The proposed ASUW budget for next year has no funds allocated for fraternities or sororities, upsetting their governing bodies on campus.
At the Feb. 22 ASUW meeting, both the Interfraternity Councils (IFC) and the Collegiate Panhellenic Councils (CPH) ASUW liaisons spoke to the senate about their discontent with the proposed budget.
Combined the CPH and IFC comprise the Fraternity and Sorority Life (FSL) at the university.
“As the largest women’s organization on the University of Wyoming’s campus, the college panhellenic council is greatly disappointed to see that ASUW no longer wishes to support us financially,” Payton McEndree, CPH’s ASUW liaison said.
Zach Mees, IFC’s liaison, shared a similar sentiment.
“After seeing the lack of funds allocated to IFC, the Interfraternity Council and the chapters we represent feel that the student government doesn’t see the value FSL brings to the university.”
Mees said that for the past seven years the IFC has had a “partnership” with ASUW, mentioning they have received funds for its members that make up nearly 5% of the entire student body.
If the proposed budget is to pass as it is currently structured, neither the CPH nor the IFC will receive any funding from the ASUW in fiscal year 2023.
Both liaisons spoke about the benefits FSL provide to the university’s community
“By joining any of these organizations on campus the likelihood of a student being retained by the institution increases exponentially, benefitting the university as a whole,” McEndree said.
This comes as the university has seen a decrease in enrollment since the start of the pandemic.
“The academic success of these members is encouraged and supported,” McEndree said.
McEndree said that on average, members of FSL have higher GPAs compared to students outside of greek life.
“FSL also provides many educational programs involving sexual assault awareness, anti-hazing, and men’s mental health,” said Mees.
The IFC intends to have more of its members speak their opinions to the ASUW Senate at the March 1 meeting, after which the final vote to approve the budget will occur.
“We would like to continue this partnership for the benefit of our community, as well as the universities,” McEndree said. “However, we do not feel valued in this partnership.”
Both the CPH and IFC did not respond to emails from the Branding Iron for further comments about the present situation.
