Discussions among two greek councils and the Thon overall committee regarding the councils' associate vice president (AVP) positions' future have caused concern for some greek leaders.
The Interfraternity Council (IFC) and Panhellenic Council (PHC) AVPs could lose their seats on the overall committee, depending on the results of the discussions.
There are constantly changes to the Interfraternity Council/Panhel-
lenic Dance Marathon overall committee, said Caihlin Durkin, PHC AVP for Thon and Greek Sing, but the idea to move the AVP position from an overall position to a captain position was something that upset the greek community.
"It's important to the tradition at Penn State," Durkin (senior-supply chain and information systems) said. "We're proud of our traditions and our history. I think we need to keep it on the overall committee and give the position more responsibilities as need be."
Being a leader at Penn State and the PHC AVP for Thon and Greek Sing is a lot of dedication and hard work, Durkin said.
"Keeping the position on the overall committee is very important," she said. "Since it was started by us -- greeks are the ones who started the overall committee and had the idea."
The decision to reevaluate the positions did not come out of thin air, said Ann Marie DiPietro, PHC president.
"Both AVP positions on [the PHC] executive board need to be more structured so they have more defined responsibilities," DiPietro (senior- nursing and women's studies) said. "As long as we identify specific ways for the AVP to act as liaison, the position will be more effective."
DiPietro said she would like to see better communication between the greek organizations and Thon. In the past, communication hasn't been facilitated between Thon and the greek AVPs directly, she added.
Jason Giner, former IFC AVP for Thon and Greek Sing, said this year's overall committee now has the reins on what Thon will be this year, and if they feel it's necessary, it's something for them to decide.
"As a prior overall, I take my position and what we did very seriously," he said. "I honestly have no idea why they would do it, but there has obviously been talk and good talk about it. If they feel it's better for Thon in the long run, then I support it."
The AVP position is different than the other overall positions on the committee because the AVPs do not have a specified field, Giner said.
"[The other overalls] have their set captains and set field, and because Thon AVP is dealing with all the greeks and everything the greeks are doing, our position mixed into every field," he said.
Some of the duties Giner had as AVP included the captain workshop and the first two Thon dancer meetings. Giner also acted as a liaison between Thon and the IFC.
The most important thing right now is to come up with a resolution that the greek community and Thon community are both happy with, said Sarah Donnenberg, PHC vice president of communications.
"It's important that everyone hear all sides of the story," Donnenberg (junior-advertising) said. "We've communicated all sides of the discussion to our members so they can make their own educated opinions."
Many members of the greek community have expressed concern about the possible position change through Facebook. As of press time, there were more than 800 members in a Facebook group called "THON Supporters Against the Removal of the IFC/PHC AVP Position," a group created by former IFC President Grant Miller.
Mike Hacke, Thon overall chairman, said whatever change made would be for Thon 2010.
"We're still full steam ahead in our efforts for this year," Hacke (senior-philosophy) said.
DiPietro and Kelsey Gingrich, IFC president, will attend the Thon overall committee meeting on Sunday for continued discussion on the topic, Hacke said.
IFC AVP Alex Middleton did not return phone calls as of press time.
