T10 Understanding the Student Conduct Part II

The latest Edition of "Training In 10." Student Conduct Part II.

T10_12_Understanding_the_Student_Conduct_Part_II:

Click the image to start the session.

http://watch.knowledgevision.com/811d4407dfc5457688a7c7da059b7398

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In this edition of Training in Ten we begin our series on better understanding the student conduct process.  In part 1 of this series, Student Affairs professionals Dr. Carrie Whittier, Suzette Walden Cole and Brian Tenclinger, Renaissance Louisiana State, talk through both the mission and purpose of a conduct office on a college campus, how a campus conduct process differs from an outside legal process, and whether parents or lawyers can be present and participate in the conduct process. 

The second part of this panel discussion will dive into how students and chapters simultaneously and successfully manage pending criminal or civil litigation while still participating in their campus conduct process and then each panelist will share best practices with our volunteers on how to better support our men and our chapters through a conduct hearing.  This webisode series is a must watch for any volunteer who is directly advising any of our SigEp chapters.

UVM announces planned actions in wake of fraternity's rape survey

Now the furor has died down, and the damage done, and the chapter disbanded. NOW they tell us "The fraternity was not responsible" for the "who would you rape?" survey.
Where on campus is the office which can return the chapter's reputation?

The University of Vermont has announced a series of measures to combat sexual violence in the aftermath of a scandal surrounding the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity last year.

UVM said the fraternity itself was not responsible for a controversial survey in which members of the fraternity were reported asked whom they would like to rape. A community furor ensued, the campus chapter of Sigma Phi Epsilon was closed and UVM launched an investigation.

Last semester, various recommendations were made by UVM’s Gender-based Sexual Violence Task Force and the Commission on Social Change.

Thursday, a report to the UVM community by Tom Gustafson, vice president for university relations and campus life, and Annie Stevens, associate vice president for university relations and campus life, provided an update on the investigation and those recommendations.

The university’s inquiry into the fraternity has been completed, with the conclusion that “Sig Ep as an organization” was not responsible for putting the question in the survey. Other findings surfaced, however, that could lead to sanctions against the fraternity, pending investigation.

Recommendations to be implemented include:

• Providing funding for the annual Dismantling Rape Culture Conference, which is organized by UVM’s Women’s Center.
• Sponsoring an independent review of “the UVM Greek Life community” to be conducted by outside experts, with a final report due by January.
• Providing funding for a full-time men’s educator; for a post-doctoral position focusing on issues such as sexual violence and masculinity, the position to be housed in the Women’s and Gender Studies Program; and for a full-time investigator, in the Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Office, to review all cases of discrimination, including sexual violence.
• Making a summer-reading selection for incoming students that focuses on a topic pertaining to gender issues, violence and oppression.
• Funding one-time training costs for development of a “comprehensive bystander intervention program.”
• Creating “a communication and response plan” to handle “major incidents of bias, unusual death, sexual violence, alcohol and other drugs.”

UVM announces planned actions in wake of fraternity's rape survey | Burlington Free Press | burlingtonfreepress.com:

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The Red Cup Speaks

Saw this on the CAMPUSPEAK Facebook page.

Auburn Report on Greeks

Fraternities: Good, bad or something in between?
Joe McAdoryStaff writer

Richard Hamrick’s visit to a 2005 Sigma Nu party at Auburn left him with brain swelling and a 10-day stay in a Columbus hospital.

Andrew Jackson Thurmond IV, 18, of Birmingham, was killed in September in a car wreck west of Auburn. The Delta Sigma Phi brother had a blood-alcohol level of 0.76, according to a coroner’s report. The Auburn Police Division has not said whether the driver, Scott Leighton, 19, also a Delta Sigma Phi brother, was drinking.

Taylor Jones is still recovering from serious injuries received during a January altercation at a Sigma Phi Epsilon party. The Auburn freshman hasn’t returned to school.Alcohol. Death. Fighting.

And a reputation.
“People believe fraternities are evil, therefore they must always be evil,” said Paul Kittle, director of the Office of Greek Life at Auburn. “The common generalization is that all fraternity men are thugs.

