(An open letter to Sean Leahey, Director of Technology)
What is it with the HQ web site anyway? And what does it say about the "leadership" (and I use the term loosely). I was just there and I realized several things:
- The site is so corporate bland you have to work to figure out what it is. The only mention that this is a college fraternity site is the address information in the footer. There are none of the symbols of the fraternity in evidence anywhere. Unless you count the stylized "SigEp" logo. I don't.
- Why are you so afraid using the words "Sigma Phi Epsilon"? I checked all the first level pages. Those words are only used when the Educational Foundation is mentioned. (They must have been forced to for legal reasons.) Where is the Badge? Where is the Crest? Are you embarrassed to be what you are? Did some high dollar marketing consultant tell you to 'tone down the image'?
- The Highlights in the center of the page have little to do with the individual chapters or general membership. Scholarships (individual accomplishment), Board of Governors (Alumni - requires a $1000 buy-in last I checked), Kleos (Alumni Giving), Regional Directors (A list of the lucky winners), Recruitment supplies (OK - one item), And a link to 'news' from April (I give 1/2 credit here).
One can only assume that the site was assembled from a consultants template and no one bothered to spend any time making it "ours". Compare this site with the sites for Sigma Chi or Sigma Alpha Epsilon and it suffers greatly, both in dynamic energy and in the vital job of communicating information to the visitor. One of the "don'ts" of a good web site is "Don't just sit there like an on-line brochure." Use the technology to send your message.
Come on, Craig and Sean, we are better than this. How do you expect to keep "Building Balanced Leaders for the World's Communities" when your web site inspires nothing but yawns. Get Gary Kief or Bill Tragos to critique it. Then LISTEN to what they suggest!!! Please improve on this embarrassment.
