"It was all the beautiful souls I met through IC who made Bloomington fit for me."
- IC co-Founder melissa feeser
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Fast Facts about IC
Members are called: Independents
Symbol: Daisy
Colors: Blue, yellow, and white
Founded at IU: 2009
Core Values: Friendship, Leadership, Service, Acceptance, & Community
Motto: Be who you want to be with IC!
Symbol: Daisy
Colors: Blue, yellow, and white
Founded at IU: 2009
Core Values: Friendship, Leadership, Service, Acceptance, & Community
Motto: Be who you want to be with IC!
The Basics
What is independent council?
Independent Council is a social-philanthropic organization for independents who are not members of greek life at IU Bloomington. Founded on the principle of inclusion, IC helps members create long-lasting friendships, fond memories, and an impact on the community. IC allows women/non-binary individuals at IU to engage in school traditions, social participation, philanthropic contribution, and academic achievement.
On campus there are four major greek councils, and Independent Council is an alternative to these councils. IC has functioned since 2009 as an alternative to greek life for independents who for whatever personal reason found that greek life was not for them but wanted the advantages and enrichment such organizations could offer. Unlike greek councils, we do not have separate chapter organizations, but function as one organization of about 100-130 people.
On campus there are four major greek councils, and Independent Council is an alternative to these councils. IC has functioned since 2009 as an alternative to greek life for independents who for whatever personal reason found that greek life was not for them but wanted the advantages and enrichment such organizations could offer. Unlike greek councils, we do not have separate chapter organizations, but function as one organization of about 100-130 people.
What does IC do?
We are a social-philanthropic organization, so we host a mix of events. We host social events like mixers, Women's Weekend, formal, tailgating, spa nights, movie nights, etc.. We host philanthropy events like benefit concerts, bra drives, and are involved in other community initiatives that benefit organizations like Big Brothers Big Sisters, Girls Inc, Free the Girls, Special Olympics, etc.. We also have a Little 500 cycling team! IC offers a host of leadership opportunities through our 11 committees and numerous elected positions. Additionally, because we are such a large organization, we have Family groupings of 5-10 members as well as big/little pairings to make making friends even easier!
When/where are meetings? what is the time commitment?
Our general body meetings are 20-45 minutes at 7:30 PM every other Monday evening in the Whittenberger Auditorium in the Indiana Memorial Union. Beyond general body meetings, there is no required attendance at events except for New Member Orientation (more info in How Do I Join below).
How long is the commitment? Do i have to sign up again every semester?
You join on a semester basis. Each semester, every member who wishes to be a part of IC for that semester will fill out the Membership Form (also sometimes called the Application or Membership Application Form). We understand that life happens and some semesters are busier than others. You do not pay dues for semesters of absence.
Does ic live together?
Nope! IC is not housed. Many members do live with their IC besties, though!
Being an Independent
WHO IS AN INDEPENDENT?
An independent is someone who is unaffiliated with a social greek sorority on campus. For IC, you are considered independent if you are not a member of a chapter in the Panhellenic Association, the Interfraternity Council, Multicultural Greek Council, or National Pan Hellenic Council (Divine 9).
Am I an independent if I am in an academic fraternity/honors society with greek letters in the name?
If you are in a greek-lettered academic fraternity or honors society, we consider you to be independent, and you are eligible to join! We have many members in our council who are active members of academic fraternities and honors societies who choose to utilize greek names.
SO, ARE YOU ANTI-GREEK?
As an organization, we are not anti-greek. In fact, when we were formed in 2009, our Founder Annette DiTomasso in an interview with IDS in 2010 explains that IC was created to help bridge the gap between greek and non-greek women, and even in our early days as an organization we participated in and supported greek events and philanthropies.
Can i rush at the same time i am in ic?
You are welcome to go through the process of greek recruitment while in IC so long as you contact us to inform us if you have accepted a bid for a greek organization. Upon accepting a bid, we will rescind your IC membership so that you are able to join the greek organization. If the greek organization you are recruiting with has any questions, they are welcome to contact us!
Joining IC
who can join?
IC is open to any undergraduate woman or non-binary student who:
- Attends Indiana University Bloomington,
- is not a member of a social greek organization
- Maintains a GPA of 2.5 or higher
Can transgender and non-binary students join?
Absolutely. While we have historically already accepted trans and non-binary people into our organization, we in 2020 passed an amendment to our constitution with an official statement of acceptance. IC is about inclusion! We are in the process of changing a lot of language across our constitution and promotional materials to continue to better reflect this official change.
HOW DO I KNOW IF IC IS THE RIGHT FIT FOR ME?
