Through internal means, fraternities and sororities at the University of Michigan have been attempting to address issues of diversity, equity and inclusion, but face an obstacle in obtaining buy-in from across all four Greek life councils. More than 6,000 students are involved in Greek life at the University of Michigan according to the Office of Greek Life. Representing approximately 20 percent of the undergraduate population, the community often struggles with negative perceptions, perpetuated by a national narrative and a turbulent past year for the University’s Greek life community. Apart from the lack of demographic diversity among traditionally white fraternities and sororities, disparities also emerge in areas like parties. Students have noted police tend to shut down festivities hosted by traditionally Black fraternities more than those hosted by white fraternities. Many Black students have experienced overt racism at fraternity parties in recent years. LSA sophomore Moe Charara transferred to the University of Michigan this semester. He never seriously considered studying abroad at his previous college. However, with some research and help from the Center for Global and Intercultural Study, Charara will be studying in Greece this coming summer. “At my old university, we had a few study abroad programs, but (they) weren’t too serious or anything,” Charara said. “I went to the CGIS office to see what they had to offer and see if I could use the opportunities U of M had.” Charara said CGIS helped find scholarships and programs that would suit him and for which he could earn credit. “There are so many ways to cover the costs for these programs,” Charara said. “U of M does give a lot of scholarships. (CGIS advisers) are really cool and they’ve helped me a great deal.” According Scholarship Program Assistant Director Doug Fletcher, the LSA Scholarship Office works closely with CGIS to make students aware of the available resources the University provides. “Scholarships are all need- based,” Fletcher said. “We recognize that financial aid provides great support for students to go abroad. For many students, there’s still a gap between what financial aid can provide and what they need to go.” For the 2016-2017 school year, Fletcher said the Scholarship Program provided a total of $1.7 million in scholarships, with an average of $4,200 given per student. Out of the 708 applicants, 407 were awarded scholarships. “Students have to have financial need, that’s the first thing,” Fletcher said. “Out of the 708, some of them don’t have need or didn’t file a FAFSA. Some of those students were packaged fully, given all the funding they needed from financial aid or departmental resources. We awarded every student that wasn’t packaged fully already.” Despite being ineligible for financial aid, LSA junior Kallie Bernas was unable to afford a program through the LSA Opportunity Hub to research abroad in Berlin this summer. “I didn’t have the money to support myself without being paid for the research I would have been doing,” Bernas said. In 2016, the state of Michigan was ranked sixth in the United States for its number of homeless students. Jennifer Erb- Downward, a senior research associate with University of Michigan’s Poverty Solutions initiative, analyzed data surrounding schoolchildren who are considered homeless. Underfederal education law homelessness is defined as all children and youth who “lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence.” “Michigan had the sixth largest number of homeless students in the United States,” Erb-Downward said. “That’s over 36,000 students in the 2015-2016 school year. That’s a very large number of children who are going to school while experiencing the instability of not knowing where they’re going to sleep at night, not knowing whether or not they’re going to be able to stay in school or have to transfer.” michigandaily.com Ann Arbor, Michigan Monday, April 16, 2018 ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-SEVEN YEARS OF EDITORIAL FREEDOM Greek DEI group works to diversify membership Royster talks Greek life, building name changes and new CSG execs ALEC COHEN/Daily Vice President for Student Life E. Royster Harper speaks with The Michigan Daily for the final interview of the semester Friday afternoon. COMMUNITY AFFAIRS Collaborative represents all four Greek councils but has no members in NPHC SHANNON ORS Daily Staff Reporter In interview with The Daily, VP for Student Life says Greek rush changes not punitive On Friday afternoon, The Michigan Daily sat down with Vice President for Student Life E. Royster Harper for the final interview of the term. The conversation included discussions on recent administrative approval to change the names of C.C. Little Science Building and Winchell House, Greek life winter recruitment, and the recent CSG elections. TMD: Seeing as the recent approval to change the names of C.C. Little and the Winchell House in West Quad took place after many protests from various students and student organizations on campus, it can be said the names of various buildings, plaques, etc. at the University impact student life on campus. In an interview about the renaming recommendations, President Schlissel said “We don’t want the names of things to be changing as fashions change.” Do you suspect this will be a common occurrence or is the bar too high after Little and Winchell to change building names? AMARA SHAIKH & JORDYN BAKER Daily Staff Reporters Michigan sixth for homeless students RESEARCH University research shows lack of afforable housing contributes to problem MOLLY NORRIS Daily Staff Reporter ROSEANNE CHAO/Daily Have scholarship, will travel: Costs of study abroad remain prohibitive Students find scholarships insufficient in both size and eligibility criteria SAYALI AMIN Daily Staff Reporter Beilein’s way The Michigan men’s basketball team has found success by following John Beilein’s blueprint. » Page 1B The University of Michigan is not on track to reach its 2025 emissions goals, according to Environment and Sustainability graduate student Tyler Fitch’s research. In 2011, the University promised to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions 25 percent below 2006 emissions levels. By combining data from the Office of Campus Sustainability and a report by the University President’s Greenhouse Gas Reduction Committee, Fitch tracked the University’s progress and found they will not fulfill this commitment if they continue on their current trajectory. Fitch was inspired to conduct research on the emissions gap after returning from the November U.N. climate conference in Bronn, Germany. During his time in Germany, he decided to act on the calls for community action. Researcher finds ‘U’ is off-pace on emissions RESEARCH School’s goal of reducing emissions 25 percent by 2025 needs more work KATE JENKINS Daily Staff Reporter GOT A NEWS TIP? Call 734-418-4115 or e-mail news@michigandaily.com and let us know. Check out the Daily’s News podcast, The Daily Weekly INDEX Vol. CXXVII, No. 112 ©2018 The Michigan Daily N E WS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 O PI N I O N . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 A R T S . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 S U D O K U . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 CL A S S I F I E DS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 S P O R T S . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 B michigandaily.com For more stories and coverage, visit Read more at MichiganDaily.com Read more at MichiganDaily.com Read more at MichiganDaily.com Read more at MichiganDaily.com Read more at MichiganDaily.com