Although he might take issue with this characterization, Chris Juhl is the Dean Gordon “Cheese” Pritchard of NIU. For those unfamiliar with the movie “Old School,” Juhl is NIU’s Greek Affairs director. With rush nearing its completion, the Northern Star sat down with Juhl for a “fun” interview.

Northern Star: What do you do here?

Chris Juhl: That’s a loaded question, and it’s going to be tough. People often ask me that question, and honestly, it will take me a good five hours to explain what I do … (five minutes of explanation later) … So basically, I am an adviser.

NS: My editors told me to have some “fun” with this interview. What do you think they meant by fun?

CJ: I have no idea, because I hear that same question every year when they ask me to do an interview. Um … have fun with it … I don’t know.

NS: All right, let me try this one out. I recently interviewed Dan Castellaneta. Who is the bigger interview, him or you?

CJ: Obviously, Dan. This is going to be a pretty big stretch, he touches millions of people’s lives. But the fact is I am here on campus. I directly deal with, on a regular basis, 1,200 to 1,300 students that are Greek alone, let alone non-Greeks. I am sure he is a great guy, but I am here on an every-day basis doing stuff to affect our community. He’s a great alumnus, and we appreciate his support; but I am bigger from the viewpoint that I can affect things right here, right now, to help students become better people and grow and graduate as well-rounded individuals.

NS: Do you do funny voices?

CJ: I do not. I am probably the least funny person you could ever meet.

NS: I don’t know the rules, but could Will Ferrell, Vince Vaughn and Luke Wilson show up on campus and start their own fraternity? Was that movie historically accurate?

CJ: Yes and no. Each campus is different. We have our own set of rules of what you have to do. What they did in the movie is actually very similar to what you have to do on this campus. There is an accreditation process. There are six different sections of accreditation, and you have to meet certain minimum standards in each of those areas. They wouldn’t be allowed to recruit before they went through that process. So how they showed up with a group of men and went through the university process – that wouldn’t happen here. They have to come get recognition from our office, and then they could begin to go through that process. But it was actually very similar.

NS: Is there a crusty old dean on campus who tries to ruin all the fun of the frats and sororities?

CJ: It depends on who you talk to. They would probably think it was me. Often students and alumni think the university is out to get fraternities and sororities and kick them off campus. Quite to the contrary, compared to the other campuses I have worked on who have much larger Greek communities, this campus has more support, more funding and resources than I have ever had before. There’s no crusty dean who is looking to kick people out and do away with fun, but there are policies and procedures to follow, and when you are not following them, we are there to take you to judicial board or figure out some sanctions.

NS: Isn’t TUGS a gigantic waste of time?

CJ: No, TUGS raises about $10,000 to $12,000 a year for not-for-profit organizations.

NS: So it’s a waste of time?

CJ: To raise $10,000 is a waste of time?

NS: I think we can all agree on that, can’t we?

CJ: I would vehemently disagree that raising $10,000 is a waste of time. Could you raise $10,000?

NS: I could try.

CJ: You could try. Now, I would like to see you try and raise $10,000 and tell me it was a waste of time.

NS: (mumbles) Anyway, moving on … What fraternity went under, and, like, and got in trouble? What, was that Alpha Phi Omega or whatever? I don’t know names …

CJ: Lambda Chi Alpha?

NS: Yeah, whatever.

CJ: They just got kicked off campus.

NS: Was that tough getting rid of them?

CJ: Yes. It’s always tough. People think we are out to get rid of chapters. If that was the job, I wouldn’t have a job. As soon as I kicked off every chapter, there would be no reason for me to exist anymore. It’s not easy to kick off these organizations because we all have certain principles and values that we try and live by through our organizations. And when I know that you are not living up to them, it’s very hard for me and the university to support you. There are some good guys within that organization, but when you end up having one or two bad seeds, then the other people just go along with them and don’t do a whole lot to prevent it. We can’t just let them continue to exist.

NS: What’s the difference between a fraternity and a cult?

CJ: Boy, I don’t know. I have never been a part of a cult. I have never researched a lot about cults. I know there are a lot of negative stereotypes that they brainwash people and try and get them to live by their ways. I am sure if you talked to people in cults, they would defend themselves also. Fraternities and sororities are based upon service and scholarship and leadership. We are here to try and develop college students to be better leaders of tomorrow. Anybody can come and go as they please.

NS: What’s in Jungle Juice?

CJ: It would depend on who you talk to. It’s some variation of hard liquor like vodka or gin or something. Some people mix multiple types. It’s like a punch with alcohol. People will sometimes put fruit in it. Different groups have difference concoctions. It’s an illegal thing. They are not allowed at parties here.

NS: Earlier in the interview, you said you wouldn’t have a job if you kicked every fraternity off campus. So are you allowing these fraternities to stay on campus, so you have a job?

CJ: Well … no. I am not allowing them just so I have a job. No, I want them to be here. The Greek Life Standards Board challenges them and has these expectations of them because we know what they can accomplish. There are certain standards they should be able to meet. We aren’t just letting them be here. Like, right now we have two chapters that are on the verge of not being here within a semester, and if they don’t meet the minimum requirements, then they are going to be gone. At the same time, we are probably going to bring on one or two new chapters starting next January. There are groups that want to be on campus, but we only allow so many. Whenever we lose some, there are always groups to take their place. It’s not like I am just letting chapters exist because I need a paycheck.