Interfraternity Council Hosts Transition Ceremony

Athens, GA: In a ceremony at the UGA Chapel, where attendees donned masks and practiced social distancing, the 106th University of Georgia Interfraternity Council took office. Brennan M. Cox, a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon and president of the 105th Council, installed the 26 newly elected fraternity chapter presidents as members of the General Assembly, the Council’s legislative body. Christopher P. Jue, vice president of administration for the 105th Council and president of Pi Kappa Phi in the 104th Council, administered the oath to the six Council officer-elects who compose an Executive Board. Both the fraternity chapter presidents and Council officers serve an annual term.

Established in 1915 by ten fraternity chapters, the University of Georgia Interfraternity Council serves as a self-governing body of fraternities on campus. Today, after more than a century, the Council has grown to represent 26 member chapters and more than 2,600 undergraduates in its mission to further the ideals of the fraternity system and University.

Before administering the oaths, Cox congratulated the 105th Council for its efforts in revising the constitution, reforming recruitment practices, endowing $100,000 for a Georgia Commitment Scholarship, navigating the COVID-19 pandemic, charging a committee on diversity, equity, and inclusion, donating $100,000 to the Mell Leadership Fund, establishing a $400,000 endowment fund, and reclaiming roles as campus leaders. Looking toward the 106th Council, Cox challenged the 32 fraternity men “to question the status quo, to invoke difficult conversations, and to lead and serve with others in mind.”

Upon taking office as the new president, Evan R. Venable, a member of Alpha Gamma Rho, commended the 105th Council and challenged the 106th Council “to make the difficult decisions and have the tough conversations,” citing the need to build upon the work of their predecessors. In closing, Venable charged each chapter president and officer of the 106th Council to “pick up the mantle every day and work to move such forward,” emphasizing how crucial it is for fraternity leaders in all positions to actively better themselves, their chapter, the Council, and the University.

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