NIC Press Release
NIC Delegates Address Congress Regarding Fire Safety Issues
Indianapolis, IN - Washington D.C. was the gathering site of the leadership of fraternities and sororities last week as a group of over 600 fraternity and sorority alumni met in the nation's capital to address the issue of fire safety for the $3 billion in student housing on college campuses that house over 250,000 students a year in 8.000 facilities.
"The houses operate almost exclusively on student rents and do not have the ability to raise tax-deductible funding for important life-safety capital improvement," according to Rear Admiral (Ret.) James J. Carey, chairman of the North-American Interfraternity Conference's Government Relations Committee. He continued that colleges and universities could not bear the costs to replace these structures on campus. The NIC Government Relations Committee coordinated the activities of the two-day program.
Delegations of fraternity and sorority leaders met with over 60 members of the congress to discuss issues considered important to the future success of the college fraternity and sorority system. NIC Executive Vice President Jon Williamson said the meetings proved to be very successful. "We had a chance to educate our nation's leaders about the issues we feel strongly about. They were very receptive to our needs," he added.
Fraternities and sororities are the most visible and active values-based organizations on today's college campus. "Every fraternity and sorority is guided by founding principles and values that serve as a moral beacon for its members," Williamson emphasized. He continued saying that a fraternity's emphasis on values helps college students form the moral foundation for their future actions.
In addition, four members of the United States Congress were awarded the North-American Interfraternity Conference's Award of Distinction in recognition of their efforts to advance the ideals and efforts of fraternities and for being a vocal advocate for the needs of fraternities.
Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX), Senator Trent Lott (R-MS), Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones (D-OH), and Congressman Pete Sessions (R-TX) received their awards during the NIC Congressional Reception at the Cannon Caucus Room on Tuesday, May 14, 2002. The award winners each took the opportunity to address the more than 600 fraternity and sorority members in the room. There are 160 members of congress who are members of a fraternity or sorority.