“We tell them, ‘The public holds the weapon, you hold the ammunition.’ The guys completely own their image. ‘Don’t play beer pong in your front yard, take pictures of yourselves and put it on the Internet.’

“We know they’re better than that. Those who do those sort of things represent a small subset of a large group. But the entire fraternity gets painted by the same broad brush. ... All of that community service work you do, your image, gone.”

Jim Hardin, director of Judicial Affairs at Auburn, reported 11 fraternity-related offenses that required disciplinary action in 2008. Four involved hazing, two theft, two disorderly conduct, one possession of drug-related paraphernalia, one vandalism and one DUI. None involved actions taking place at an actual party.

The university’s response to the incidents included counseling, probation, health behavior assessments and restitution.

By contrast, the university reported 60 such incidents last year involving non-Greeks.
Kittle estimated a little less than a quarter of all males at Auburn are involved in a fraternity.

Will Caudill, president of Sigma Chi, thinks the rap against fraternities is unfair.

“The first thing the media hears is when something goes wrong,” said Caudill, a bio-medical science from Franklin, Tenn. “We do a lot of great things. We (Sigma Chi) raised $12,000 for the Children’s Miracle Network. That stuff, people don’t hear about.”

According to Bo Mantooth, advisor to the Auburn Interfraternity Council, fraternities at Auburn raised between $175,000 and $200,000 last year for local charities. They also donated 35,000 to 40,000 hours in community service, he said.

“There’s a lot more to life than the parties,” said Bradford Stewart, president of the Interfraternity Council. “That’s what the majority of non-Greeks see, parties.”
Not like the movies

Fraternity parties are legendary, from John Belushi modeling a toga in “Animal House” to the boys of Lamda Lamda Lamda getting down with the Omega Mu’s in “Revenge of the Nerds.”

But there are rules in an effort to ensure the parties are safe. Each party must have a hired security team in place to check IDs, make sure people attending the party are on the guest list and help prevent dangerous situations.

Locally, the team of FBL Security, headed by Daniel Finz, has been the preferred choice of many Greek organizations, Kittle said. Repeated attempts to reach Finz failed.

Another company, C&C Security of Birmingham, worked a recent Sigma Chi party and plans to expand full time into the Auburn area.

“Most people see security guards as idiots who beat people up when things go bad,” said Anthony Burke, who heads C&C. “But we are here to make sure nobody gets hurt and that they have a good time. When you break the rules, you have to leave. The first time, we give them a warning. The second time, we tell them to go into the house or leave.”

C&C works about 150 parties a year, including events in Auburn and Tuscaloosa, Burke said.

Checking IDs at the door is an important part of the job, he said. He said partygoers must clear a checkpoint. If legal, the person receives an arm bank. Those who do not are given a big ‘X’ on their fist.

“The problem is outsiders, the people who don’t know the rules,” he said.

All sanctioned fraternity parties must adhere to the IFC guidelines and national risk management guidelines of the Fraternal Information & Programming Group. Failure to comply can result in sanctions, including a ban on future events.

“If you want to host an event where alcohol is present, there are standards that all fraternities must follow,” Kittle said. “Having proper risk management is a way to ensure safety for an event - and to ensure that you will have an event the next week.

“We hold risk management sessions at the beginning of every semester. The fact that I don’t get police reports or property complaints shows they are managing themselves well.”One such guideline includes the “bring your own beer” rule. Keg parties are not permitted.

Auburn President Dr. Jay Gogue said there is room for improvement in creating safer atmospheres at fraternity parties.

“It’s much like what we would say regarding campus safety and security,” he said. “We’ve made progress, but we can do more.”

Although Auburn is a dry campus, alcohol is permitted within the confines of a fraternity house.

“Those fraternities located within the boundaries of Auburn University lease the land for their respective houses, giving them their own sense of private property that allows for alcoholic beverages,” Kittle said. “All but six fraternities (Ki Phi, Lambda Chi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Pi Kappa, Fiji) are located on campus property.

The off-campus fraternities must abide by the same rules as those on campus, Kittle said.

Kittle said drinking is part of the college culture and that involves under-aged students.

