The sorority system at Iowa State will have a new governing body when the Panhellenic Council and the Rush Executive Council complete their merger in January.

Both councils currently serve the sorority system, and members say the merger should help things run more efficiently by having one expanded council.

Panhellenic Council is the governing body for all 15 sororities on campus. Currently, the council has 11 members, but the addition of the Rush Executive Council will raise that number.

Carolyn Jones, president of Panhellenic Council and senior in journalism and mass communication, said she sees many benefits in joining the two councils into one.

“Since the Rush Executive Council and Panhel have many of the same goals and work on many of the same events, it will eliminate people having to attend both meetings and allow things to run smoother,” Jones said.

Jones said once the council members decided the merger was a positive step, the members took the idea to each of the chapters for a vote.

Amy Robertson, vice president of recruitment for Panhellenic Council and senior in exercise and sport science, also feels the merger will be beneficial.

“With the two councils working together as one, I think both will gain more power,” Robertson said. “The Rush Executive Council will be about to be more creative, and hopefully that will help them be able to recruit more people into the greek system.”

The idea for the merger was reinforced at the Mid American Greek Council Association (MAGCA) conference held last February.

“Most schools either have just one council or are going to switch to the single council in the near future,” Robertson said.

Robertson said the transition will have to be carried out carefully to ensure that matters continue to run smoothly.

“Everyone from this year’s council will have to work [with] the new individuals to make sure that everyone’s duties are clear,” Robertson said.

Panhellenic Council has been involved with Rush and recruiting.

“We work all summer to recruit all women,” Robertson said. “We attend orientations and visit with parents in hopes of getting new members.”

After the merger, Rush Executive Council members and Panhellenic Council members will work as one body to recruit new members.

“Panhel members didn’t always have duties for Rush, but now everyone on Panhel will have a role to play in Rush,” Jones said.