Chancellor appoints task force to examine Greek life on ECU campus

A 16-member task force has been appointed by East Carolina University Chancellor Cecil Staton to examine major aspects of Greek life at the university, to identify and consider nationally recognized best practices, and to offer recommendations to strengthen the Greek life community on campus.

Composed of alumni, faculty, community leaders and students, the task force will examine national issues facing Greek life on college campuses and the culture of Greek life at ECU.

“Greek organizations on college campuses nationwide are dealing with issues such as hazing-related deaths, incidents of sexual assault and alcohol and drug related infractions. ECU is neither exempt nor immune from this,” said Staton.

“As ECU’s chancellor, I recognize the importance of having a healthy, vibrant thriving Greek life community. Greek life is an important aspect of campus life for many Pirates and because of that, I think it is appropriate for us to further examine Greek life on our campus – where we are and where we’d like to be,” he said.

The task force will also examine current practices surrounding internal governance and accountability of Greek organizations campus councils; review recruitment and education of new Greek organization members; assess current policies and practices for social, educational and other activities engaged in by Greek organizations; and review university governance and oversight of Greek organizations.

Members of the task force are as follows:

Co-chairs:

• Bob Plybon of Greensboro, CEO of Plybon & Associates, ECU alumnus, member of ECU Board of Trustees
• Kandie Smith of Greenville, member of the Greenville City Council and & immediate past president and social action chair of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority

Members:

• Rhys Collins of Cary, ECU student and president of the Interfraternity Council
• Katy Houser of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, ECU student and president of the Panhellenic Association
• Jeff Foster of Greenville, Pitt County Superior Court judge and member of ECU Board of Visitors
• Kelly Joyner of Greenville, ECU alumna and local advisor to Alpha Delta Pi sorority
• Carolina Juanico-Cela of Winston-Salem, ECU student and president of the Multicultural Greek Council
• Jordan Koonts of Raleigh, ECU student, president of ECU Student Government Association
• Vonta Leach of Fayetteville, ECU alumnus, former ECU and NFL football player, member of Omega Psi Phi
• Fielding Miller of Raleigh, CEO of CAPTRUST, ECU alumnus, member of ECU Board of Trustees
• KJ Staton of Greenville, ECU student and president of the National Panhellenic Council
• Jon Barnwell, chief of ECU Police
• John Mountz, director of Greek life at ECU
• Doug Schneider, ECU professor in the College of Business and faculty advisor to Alpha Delta Pi sorority
• Catherine Staton, Greek life advocate
• Megan Ayers, assistant secretary to the Board of Trustees.

In order to accomplish its charge, the task force will collect information, review documents, listen to presentation by subject matter experts, engage in open forums, and lead individual targeted discussions.

The chancellor will instruct the task force to provide a final report, including any recommendations and a time line for implementation, by Dec. 14.

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