Anderson to lobby for Greek students

By Gwen Daniels

Published Feb. 29, 2008

This April, Greek students from across the country plan to show the Capitol that Greek life is politically astute.

Former Missouri Students Association President Rachel Anderson will lobby in Washington, D.C., for Greek interests with other fraternity and sorority members.

Anderson, a member of Kappa Alpha Theta sorority at MU, was selected last week to participate in the lobbying event, which will take place April 12-16.

Anderson will travel to Washington with the Capital Fraternal Caucus, which represents the interests of the North-American Interfraternity Conference and the National Panhellenic Conference.

According to the CFC Web site, the organization aims to build a Greek presence in Washington, show the positive impact of Greek life, preserve the rights of fraternities and sororities, support collegiate issues and allow Greek students to work hand-in-hand with policy makers.

The caucus is focusing on the Collegiate Housing and Infrastructure Act, MU Kappa Alpha Theta spokeswoman Taylor Rausch said.

The bill states nonprofit organizations such as fraternities and sororities will not lose their tax-exempt statuses by offering housing grants.

Under current law, monetary donations given to nonprofit organizations for housing needs are not tax-deductible, Rausch said.

This rule can conflict with safety concerns, she added.

In many areas, fraternity and sorority houses are required to install safety devices such as sprinkler systems, Rausch said.

That can be a problem when the chapters cannot afford the new equipment.

“They’re lacking in donations, so the headquarters is having to foot the bill for this, and the cost is enormous if you count all the chapters across the nation,” Rausch said. “We’re hoping there will be an increase in donations if they’re tax-deductible.”

Although Anderson does not know the agenda for the lobbying session, she said she should receive the plan next week.

She said she does anticipate discussion about the sprinkler system requirement.

Missouri politicians are particularly concerned with the issue because the UM-St. Louis chapter of Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity lost a fraternity member in a house fire two years ago, she added.

A member of MU’s chapter of the Sigma Chi fraternity also died in their fraternity house fire in 1999.

Anderson said legislators will have the opportunity to ask members of the Greek community for their thoughts on codes requiring fire sprinklers in houses.

“We will be visiting with different members in Congress and telling them how we feel on issues, and that gives them a chance to give questions,” she said.

Shannon Ferguson, the former president of MU’s chapter of Zeta Tau Alpha sorority, lobbied with the caucus in Washington last year.

Having an MU student in Washington shows the strength of the Greek system at MU, she said.

“Just being there and being a part of it and seeing it as a national cause, seeing members of the MU Greek community, is a neat thing,” Ferguson said.

Rausch said Kappa Alpha Theta is excited to see the impact Anderson can have.

“We’re really proud of Rachel,” she said. “This is a huge accomplishment. I’m so excited just to see how she does. This is right in her niche coming out of her year as student body president.”