This article was written in April of 1999.

"I think the Greek system is a good opportunity to succeed and be a part of something," says William "Skip" Downham '84. "At the same time it requires a lot of self-control and responsibility on the part of the person joining the organization to make sure that they contribute rather than detract from the whole."

Downham, a Kappa Alpha alumnus and Alumni Association Board of Directors member, was recently asked to chair the newly-formed Greek Life Committee, which met for the first time over the Alumni Board weekend in March.

"I'm closing my term on the board this October, so I've had the opportunity over the past six years to see how Greek issues come forward and never seem to get resolved," he says. " The idea for the committee surfaced through the Board and office of Alumni and Parent Relations, and I was asked to help in the formation of it. So I cheerfully accepted because I see real opportunity for everyone to use this committee as a forum for the exchange of ideas and information about the Greeks."

According to Downham, the immediate functions of the first Greek Life Committee were threefold. First, it provided a forum which fostered discussion between Greek organizations, their alumni and the SU administration. It also facilitated creation of "a plan, for the Greek system as a whole to meld with the 2010 plan that the University is currently working on." A third function of the committee was a "kind of subset of the 2010 plan that will be a self-review of Greeks on campus: rewarding those who are doing well and helping those who are challenged." He says that a long-range function of the committee will simply be the exchange of ideas among Greek organizations on campus. A long-range goal for the committee is the "development of a plan of excellence in the Greek system . . . for inclusion in the University's 2010 plan."

The 2010 effort is Southwestern's overall master plan for the next decade. It is being conceptualized and written this year by faculty, staff, students and alumni.

Having been involved in leadership positions in the Kappa Alpha Order and in the Interfraternity Council (IFC), Downham feels he can draw from his varying leadership perspectives and experiences in order to positively influence his current leadership position in the committee.

"I can come from a Greek leadership perspective and see the benefits of this program and how it can help," he says. Furthermore, Downham's experience on the Alumni Board will aid in his new role. "It's really funny, being involved in the University in the last six years," he muses. "A lot of things change and a lot of things stay the same. I would say that there are more similarities than there are changes. But the changes that have occurred are really positive and in a forward direction. I think there is a lot more responsibility about self-control and alcohol awareness than when I was here. There's more emphasis on scholarship and doing better in school and I think that the student has changed and is more interested in succeeding in those areas. So I think that there's a lot of tradition that's remained, although the students are a little bit different."

Downham cautions that the Greek Life Committee is, in some ways, limited in its power to alter policies on safety requirements for fraternity housing and alcohol use and disribution at Greek-sponsored functions. "I think that alcohol issues are always going to be there and I think housing issues are always going to be there. We will discuss them in the committee, but I'm not sure the committee is going to be the place to make decisions on those issues. We want to make sure this committee is forward thinking, only considering long term topics, not hung up on everyday/operational issues. If you look at the alcohol policy, for instance, I think the state and local government has pretty much covered that area. I mean, the law's the law, and legal age is legal age, and it can't be changed. But if there's a system in place for Greeks where alcohol education and procedures are followed, then I think there's a better opportunity for people who get in trouble to have a platform from which to defend themselves. As far as housing goes, I believe we're basically through with that issue. It's done; the houses have been remodeled and brought up to code. I think the formulation of the Greek Committee at this time, when the Fraternity houses are in their best condition, the campus has been remodeled, there is a real spirit of cooperation . . . it is an excellent coming together of all these issues, and I think it's really going to give us some momentum and help our cause in the committee."

Skip Downham received his B.B.A. from Southwestern with an emphasis in marketing and a minor in economics and is now a sales development specialist with Hallmark Cards. He and his wife Tracy live with their sons Price and George in The Woodlands, north of Houston. Asked whether he is planning on encouraging his sons to join a fraternity, his response is a positive one. "I got a lot from my experience being here," reflects Downham. "I think that it added a lot to my life and it challenged me to do better. On my own being a student here, I think it would have been difficult for me to finish, but with the help of my KA brothers, I was able to finish and I would like for my sons to have that same experience."