8C - The Michigan Daily - New Student Edition - September 8, 1998 Fraternities,sororties'Greek to many first-year students By Susan T. Port Daily Staff Reporter Fraternity parties, community ser- vice and friendships are aspects that motivate many students to rush campus fraternities and sororities. The Greek community, comprised of the Interfraternity Council, the Panhellenic Association and the Black Greek Association, is the largest student organization on campus. The Interfraternity Council and Panhellenic Association act as a gov- erning and coordinating bodies for 33 fraternities and 17 sororities on campus. The Black Greek Association is the governing body for 10 fraternities and sororities at the University. MaryBeth Seiler, advisor to the Panhellenic Association, said she encourages students to rush. In the third week of the fall semester, about 800 students will rush, Seiler said. After a series of mixers and parties, students have the opportuni- ty to decide if they are ready to go Greek and commit to being in a sorority. "it gives students a couple of weeks to get settled," Seiler said. Seiler said many students begin their University career with a preconceived notion of what Greek life is. "Every student has an opinion about it," Seiler said. "There are so many stereo- types and misconceptions out there." Seiler estimated that approximately 18-20 percent of the student body par- ticipates in Greek life. John Mounts, advisor for the lnterfraternity Council, said the two main recruitment periods occur in the fall and winter. Mounts said most men do not visit all the fraternity houses. "They decide what chapters they would like to visit on their own," Mounts said. Mounts said there are opportunities for students to meet members of the individual chapters during informal meetings on the Diag and in the Michigan Union. Mounts said fraternity members are "looking for someone who will fit well in their group." Michigan Student Assembly President Trent Thompson, a member of Beta Theta Pi, said he made lasting friendships with the other members of his fraternity. "The experiences I have had through the fraternity system are something I will remember for the rest of my life," Thompson said. The pledging process for men is described as "membership education," which lasts from 7-10 weeks. Bryan Cook, advisor for the BGA, said rush varies depending on the indi- vidual chapters. Cook said students need a number of community service hours to be able to pledge. "None of the organizations are allowed to take first semester fresh- men," Cook said. "You can't come in straight out of high school and pledge." Cook said BGA has a tradition of upholding academic scholarship and community service. FILE PHOTO During last year's sorority bid day, members of the Sigma Delta Tau sorority drive down the street in their sport utility vehicle. About 18 to 20 percent of the University student body is Involved in the Greek system. SACUA advises administration Yo NkeItiippen Grounds & Waste Management Services 763-5539 e-mail: recycle.help@umich.edu http://www.recycle.umich.edu By Chris Metinko Daily News Editor When thinking of the "powers that be" at the University, images of the Board of Regents and the Michigan Student Assembly arise in most stu- dent's minds. While these organizations represent the administration and the student body at the University, the fac- ulty also has means of representation. The Senate Advisory Committee on University Affairs and Senate Assembly, while not one of the most visible groups on campus, advises and consults with the University president, the Provost and the executive officers on matters of University policy, all the while keeping in mind the best interests of the faculty. SACUA has recently been consulting the administration on such issues as tobacco divestment and the recruitment of under-represented minority faculty. 'SACUA is kind of like the sport of curling," said Professor of Internal Medicine William Ensminger, current chair of the committee. "We're basical- ly the sweepers. We can try to sweep in such a way so things turn out good from a faculty perspective," Ensminger said "From everyone's perspective." Despite this goal of trying to convey faculty opinion, the committee is not always perceived as being active, or perceived at all sometimes. "I probably didn't even know what SACUA was beforeI joined the Senate Assembly," said SNRE Prof. James Diana, who chaired the committee from 1992-93. So what is SACUA? The Senate Advisory Committee on University Affairs is a nine-member committee that helps govern the faculty and is also the faculty's most direct link to the administration of the University. Diana said that as he worked his way through Senate Assembly and eventual- ly became a part of the committee, he realized that it did have power. "It's a very significant honor and duty," said Prof. of Nuclear Engineering James Duderstadt of being elected to serve. Duderstadt has a firm understanding of SACUA from not just the faculty's side, as he was elected to the committee but never served, and the administration's side, being a dean and a former president of the University. "It's an important voice," said Duderstadt. Current administrators seem to agree with that description. "I believe that SACUA plays several very important roles in University affairs and governance," Provost Nancy Cantor said. SACUA "serves as an avenue for bringing faculty concerns to the forefront on a wide variety of issues. A "It works very closely with the Provost's office in particular, and with the various schools and colleges through our offices," Cantor said. Although the committee is mandated by the regental bylaws of the University, SACUA holds no executive power and is just advisory to the Senate Assembly and the administration. "That's probably how it should be," said Prof. of Physiology Louis D'Alecy, who chaired the committee from 1997-98, adding that the advisory role allows the committee more of an opportunity to bring a wider variety of topics to the table. "Some faculty is frustrated that it's only advisory," D'Alecy said. Regardless of its level of power, D'Alecy said it is important to serve on the committee, and represent the facul- ty without having one's own agenda. "You have to have people carry onW the battle because it is a good fight, D'Alecy said. UHS provides variety of health care services. By Nikita Easley Daily Staff Reporter Is there a doctor on the campus? At the University Health Services, there are plenty. With four general clinics and eight spe- cialty clinics, UHS provides all types of medical services to University students. "It is one of the premier health ser- vices in the Big Ten Schools" said Janet Zielasko, associate director of UHS. UHS has a variety of services, includ- ing nutrition, gynecology, radiology and psychiatry. The majority of the services at the UHS clinics are free for University stu- dents. With the exception of the allergy, eye care, immunization and pharmacy clinics, University students can receive free treatment because of the health ser- vice fee already implemented in their tuition. Along with free medical care, UHS also offers walk-in and on-call services until 10 p.m., Zielasko said. "Students can call a clinician and the clinician can tell the student if they need to seek medical attention for their prob- lem," Zielasko said. Zielasko added that many students do not think they will get ill in school, and therefore UHS has trained clinicians and physicians to help with any surprise medical problems. "It's the first time away from home for most students and they need to take responsibility for their health," Zielasko said. Caesar Briefer, MD., the director of UHS, said many students have not pre- viously been responsible for their med- ical care. "Part of the college experience is learning how to take care of yourself," Briefer said. Recently, the UHS building under- went a S 7 million renovation. "Students now feel that UHS is mod- ern, attractive and convenient," Briefer said. School of Music senior Jeff Powers said.that since the renovation, UHS i "more like a doctor's office and does- n't feel like a run-down old build- ing." The renovations to UHS also help to improve the confidentiality for students and their medical records, Zielasko said. "We have a whole new computer self check-in area," Zielasko added. Powers said he was happy with the improvements to the building and the treatment they offer. r Order the only books and posters honoring the 1998 Rose Bowl Champions produced entirely by students at the University of Michigan! Each book has over 100 pages of game-by- game coverage of the 1997 football season. r Follow the Wolverines from their first game against Colorado all the way to Pasadena! Both books have stunning full-color covers, but the color version offers color photos a throughout as well! The posters are full-size representations of The Michigan Dal 's. front page from either the day after the hio State game he Victors poster) or the day after the Rose Bowl (We're No. 1 poster). Both are printed on glossy, poster- quality paper.k AA. I eutn~ed Neuua bumbig Boka sh _ I f1z- it Ill , .i1314'ltt',I11RMHUNIL J I . ..