To some, she’s the Greek police, patrolling fraternity and sorority parties and enforcing fun-stifling sanctions.
To others, she’s the Greeks’ best friend, their biggest advocate on campus and a valuable resource.
In the end, Assistant Dean of Students for Fraternity and Sorority Life Jenny Levering is a bit of both.
But the dichotomy in perception has led to little consensus on how Levering does her job at a time when the Greek community is under review and could soon see major changes — especially to Levering’s role.
“It’s a unique position that I hope to see changed in the next few years,” former Greek Judicial Board co-chairman Shane Capps said. The board is one of four organs in the Greek judicial process and oversees many alcohol and hazing cases.
The job at hand
Levering took over the assistant deanship in 2007, when Jay Anhorn left for Elon University.
She has been in the spotlight since August, when Delta Kappa Epsilon president
was shot to death by police after calling 911 and saying he was armed and suicidal. He was at a party at the DKE house a few hours before he died.
Since then, UNC’s Greek system has begun a systematic review, though administrators say Smith’s death did not directly prompt it.
Levering says her job is to be the official liaison between fraternities and sororities, their national organizations, alumni and parents, the University and others.
She also acts as an adviser, an institutional memory bank and an expert.
“One day I could be doing crisis management,” she said. “The next I could be writing curricula for new events.”
Those who have worked closely with Levering emphasize that her help as an adviser is indispensable.
“She’s fantastic, seriously,” said Brent Blonkvist, the former Interfraternity Council vice president for internal affairs. “She really has a heart for Greeks. She fights for us to continue to have our autonomy.”
Levering, disciplinarian
Jenny Levering’s job includes...
-Advising and overseeing more than 50 Greek organizations.
-Providing programming for the four major councils.
-Engaging in organizational development plans with chapter officers.
-Maintaining standards of behavior and excellence expected by UNC, local chapters and the national Greek organizations.
-Implementing educational programs to enhance Greek organizations and the community.
-Teaching seminars on topics such as risk management, alcohol and leadership.
-Engaging in assessments to demonstrate the contributions and benefits of Greek organizations.
-Overseeing Greek fire safety programs.
-Overseeing departmental budget and gift funds.
-Cultivating close relations with faculty, alumni, parents, students and community agencies.