There are three main opportunities to meet IC members and get more information in person:
1) Drop by our table at the Involvement Fair, which takes place around the beginning of the academic semesters
2) We will host a 2 Call-Out Meetings for prospective members after the Involvement Fair
3) IC Prospective Member Mixer for any potential members to meet other potential and current members casually
You do not need to pay dues or full out the membership application form to attend any of these events! It is just another way to see if IC is the right fit for you!
1) Drop by our table at the Involvement Fair, which takes place around the beginning of the academic semesters
2) We will host a 2 Call-Out Meetings for prospective members after the Involvement Fair
3) IC Prospective Member Mixer for any potential members to meet other potential and current members casually
You do not need to pay dues or full out the membership application form to attend any of these events! It is just another way to see if IC is the right fit for you!
how and when can i join?
To join:
1. Attend a Call-Out Meeting in the Whittenberger Auditorium in the IMU. If you can't attend, make arrangements with our Secretary or Recruitment Coordinator to receive the Call-Out info. The Call-Out Meeting is a way to learn about IC, and you do not have to join after attending and do not need to apply/pay dues to attend.
2. Submit a membership application form. Access the membership application form through our LinkTree when membership opens.
3. Pay New Member dues of $40 via Venmo to our Treasurer Jiya Shah @jiyashah with the message "(your full name) new member dues". If dues are a financial barrier to you joining IC or you would like to pay with a different method instead of Venmo, email Jiya ([email protected]) to waive your fees or to pay in cash/check/etc.
1. Attend a Call-Out Meeting in the Whittenberger Auditorium in the IMU. If you can't attend, make arrangements with our Secretary or Recruitment Coordinator to receive the Call-Out info. The Call-Out Meeting is a way to learn about IC, and you do not have to join after attending and do not need to apply/pay dues to attend.
2. Submit a membership application form. Access the membership application form through our LinkTree when membership opens.
3. Pay New Member dues of $40 via Venmo to our Treasurer Jiya Shah @jiyashah with the message "(your full name) new member dues". If dues are a financial barrier to you joining IC or you would like to pay with a different method instead of Venmo, email Jiya ([email protected]) to waive your fees or to pay in cash/check/etc.
what are the fees? when do i pay them? How do i pay them?
We try to keep our cost as minimal as possible. Dues are used to put on events throughout the semester.
For Fall 2023:
New Members: $40/semester
Returning Members: $30/semester
New member dues are higher to include a new member t-shirt. All other apparel purchases are entirely optional, though we try to keep those costs minimal as well.
Dues can be paid via Venmo to @jiyashah with the message "First Name Last Name (New/Returning) Member Dues)." Alternatively, you are welcome to bring cash or check in person to a meeting.
If any member finds themselves unable or struggling to pay dues, we encourage them to reach out to our treasurer Jiya Shah ([email protected]) to waive the dues. We never want someone's financial situation to be a barrier to joining IC!
For Fall 2023:
New Members: $40/semester
Returning Members: $30/semester
New member dues are higher to include a new member t-shirt. All other apparel purchases are entirely optional, though we try to keep those costs minimal as well.
Dues can be paid via Venmo to @jiyashah with the message "First Name Last Name (New/Returning) Member Dues)." Alternatively, you are welcome to bring cash or check in person to a meeting.
If any member finds themselves unable or struggling to pay dues, we encourage them to reach out to our treasurer Jiya Shah ([email protected]) to waive the dues. We never want someone's financial situation to be a barrier to joining IC!
what is new member orientation (NMO)?
NMO is an onboarding process your first semester in IC to help acquaint you with all the organization has to offer and start making friends. Once you have completed your NMO semester, you are eligible to apply for committees, run for committee chair positions, and run for other elected positions within the organization.
NMO is NOT a pledgeship process. Once you pay your dues, you are a voting member who can attend all events. Additionally, we have an extremely strict anti-hazing policy. IC is meant to be inclusive, and creating a toxic environment through hazing is completely antithetical to our values. We strongly believe that bonding techniques that rely on scare tactics and humiliation do not create true friendships and love that IC strives to create.
NMO is NOT a pledgeship process. Once you pay your dues, you are a voting member who can attend all events. Additionally, we have an extremely strict anti-hazing policy. IC is meant to be inclusive, and creating a toxic environment through hazing is completely antithetical to our values. We strongly believe that bonding techniques that rely on scare tactics and humiliation do not create true friendships and love that IC strives to create.
Communication & Attendance
what is the meeting attendance policy?
We encourage high attendance because it is how we build IC community and communicate information to our members. We use general body meetings as a way to vote, so it is critical that as many members as possible attend. Additionally, we open event sign-ups during meetings, so to better guarantee a spot at high-demand events, attendance is critical.
i need to miss some meetings because of an academic conflict. who do i contact?
