The university’s Greek community soon will have a new addition to its administrative body with the creation of the Independent Greek Council, formed to help enforce federal and university non-discrimination policy, Director of Fraternity and Sorority Life Shannon Sumerlin said.

The Independent Greek Council would consist of the faith-based chapters Brothers Under Christ fraternity, He is Sufficient sorority and the TCU band service chapters Kappa Kappa Psi fraternity and Tau Beta Sigma sorority, Sumerlin said. The council would also help satisfy the Title IX amendment regarding single-gender organizations identifying themselves through the Fraternity and Sorority Life office.

Jared Cobb, director of TCU student organizations, wrote in an email that a collaboration between TCU Student Organizations and Fraternity and Sorority Life created the concept for the new council.

Jeremy Burkett, a senior political science major and member of Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity, said he was excited about the IGC formation.

“It’s a great opportunity for every Greek chapter to build new relationships and learn from one another,” Burkett said.

Sumerlin said the IGC would join the four existing Greek councils: Interfraternity Council, Panhellenic Council, Multi-Cultural Greek Council and the National Pan-Hellenic Council.

HIS and BYX has operated under the Fraternity and Sorority Life office for several years, she said. Kappa Kappa Psi and Tau Beta Sigma would join Fraternity and Sorority Life for the first time.

Sumerlin said the council also would aim to provide help with programming and structure for the individual organizations. She said she was confident the council would help the organizations involved know what resources, like programming and educational opportunities, would be available to them.

Nathan Brasher, BYX president, said he was excited about the council’s potential to give BYX a bigger voice within Fraternity and Sorority Life, as well as the opportunity to increase the fraternity’s presence.

Gaius George, coordinator of Fraternity and Sorority Life, would advise the council, which would include positions such as president, vice president, secretary, treasurer and community service chairman. This board would help to ensure that the organizations involved in the IGC had a greater sense of belonging and more voice on campus, George said.

Sumerlin said the council would bring a different perspective on what fraternities and sororities could look like on TCU’s campus.