Chao, new IFC president, to ‘bridge the gap’

Chao, new IFC president, to ‘bridge the gap’

By Jennifer K. Morita

The Interfraternity Council elected Mike Chao as its new
president at the end of last quarter, a self-described
bridge-builder whose primary focus is to increase the community’s
understanding of the greek system.

"I think a lot of what’s lost is the communication between IFC
and other groups on campus," said Chao, a member of Phi Kappa Sigma
and a fourth-year economics major. "People outside of the system
don’t really have an understanding. I think if we just give people
a way of learning about the system, they can decide for
themselves."

Elected eighth week of fall quarter by 22 fraternity presidents,
Chao will begin his term as president of the fraternity umbrella
organization on Jan. 18. He faces the challenging task of reaching
out to many campus communities whose relationship to the fraternity
council has long been strained.

"The mood on campus is not receptive to the fraternities," said
Chris Chaudoir, former IFC president. "Mike has the ability to
communicate. He can build bridges between the greek system and
groups who are opposed to the fraternities."

After speaking with Chao last year about reaching out to the
student body, Chaudoir was impressed with his ideas and asked him
to run for IFC president, Chao said.

"When I was thinking of running I talked to some folks about
some of the reasons fraternities and other groups haven’t gotten
along. Being Asian in a fraternity system that is very Caucasian, I
asked myself if I was going to be the token Asian and if suddenly
groups weren’t going to hate the fraternities," said Chao, who is
Chinese American.

"But the groups that feel the way they do will not be altered by
the color of my skin," he said. "I decided to run because I have a
real want to bridge the gap."

According to Chao, the fraternity system chooses to hold itself
to a standard that is open to different ideas and equality.

"Neo-nazis have the constitutional right to be offensive and
racist," Chao said. "Well, if you come down to the truth, the fact
of the matter is ­ if fraternities want to be offensive, they
have the constitutional right to be. But that’s not what we’re
about."

The goal of the fraternities is to try and foster an environment
that enhances the exchange of ideas in college, Chao said.

Chao said he plans to bridge the gap by having the fraternities
become more involved with the student body and campus issues. In
addition, he wants to sit down and talk with the various campus
groups.

"I’ve never sat down and expressed my opinions and heard what
they had to say," said Chao.

Lauren Herfindahl, a third-year English major involved with the
Panhellenic Council, the umbrella organization for the sorority
system, is a strong supporter of Chao.

"They just need to bounce back from the responsorship issue. I
think he’s hoping to change the attitude of a few people and make
the fraternity system appear a little bit more positive on campus,"
Herfindahl said.

With plans to increase understanding of the greek system, Chao
also wants to educate the student body by sponsoring events that
aren’t just for fraternities and sororities, such as alcohol and
sexual awareness seminars.

"You really understand that there’s a need for these things,"
Chao said.

In addition, Chao hopes to hold a Meet the Greek forum where
students can ask questions and find out more about the people
involved in the fraternities and sororities, he said.

"Sometimes we’re parents. Sometimes we’re policemen and
sometimes we’re educators," Chao said about the many roles a
fraternity has.

"Or sometimes we’re just like everyone else."