For several years, Iowa State has maintained a strong reputation for its excellent greek community. With more than 2,500 students involved in a total of 52 fraternities and sororities, the greek community holds a long history of service and tradition.

The Panhellenic Council, the governing body for sororities, is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year. The proposal to organize the first interfraternity association and intergroup organization on campuses was initiated at a conference in Chicago May 24, 1902.

Alpha Phi invited a number of other sororities to join them in their attempt. They succeeded and developed what was first called the Interfraternity Conference.

After several renamings it is now known as the Panhellenic Council.

“A governing body for all sororities, the Panhellenic Council serves as a resource and a guide,” said Anna King, ISU Panhellenic Council communications director and senior in biology.

The council coordinates scholarships, philanthropies and recruiting, among other things, said Gigi Fairchild, president of ISU’s Panhellenic Council and junior in biology. The council plans all sorority events and plays a key role in greek life.

The National Panhellenic Conference oversees the Panhellenic Councils.

As a 26-member organization, with more than 630 College Panhellenics, 2,900 collegiate chapters and more than 240 Alumnae Panhellenics, the National Panhellenic Conference stands strong.

“It began as a group of sororities that decided to get together and form some policies,” King said. “Each one was doing their own thing. They just united and formed common rules.”

ISU’s Panhellenic Council, G16 Memorial Union, demonstrates unity through an excerpt from its constitution: “We recognize a common bond of friendship and sisterhood between the Greek letter organizations and we strive toward excellence in scholarship, leadership and philanthropic endeavors.”

The official Panhellenic Creed states: “The opportunity for wide and wise human service, through mutual respect and helpfulness, is the tenet by which we strive to live.”

A number of those with a history in the Panhellenic Council have taken advantage of that opportunity.

Among the 3,500,000 initiated are Katie Couric, Jane Pauley, Joan Londen, Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Elizabeth Dole and first lady Laura Bush.

Today, ISU sororities are kept busy by volunteering at places such as homeless shelters and playgrounds, Fairchild said.

Currently, the council has participated in 4,497 hours of community service.

The annual greek Easter egg hunt and spring clothing drive are also council events, said Jacquelyn Kolbeck, ISU Panhellenic Council director of scholarship and junior in biology.

Sororities have been at Iowa State for 125 years, she said. There are between 1,000 and 1,500 women in ISU sororities, involving 15 ISU chapters.

“Each university has their own council,” said Lori Hughes, ISU Panhellenic Council prospective student liaison and junior in elementary education.