Student party planners across campus felt the void when Assistant Director of the Office of Student Affairs (OSA) Joey Greenwell resigned over the summer and moved on to bigger and better things. His position encompasses the oversight and approval of all student-planned parties on campus, including those hosted by fraternities and Row houses.

“He was a friend to the Greek system in the sense that when we had questions about events we were planning, everyone was comfortable going to him to get the official — and even unofficial — standpoint,” said senior Derek Alley, president and former social chair of the Kappa Sigma fraternity. “He was definitely firm in upholding University policy, but he was really easy to approach and bounce ideas off of. Everybody who dealt with him had his cell phone number, and you could call him with questions at any time.”

In late 2003, The Daily reported that Greenwell had “waived the normal 14-day pre-approval deadline” for an alcoholic ASSU tailgate party in the Mirrielees Courtyard. However, Greenwell’s occasional lenience is a tradition that may not be carried on by his successor.

“We’re currently searching for a replacement for Mr. Greenwell,” said OSA Director Nanci Howe. “This is not a policy or leadership change. This is just a staff change. There’s really no story here.”

Most of those involved are eager to believe that Greenwell’s absence will not result in any permanent party planning policy permutations.

“I don’t think that there will be any drastic policy changes,” Alley said. “He didn’t make any special considerations for Greeks.”

The current, simple party approval process is enjoyed by upper- and underclassmen alike.

“Planning parties is really easy — I was actually surprised at how easy it was; the only real obstacle is the sober monitor requirement,” said freshman Sonia Poltoratski, social chair for Branner Hall. “It’s definitely harder to plan parties at other schools, but it’s good to have some logical guidelines. However, it would be very easy to make planning a party more difficult than it is now.”

The new director, yet to be named, will face an uphill battle against student expectations.

“People aren’t going to be comfortable with the new person at first, and that’s something that he or she is going to have to combat,” Alley said. “There should be some sort of round-table forum where the new AD sits down with student leaders and makes himself known. The new person, whoever he or she is, will have to make an effort to make themselves as open to students as Joey was.

“He really played the role of friend and advisor better than anyone,” Alley added. “He was always there for us.”