“It’s here. Our challenge is how to educate students so they can reduce the number of incidents,” he said. “Students who choose to drink are going to drink. This city does not exist under a bubble. It’s the real world. This is a very open institution. Very rarely are there reports of injuries and I’m thankful for that. If you can find the answer to under-aged drinking, that’s the silver bullet.“Fraternity membership is not supposed to supersede the legal drinking age.”

Modern hazing often subtle
Auburn has not been immune to hazing incidents in the past.

In 1993, Chad Saucier, a student from Mobile, writhed in convulsions and died after consuming a large amount of alcohol at a Christmas party. It was reported that Saucier, dressed in an elf suit, was strongly encouraged to continue drinking.

In August 2005, a prospective Theta Chi member was hospitalized due to a high amount of alcoholic consumption. According to FIPG rules, fraternities are not allowed to use alcohol during the recruitment of pledges.

Although the word brings to mind those kinds of horror stories, Kittle said it is more subtle now.

“People think of beatings and brandings,” he said. “You can consider hazing anything with power control. Someone has to be in position of perceived power over another. But a lot of freshmen don’t know the definition of hazing. Hazing on the subtle end is an issue we deal with on a regular basis.

Four brothers faced hazing charges last year, Hardin said. All stemmed from the same incident.

“It was personal items,” he said. “Stuff like, ‘Go get me a Coke.’ But if it’s permitted to a certain amount, there are problems you can get into. While this wasn’t doing any damage, pretty soon this person isn’t studying for his chemistry exam.”

Capt. Tom Stofer of the Auburn Police Division said fraternities at Auburn are well-behaved compared to others.

“As major institutions go, I’d say we have some of the best, well-behaved fraternities anywhere,” said Stofer. “They aren’t immune to problems, but they have been isolated incidents. The only time we really respond is when something gets out of hand.”

Stofer said the most common calls are fight complaints or disorderly conduct incidents.

“But this isn’t just a fraternity issue. Alcohol plays a part in society’s problems, in general,” he said. “We’re just as likely to respond to alcohol-related calls downtown as we are at a fraternity house.

“Alcohol is the root of so many problems. Date rape, domestic violence, property damage, you can often track it right back to alcohol abuse or use. We know there is a lot of alcohol in Auburn readily available.”

Boys and girls clubs
Dr. Alan D. DeSantis, professor of communication at the University of Kentucky, wrote about Greek life in “Inside Greek U.: Fraternities, Sororities and the Pursuit of Power, Pleasure and Prestige.”

DeSantis said failures within the Greek system cannot totally be traced back to the men and women involved.

“Fraternities and sororities are social boys and girls clubs run by boys and girls,” he told the Opelika-Auburn News. “There is not enough adult presence for guidance in their lives. It is a rare professor who I meet that even gets involved in these organizations. We do a far better job with student-athletes. No wonder they become really incredible people.”Although he supports the Greek system, DeSantis said it has lost its focus.

“I think the major problem is that it has become all about the social aspect,” he said. “The mission in college is to expand the lives and minds of students to help them think better and more critically. A person should be forever changed by this experience. Sadly, I do not believe the Greek system aids in that goal. I don’t think it challenges them.”

Some fraternity members make it to the top. Take Gogue, for example.

“More than anything else, fraternity membership taught me that there is something out there that’s much bigger than me,” said the Sigma Chi alum. “The collective membership can do a lot more together than each person can do individually, and that understanding has proven valuable as I’ve worked to lead a large organization such as a university.”

Last Chapter Standing, Part Three

A guest post by Bob Kerr, Coordinator of Greek Life at Oregon State and OGH recipient.

Last Chapter Standing, Part Three (If you missed them, here is a link to part one, and a link to part two.)

Last chapter standing is but one scenario facing the North American Fraternal Movement. As we look to the tercentennial of the fraternal movement, December 15^th 2076, we have some pretty significant questions to ask and answer. Among them are:

• As a movement – what is our purpose?
• Whom do we serve?
• How is it hazing still exists?
• Why is it so difficult to get alumni engaged with undergraduate chapters?
• How do you define success?

