Despite an attempt to set the wheels in motion for a new Greek Jewish Council, co-founder Ross Diamond said the outlook is not bright for the organization's future. "I don't think anything constructive will come out of continuing it," he said. "People just don't want to put time into it."

The Greek Jewish Council had been in the works since last semester and was open to any member of the greek community. The council was founded by Diamond, a member of Phi Kappa Tau, 408 E. Fairmount Ave.; Ethan Weinstein, a member of Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity, 240 E. Prospect Ave.; and Dave Meckley, Hillel adviser. Although an e-mail was distributed to all greeks, only one person other than the three founding members was in attendance at the council's first meeting Feb. 16. "We thought it would be successful -- we would have had an informal 45-minute service with a good Kosher-style meal afterward, then Alpha Epsilon Pi would have had an open social," Diamond said. "It would have been a way to have a good time at Shabbat, and then have fun with members of the greek community."

Organizers said the lackluster response could have been because of a lack of publicity and bad timing.

"I don't know why it failed, because there are plenty of Jewish people in the greek community," said Avi Sadiky, president of Theta Chi fraternity, 523 S. Allen St. "It might have been because the meeting was held in the middle of the week. People probably didn't know what it was and didn't come."

The involvement of members of the greek community also came into play regarding the low turnout, Diamond said. "A lot is involved with greek life," he said. "Fraternity and sorority members are always doing something, whether it is Homecoming or Greek Week. They don't want to necessarily branch out to another organization."

Interfraternity Council President Brian Bertges said he was not aware of any successful religiously affiliated groups within the greek system, or any other organizations.

Bertges said starting an organization is always difficult, and said an obstacle in the Greek Jewish Council's path might have been the Jewish organizations already in existence on campus.

"Every organization usually starts off small -- it has to be a long-term commitment, and it can't happen overnight," he said. "In my fraternity, there are two Jewish members. I don't think they attended the Jewish Greek Council meeting, but they went at some point to the Jewish group on campus [Hillel]."

For many Jewish greek members, though, the lack of interest stems from personal commitment to Jewish practices. "I am Jewish but not that religious, so it didn't really appeal to me . ... We didn't really have Shabbat at my home," said Alpha Xi Delta sorority member Randi Fields (sophomore-division of undergraduate studies).

Dan Hadas (freshman-economics and political science), a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity, 524 Locust Lane, said even though he is one of six Jewish members in his fraternity, he has no great desire to maintain Jewish ties.

"I don't really care who I am with, with respect to religious background," he said. "But if the opportunity to participate [in the council] was still there, I would take it."