Green and Grey introduce themselves during ‘Ignatian Identity’

     Last week, Loyola's Green and Grey Society of 2011-12 introduced themselves to the student body. First recognized at the Gratias Ceremony on family weekend, they are now striving to be a more recognizable body on campus.

     This year's members are Angela Amarhanov, Sudesna Batajoo, Christopher Brown, TJ Dygert, Timothy Faver, Stephanie Gidney, Hilary Ippolito, Daniel Kelly, Michelle Lally, Matthew Lopez, Amanda Malik, Morgan Murray, Gregory Torres and Austin Wheeler.     

     Their first event was the "I am Loyola" Campaign, in which Loyola staff, faculty, students and administrators were able to nominate members of the community who are not typically recognized for their contributions—people who are living strong truths well lived under the radar.

     "I was incredibly pleased with the positive and enthusiastic response from not only fellow students, but also faculty to the ‘I am Loyola' idea and nominations," said G&G member Austin Wheeler.

     G&G also hosted a gender forum, "It's Not Just Pink and Blue," on Wednesday, Nov. 2. "It was encouraging to see a variety of differences in opinion. Discourse, if properly facilitated, should lead to understanding, learning and action," said Chris Brown, another member of G&G. The panelists spoke about gender identities and the struggles of establishing gender as something individual and personal rather than accepting societal definitions.

    "Coffee and Conversations with Green and Grey" on Thursday, Nov. 3, continued the discussion of gender that began the night before but provided a more intimate setting—a group of about 20 people seated in Humanities' Hug Lounge—for students to voice their opinions in the company of G&G members.

    Green and Grey Society is a group of 14 seniors—seven men and seven women—that act as a liaison between students and administration. The group was initiated for the 1988-89 school year as a society that would be widely respected and would serve as advisory to the president, according to Executive Vice President Dr. Susan Donovan.

     Green and Grey originally had 12 members, but it was expanded in the early '90s to accommodate the growing number of student leaders. "Our definition of leaders has broadened much more, which is great to recognize the contributions of others," said Donovan.

     Members of G&G cannot apply for their positions—they are nominated by their peers and by administration. Students are typically unaware that they are being considered until they receive a letter in late spring inviting them to join the society.

     Donovan said there are a many talented seniors on campus each year, and it would be impossible to select everyone who is worthy of the honor, but the intent is not to create an elitist group; rather, G&G was created to improve communication and trust, and to provide students' perspective to administration.

    The society meets voluntarily about once per week to discuss student issues and what issues they want to support. In the past, the group has been a sounding board for the president to discuss issues such as 9/11, food service on campus, housing plans, trustees, the strategic plan and the York Road Initiative. The group discusses this over breakfast or lunch with the president, and, often, the vice president, a couple of times per month.

     Last year, G&G was consulted about the Report Bias campaign, and changes were made accordingly. Members of the society said that they were impressed to see their changes implemented.

     Each group has the freedom to create its own mission statement. The society runs the Student Choice Awards in the spring, and can co-sponsor events with other clubs on campus, but G&G was intentionally created not to be a programming or governing body.   Donovan said that G&G should never be in competition with other groups on campus, and they can determine their level of involvement with those groups. Some groups in the past have been more involved in connecting with the student body, and some have been more reserved. The society changes each year because the new members have different goals based on their experiences at Loyola.

    "It's hard because it's a group of high achievers… You want to tell them, ‘You really don't have to do all these things, just your participation and your advice is good,' but they tend to want to justify their position and honor," said Donovan.

    Green and Grey members are able to draw connections between organizations on campus that might not interact otherwise. "I think it really gives them the opportunity to go outside their own particular major involvements to understand the perspective of other," said Donovan.

     "My impression of their involvement at present is to serve as a catalyst for students' reflection on the meaning of their Loyola education," said Vice President for Student Development and Dean of Students Dr. Sheilah Shaw Horton, who works with G&G. She highlighted the ways in which G&G aims to strengthen connections between student groups and to spark reflection on what it means to be a member of this community.