Tucked deep in the recesses of the Schine Student Center is the new associate dean of student’s office. But it’s not likely you’ll find him there.

Roy Baker, new associate dean of students, has led a busy schedule this week as he attempted to learn as much as he could about the Office of Greek Life and Experiential Learning in his first few days in office, and getting to know students one by one.

Baker is now responsible for the approximately 300 student organizations at Syracuse University, including 45 greek chapters across campus.

‘It’s been hectic,’ Baker said. ‘I had to jump right onto a lot of projects, attending meetings and learn (about) the SU culture. It’s like the honeymoon period – it takes awhile getting unpacked.’

Baker has spent much of his first week meeting with various student organization presidents and students, scheduling meetings and attending student-run programs to become familiar with SU’s environment.

‘I’ve had a blast here in the last week and a half,’ Baker said. ‘It’s like a sponge here. I enjoy meeting the students more than anything.’

Baker’s appointment came after the departure of former Associate Dean Joseph Oravecz last spring, which left some student organizations on campus temporarily without a primary adviser.

‘It was very hard losing Dean Oravecz,’ said Charlie Walker, president of the Interfraternity Council, and a senior religion studies major. ‘Luckily, we found someone who matched his enthusiasm.’

Baker has had a great deal of experience working with college students. He was an interim director of housing and residence life at Slippery Rock University and was dean of students at both Catawba College and Bluefield College.

Baker said his position at SU is very similar to his work at Bucknell University, where he was the associate dean of students and director of fraternity and sorority affairs. SU, though, offers a new direction in Baker’s career.

‘A big difference is that (at Bucknell) I dealt specifically with fraternities and sororities,’ Baker said. ‘Our responsibility in this office is more than that.’

As associate dean, Baker hopes to show that although he is a university official, he is also available for students’ needs.

‘With my experience with student affairs, it gives me the opportunity to interact with students of all areas,’ Baker said. ‘I’m going to come up and shake your hand. And then I’m going to ask, ‘How are you doing?’ I want to be the kind of dean anyone can go to.’

Baker said he wants to be around for students as much as possible, following the example of a dean he knew when he was in college.

‘I want to give back and help people like he helped me,’ Baker said. ‘Some people who work (at a university) forget what we do here. We’re here for students.’

Anastasia Urtz, dean of students, believes Baker is determined to work hard for students.

‘He brings a wealth of knowledge about students and a real enthusiasm for student leadership development,’ said Urtz.

As a member of the Pi Kappa Phi National fraternity and his past experience as an adviser for greek life, Baker intends to improve the quality of greek life and recruitment on campus.

‘I believe in greek life. There’s no doubt in my mind it can contribute something solid to a student’s educational experience,’ Baker said. ‘I believe in it so much that when I see a greek system floundering, it concerns me.’

Baker said he feels greek life at SU is generally not focused on its founding principles. He said the systems originated to bring together common interests of students and use it to benefit the community.

‘We’re so far from that,’ Baker said.

Baker recently spoke at a forum on stereotypes about the greek system, encouraging students to become more interested in recruiting a larger pool of students.

‘When there’s 2,000 students out of 13,000 (involved in greek life), something is going wrong,’ Baker said. ‘Are you doing everything you’re supposed to be doing?’

Greek life should also spend more time dedicated to helping the community, Baker said. He has worked with greek organizations where they raised thousands of dollars through community service projects while continuing to enjoy a vivid social scene.

‘They still have parties even though they were working hard,’ Baker said.

Baker stressed the importance of integration among greek organizations, reflecting on his experiences in Pi Kappa Phi.

‘Pi Kappa Phi is not a ‘white’ fraternity,’ Baker said. ‘They recruited African-Americans, gay and international students.’

Baker said after his chapter of Pi Kappa Phi received diversity training, they learned the importance an eclectic group of members brings to the fraternity.

‘Here, and at other schools, it could send a message that the only option you have is one group,’ Baker said. ‘I don’t want (non-greeks) to think that they have only one choice.’

In addition, Baker said he has seen organizations in the South that bring students of all races into their organizations, which traditionally consisted of only one culture.

‘Down South, Omega Psi Phi (a traditionally black greek organization) had white students,’ Baker said. ‘It was cool.’

Baker said that greek does require a great deal of attention, but he does not want other student organizations to feel as though they are not equally important.

‘I don’t want to be perceived of as the ‘dean of greek life,” Baker said. ‘I was hired to be the dean of students.’

Baker intends on creating a relationship between other student organizations, including the University Union and Student Association.

‘We’re here to serve all organizations, not just ones with greek letters,’ Baker said.

Maggie Misztal, the comptroller of SA, is excited to see what Baker has in store as associate dean.

‘He’s going to do a great job,’ Misztal said. ‘He’s someone who I’ve seen around the office a lot. He’ll be a great resource.’

Members of IFC were also impressed with Baker’s willingness to become involved with students.

‘The thing that really stuck out for me was (how) he has been in office for a few weeks, but he showed up for the greek convocation a month before (he came into office),’ said Eric Gleason, vice president of programming for IFC and a senior art history and political science major. ‘It showed dedication.’

As for Baker, he encourages students across campus to not only feel welcome to talk to him, but also take advantage of all that the university has to offer.

‘There’s so many amazing resources that you all have,’ Baker said. ‘I just think it is awesome here to have the opportunity to do amazing things.’

Published on October 20, 2004 at 12:00 pm