To improve brotherhood and better educate members of the Greek community in light of recent hazing charges, the Interfraternity Council at the University has reinstated the Junior IFC program and will hold sexual assault training for members.

“We feel that it is important that (JIFC members) understand that sexual assault prevention is an issue that they need to think about as leaders,” said IFC Vice president of Public Relations Jon Krasnov.

Krasnov said the Junior IFC acts as a mechanism for further educating young leaders about the University’s Greek community and about the issues that the IFC says it beleives are on the forefront, including hazing, the new social policy, recruitment and interfraternal relations, as well as providing feedback to the IFC executive board.

“Leaders inherently exist in our community, and while it is important that their energies are geared toward the support and improvement in their chapter,” Krasnov said, “it is also important that these leaders focus their energies toward the improvement of the Greek community as a whole.

The JIFC, a body consisting of new members from various fraternity chapters, was last active during the 2003-04 calendar year, said IFC Vice President of Community Development Bryce Bach, creator of the new JIFC program.

“We begin the discussion and provide input when it is beneficial, but it is meant to be a forum for them to discuss the issues among themselves openly and honestly and decide how they as the next generation of Greek leaders believe the issue should be dealt with,” Bach said.

Bach said that in addition to biweekly meetings, the JIFC will also go through leadership seminars and limited SAPAC training — an arrangement that has never occurred before­. The JIFC will undergo the training necessary to put on sexual awareness workshops and make presentations to their houses, Bach said.

“(SAPAC training) is one of my principle goals for JIFC,” Bach said.“There is a false stereotype that fraternity parties are very unsafe for girls, and I was hoping that having all of the incoming members go through this program would help

change that stereotype.”

Bach also noted that he hopes the training and seminars will make the Greek system more sensitive to women’s issues, as well as help JIFC members develop their public speaking skills.

In addition to developments such as the Junior IFC, the Greek community is sponsoring an anti-hazing presentation, “Confronting the Idiot in Your Chapter,” featuring nationally recognized speaker T.J. Sullivan. Sullivan has addressed sororities and fraternities at universities across the country, tackling issues ranging from substance abuse, to prevention of sexually transmitted disease, to interpersonal communication.

For IFC fraternities, tomorrow night’s presentation is a mandatory event for 100 percent of this semester’s associate members and 60 percent of the entire brotherhood. Panhel is requiring 75 percent of its new members and 50 percent of its live-in membership to attend.

In contrast to the ten member executive board of the IFC, the JIFC — which unlike the IFC possesses no real legislative or executive power — is comprised of approximately 30 members, the majority of which are freshmen. Participants in the program were selected based on their recognition as up and coming leaders in their own chapters as well as in the community as whole, Krasnov said.

Dean of Students Sue Eklund, who was greatly involved in the investigation of hazing allegations against the Greek community that occurred late last year, said she was very impressed by the energy and thoughtfulness of the IFC and Panhellenic Association leadership as they attempt to address the issues that affect the Greek community.

“Hazing and student alcohol abuse are representative of problems in all of society,” Eklund continued. “The good thing is that our students accept some responsibility to address how these problems play into the University.”

Eklund added that she feels it will take cooperation between staff and students at the University, as well was the support from bodies such as the Office of Greek Life, the Sexual Assault Prevention and Awareness Center and the Office of Student Conflict Resolution, and that efforts will have to be sustained over a long period of time.

“I really value the work these students are doing,” Eklund said. “I think it is consistent and it is a piece of what we need to do. I don’t think it is a problem that any one (group) can fix by itself, so I am happy about the comprehensive approach.”