[media-credit name=’BEN CLASSON/Herald photo’ align=’alignright’ width=’336′][/media-credit]Hundreds of new University of Wisconsin sorority and fraternity members gathered at the Pyle Center Sunday for leadership training in an attempt to build inter-Greek relationships. Students admitted to the UW Greek system in fall and spring semesters attended the event to meet with students from other houses while they sharpened their leadership skills. "A lot of chapters work within their chapters, but this is a great opportunity for them to meet people from other chapters," said Jeff Benson, a Greek advisor. "They really have a lot of pride … but they want to work together more and build more of a Greek community." Benson said the training is important to start early in the Greek process so when students progress through the system, they have strong relationships established outside of their respective houses. Interfraternity Council President Eli Gratz said the conference will bond together a class of students who may someday be leaders on campus. "Pledging can be a tough time, and you have to learn a lot," Gratz said. "But you get this experience and in a couple years from now, everyone here will be seniors and on the executive boards of their groups." Students attended three sessions where they learned about etiquette, behavior, leadership, diversity and the "Greek concept." The conference stressed the concept of joining an association on the UW campus, according to Gratz, who estimated 450 people attended the conference, about two-thirds of new members in the system. "I know when I joined you think about just joining a house, but you don't think about the bigger picture and being a part of the system," Gratz said. "Three thousand [Greek members] are a lot more meaningful than 70." The networking sessions were led by Milwaukee-based Focus Training, founded by former UW Greek member Todd Gehrman when he was a student. The team-building section of the workshop allowed students to work together to solve problems like the "great barrier," where each member on teams of eight needed to be passed through a web of yarn without touching any body part. Students also participated in a "trust fall" exercise where they relied on their teammates to catch them as they fell backward. Sigma Phi Epsilon member Kenny Jones said the team-building exercises helped bridge the relationship with other fraternities and sororities. "There are leadership and icebreaker games where you have to get out of your comfort zone and meet some new people," Jones said. On the condition of anonymity, some students said the conference was too long and didn't accurately connect with issues facing Greek members. But Pi Kappa Alpha member Kerry Kreeron said he enjoyed the activities. "It's a really good program," Kreeron said. "It might dissolve those misconceptions about Greek life and develop a leadership core for the future. … There's no reason this campus can't be 20 or even 30 percent Greek."