The Washington State University Office of the President and WSU Greek councils are attempting to build a more conducive relationship between the institution and community.

Dan Bernardo, WSU interim president, met with several leaders from the Greek community earlier this month to begin more proactive steps in relationship-building and a discussion on preventing further serious injuries occurring on Greek Row.

“He wanted to sit down and ask us what we thought,” said Interfraternity Council (IFC) President Zak Cherif.

Cherif said though there has always a relationship between the university and Greek Life, it’s often come with negative feelings on both sides.

“There are things that both sides can show for the benefit of everyone,” he said. “We want to feel some tangible worth from the university, rather than we just exist.”

He is hopeful that the university’s push towards more student safety within fraternity and sorority life means that there is an explicit commitment to working with Greek Councils in the future.

The conversation was utilized to determine what the focus of the universities involvement with new safety procedures would be while also emphasizing what is necessary to foster a safer overall environment for the community as a whole, said Panhellenic Council President Taylor Christenson.

The conversation with Greek leaders followed recent incidents where two students fell at different times from structures attached to Greek houses this semester.

In August, a 19-year-old woman fell from a second story window at Delta Gamma. The following month, a 21-year-old man fell from a three-story fire escape at Sigma Phi Epsilon and is still recovering from his injuries.

Bystander training for the Greek community, intended to help prevent further accidents, was discussed as a potential option, Cherif said.

A letter published by Bernardo last week stated his support for the Greek community and called for action to prevent more accidents at Greek houses.

“Over the next few months, the university administration will be working with the Greek councils and other Greek chapter leadership to implement several proactive steps to mitigate the incidence of falls,” he wrote.

Both Greek councils have responded positively.

“I think it speaks highly of Dan Bernardo for him to reach out to us as leaders to check in to see how he can be a better resource for us for the remainder of our term and for the transitioning period of when the new council is elected,” Christensen said.

She said that it is both the university and both Greek councils goal to be proactive with student safety rather than reactive.

Alongside the Office of the President and the two Greek councils, student affairs has been involved in the discussions as well.

Melynda Huskey, interim vice president of student affairs, and her office has also been in open communication with the organizations as well.

“We try to meet monthly with the various Greek councils,” she said. “And it’s definitely led to better communication.”