From my desk as a University officer working with the Greek community, I see some indicators of what might be the challenges these questions address.

• Purpose can be defined by values and outcomes. In my office, I have framed copies of the mission statements, public value statement or creeds of the organization on our campus. When I meet with a chapter President, following some misstep, we measure what the chapter is doing when compared to the key document. Most are surprised I have such access and are usually humbled. In many cases it is the first time they have been held accountable to those documents.
• As I analyze these public documents, the theme I get is one of service to the general good. Not the general good of those like us, but all those we share life with on this planet. Given our collective history in the first half of the 20^th century, we have some work to do.
• As long as pre-initiation weeks are closed and not supervised by alumni, hazing will surface. It is the nature of highly competitive environments for one class to try and out do the other classes. It takes maturity and experience to guide young men away from hazing and towards a more productive and reflective experience. The kind of experience alumni can offer.
• There is a great fraternity movie called “Fraternity Row” which talks about how fractured a chapter gets because of hazing. Those scars tend to stay with a man long after he graduates and they become barriers to the individual re-engaging. The ideals of the organization get lost in the “traditions” we inflict upon each other. Perhaps now we can comprehend the long term effects of hazing.
• Defining success is a variable that causes much disruption. If we focus on individual chapters we have a two dimensional definition. A definition where it is possible for a few chapters to be successful while the majority of the Greek system is mediocre at best. Where, if we examine the whole Greek community, we get a much better perspective. It is why a doctor takes the whole bodies health into consideration instead of just one or two aspects.

If we use the work of Ernest Boyer as a grounding theory, we quickly see six elements of building community that are worth examining.

1. Purposeful
2. Open
3. Just
4. Disciplined
5. Caring
6. Celebrative

If we apply these elements we see a shift from some of the current patterns of behavior. For example:

1. A Greek community that is united in its common purpose to help build a better world. Not chapter specific engagement but community engagement.
2. In all my years, it has been a rare occasion when a chapter President has opened up to the troubles of their chapter. As such, they never utilize the campus resources designed to help them and thus started a spiral downward.
3. Justice rarely feels like the intent of what happens in the Greek world. Harsh penalties seem to be the norm with few educational outcomes required or experienced. The main lesson seems to be, don’t get caught.
4. Disciplined Greek communities are responsible for upholding chapter, community and campus standards. Choosing not to play pranks, steal composites, steal charters and otherwise behave contrary to our purpose is a hope for every campus.
5. Caring for each other is a natural reality of a Greek community. When tragedy strikes one chapter they all offer support and assistance. Even something has remember the founding dates of our brother and sister chapters acknowledges the strength each chapter brings to the community.
6. Celebrating achievement is a natural and healthy thing. Having a party because it’s been around for 60 years and people end up in the front lawn puking their guts out doesn’t sound like everyone’s having a celebration.

I have been fortunate to be involved in the fraternal movement for 38 years. Whether as a volunteer or a campus Greek Life professional, I have seen one thing become really clear, we are fighting each other for the same dwindling pie. What is confusing is we can chose to work together and expand the market and build a sustainable future. It all starts on each individual campus and usually launches by asking for help from the university. It is a different world out there and there is a need for the values we promote. The more in alignment to our values and our membership Oaths we are, the better off we will be. The other option is well, less promising to say the least.

Bob Kerr
Coordinator of Greek Life
Oregon State
OGH

Will they take final exams in jail?

Pikes hit for Hazing in N'awlins

Five Tulane students with the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity have been arrested and arrest warrants have been issued for five more in connection with an alleged hazing incident that left two pledges with severe burns.

According to NOPD spokesman Gary Flot, the fraternity members have been charged with second-degree battery for the alleged incident that they say happened on April 25 around 10:30 p.m. Sources close to the situation told Eyewitness News that the allegations involve pouring boiling water on the pledges. The NOPD says the two victims were treated for severe burns at the hospital.

Five arrested, five sought in alleged Tulane hazing incident | News for New Orleans, Louisiana | Local News | News for New Orleans, Louisiana | wwltv.com (With video)

Busted! - 96 arrested at San Diego State

San Diego State drug bust. Nearly one hundred arrested - seventy five are students. Fraternities are involved. No mention of SigEp... yet.

