The greek system is closer to fostering a more supportive relationship with Penn State this semester through a new system aimed at improving the image of the greek community, officials said.

Kevin Kerr, director of fraternity and sorority life, said the greek community was "not performing at an optimal level," in past years, which weakened relations among the university, the State College community and the greek community.

"The relationship that was there between the fraternities and the university was not as engaged and proactive in the past," Kerr said.

This year, through a process called Appreciative Inquiry, the greek community is looking to improve those relations.

The Appreciative Inquiry process began last May with two community-wide summits that discussed problems within the greek community and possible solutions.

Penn State President Graham Spanier said the process has been successful so far, and the university wants to continue to pursue a better relationship with fraternities. "We were wanting to move ahead and come up with some plans where the university could do some things to support the greek system and work with their alumni and national chapters as well as local chapters," Spanier said.

Changes for the greek community are still being discussed, and next semester they will be closer to the "implementing phase," Kerr said. He said the Interfraternity Council (IFC), alumni, the university, fraternity leaders and chapter presidents have been involved in increasing communication within the greek community.

Brian Bertges, IFC vice president, said one step to improve community relations might be to host open houses and meet community members, which has been done in the past.

Members of greek organizations will eventually be asked "whether to buy in, or not be a part" of the new process, Bertges said.

He said he expects most greek members will want to participate in the process because they want support from the university.

"If you support us, we'll support you," Bertges said. "It's like a symbiotic relationship."

Bertges said there is still a lot of work to be done to prove to the State College community that the greek community is trying to improve its image.

"We don't have a face as far as the community is concerned. Basically they look at us as structures," he said. "They don't talk about us. They talk about our house and how the lawn's dirty."

Chris Kovalchick, a member of Delta Theta Sigma fraternity, 101 N. Patterson St., said he doubts the efforts will help the image of fraternities.

"It's a step in the right direction, but they're not going to change peoples' perceptions," Kovalchick said. "When you came to college, what did you think of a fraternity houses? You had a perception of that, and that probably hasn't changed since you got to college."

Kovalchick said he thinks the IFC is overstepping by creating more regulations and paperwork for the greek community. "We're supposed to be governing ourselves," Kovalchick said.

Chris Beans, president of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity, 200 E. Beaver Ave., said some greek members have a perception that the university is against the greek community and are hesitant to enter a partnership where they would be restricted by the university.

"Right now I don't think there's very much support for it just because it's a new process and the IFC presidents and chapters are concerned with getting involved in the university in such a restricting way," he said.