Frat/Sorority Life Growing at UW-Milwaukee Despite TKE Scandal

 This is third part of a series exploring issues behind the headlines of the TKE scandal. You can read parts 1 and 2 here.

Although the TKE fraternity at UW-Milwaukee was embroiled in scandal this fall, Greek life at UWM is actually slightly on the rise- although it’s still a very small portion of the student population. Still, several colonies and multicultural organizations are starting to organize on campus.

According to Kristin DeMartino, assistant director for student involvement, the Greek life at UWM accounts for about one percent of the UWM campus community, and that number is rising and approaching two percent.

According to DeMartino, since she arrived at UWM in fall of 2011, UWM added a number of new organizations on campus. They include a new multicultural sorority and a new “national sorority,” Alpha Omicron Pi, which has recently received its charter, according to DeMartino.

UWM has also added two new fraternity “colonies,” which, according to DeMartino, are organizations working on building/growing their organization and “not yet received the charter from their national or international organization.” In addition, Kappa Sigma and Alpha Epsilon Pi recently joined the UWM campus. DeMartino says student involvement is working with leaders of a Latino fraternity and trying to bring them to campus and a “historically black sorority” is trying to come back to campus.

According to DeMartino, there are 17 fraternities and sororities on campus, nine of which are sororities and eight are fraternities. TKE was not counted in their total because of their suspension. In a letter from Assistant Dean of Students Heather N. Harbach, dated Oct. 8, 2014, TKE was “revoked” of their status as a “UWM student organization” indefinitely. The frat received negative national attention after allegations that an alcohol-fueled party sent several students to the hospital claiming they may have been given date-rape drugs. The only charges to result thus far, though, revolve around unrelated drug counts against one man.

In regards to recruitment, DeMartino says that some chapters had increases in numbers and some had smaller numbers this year based on chapter-to-chapter, but she doesn’t know if the scandal impacted numbers overall.

Media Milwaukee obtained, via an open records request, membership totals for fraternities and sororities. Some of them had missing information because fraternities haven’t reported their data.

In general, the chart show a change from 345 total students in the 2013-14 school year to 341 for the 2014-15 school year. DeMartino says that the numbers aren’t complete because not all chapters have reported their numbers, which is a requirement this year for chapters.

DeMartino also said that from the standpoint of Student Involvement, the numbers are growing, citing the addition of another 54-member organization.

When it comes to general interest, De Martino says that there was a lot higher interest in joining fraternities and sororities this year, but declined to say whether that was affected by  “any incidents this year,” and that she hasn’t had any “anecdotal conversations” with students on whether the TKE situation impacted their decision to join or not.

Grant Nagel, the president of Phi Sigma Kappa, Epsilon-Pi Chapter, says that since the TKE Situation, not much as changed in terms of recruitment. Phi Sigma Kappa has 21 current active members, which is an increase from 15 members in the spring of 2014. He also says that the main reason people do not join is because of the time commitment and the money involved (dues and insurance).

“We’re more than friends. We’re brothers,” said Nagel. “[There is] a lot of good that comes out of Greek life that people don’t see.”

Nagel also talked about the good that came out of his fraternity, such as doing the Polar Plunge because the Special Olympics are “big” for them as the organization is looking to sponsor an athlete. They have also helped a company build bikes, donate blood, and collect tabs for the Ronald McDonald House. Things that they help out with change based on what is going on, according to Nagel.

Nagel said the reason he got involved on campus is because involvement is a big deal for him since he works full time and attends class part time.

In terms of recruitment, Nagel says, being present on campus and just talking to people has helped them.

“We love this community. We love this school,” Nagel said.