Eastern students now have one fewer place to purchase snacks and beverages. In the Martin Luther King Jr. University Union, the Panther Pantry– not to be confused with EIU’s food pantry– has permanently closed.

Dean of Students Jody Stone said, “We found that students were utilizing the Food Court and the Bookstore much more than the Panther Pantry, and students were not visiting the Panther Pantry enough to support it and keep it open.”  

Students can utilize the nearby bookstore, the food court and the convenience store near South Quad to purchase items found in the former Panther Pantry.  

The space is being renovated into a common area for the fraternities and sororities on campus. Construction is currently underway, with the work expected to be completed by homecoming week.   

“Last year, during the Fraternity and Sorority External Review, the external review team provided in one of its findings that EIU did not have a community center for Greek students, and they shared how important a community center was for the fraternity and sorority community. Therefore, it was an easy decision to transition the Panther Pantry to a Fraternity and Sorority Community Center,” Stone said.  

Members of several fraternities and sororities expressed excitement and optimism regarding the new space.  

“I’m excited to have something for us,” said senior Alyssa Hartman, a human services major who is a member of the Delta Delta Delta sorority, commonly referred to as Tri Delta.

“I think it’s a step in the right direction,” said Angel Madera, a senior biology major and a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity.  

The Greek life members intend to use the space as a study area to build unity among the chapters and for outreach to the general student population.  

“A bunch of us have friends in other sororities, like she (Hartman) was talking about,” said Aubrey Ogibovic, a junior communication disorders and sciences major who is also a member of Tri Delta. She later explained how people in different chapters that have similar majors often study together.  

“Greek Unity is so important,” said Mary Martin, a sophomore early childhood education major, who is a member of the Kappa Delta sorority. Hartman, Madera and Ogibovic agreed that unity among the chapters is important.  

They expressed that the new common area will help support their organizations on campus. The students feel that the university is supportive of Greek life overall but also expressed how Eastern could improve.  

EIU could be more supportive of Greek life, said Martin, by showing up to philanthropy events. She also expressed gratitude for University President Jay Gatrell’s support in terms of raising money, general support and working with the organizations to improve campus, such as getting the Spirit Rock.  

“I’d say promote us more,” Ogibovic said. She expressed how she wants the university to encourage people to join both Greek organizations and registered student organizations in general.  

Hartman expressed similar sentiment.

“I feel like if people promoted Greek life more, they would see the positive aspects of it,” she said. “I feel like people just see what they see on social media.”

Jacob Hamm can be reached at 581-2812 or at jmhamm@eiu.edu.