An independent study discussed at a September Board of Trustees meeting was a concern voiced by some who attended Monday night's Interfraternity Council (IFC) president's council meeting.

Some candidates running for positions on the council's executive board expressed worries that some of the goals of the report could translate into a breakdown in the self-governance of the greek system if not carefully executed. Penn State currently uses the Office of Greek Life primarily as a means of advising, with the IFC and Panhellenic Council (PHC) in charge of governing fraternities and sororities.

However, IFC President Max Pipman said he does not anticipate problems in this area.

"I am confident that we will retain what we need to be self-governing," he said.

The report was conducted last February by Margaret Barr, professor emeritus at Northwestern University, at the request of Vice President of Student Affairs Bill Asbury.

Barr's suggestions for the greek system included a need for strong communication between university officials and greek members, a university-run risk management plan, a social responsibility task force and an increased number of cultural and academic-based fraternities and sororities.

Pipman said plans for a steering committee are being implemented under Asbury's supervision.

The group will be comprised of non-greek students and is a way for the university to evaluate the issues facing fraternities and sororities and work with them to strengthen the relationship.

Previously, Asbury said he was hopeful the steering committee would be underway in the near future and ready to begin work by spring semester.

PHC president Alison Lipsett said she was disappointed in the level of professionalism displayed in the report, citing errors in spelling and grammar.

The report was generated using the observations of only one person -- a thorough report would be carried out by at least three people, she said -- and lacked input from important members of the greek community, including the leaders of National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) and the Multicultural Greek Council (MGC).

NPHC President Chris Chambers voiced strong concerns about the report at the meeting in September.

"It left out 50 percent of the greek system," he said. "I think it was very bad, in the scope of its issues. It only pushed on the surface."

The report's lack of student input was also a concern for Chambers, he said.

Lipsett said the leaders of the four greek councils are in the process of writing their own reports addressing the issues facing their organizations.

The reports will be presented to members of the committee in charge of drafting a relationship statement between the university and greek community, she said.

Asbury assured council leaders earlier that their reports would hold as much weight as the Barr report.

Asbury and advisers from the Office of Greek Life who were involved in the report are out of their offices until next week and were unavailable for comment on the issue.

Collegian staff writer Mike Walbert contributed to this report.