Fraternities and sororities are often thought to be only social outlets, but Greek officials hope to emphasize other aspects of the system at Saturday’s new member conference.

This is the first year the educational event has not been held on the same day as Gone Greek Night.

“We wanted to take the focus away from Gone Greek Night,” said Becky Unterman, the Panhellenic Association’s vice president for education. “We don’t want new members to think that being Greek is just about social events.”

Officials decided to schedule the new member conference for the week after Gone Greek Night, which took place Jan. 24. The conference begins at 4:30 p.m. Saturday in various fraternity and sorority houses.

In past years, the goal of the new member session has been “demystifying Gone Greek Night,” Panhel President Francesca Rodriguez said. Holding the conference after the event means different material will be addressed.

The conference’s format also has changed, said Kyle Pendleton, associate director of Greek affairs. Instead of bringing an outside speaker to discuss responsibility and leadership, older Northwestern students will talk with new members about their experiences in the Greek system.

“We’re looking at the new member conference as being a peer education opportunity for the fraternities and sororities,” Pendleton said.

Sororities and fraternities will be separated for the sessions, with two chapters together in a house. The new member groups will play ice-breaking games before the talks “to break down whatever sense of competition occurred during rush,” said Unterman, a Weinberg senior.

Members of Panhel, the Interfraternity Council and the National Pan-Hellenic Council will rotate between houses to speak to the new pledges about their experiences in the Greek system, said Rodriguez, a Communication senior.

After executive members have cycled through the houses, students will have a chance to discuss their questions with Greek Student Counselors, who act as resident assistants to the Greek houses, Pendleton said.

IFC President James Troupis said he thinks the more intimate format will be effective in conveying messages to new members.

“You can bring up personal concerns because it’s a smaller environment,” said Troupis, a Communication senior.

Pendleton said he hopes students will bring forward issues they might not mention in another setting.

“I don’t think you can really get more in-depth discussion than peer-to-peer discussion — those can be the most open and honest discussions,” he said.