One student sent a mass text message offering a "sale" on cocaine, the DEA said in a news release.
[...]
The news release alleges a member of the Theta Chi fraternity sent a mass text message to his "faithful customers" saying he and some others temporarily would be unable to complete orders for drug sales due to a trip to Las Vegas, Nevada.

The text message went on to discuss a "sale" on cocaine and gave details on reduced prices, the news release said.

One student allegedly dealing cocaine was a month short of obtaining a master's degree in Homeland Security and worked with campus police as a student community service officer.

I guess he thought he knew enough not to get caught. Oops.

Drug bust nets 96 at San Diego State - CNN.com

UPDATE More news:
75 students arrested in San Diego State University drug bust - Yahoo! News

Last Chapter Standing (part 2 of 3)

A guest post by Bob Kerr, Coordinator of Greek Life at Oregon State and OGH recipient.

Last Chapter Standing, part two (If you missed part one, Here is the link)

So, how do you know you are playing the game of “Last Chapter Standing”? Well, there are a couple of real good indicators. First, when you are more concerned about the number of men joining your chapter rather than the size and quality of the interest pool for the entire fraternity community. Secondly, when the undergraduate community ignores the stereotypical behavior that is common to most Greek communities. When there is a response, it tends to be punitive rather than educational. Punitive responses tend to breed contempt and disconnect from the overall community. Thirdly, when the undergraduate community is making decisions based on data coming from “back in the day” or the current “template” from a few headquarters, rather than the comprehensive data generated by the university to enhance recruitment and retention of all students, we miss the boat. Finally, if we experience community building as a cosmetic layer, put on the face of a Greek system, rather than the intentional work designed to build genuine community from an organic perspective, we buy into a smoke and mirrors approach that has been an element in most campus Greek communities for a very long time.

So, if we can accept the premise that “Community building” will strengthen the quality and quantity of the interest pool, enhance retention, deepen the positive connection to the campus community and community at large as well create better alignment with Greek mission and values, then we need to examine what are some simple steps to make "community" come alive.

-“He who forgives ends the quarrel”, African proverb.

One of the confusing components of “Last Chapter Standing” gamesmanship is the way it accelerates pranks and makes them more destructive. Never mind that the lesson being taught is to disrespect the members of the community, and at times to hold hostage valuable possessions. The extent to which this “mischief” extends can be evidenced by the vulnerability of chapter charters. Once view as sacred and off-limits, they are now on the “prank list” and totally disrupts the harmony of a chapter. If a Greek community has developed a process that responds to this thievery, and engages an educational protocol for the culprits, then a standard for the community has been established. It will take great courage for the Presidents of the community to take a stand against this behavior.

Transparency is also a very real asset in today’s modern world. Campus communities are focused on building transparency and the Greek community can benefit from this practice. All it takes is a series of “Open Houses” when the Greek community opens their doors and lets the campus community, administrators, faculty and students in to their homes to see for themselves what they look like. Also, those residents in the nearby neighborhoods can come by and see how their neighbors live. It is amazing how quickly the stereotypes dissolve when the community sees what it really looks like and gets to experience the rich heritage that lives within the chapters.

As difficult as it is, the challenge in many Greek communities is the leadership of the chapter, Panhellenic, IFC and MGC don’t really know each other. The trust factor is diminished by the ingrained process of teaching new members that “Our house over everyone else”. This breeds a disconnect and encourages distrust. This internalized process can distance even students who went to the same high school for three to four years. Creating opportunities, both formal and informal, affords these leaders to build relations which can build collaborative efforts on behalf of the Greek community It starts with just having coffee together, or perhaps being the guest at each others chapter house and can evolve into dinner activities for the leadership cohort. As the leaders build trust, they can then be a respected and trusted person in their chapter that confronts those chapter members who would breed unhealthy competition with other.

“Life’s most persistent and urgent question is: What are you doing for others?, Martin Luther King, Jr.

