The three governing bodies of the social Greek organizations – Interfraternity Council, National Pan-Hellenic Council and College Panhellenic Council – are uniting to form the All Greek Council to better communicate and promote Greek life.

“We needed a group that brings all three councils together,” said Chris Juhl, activities adviser for Greek affairs. “It is a forum for them to talk about publicity, community service and start working together.”

The idea originally was Juhl’s, but Jessy Rojas, president of the National Pan-Hellenic Council, looked into making the idea a reality.

“We’ll hopefully start it next spring,” Rojas said. “There was a lot of planning, a lot of research on what other universities do, and seeing what our campus can do to meet our needs.”

“A lot of universities have it,” said Christy Calvert, president of College Pan-Hellenic Council and an advertising representative for the Northern Star. “The three presidents sat down with representatives from the councils and really talked about issues. We found a lot of the things we said are similar. We came up with the idea, something to bring the councils together. Not a judicial branch, a way to bring everyone together and work together.”

Calvert pointed out some of the goals the All Greek Council hopes to address, including better relations among the councils, educating the three councils about each chapter’s traditions and unifying the Greek community.

The only concern the Greek community had about the council’s formation was establishing another governing body.

“People are afraid of how we might become one council instead of three,” Rojas said. “We structured it so that it won’t happen.”

The council cannot implement a rule unless all the three councils vote for it, Calvert said.

Unity in the Greek community wavers in strength, but Juhl said all the council can do is to strengthen it.

Rojas said this council will work because of all the time and effort that has been put into it.

“I think it is going to be a little rough in its first year,” Calvert said. “But once it gets going, it will be a great benefit for all three councils.”

The council has been approved by the Greek Life Standards Board and the organization is seeking Student Association recognition. The council will have elections in December, and with the three presidents as co-presidents, will elect three additional officers for the positions of secretary, public relations and community events.

“It will be able to show the NIU community how united the groups can be,” Rojas said. “We can do a lot of community service and programs that people don’t see now. We see it as something positive and helpful.”