappa Kappa Gamma Sorority had inspired the 10 young women at Lombard College to form an organization dedicated to the personal growth of young women, we even adopted the colors double blue but added gold . Alpha Xi Delta was created from this vision.

The experience and the benefits are endless and I have made it a personal goal to be sure that the sorority women at W&J have a meaningful experience. The Panhellenic Council works hard to provide activities and events for all our sorority women that are fun and worthwhile. This also gives them a chance to meet and work with women in other organizations. There have been new traditions made in the Panhellenic community. "Kites and Keys" is a great example of how two sororities created their own joint philanthropy event together. We have planned successful all-sorority recruitment events by simply working together. I am proud and honored to be a part of this community as these women truly do exemplify what it means to be "Panhellenic." 

Photo Provided by Natalie Giantsos

Where to Start

1. Visit the Office of Greek Life located on the upper level of the Rossin Campus Center for more information regarding Greek life.
2. Meet with Natalie Giantsos, Associate Director of Greek life, or Dean Gerald Stebbins, Dean of Student Life with any questions.
3. Attend the individual recruitment events held by each sorority throughout the school year.
4. Go through the formal recruitment process held each spring.
5. Attend a Panhellenic meeting held Monday nights in the chapel of Old Main to see if leadership in Greek life is for you!

Other Links

NPCThis link provides a wide variety of information on the National Panhellenic Council as well as the member organizations involved.

National Multpile Sclerosis SocietyLog onto this site to learn more about multiple sclerosis and what you can do to help find a cure!

Kappa Kappa GammaThis site maps the past present and future of KKG.

Delta GammaThis site describes the foundation on which DG was built and the progress it has made.

Pi Beta PhiThis link provides the history of Pi Phi as well as new developments and upcoming events from all chapters.

Kappa Alpha Theta Kappaalphatheta.org is the national Theta site which includes facts about the history and current events of this organization.

Special Thanks

I would like to give a special "Thank You" to:

-Natalie Giantsos for her awesome interview and complying with all of my requests!

-Dr. Harding and Matt Gardzina for being so helpful with the creation of this wiki page.

-Brittany Carter for her amazing background information on the Panhellenic Council.

Page Created by Dorothy A. Milovac