Community building is one answer to that question. It is critical to remember that community building and community service are two different things. It is possible to have a Greek system engage in community service just enough to placate headquarters. But, if we build Greek communities, then the undergraduates have the leverage to change their campus community as well as the residential community. Gone would be the unhealthy competition, the distrust, the hatred and the stereotypes that plague the 800 plus Greek campuses. Stereotypes exist because the behavior exists. No amount of university attempts to control, no efforts by headquarters to foster stronger chapters and no educational suggestions from alumni can diminish the stereotypical behavior. Only a community building process, which includes all the stakeholders, will build the foundation and the bridge from
where we are to where we could be as a Greek community

“Don’t prepare the path for the child. Prepare the child for the path”, anonymous.

So, what world are we preparing our students for after graduation? A world focused on artificial competition, win/lose dynamics and disregard for the impact on others our decisions represent? Or, are we looking for collaborative skills, win/win dynamics and global integration for solutions to global challenges. I leave the debate of that question to you. I will present my final installment next week on “Last Chapter Standing” next week.

Bob Kerr
Greek Life Coordinator
Oregon State University
OGH

Last Chapter Standing…

A guest post by Bob Kerr, Coordinator of Greek Life at Oregon State and OGH recipient.

Last Chapter Standing…

… may be the direction the North American Fraternal Movement is heading. At a time when the enrollment is generally on the rise, enrollment in the fraternal world is at best managing its loss. If we are who and what we say we are, then we have to take a very serious look at what the factors are that contribute to this outcome. From my perspective, I would have to say that there seems to be a loss of confidence in the product by the consumer public. In fact, I suggest there are three media moments that articulate this loss of confidence.

Specifically, the first media moment came with the publication of “Pledged” by Alexandra Robbins followed quickly by “Torn Toga” written by Esther Wright. As I read the books in preparation for working with the Greek students on campus I knew they would be upset. Both books took n inside look at Greek life and what they presented wasn’t always pretty. Naturally, the students were upset because their perception was the books were filled with stereotypes. For some of them, they recognized some of what goes on in their chapters. This revelation came at the cost of their innocence and some very uncomfortable questions from parents. For me, I recognized events from my undergraduate experience as well as threads to my volunteer experience to my fraternity. Clearly, the shine is coming off the apple.

The second media moment came on August 3, 2007 when a grand jury indicted Anthony Campbell, Dean of Students, and Ada Badgley, Director of Greek Life, both employed by Rider University, for their alleged role in the hazing death of Gary DeVercelley, who died of alcohol poisoning at an on-campus fraternity location. This was instant national news and it rocked the professional Greek advising world. Later that month both staff members would have their charges dropped, but the damage had been done. Few campuses weren’t rechecking their insurance policies and seeing what was real and what was unreal. It also raised the question, does the university really know what is going on in the Greek community on its campus? Or worse, what does the university know that it isn’t telling us?

Finally, over the summer ABC Family aired its show “Greeks” to a national audience. Students were terrified at what may be portrayed on this show. It was a novel idea, to portray the modern issues that play out in the drama of a Greek community. It revealed the petty differences, the struggle to balance privilege with service, the issue of diversity and acceptance and the challenges to develop a legitimate community. My students watch it with comfort now because they see themselves in this program. It suggests that someone understands what they are going through on a daily basis. It makes them laugh and it makes them think.

These three media moments describe a changing landscape that no longer takes the Greek world at face value. I have been working as a Greek affairs professional for seventeen years and there is a definite change in the questions being asked by parents and student alike. Safety is a top concern and parents are rightfully concerned with the binge drinking that is prevalent in college Greek communities. It is an issue we must address and we must address as a community of Greek organizations But first, we have to build legitimate Greek communities on campuses. It is a hard target that seems to be ignored by many in the movement.

