Florida fraternity censured, loses national charter over Facebook posts

SigEp is not the only fraternity having trouble with chapters in Florida. The Pi Kappa Alpha chapter at FIU was suspended when information from a "private" facebook page was made public. The guy are idiots for doing the things they talked about and doubly so for posting it.

Remember - nothing you put online is private. Think it can't happen to you? These guy probably thought so too.

Florida fraternity censured, loses national charter over Facebook posts | Fox News

It was “Animal House” -- Facebook style.

A Florida fraternity reportedly has been censured for maintaining a “private” Facebook page where members allegedly posted, among other things, where to buy and sell drugs, photos of topless college women, anti-gay slurs, alluded to hazing, and even suggested a strategy for turning the Boston Marathon bombing into “excellent publicity.”

The Miami Herald reports Florida International University ordered its Pi Kappa Alpha chapter, or Pike, to cease all meetings and events after someone anonymously emailed screenshots of about 70 posts from the private page to various media outlets and university officials.

The fraternity also lost its charter from the national organization.

Pike’s national Executive Vice President Justin Buck called the behavior of FIU’s chapter “disgraceful, offensive and indefensible,” in a written statement, according to the paper.

“Disgraceful, offensive and indefensible.”
- Pi Kappa Alpha Executive Vice President Justin Buck

“Anyone have a connect for coke. Not me, a friend wants, lol,” one group member reportedly wrote on the “private” page, while another post seemingly concerns a supply of the prescription drug, Adderall: “30mg of addy 10 starting tomorrow. 15 for non brothers.”

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/us/2013/08/25/florida-fraternity-censured-loses-national-charter-over-facebook-posts/#ixzz2d7WeLC6p

Conclave goes social

This just in from SigEp HQ. (And don't forget the "Social Media Breakfast" at 8 AM Friday.)

 Conclave is less than one week away! As you’re getting ready, I wanted to share a few ways to stay on top of Conclave news and connect with other attendees.

1. The Conclave App. This is your on-the-go guide to Conclave. It has maps, program highlights, information about speakers and events, and links to our social media pages where you can join the online conversation. It also has a personal calendar tool to help map out your week. You can download the app today.

2. Twitter and Facebook. There’s going to be a lot of chatter online! You can join the conversation at #SigEpConclave and look for stories, trivia, and information about events. You can also follow us directly at @officialsigep and facebook.com/sigmaphiepsilon.

3. The Conclave Chronicle. The Conclave Chronicle, hosted on sigepconclave.com, will be your source of detailed, on-the-ground Conclave coverage. Check your email inbox each morning for daily digests of top stories. You’ll also find more Conclave information like daily schedules online through sigepconclave.com.

I look forward to seeing you next week when we Flip the Switch. SigEp’s future is ON!

Sincerely,

 

Stacy Nicodemus, CMP
Programs & Events Director

SigEp and Social Media, the story continues to grow.

Thanks to Michael Ellis, member of the SigEp Technology Task Force, for this post

5,000 Volunteers, actively engaged with our undergraduate chapters, filling every key role on our AVC boards.   WHAT?  Are you KIDDING ME?   So says the SigEp Strategic Plan of our goal to expand volunteerism in SigEp in dramatic new ways.  

We have no more than 2500 today.  To get to that level of volunteerism, we must change what we’ve been doing for the last 25+ years.   We must find new ways to engage volunteers and to match them with the chapters and undergraduates who need them.    Social Media can give us the tools to achieve that goal.  Let me explain.

Facebook, Twitter and yes, LinkedIn have each attracted their own unique followings.  Each system offers something interesting and useful for the community in each.   Many SigEps have signed up for all of these networks and find value in being a part of the unique communities that each of these networks has spawned.

