The Interfraternity Council passed Tuesday 12 of the 13 amendments GW recommended to the council’s self-governance policy, putting the program closer to implementation.

We’re extremely close to an agreement, but I expect we’ll need another two weeks, IFC President Jay Levin said. Both the University and the council want (self-governance).

Director of Greek Affairs Tracie Anzaldi said the University is optimistic about IFC self-governance.

(IFC self-governance) will ease the workload of Student Judicial Services and make fraternities more accountable to each other, Anzaldi said.

The Council approved an amendment that lowered the minimum GPA requirement for hearing board members from 3.0 to 2.8, making the requirement consistent with the University’s regulations for students who participate on hearing boards.

The Council rejected an amendment that would require the judge, who is in charge of overseeing the fairness of the trial, be in charge of collecting evidence against the defendant. IFC members said they thought the amendment would create a conflict in interest.

Levin said self-governance offers a chance to change students’ perceptions about fraternities.

(Hearing the cases) will be a difficult job, but we’re grateful for this opportunity, Levin said. It gives us a chance to fight the `Animal House’ stereotype and prove we can be responsible for ourselves.

Levin said IFC self-governance will work better than other attempts worked in the past.

A few years ago (the IFC) made an attempt at self-governance that only lasted 10 weeks, Levin said. This time we’re determined to make the change permanent, so we’re going to take on responsibility incrementally.

Under the proposed policy, SJS would maintain judicial control of more serious violations, such as hazing, but it would pass down less serious violations, such as alcohol violations or minor misconduct.

GW and the IFC have trained six members for the proposed IFC judicial hearing board – one more than the University requires for a judicial board, but much fewer than the three-per-fraternity recommendation from the University.

Five of the 11 IFC fraternities have not trained a member for the hearing board – the chief component of the expected move toward IFC self-governance – but fraternity presidents said there had been scheduling difficulties.

We had a few guys who were prepared to go to the training sessions, but only one could make it because of scheduling, said Colin Murtha, president of the Phi Sigma Kappa fraternity.

Levin, Anzaldi, and other fraternity presidents said the IFC will schedule more training sessions. The organization has not scheduled the next session.

This is a great thing, said Sigma Phi Epsilon President Anthony Balestrieri. We have the University’s support and we’re really ready to prove we can be a responsible part of this community.

Levin agrees the IFC can act responsibly.

In the end, what matters most is conducting fair and impartial hearings, he said.