UNITED VOICES ON CAPITOL HILL

As we consider the power of united voices on issues, we can point to our lobbying efforts in Washington. This marks the 10th consecutive year that sorority women have been involved in such endeavors. But lobbying is nothing new for the National Panhellenic Conference (NPC). In fact, we have history to prove that our united voices make a difference.

Panhellenic power was evident in the 1970s when sororities and fraternities learned that the government planned to eliminate all the membership restrictions based on gender in the proposed guidelines for Title IX of the Education Amendments. NPC acted promptly and issued a statement that the proposed regulations did not apply to private sororities with voluntary members. Letters and phone calls urged Congress to reconsider the position. As a result, Congress passed a bill providing exemption to social fraternities and sororities and certain youth organizations. President Gerald Ford signed the bill into law. This example illustrates positive outcomes from a united and concentrated interfraternity effort.

This year, more than 200 students and alumni will lobby on Capitol Hill in April to advocate on behalf of our sorority and fraternity community. 

The annual visits are sponsored by the Fraternal Government Relations Coalition, which is composed of NPC, the North-American Interfraternity Conference and the Fraternity and Sorority Political Action Committee. Students will participate in two days of training to learn more about our public policy agenda. The participating alumni will join the students for an afternoon of training in preparation for our day on the Hill scheduled for April 29.

Here is our legislative agenda:

• Passing the Collegiate Housing and Infrastructure Act 
• Protecting freedom of association rights under Title IX
• Focusing on campus sexual assault issues
• Ensuring every student’s right to due process
• Limiting alumni volunteer liability
•  Preserving charitable giving deductions

Why lobby?

This united lobbying effort raises our visibility among members of Congress and extends our reach, so we can continue to advocate for rights as single-sex private organizations.

For 10 years, these visits have allowed our sorority women to develop bipartisan relationships with members of Congress, paving the way for our voices to be heard on major issues that affect students. 

Lobbying teams meet with staff and members of Congress. These experiences provide learning opportunities for our students as they advocate alongside the inter/national leaders of sororities and fraternities.

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month. NPC and NIC are proposing a SAFE CAMPUS for all students and are dedicated to working with other parties to eradicate acts of sexual violence. Our joint statement reads: “The National Panhellenic Conference and North-American Interfraternity Conference organizations believe that one assault is too many. We fully understand and support campuses acting swiftly on behalf of a victim, and we are dedicated to supporting the victim’s rights -- whether he or she is our member or not. We also fully support the victim’s right to choose his or her course of justice.”

Watch for postings later this month, and learn more about our legislative agenda.

Will you join us in our crusade? We encourage our College Panhellenic leaders to launch sexual assault awareness campaigns on campuses and promote bystander empowerment. Sororities are a caring community that can provide emotional support to courageous women who step forward and report. 

Our march continues this month to advocate for many issues affecting the sorority movement. With our voices in unison, we can achieve our vision to advance sorority together. 

Stand strong. Stand united.