Now comes a young upstart, Google+.   A new social network, a fledgling in a world dominated by Facebook and LinkedIn and Twitter.  Where on earth would a new social network find a following?   What would be its niche?  And Google?  I mean, c’mon.....Google has tried and failed several times to invade Facebook’s space and they have always fallen flat on their virtual face.  Why would this time be any different?  What’s the case for people to use Google+ instead of Facebook or Twitter or LinkedIn?   Where is the compelling function that will draw an audience?   What, exactly, is the problem we’re trying to solve for?  And for SigEp, why would our beloved fraternity want to invest precious resources in this new, potentially also-ran social network?  The answers to these questions take a bit of explanation, but the conclusions to be drawn are unmistakable.  

For most undergraduates, and some alumni, Facebook connects them with their families and their old friends.  It has the power of incumbency, which, especially in these particular months, we know to be very powerful indeed.  LinkedIn persists as the de facto winner in professional social networking.  People serious about their careers (and who isn’t?) use LinkedIn to build their professional networks with the hope of improving their employment and business prospects.  Many of the same people often look to Twitter as the mastermind of the “text message communication” medium, on topics that can command their immediate attention.  

SigEp finds itself reaching out, searching to use these profound new technologies in ways that are relevant to our purpose.  As is so often the case, breaking ground comes from the grassroots of our organization.  Thus our LinkedIn group grew to 14,000 members under the direct leadership of two dedicated volunteers (Bryce Giesler and Eric Chan).  Facebook was more obviously a choice for the national fraternity to sign on to and encourage, lead there by our youngest brothers.  Today, our Facebook presence generates hundreds of interactions every day.   Twitter as well extends to a large segment of our audience, helping us share important, pressing matters.  We reach large swaths of our stakeholders with these tools, with some significant overlap.

Restored chapters - News from around the country

This post is different from our usual fare for two reasons:

First, rather than only one item we have several related items. Several chapters which had been suspended, closed, or under reorganization are making a new start embracing the Cardinal Principles, Balanced Man concept, and a full four year development program.

• (Note from Tom Barton) SigEp storms back to Loras College!!!
  SigEp is back at Loras College in Dubuque, IA. After 10 years of dormancy, IA Eta lives again. In just a month, on a campus with only 1600 students and no other fraternities, the IA Eta colony has landed 24 new members with a combined GPA of 3.2. This includes class presidents, campus leaders, and members of nationally ranked sports teams. Brother Tom Barton, Loras '89, is leading the charge from the alumni volunteer side.  Brother Jim Collins, Loras '84, is now the college president and has also been extremely instrumental in the return of IA Eta.  Originally founded in 1974, IA Eta at one point had won 7 straight Buchanan Cups from 1975-1989 under the mentoring of Order of the Golden Heart recipient Bob McCune.  Stay tuned!

• The State News :: Sigma Phi Epsilon MSU chapter restored
  After losing its charter last winter, the MSU chapter of Sigma Phi Epsilon ... “Sig- Ep is alive and well, and we have full intention of keeping it that way,” Price said.
• EIU SigEp - Eastern Illinois University
  The Sigma Phi Epsilon colony has established itself in East Hall as part of Greek ... Lou Hencken in reserving the first floor of East Hall for Sig Ep members.
• ...and one chapter on the brink...
  The Daily Northwestern : Sig Ep
  Future of Sig Ep uncertain after national suspension ... Northwestern's chapter of Sigma Phi Epsilon will not host social events or participate in rush pending a ...

Second, we have begun a more active presence on Google+.  In addition to making posts available on the S&P Facebook page, we now will be sending them to the S&P page on Google+. 
If you have a Google+ account be sure to add S&P to your circles. (Notice the handy widget at the top of the sidebar.) If you don't have one - Here is how to set it up.

Coming to Conclave? Don't Miss the Bloggers Breakfast #SigEpConclave

The S&P blog team will have yet another "Blogger's Breakfast" at the Phoenix Conclave.

Blue Sage Restaurant; 8:00 - 9:00 am, Thursday, Aug 11 

Since 2005, S&P has brought SigEps excited about social media together at Conclave to get their "Greek Geek" on. Join fellow brothers to have breakfast and tallk about using all the latest webby and cloudy tools to improve our chapters, our Fraternity, and our lives.

BTW - you may order whatever you want for breakfast, since you will be buying your own!

