Despite the advantage of somewhat cheaper living expenses, some greek organizations at Baker University are having trouble keeping their members even during these tough economic times.

Brett Bruner, director of greek life and health education, said retention does seem to be a problem with select sororities and fraternities on campus, but said he cannot speak for all the chapters.

“Right now, retention is a focus in the greek houses,” Bruner said. “It’s not just about recruiting new members, it is about keeping the members we already have.”

Bruner said all the greek organizations are currently having open recruitment.

The current recruitment efforts are planned entirely by the members of each greek organization, Bruner said. Some of the events that have been planned are open houses, crafts or service projects.

“The best way to recruit is to get to know the people you spend a lot of time with and introduce them to your organization,” Bruner said.

Sophomore Carl Prieto, vice president of programming at Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity, said the organization has about 18 to 20 members.

He said some members have dropped the fraternity partially because of financial reasons, even though it’s less costly to live at the fraternity house than on campus.

“It is cheaper to live in the greek house not only because of the rent but also you don’t have to buy a meal plan,” Prieto said.

Prieto said the fraternity house is probably hurting financially because fewer members means less money from rent payments.

Prieto said the fraternity has a new alumni board and one of its ideas to help recruit more members is to update current facilities.

“We have a new alumni board that is helping us come up with funding to renovate the house,” Prieto said.

Junior Libby Steele, president of Alpha Chi Omega sorority, said retention has been good this year for her organization.

The sorority is holding open recruitment, which Steele said isn’t unusual for this time of the year, because many women graduate at semester or go to nursing school leaving room for new members.

Steele said she thinks the economy has a lot to do with the dip in greek numbers in various organizations. She said all the houses are feeling the stress of the economy.

“We are just trying to be extra conscientious with how we spend our money,” she said. “Greek houses have their peaks and valleys, and I just think that right now we are in a valley.”