No issue at all! School always comes before IC. Indicate that you need an academic semester excuse by selecting that option on the membership form
i am not receiving emails. What do i do?
Email or GroupMe our Secretary to notify her of this issue. If this is an ongoing issue, please do not hesitate to reach out. We want you to have the right info.
when will i be added to the groupme?
Each semester, we create a new GroupMe. You will be added within a week of the official closing date of the membership application form. You will be added by phone number using your information from the application. If you believe you should be in the GroupMe but are not, please contact our Secretary.
If you are a new member, you will be added to the New Member GroupMe after the first general meeting. If you are not in this GroupMe, please contact the NMO coordinators.
If you are a new member, you will be added to the New Member GroupMe after the first general meeting. If you are not in this GroupMe, please contact the NMO coordinators.
i think i should be in the groupme, but i am not. what do i do?
Immediately contact our Secretary. The problem could be a wrong phone number submitted on the membership application form , failure to fill out a membership application form, or failure to pay dues. She will help sort out the issue and get you added.
if i miss a meeting how will i receive that week's information?
Our Secretary sends out a meeting recap email within 48 hours after the meeting that includes the slides we utilized during the meeting.
Being on a Committee
How do i apply to be on a committee?
At the end of each semester, we send out a set of committee applications via Google Forms. Members who have completed New Member Orientation are welcome to apply to as many of our committees as interest them. By the end of the semester, emails will be sent out to members about which committee they have been placed on. If you apply for a committee, you will be placed on a committee, but we cannot always guarantee your first choice.
do i have to reapply to be on the same committee each semester?
If you would like to be on the same committee for another semester, you still must apply again to be on that committee. However, you are welcome to apply to a new committee to try out something new. Either way, you are required to fill out an application each semester if you want to be on a committee that semester. Once applications close, we will have little lenience in allowing late joiners on committees, so it is crucial you fill out the application in a timely fashion.
Can i be on more than one committee in a semester?
Typically, no, you cannot be on more than one committee in a given semester because committee meetings take place at the same time, meaning you could not attend both meetings.
when do we apply for committees?
We send out committee Google Form applications toward the end of each semester. You must complete NMO before joining a committee. We send out emails before the end of the semester with committee placements.
when do committees meet?
Committees meet at 7:00 PM in the Whittenberger Auditorium in the. IMU before our General Body meetings.
what are the committees we can join?
Check out our leadership page to learn about the committees you can join and what each committee does.
Being on the Executive Board
what leadership positions does ic have?
IC's Executive Board is made up of four Executive Officers and then a host of Committee Chairs and Coordinators. For details please refer to the leadership page.
how do i become an executive officer?
The Executive Officer positions are: two Co-Presidents, a Treasurer, and a Secretary.
These are elected, yearlong positions. At an election meeting in early April, those running for these positions will stand up and give a brief pitch about their IC involvement and why they should be elected to that position. The General Body will then vote via anonymous Google Form. Results are announced the following day.
These are elected, yearlong positions. At an election meeting in early April, those running for these positions will stand up and give a brief pitch about their IC involvement and why they should be elected to that position. The General Body will then vote via anonymous Google Form. Results are announced the following day.
How long is the commitment of being an executive officer?
When you run for these positions, the position will ensure for the entire next academic year. Positions are elected in the Spring and the newly elected members take office in the beginning of the Summer after election ends until the Summer of the next year.
how do i become a committee chair or initiative coordinator?
After the election of the Executive Officers in early April, committee chair and initiative coordinator applications are sent out in mid April. All interested members who have completed NMO can apply to these positions by the deadline. The outgoing Co-Presidents and incoming Co-Presidents will work together in conjunction with outgoing committee heads/initiative coordinators to select applicants who are involved, have a strong vision, have clear leadership and organization skills, and will work well with the Executive Board. Chair and coordinator positions will be announced before committee applications are sent out.
what are the pre-requisites to being an executive officer, committee chair, or initiative coordinator?
The only pre-requisite for these positions is that you have completed New Member Orientation.
Of course, it helps to have relevant committee and leadership experience. If you want to eventually aim for these positions, it is recommended you are an active member of IC with committee experience, but it is not mandatory.
Of course, it helps to have relevant committee and leadership experience. If you want to eventually aim for these positions, it is recommended you are an active member of IC with committee experience, but it is not mandatory.
how are new committees/coordinator positions created?
These positions are created by Co-Presidents through recommendations! If you have an idea for a committee or initiative coordinator position, please do not hesitate to reach out to the incoming Co-Presidents after Executive Officer elections but before committee chair/coordinator applications are sent out. We always want to create new positions that best serve our ever-growing IC community!
More questions? DM us on Instagram (@independentcouncil)