This Week in the History of SigEp Patriots, 27 December - 02 January

Let me know what you think about the slight format change.

This is a significant week in the lives of three brothers that were recognized for extraordinary heroism.

1896
28 DEC - On this day, Brother Joseph Francis Kiep, Jr., US Army - pilot (PA Delta / University of Pennsylvania) was born.

1915
31 DEC - Brother / Major Samuel Eugene Carpenter, US Army - WWII - Pacific (OK Alpha / Oklahoma A&M '37 - now Oklahoma State University) was born on this day in Fairview, Oklahoma. In 1942, Sam entered the Army as a First Lieutenant and served in the Pacific from 1942 to 1945. He left the Army as a Major.

1917
31 DEC - On this day, Brother / Ensign Joseph Metcalf Hissem, US Navy Reserve - WWII - Battle of Midway (IL Alpha / University of Illinois '39) was born in Mt. Carroll, Illinois.

Brother Hissem was postumously awarded the Navy Cross for his actions at Midway on 04 JUN 1942. The Navy Cross is the highest award presented by the Navy following the Medal of Honor.

1920
01 JAN - This marks the day that Brother / Captain Robert Tavenner, US Army - WWI - France & Belgium (OH Gamma / The Ohio State University '08) was awarded the Army Distinguished Service Medal and Army Distinguished Service Cross for action during two seperate feats of "extraordinary heroism" on the battlefield in France and Belgium, respectively, in the fall of 1918.

The Army Distinguished Service Cross is the highest award presented by the Army following the Medal of Honor.

1934
27 DEC - On this day, Brother / Major George "Vern" Ellison, US Marine Corps (Retired) - Vietnam (OR Alpha / Oregon State University) was born in Eugene, Oregon.

Vern was commissioned in the United States Marine Corps in 1957 and served until he retired as a Major in 1977. He was awarded the Bronze Star with a combat "V" (for valor) and twice awarded the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry.

1944
30 DEC - On this day, Brother / (then) Brigadier General Anthony McAuliffe, US Army (WV Beta / West Virginia University) was awarded the Army Distinguished Service Cross by General Patton for his actions at Bastogne, Belgium.

With this recognition, Brother McAuliffe joined brothers Major James Armand Meissner, US Army Air Service (NY Beta; awarded the Army Distinguished Service Cross twice in 1918), and the aforemention Captain Robert Lester Tavenner, US Army (OH Gamma) and Ensign Joseph Metcalf Hissem, US Navy Reserve (IL Alpha) as the highest decorated brothers of Sigma Phi Epsilon that served in the United States military.

Brother Meissner is the only SigEp to receive the Army Distinguished Service Cross twice.

Recent Losses - The following SigEp patriots passed away in the month of December:

*Brother Charles J. "Bud" Foster III, US Marine Corps (DE Alpha / University of Delaware) passed away 12 DEC. Brother Foster was a life-long athlete - medaling in the Penn Relays and running in multiple Boston Marathons, and was a voracious reader of American military history. His final resting place was not listed in his obituary.

*Franklin A. Rouse, US Marine Corps (NC Beta / North Carolina State University) died 18 DEC at Carteret General Hospital. In addition to his military service, Brother Rouse was an Eagle Scout, and very active in the community, including serving as Deputy Secretary of the NC Department of Transportation. He was awarded a membership to the NC Republican Party Hall of Fame, and was a recipient of the J. E. Broyhill Award and Order of the Long Leaf Pine, North Carolina's highest civilian honor. His final resting place was not listed in his obituary. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the East Carolina Council Boy Scouts of America, payable to ECCBSA, P.O. Box 1698, Kinston, NC 28503, or to the Carteret General Hospital Foundation Critical Care Unit, P.O. Drawer 1619, Morehead City, N.C. 28557.

*Brother Kenneth J. Goodman, US Navy Veteran (KY Beta / University of Louisville) passed away at his home in Louisville on Christmas Eve. Ken was a chapter president at KY Beta, and is survived by his real and fellow chapter brother, Joseph G. Goodman. Ken was laid to rest at Evergreen Cemetery, and expressions of sympathy may be made to Day Spring (www.dayspringky.org) and the Parkinson Support Center of Kentuckiana (www.pscky.org).

