The Multicultural Greek Council (MCGC) is the governing council over the culturally-based fraternities and sororities here on campus. There were three sororities and two fraternities, but the University has recently added a couple of new Multicultural Greek Organizations on campus.
Tara Fuller, Director of Fraternity and Sorority Life, said, “One exciting update we have this semester is the addition of three organizations to our community.” The new added organizations are Lambda Sigma Upsilon Latino Fraternity, Inc. (returning to campus), Omega Phi Chi Multicultural Sorority, Inc., and Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc.
These new organizations join Lambda Theta Phi Latin Fraternity, Inc., Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Chi Upsilon Sigma National Latin Sorority, Inc., and Lambda Theta Alpha Latin Sorority, Inc. There are now eight organizations in MCGC, nearly as much as traditional Greek Senate’s member organizations with nine. The number of organizations in MCGC is now eight, almost as large as University recognized organizations in Greek Senate with nine.
One of the many things the MCGC and its chapters provide are spaces for men and women to come together around diversity and celebrate the range of racial and ethnic identities represented in our campus community. The growth of the MCGC will continue to expand and develop those opportunities.
The MCGC serves as a board of culturally based fraternal groups. It strives to address the importance of cultural and ethnic awareness and a place for people who hold the same values to be a part of a community here on campus. It also enhances the opportunity to express the values and opinions of those related to by minority fraternal organizations.
Each organization within MCGC has its own unique purposes and values. Culturally based fraternities and sororities were founded to give experiences to those of color during times when fraternities and sororities were excluding students of color.
“The process of the fraternities and sororities coming to campus this year varied by each organization. Lambda Sigma Upsilon was ready to come back to campus as they had a chapter here once before. We had an interest group of women who wanted to pursue Omega Phi Chi Multicultural Sorority, Inc., and we had a similar situation with the men of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc,” said Fuller.
The Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life spoke to representatives regionally and nationally to come up with agreements about expanding to Monmouth. At this moment, they are not looking to expand MCGC any further to allow these organizations to grow.
The Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life has four requirements for students looking to join a culturally-based fraternity or sorority (CBFS).The requirements for prospective students are earn at least 12 credits at an institution of higher education. This means 12 credits at Monmouth or, for transfer students, 12 credits from their previous institution. AP credits do not count toward this requirement. This means first-year students in their first semester are not eligible to join a fraternity or sorority; have at least a 2.75 cumulative GPA, complete a registration form on the office’s website, attend a FSL101 session to learn more about recruitment.