The University of Montana student is not only trying to finish her master's degree in English literature, she's going to help campus sororities and fraternities improve their image.
In recent years, the office of UM's Greek life adviser has been a revolving door. Each fall a new adviser arrives, promising to help boost declining numbers of campus Greeks and to convince the greater community that Greeks do more than drink and party.
While fresh faces think about joining UM's fraternities and sororities during recruitment week, which is now under way, the 23-year-old Yaksitch has pledged to stay on the job for at least four years.
"There's been a definite lack of continuity in this office - in this position," Yaksitch said. "I'm very aware of that and the consequences of that, and I think the Greeks deserve to have an adviser who they know who will be here for the next couple of years to help them work out some issues."
As she sees it, the timing is ripe for everyone involved with UM's Greek life to commit to the future.
"There is an amazing opportunity, and this is an awesome time because the Greek community has really dynamic leaders right now and they want to improve the Greek system," she said. "That's half the battle - they want to improve things."
There's no denying that numbers in UM's Greek life have slipped so low that fraternities and sororities struggle to survive.
Just 250 students belong to UM's six fraternity and four sorority houses.
But it's not just their numbers that need a boost, Yaksitch said, their image could use a makeover as well.
"We need to start educating people about our programs and not just talking about the great things we do," she said, "but showing we are great leaders, and showing we make a difference on campus and in the community."
Yaksitch said she plans to tap into Greek alums and use them as a resource to help recruit new members and to help showcase how UM's Greek life helps build successful lives.
"They are an incredible resource when it comes to networking, knowing the community," she said. "Many of them are business entrepreneurs, and they just have a great understanding of what it takes for an organization to survive."
During her tenure, Yaksitch said she will fulfill a three-part agenda.
First and foremost, she wants to help the Greek community improve communications between the chapter houses.
When the community of Greeks becomes a solid entity, with good intra-house cooperation, she wants to help the houses become involved with campus issues and projects. Some ideas are for chapters to co-sponsor events, to get Greeks paired up with campus and community organizations they care about, and to tap into national Greek programs, which have long been in place and are helpful to all students.
Through those efforts, the greater campus will learn that Greeks are both social and service-oriented, she said.
As campus education efforts unfold, Yaksitch wants to make an entry into Montana's high schools and get people thinking about joining before they come to campus.
Change doesn't happen overnight, she said, but change has already begun.
"The fraternities and sororities know they are at a crossroads if they are to survive - they get it," she said. "I plan to be here to help them become stronger.
"At least for the next couple of years."
Reporter Betsy Cohen can be reached at 523-5253 or at bcohen@missoulian.com
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