Since 2002, UNM's Greek community has seen an explosion of growth.
Not only has the number of Greeks on campus increased from 556 to 716, but several culturally based organizations have sprung up, including one sorority that only exists at UNM.
"Our goal is to make the Greek community represent the student body as a whole," said Allison Holcomb, Greek Life adviser at UNM. "Anytime students take it upon themselves to start a group that represents someone that wasn't previously represented, it's a positive thing."
One of UNM's newest additions to its Greek community, Alpha Pi Omega, an American Indian sorority, is expected to have a fully functional chapter on campus by spring.
Holcomb said the concept of culturally based organizations has caught on at UNM. The first-ever pledge class of Alpha Pi Omega at UNM is expected to be the largest ever in the national sorority's history.
PETALS and Lambda Theta Alpha are also culturally based sororities that have taken root at the University within the past two years.
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Zeta Psi Pi, a sorority that was started at UNM by several students who said they didn't fit in with any of the groups on campus, is an example of the freedom UNM's Greek community gives students who are interested in being part of a larger group, Holcomb said.
"With our Greek community becoming more diverse, more perspectives and points of view are being brought into play," she said. "It really affords everyone the chance to get to know different kinds of people."
Holcomb said UNM's Greek community is doing everything it can to accommodate the new groups by relaxing recruiting regulations and helping advertise the groups to the student body.
The number of sororities at UNM has doubled from four to eight over the past two years.
Many Greeks, including recently elected Panhellenic Council president Cari Crappell, said they see this as a positive sign for the future of the University's Greek community.
Crappell said the more opportunities students have to get involved on campus, the more chances they have of enriching their college experience.
"The growth of non-traditional organizations on campus is representative of UNM's cultural identity," she said. "I support any opportunities students have to promote their own identities."
The number of fraternities on campus has also grown in recent years, from nine to 14, including the University's first African American organizations.
The Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity chapter became active on campus this semester, and the Kappa Alpha Psi interest group, while still in its beginning phases, is expected to gain popularity at UNM.
The biggest advantage of a bigger, more diverse Greek community is increased opportunities to become active in the outside community, which benefits everyone, Holcomb said.
"The overall goal of the Greek community is to improve the (surrounding) community while giving the members chances to grow as individuals," she said.