Happy New Year to you and yours!

Fraternally and Respectfully,

Ed Jones
Chief, USNR
NY Eta / Buffalo State College
sigepswhoserve@gmail.com

The weekly works are part of an effort that is sourced by you - brothers who have and have not served in the military, as well as from research on the internet. It is powered by brotherly love and the belief that our Chapter and National histories are extremely important, and that the accomplishments and sacrifices of these brothers are worthy of remembrance and celebration.

All information is vetted to the best of my ability, and any brother that wishes to share personal information or details about the life of a brother who serve/served our country is strongly encouraged to contact me at sigepswhoserve@gmail.com.

SigEp patriots who serve or have served can connect with more than 250 brothers-in-arms via the Facebook group SigEps Who Serve - www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=5903232706. As this is a closed group set up solely for brother patriots that serve/served in the U.S. military - whether that be active, reserve, retired, ROTC - all are welcome! Your name, home chapter and military affiliation will be required before your request to join the group is confirmed.

A special thanks to Wordjunky for the guidance while I fat-finger these submissions to this terrific blog.

Facebook Can Come Back and Get You!

Judge orders ankle bracelet after viewing Facebook photos
By KATE THAYER – kthayer@kcchronicle.com

ST. CHARLES – A 20-year-old Campton Hills woman must wear an alcohol-detecting ankle bracelet after appearing in photos posted on the Internet showing her drinking with friends while out of jail on bond.

Erika Scoliere has pleaded not guilty to aggravated drunken driving and reckless homicide charges in the July 2007 crash that killed motorcyclist Frank Ferraro, 40.

Circuit Judge Thomas Mueller ordered Wednesday that Scoliere now must wear the SCRAM bracelet after violating conditions of her bond. The SCRAM – which stands for Secure Continuous Alcohol Monitor – bracelet notifies authorities if it depicts alcohol consumption through perspiration. The bracelet takes a reading every hour.

After Scoliere was charged, Associate Judge Allen Anderson – who once presided over the case – allowed her to remain out of jail and attend college in Ohio at the University of Dayton while awaiting trial. As a condition of that, Anderson ordered that Scoliere must not drink or be in the presence of alcohol.

Assistant State’s Attorney Steve Sims asked for the bracelet after police found photographs on the popular social networking Web site, Facebook.com. In court Wednesday, Mueller said the photos showed tequila and Scoliere “having a grand old time with her friends.”

One photo’s caption read, “Ten minutes later, Erika passed out in my bed. Ha. Ha. Ha.,” Mueller said.

Scoliere was found in violation of her bond last year when she failed to contact court officials during her entire freshman year. As a result, Anderson ordered more frequent contact with court officials and more frequent alcohol screenings.

Scoliere admitted to the most recent violation Wednesday and left the courtroom in tears after hearing her punishment. Her attorney, Stephen Komie, argued against the SCRAM bracelet, saying it would serve as a “scarlet letter” for someone who is merely accused of a crime.

“I’m not going to jail her,” Mueller said as he issued his decision. “I don’t think that serves any purpose. She has now earned the privilege of wearing the SCRAM bracelet.”

Mueller noted that increasing Scoliere’s $10,000 posted bond amount wouldn’t do anything, noting the fact that Scoliere has taken several trips with her family since she was arrested.

Ferraro’s supporters shook their heads and appeared angry when the judge noted Scoliere is allowed to live out of state, attend college and take trips while out on bond.

Also Wednesday, a hearing regarding blood samples in the case began. Scoliere’s attorneys want blood evidence thrown out of the case after it went missing.

South Elgin police officers testified that the blood evidence was mistakenly destroyed after it was tested at an Illinois State Police crime lab. The hearing continues June 25.

Police say that at 11:30 p.m. July 13, Scoliere was driving an SUV south on Randall Road when she turned east onto Silver Glen Road during a yellow light. Ferraro was riding a motorcycle north on Randall Road and the two vehicles collided, according to police.

