Interfraternity Council elects new president

The University’s fraternity system has a new face of student leadership. But no big changes have been promised, at least not from his side.

Presidents from all 23 active fraternities of the Interfraternity Council elected Brent Macon, a junior and member of the UNC chapter of Sigma Chi fraternity, president of the council Thursday night.

Macon said he won’t propose far-reaching changes to Greek life, though his election comes in the midst of a recommendation from the Board of Trustees for substantive changes to the Greek system.

Macon, who emerged from a field of four candidates following a runoff election, will take office at the beginning of the spring semester.

A business major from Winston-Salem, Macon is currently the vice president of internal affairs for the IFC. He has helped with the enforcement of the new recruiting policies and served as a liaison between University officials and council members, he said.

Macon said his biggest goal for this year will be the integration of the University and the Greek system. He said that many times, the two are talked about as separate entities, although they are each a part of one another.

He praised the current executive board and said he plans to continue some of their programs.

“I want to continue what they did and launch a few new programs,” he said. “I don’t feel the need for an overhaul.”

One program he said he hopes to establish is a mentor program for new recruits. The program would be aimed at helping freshmen adjust more quickly while also creating relationships between fraternity members who share the same interests.

The University affairs subcommittee of the Board of Trustees is set to provide recommendations for changes to the Greek system to Winston Crisp, vice chancellor for student affairs, on Wednesday, said Alston Gardner, the committee’s chairman.

The effort came as a response to the death of Delta Kappa Epsilon president Courtland Smith last year, along with a string of drug arrests of fraternity and sorority members.

In addition to the mentor program, Macon and current president Tucker Piner said they have developed an idea of electing delegates from each fraternity to attend the IFC meetings. Currently, each fraternity president is present at the meetings and relays the information to his fraternity.

“We think the chapter presidents already have so much on their plates,” Macon said. “It would be more efficient if each chapter selects a delegate.”

Piner said he is confident that his office will be left in good hands.

“He’s seen a lot of things I worked on, and he’ll know how to improve them,” he said.

Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.