About 100 students glossed over various greek issues including the possibility of a combined black and white greek council at a black issue forum sponsored by the Black Graduate Student Association Tuesday night.

Members representing sororities and fraternities in the white and black greek systems came together at the Holmes Student Center to get their questions answered, give advice and possibly come up with an agreement about bringing black and white greeks together.

Despite occasional disagreement, by the end of the meeting members were attempting to establish ties.

One of the major topics of the evening was whether to combine black and white greeks to form a fourth board. There are currently three greek boards—Interfraternity Council (IFC),

Panhellenic Council and the National Panhellenic Council (NPHC).

Willie Fowler, question moderator for the evening and Omega Psi Phi fraternity member, established the basis for what was intended to be accomplished by the end of the forum.

“Perhaps we can answer some of your questions and maybe come to some sort of an agreement,” Fowler said.

By the end of the meeting, NPHC President Anita McNulty and Panhellenic Council President Julie Lardino agreed to set a date to discuss the possibility of a fourth board.

One suggestion to begin this process was to combine the philanthropies (charity events) before combining social events.

The discussion originated from index cards on which the audience members were asked to write down two adjectives about white greeks and about black greeks, as well as any questions they had about the greek system. The audience then was asked to give advice on how to better the greek system as a whole.

One of the cards described members from the black greek system as “aggressive.”

Darron Glasper, panelist and Phi Beta Sigma fraternity member, said the reason the blacks come off as “aggressive” is because they feel the need to protect the black greek system.

“We are protective of what we have because it’s all we’ve got,” Glasper said.

The black greeks also were asked about the stereotype of being extreme hazers.

Before anyone was able to comment on the question, Fowler gave a definition of hazing.

“Hazing is doing anything against your will,” he said.

Glasper pointed out anything could be considered hazing if it is done against someone’s will even though nothing is mandatory.

“If you talk to a person, that could be hazing them,” Glasper said.

“Hazing is going on every day,” said panelist Dawn Sturma, activities adviser for Greek Affairs. “There are different levels of it, but it is still going on.”

Another card described white greeks as “fake” and “stuck up.”

Panelist Ray Fitzgerald, an Alpha Kappa Lambda member, said this was because greek members, in general, stand out more in the public.

“Greeks in general are more motivated and, therefore, subject to more criticism,” he said. “As for fakeness, that perception is because fraternity and sorority members go with friends.” Fitzgerald said clique formation is a common misnomer often attributed to greeks.

Another major topic brought up was the question of quality versus quantity—because black greeks are fewer in number, are they more personal and more unified?

Members from the audience argued the white population, in general, being larger than the black population should not imply there is less quality in the white greek system.

Other topics included alcoholism, allowing homosexuals and people with physical disabilities in greek organizations and intermixing black greeks and white greeks at social organizations.

According to panelist Jeannine Wright, an Alpha Kappa Alpha member, more questions needed to be asked.

“I think a lot of people didn’t ask the questions they wanted to ask,” she said. “A lot of things are still unknown as far as the black sororities and fraternities go.”

Danielle Brown, who is not a member of the greek system but said she was interested in the issues, felt the forum went better this year compared to last year.

“I learned a few things about both black and white greeks,” Brown said. “Maybe at another panel they’ll bring positive results that came from this year because both black and white greeks want more unity. Now they need to work on communication.”