Members of all three of the University’s Greek councils — the National Panhellenic Council, the Panhellenic Council and the Interfraternity Council — returned from the EMPOWER retreat this weekend with positive feelings and new ideas.   Every Greek organization sent at least one representative on the annual retreat to discuss issues and formulate plans of action for rectifying problems within the community. Director of Greek Affairs Victor Felts said he thinks the weekend helped motivate students.   “They came away very inspired and determined to make positive changes,” Felts said.    Felts said he thinks students returned home with an understanding of the importance of living up to their organizations’ moral codes.    “We have a lot of lofty ideals, and we sometimes fall short,” Felts said. “That can really lessen our credibility   Felts said understanding an organization’s values and trying to live by them is the most important aspect of Greek life.    Student Coordinator Robin Penzato said about 115 people attended the retreat.    “I think everyone left with a positive outlook on the Greek community and the University as a whole,” Penzato said.    Rachel Gates, a history sophomore and a member of Delta Gamma sorority, said she was impressed by the feeling of unity among the participants.    “There was someone there from every organization, and everyone got along really well,” Gates said. Penzato said participants talked about how members can change problems with hazing violations and alcohol consumption.    “We wanted to address negative stereotypes that plague the Greek community,” Penzato said. Penzato said she hoped the retreat reminded people that Greek organizations are based on values, scholarship, integrity and character.    “A person pledges not only to become a member but to follow the values that the founders set for that organization,” Penzato said. “I think they all left feeling like they had the knowledge to lead their chapters,” Penzato said.    Because of excessive competitions between organizations in the past, many students came up with positive ideas about improving relations between organizations, Felts said.    “We don’t want everything to be a competition,” Felts said. “Some things are just for fun.” Felts said he hoped that, in the future, students wouldn’t always concentrate on winning an event or having the most members at a fundraiser.    “Sometimes we just need to participate and have fun and raise money for charities,” Felts said. One of the groups created a “Brother to Brother, Sister to Sister” program, in which a fraternity or sorority would invite another over for dinner, Felts said.    One of the groups on the retreat focused on improving communication with the public and sharing information about philanthropy events and community service, Felts said.    “The Greek community had over 60,000 hours of community service last year,” Felts said. “We want to show people that being in a fraternity or sorority isn’t about just having a big party.”    Though the majority of participants were freshmen, Gates said she thought the retreat was equally beneficial for older students.    “I was very much in the minority,” Gates said. “I’m still fairly new, though — I learned a lot.”    Beau Rasberry, a biological sciences sophomore and a member of Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity, said the retreat helped him learn more about other Greek organizations. “It helped me meet a lot of people from different fraternities,” Rasberry said.    Rasberry said he was pleased to meet other people who were as enthusiastic as he is about Greek affairs.    “It was nice to meet people and see how passionate they are about their fraternities the way I’m passionate about mine,” Rasberry said.    Felts said he noticed a great deal of camaraderie among all participants, as well as a willingness to learn from each other. “I think they all became more aware of their similarities and differences,” Felts said.