Scoliere’s attorneys say Ferraro sped up just before the collision. Scoliere wasn’t charged immediately after the crash, but later when toxicology results revealed she had been drinking, according to police. Scoliere did not appear intoxicated to witnesses, Komie said.

Got your Facebook page name yet?

Last Friday night facebook unleased a land rush for naming pages so a human can understand them. Word is there were 500,000 requests in the first 15 minutes. It is nice to have a name, it is nice that Wired (along with the rest of the tech press) covered it. But did they have to say it like this...?:

Imagine the odds: No sooner did Facebook swing open the doors to its fire sale of vanity URLs than a geeky frat party ensued, as members reserved prankish, clever and lewd names instead of maybe the digital alias their friends (and mothers) might have hoped for.
[...]
But how can you resist when it’s possible to be known on the largest social network as Haywood Jablome? (Say each syllable slowly). Alas, Facebook got wise to the scam and sent Haywood packing. Someone also thought it would be a good idea to go through life as facebook.com/free.porn, but it’s actually just a URL referral page which also didn’t make it through the weekend. One which did: A guy who claims his name is “Dildoseed” got the page named “buttplugg.” Really seems like “Kam Fong as Chin Ho” to me.

One of our favorites is an homage to Rick Rolling: http://www.facebook.com/RickRollNeverGonnaGiveYouUpNeverGonnaLetYouDown666.

For the record:

• "sigep" belongs to Gary Darna
• "sigmaphiepsilon" goes to the Official Sigma Phi Epsilon page.
• "balancedman" is still available as I type this at 2:45pm CST. If you hurry it could be yours.

Facebook URL Madness: I Got Mine, But So Did Haywood Jablome

Facebook Helps Fraternities Recruit

Frats find a friend in Facebook
College Greek system making comeback via social-networking website
By Jason Blevins, The Denver Post

BOULDER - Fraternity and sorority membership at Colorado's two largest universities and at schools across the nation is stronger than it has been in years, a revival traced squarely to Facebook.

"Facebook is a culture-changer. It has totally changed the game," said Royal Carson, a University of Colorado sophomore and president of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity. His fraternity has grown from 24 members in 2005 to 92 now, including 31 Facebook-savvy pledges from last fall's rush.

"We have to take advantage of that kind of technology, and it is working for us."

Membership in fraternities at CU is up 65 percent since just before their fall 2005 rush. Sorority membership at CU is up 50 percent since 2007. And the Greek community at Colorado State University has grown 45 percent since 2005.

In 2005, Greek life on Colorado campuses was withering. High-profile drinking deaths in September 2004 hastened the decline. In a three-week span that month, 19-year-old CU student and Chi Psi pledge Lynn "Gordie" Bailey and 19-year-old Colorado State University sophomore Samantha Spady were found dead in fraternity houses, killed by alcohol poisoning.

School officials cracked down.
At CU, all 15 fraternities left the university's fold, choosing not to follow the school's mandate to end recruitment of first-semester freshmen. Fraternities at CU are no longer mentioned anywhere in university literature or websites. The university sent letters to all incoming students in the summer of 2005 and 2006 urging parents to be wary of fraternities because they refused to follow the school's recruitment rules.

A year after Bailey's pledge-related death, CU's fraternities dwindled to 660 members before fall recruitment. Without the university's list of incoming students, fraternities saw their growth potential founder.

"In that fall of 2005, people were wondering if we were going to live or die," said Marc Stine, a "Greek advocate" employed by Boulder's Interfraternity Council, which represents all 15 Boulder fraternities.

Today, Boulder fraternities have 1,092 members.

Top recruiting tool
Stine surveyed the newest round of pledges. Not one had seen the full-page ad in the Colorado Daily newspaper urging students to check out fraternities during rush week. No one noticed the back page the fraternities bought in the parent-orientation guide. No one mentioned seeing the pop-up ads on the university's website. Almost all had studied their fraternity's Facebook pages or fraternity members' pages, Stine said.

