WILL SEBERGER/Arizona Daily Wildcat Kristen Alber (left), president of Delta Gamma and Jen Erdman, president of Alpha Epsilon Phi were two of the organizers for last night's Greek Life meeting with UA President Pete Likins.

UA's greek system has recognized and is beginning to address the negative attention it receives from the public.

Last night, President Pete Likins gave his input on issues that included hazing, alcohol abuse, leadership, diversity and public perception of fraternities and sororities.

More than 120 representatives from campus chapters attended the open question-and-answer session designed to open the lines of communication with university administrators and "bridge the gap" between the greek system and the rest of the UA community.

"People's concepts of the greek community are negative, but that isn't how it really is," said Kappa Sigma president Brett Gerson. "We need to change people's minds."

Dean of Students Melissa Vito and Associate Dean Alexis Hernandez were also present to respond to the group's questions.

"We felt like we have been making so much progress this year and we were worried that it is going unnoticed by the administration," Gerson said. "We have always had the looming fear that we were going to be shut down."

The majority of the discussion was devoted to finding proactive ways to solve hazing and alcohol abuse problems.

"We are doing our best to wipe (hazing) out from this campus and that is our number one goal ÷ zero incidents of hazing next year," Gerson said.

"If you can't get hazing under control, then you don't have a chance, and that is a national declaration," Likins said. "I am glad that it is your top priority."

This semester, three fraternities have faced discipline for hazing violations. The Dean of Students office placed Delta Tau Delta on probation in January and is currently investigating Sigma Chi fraternity. In addition, Sigma Alpha Epsilon's recognition was temporarily withdrawn pending further investigation of hazing allegations.

A few years ago the practice of hazing pledges was more acceptable, so juniors and seniors who were hazed as pledges often instigate hazing activities, Gerson said

While hazing is a problem that obviously needs to be addressed, Likins said alcohol abuse is his biggest concern within the greek community.

Likins said that in his experience, alcohol has been more destructive to more people than harder, illegal drugs.

"I still hear that you haven't learned to drink responsibly," Likins told the chapter representatives, adding that statistically, greek members and athletes tend to drink more than the general university population.

Alcohol abuse manifests itself in fights, rapes, poor grades and filthy chapter houses, he said. Fraternity houses today are far dirtier than those Likins recalled from his time as a Delta Tau Delta member at Stanford University.

In December, repeated alcohol violations cost Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity its UA recognition.

If the greek system does not begin to drink more responsibly, then it will not be able to repair its public image, Likins said.

Likins also said social chapters lack diversity, possibly because of economic issues and different social interests between cultures.

"Greeks have tended to be, in their membership selection, too homogeneous," he said. "Society evolves and you either evolve with it or get left behind."

Strong leadership from older members of the chapters is key to solving alcohol abuse and other problems, Likins said, advising those present to lead by example.

"That's a responsibility that changes behavior and changes the culture of the house," he said.

The chapter representatives thought the administrators did a great job answering their questions, said Greek Life Coordinator Beth Conder.

"Their eyes were opened to some different issues than they thought were going to be brought up tonight," she said.

Greek Life Coordinator Chris Bullins said that he hopes the greek community will continue to keep open the lines of communication with administration. He would also like to see forums like last night's happen every semester.

The greek community has made tremendous progress this year, Gerson said, in addressing hazing issues and in educating members about alcohol and drug abuse and will continue to address problems.