Additionally, students may soon have two new social spaces centered around diversity if Phi Sigma Nu, a Native American fraternity, establishes a campus chapter and plans for an LGBT affinity house continue to move forward.
Preston Wells '15 said he met with Greek Letter Organizations and Societies officials on July 16 to discuss establishing a Dartmouth chapter of Phi Sigma Nu. The house's first charter class will be inducted this fall, and membership will not be restricted to students of Native American descent.
Due to College guidelines, Phi Sigma Nu may not receive official recognition until winter or spring term, but will be given provisional status, Wells said.
The fraternity will join Alpha Pi Omega sorority, which already has a chapter on campus. Like Alpha Pi Omega, Phi Sigma Nu's role of providing leadership and community service opportunities to its members will differ from the Native American House on campus, which functions as a cultural center and residence hall.
Students first considered founding a Dartmouth chapter of Phi Sigma Nu in 2009.
An LGBT house has been in development for years and is expected to open by 2014. Former advisor to LGBT students Pam Misener previously said that students had requested an LGBT house in 1999, when she first joined the Office of Pluralism and Leadership.
The LGBT house will join existing College affinity houses, such as La Casa Spanish Language House and the Chinese Language House.
Many students said that religious and ethnic organizations provided a welcoming community when they arrived on campus.
Afro-American Society summer president Bennie Niles '15 said members are planning outreach efforts to welcome incoming students. The group is hosting a phone bank event to address concerns and questions that members of the Class of 2017 may have before matriculating.
Niles hopes to introduce first-year students to the diversity within Afro-American Society by hosting events that showcase existing members. In his own experience, Niles said the Afro-American Society has provided an "extended family" of students and contributed to his personal and intellectual growth.
Monica Stretten '15, an undergraduate advisor and former resident of La Casa, said the house holds weekly dinners and events where participants can hone their language skills.
The majority of attendants are students enrolled in introductory Spanish courses or those who have returned from study abroad trips and want to maintain their speaking skills.
Students can join an affinity house like the Afro-American Society or La Casa at the beginning of sophomore year. During their freshman year, students are placed into housing by the College.
Hillel executive vice president of programming Amanda Zieselman '15 said she attended Hillel events as a freshman as a way to meet other Jewish students. Having spent most of her life in a community with a small Jewish presence, she was looking forward to joining a larger network of Jewish peers.
Zieselman learned about Hillel during orientation and said that nearly half of last year's participants were freshmen.
"We really want to incorporate freshmen into the group as a whole," she said.
Weekly events like "Jews and Java," Monday meetings and Friday night dinners help form a close-knit community.
Zieselman said she is proud of the membership's fluidity and inclusivity, which she said is welcoming to all students.
Aquinas House member Bridget Shaia '15 said she joined the organization when she arrived on campus. Aquinas House, Dartmouth's Catholic student center, designs its fall programming around welcoming freshmen into the community. Programming for the term culminates in a cabin retreat.
Other major religious organizations on campus include Cru Dartmouth, an evangelical organization, and Al-Nur, a Muslim student association.
Students who are the first in their families to attend college may find support from the First-Generation Student Network, which connects students with faculty and advisors from comparable backgrounds.
Advisor to LGBT students Reese Kelly could not be reached for comment.
