Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity alumni are starting a financial aid fund after the number of current members seeking aid increased slightly, former treasurer Denton King '09 said. While most members have been able to pay dues, some sign up for odd jobs around the fraternity's house to reduce dues by up to $100, King said.
"A majority of [these brothers'] dues will be covered by this new program," King said.
Fraternity members participating in the program must receive financial aid from the College and meet several other conditions, according to King.
Sig Ep cannot decrease the cost of dues significantly without reducing the number of activities the organization sponsors, or the quality of those events, current treasurer Dan Chamberlain '10 said.
Beta Alpha Omega fraternity already has lower dues than other organizations at the College because Beta established its dues during the financial crisis, President Andrew von Kuhn '09 said in an email to The Dartmouth.
"It would have been great to ask for alumni support or using some of the house's money for dues, but as we all know, everyone has been affected by the financial crisis, including houses and alumni," von Kuhn said in the e--mail. "Of course it's not ideal to pay dues, but they are planned out for what the house will do in the term. And through all of our events, dinners and brotherhood events, each brother is getting something back at all times for his dues."
As a result of a slight increase in demand for aid, the Tabard coed fraternity is discouraging members from choosing to help maintain the house in order to reduce their dues, treasurer Amanda Gelman '09. The number of people who can work in lieu of payment is limited, Gelman said, because the organization requires a certain threshold amount of cash in order to support itself.
"We would never deny people that opportunity, but we're trying to discourage people against it," she said. "There are some things we have to pay and the areas where we would cut back are the fun stuff we would do."
The Greek Leadership Council is also working to lower the cost of organizations' dues by encouraging members to plan events that qualify for financial support from funding conglomerates like Programming Board.
"We want to make sure [these events] can continue to happen without having to increase dues for members of the houses," Eli Mitchell '10 said.
The Panhellenic Council has started a scholarship fund to help organizations with many members who cannot afford dues, Mitchell said. She clarified, however, that the initiative is not a result of the economic crisis.
Representatives from Sigma Delta sorority, Epsilon Kappa Theta sorority, Alpha Delta fraternity and Chi Heorot fraternity said the number of students requesting financial aid has not increased significantly.
"I haven't seen more applications than usual, and our previous treasurer didn't either," Sigma Delt treasurer Caitlin Boucher '10 said.
Theta treasurer Connie Lam '10 added that the sorority is hoping to offer more financial aid in the future, although the organization has not seen a significant change in the demand for financial assistance.
"Our ceiling on financial aid has moved around a little bit, but in general, we're not planning on changing our dues any time soon," Lam said. "That's never ruled out in any term, but I think we're doing pretty well financially."
Lam noted that local sororities have more flexibility in setting dues as they do not have to adhere to national organizations' requirements. Sigma Delt and Theta both allow members requesting financial assistance to select a payment plan or to work a certain number of hours in lieu of paying a portion of their dues.
AD also offers members the option of working to reduce their dues, according to treasurer Reed Boeger '10.
About 10 percent of Heorot members have received financial aid annually since the 2006-2007 academic year, Heorot treasurer Tommy D'Antonio '10 said.
Unlike most organizations, Heorot does not require members receiving financial aid to work a certain number of hours or choose a payment plan.
"We just don't charge them, and it's fine," D'Antonio said.
Kappa Kappa Kappa fraternity's dues have been unaffected by the financial crisis, Michael Brasher '10, the fraternity's president, said in an e-mail.
Brasher said he could not elaborate further on the organization's finances.
Several other Greek organizations did not return requests for comment.