Since most college and university campuses operate as micro niche markets, there is great market advantage to building a cohesive undergraduate Greek community. It does little good to have ten chapters out of forty focused on academics, service and leadership. The sense is, we all have our futures braided together whether we accept it or not. For instance, when a chapter makes the local news or campus news, for something unfortunate, few people care which chapter it is. All they see is “Greek”. When we do something good . again people just see “Greek”. But, when we work together, when we address common problems with joint creativity and investments then we act like, and look like a community. With community you rebuild the consumers confidence in the product. With community you have a chance to go farther than any of us can go alone. I am reminded of Al Gore’s speech as he accepted the Nobel Peace Prize, “… I want to borrow from an old African proverb, if you want to go fast go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” So the question is, does the North American Fraternal Movement want to go far or fast? Do we want to go far or fast?

On my campus, both the IFC & Panhellenic Councils made joint decisions to change their recruitment process. It was a difficult process to surrender decades of process that had failed miserably in the new century. But, together they forged ahead and we are back on the growth side of recruitment. No headquarters or national strategic plan could replace the work of these students. The sense of ownership they have is improving and we are even proposing radical and innovative IFC recruitment grants to the three smallest chapters to help them compete for members. Because these students know that even losing one chapter on campus is a blow to the whole community.

How this translates on a campus where students are specifically looking for community is critical. Recently, our campus received data from our entering class of freshman during their orientation sessions. 45% of these students were seeking community service as part of their collegiate experience. They want to make a difference today in the communities they live in and in communities around the world. This emphasis changes the focus from drinking and parties to work and celebrations. Some chapters, and their headquarters, are slow to pick up on this change and their chapters still focus on the competitive nature of the Greek community and lose people by the dozens. Good people who should be in the Greek community but are turned off by the emphasis on alcohol, the “silos” we call chapter and the unhealthy competition that is intentionally built between chapters.

I suggest the work is on the local campus and there are some wonderful ideas on building a broader community at the NIC level. I have forwarded a concept paper to our headquarters that describes how community building can actual build stronger organizations for all. I look forward to the conversations. [emphasis added - ed.]

“and the day came when the risk it took to remain tight in the bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.” Anais Nin

So we sit, as a combined North American Fraternal Movement, and debate political leadership and strategic plans that do not include building campus communities; we do not see over the horizon. We employ top down leadership strategies as opposed to shared leadership strategies and miss the generational differences of today’s contemporary student. As I reflect on what I see, experience and learn on a daily basis I see a rich and fertile opportunity for Greek communities on campuses today and very little risk. I hope one day that we can take a leadership role in building legitimate Greek communities on the campuses of North America. It won’t be easy and it won’t be quick but I am convinced we can build the coalitions we need to climb a lighthouse and see farther over the horizon than we see as a single organization standing on the beach Otherwise, being the last chapter standing will be a meaningless accomplishment.

In the next installment of “Last Chapter Standing” I will explore some strategies and tips that can be installed on a local level.

Bob Kerr
Coordinator of Greek Life
Oregon State
OGH

In the Fight Over Piracy, a Rare Stand for Privacy

The University of Oregon takes a stand for student privacy rights. Way to go!

The record industry got a surprise when it subpoenaed the University of Oregon in September, asking it to identify 17 students who had made available songs from Journey, the Cars, Dire Straits, Sting and Madonna on a file-sharing network.

The surprise was not that 20-year-olds listen to Sting. It was that the university fought back.

Represented by the state’s attorney general, Hardy Myers, the university filed a blistering motion to quash the subpoena, accusing the industry of misleading the judge, violating student privacy laws and engaging in questionable investigative practices. Cary Sherman, the president of the Recording Industry Association of America, said the industry had seen “a lot of crazy stuff” filed in response to its lawsuits and subpoenas. “But coming from the office of an attorney general of a state?” Mr. Sherman asked, incredulous. “We found it really surprising and disappointing.”

The article goes on to note that while stealing music is indeed wrong, so are the strongarm, and extra-legal, tactics of the RIAA that tries to intimidate and bully institutions like U of Oregon into releasing private information.

“Certainly it is appropriate for victims of copyright infringement to lawfully pursue statutory remedies,” Mr. Myers wrote last month. “However, that pursuit must be tempered by basic notions of privacy and due process.”

“The larger issue,” Mr. Myers said, “is whether plaintiffs’ investigative and litigation strategies are appropriate.”

In the Fight Over Piracy, a Rare Stand for Privacy - New York Times