The University’s 1996 homecoming king remembers his involvement in Sigma Chi with fondness. The Greek system "creates a very tight sense of family and community," says James Hilt (B.A. ’97) of New York City. "It made it much easier for the transition from my life at home to my life in college as an individual."

Fraternities and sororities have always provided their members with a social and service circle inside the enormous University of Minnesota. Likewise, Greek alumni now have a circle within the 52,500-member University of Minnesota Alumni Association. The Greek Alumni Network is a new UMAA alumni interest group that will provide networking and outreach opportunities for alumni of the Greek system.

"The Greek experience defined me as an undergraduate," says Mike Kokkinen (B.M.E. ’00), a Beta Theta Pi alumnus now living in Oxford, Ohio. "I see the Greek Alumni Network as a terrific way to stay involved with the University of Minnesota and give back."

More than 1,400 University students are currently involved in the Greek system, and the Greek Alumni Network will allow current and future alumni to stay connected with their house and the University, says Amanda Mackenthun, a University senior, Student Alumni Leader, and Alpha Chi Omega member.

That’s what Lynn Swon, an alumna of the Delta Gamma chapter

From the 1957 Gopher yearbook, Sigma Delta Tau pledges keep the sorority emblem spotless.

at Northwestern University who is very active in the Minnesota Delta Gamma alumnae chapter, was hoping when she and other members of the Greek Action Council started the group with the UMAA. Approved June 28 at the UMAA’s national board meeting, the Greek Alumni Network will have its first meeting in September. Initial activities will include a career mentorship program, career fair, and homecoming pepfest. Swon also was planning to organize alumni to help parents move their students into residence halls this fall.

"We hope to reconnect Greeks with their chapters to serve as advisers, house corporation members, or to work with their alumni chapters," Swon says.

Mike Oldenburg, president of Alpha Tau Omega and a University senior, says he hopes the Greek Alumni Network will strengthen and encourage relations with ATO alumni. After the house closed in 1994 due to charter violations that included alleged drug and alcohol offenses, fraternity members say alumni support decreased. "A lot of [alumni] were kind of disenchanted," says Oldenburg.

In 1998, ATO reopened as what members call "a completely different fraternity," and Oldenburg says alumni have returned and are proud of the house. "They provide the continuity from year to year," he says. "Anything the University can do to try to include alumni is great."

—Katheryn Howard