And when a Facebooking freshman joins a fraternity, he typically brings along a network of friends who will be watching his experience online.

"Facebook is our No. 1 recruitment tool," said Stine, a retired high school principal who averages 750 text messages a month keeping in touch with fraternity leaders. "That's how kids gather info now."

Brett Forrest wasn't big on fraternities when he arrived at CU two years ago. He was pals with fraternity members but wasn't convinced it was for him.

After a year of watching the Facebooked fun of his friends, his mind changed. The camaraderie, the snowboarding and camping trips, the philanthropy all looked appealing.

Today the sophomore film and anthropology student is president of the pledge class for Pi Kappa Alpha, or Pike, a longtime CU fraternity that had its house closed last summer by Boulder officials because of a host of health violations.

"Their Facebook page really gave me insight into what I was getting into," Forrest said. "Rushing a frat without a house, you don't know what it's going to be like."

When the Pike fraternity lost its longtime house - which will reopen this summer after a year of renovations - members built an online home on Facebook. Last fall, the fraternity hosted 22 pledges, more than double the 2007 fall rush.

Sororities at CU also are thriving, with almost 1,500 members, compared with a little more than 1,000 in 2007. Online networking became more essential to sororities last year after the university stopped sharing addresses of incoming students.

Personal touch has its place
While Facebook is important, it does not replace personal contact, said Natalie Smithson, head of public relations for the CU Panhellenic Council, which is part of the university and oversees the nine sororities in Boulder.

"We feel taking the time to get to know and talk to a potential new member is a better way for our organization," Smithson said.

At Colorado State University, membership in the 21 fraternities and 14 sororities was 958 in 2005 and reached 1,395 in 2008.

Only two years ago, fraternity brothers spent days calling freshmen, searching for new members.

"Half the time they would say no," said Chris Millson, a senior at CSU and recruiting chair for Tau Kappa Epsilon. "Now we invite them to join our Facebook page. Then they learn about us, and we can see who they are too, and we can really focus on guys who each person in the house can relate to."

Facebook also gives fraternities and sororities the opportunity to change preconceptions of Greek life. Gone are the photos of drunken parties. In their place are pictures of study groups, formal parties, camping trips, climbing excursions and philanthropic work.

"It's cool to be able to put up a page that shows we are not crazy party animals," said CSU's Jon Morris, president of the Alpha Tau Omega fraternity.

"I think there has been attitude change across the Greek system. Not long ago we saw membership drop off, and no one wanted to be a part of it anymore. It really forced us to push our values and involvement on campus and our academic values and our work in the community. Without Facebook, we'd struggle to share that."

Colorado's Greek growth is mirrored nationally. Fraternity membership has reached 350,000 undergrads at 800 campuses, nearing the peak membership of 375,000 in the late 1980s. Membership in sororities is nearing a decade high of 250,000 in 2,956 chapters.

"If you don't have a digital presence, you are going to be left in the dust," said Pete Smithhisler, president and chief executive of the North American Interfraternity Conference.(emphasis added - ed.)

"A strong digital presence - and I think all fraternities today are pretty conscious of their online world - is sharing the truth about fraternities and helping to break some of the myths."
http://www.denverpost.com/lacrosse/ci_11862322

Sigma Phi Epsilon on Facebook - Officially

SigEp HQ has built an "official" Facebook page. It looks pretty good for a new page, and even has a link to the "Conclave 2009" event.

SigEp has always had a number of Facebook pages set up by members who want to build communities, but this is the first that the page has been officially sponsored by the folks in Richmond.

I think this is a fantastic indication that HQ is finally recognizing the potential of social networks, virtual communities, web 2.0, or whatever the current buzzword is for using the interweb as a way to increase communication. Be sure to sign up as a "fan", then head to the Conclave page and let them know you will be there. Be sure to write on the 'wall' and let them know how you found them (hint- that would be here!).

Using Facebook Positively

How to Facebook Friends With Your Advisor and Not Get In Trouble
fromTHE APATHY MYTH: A Blog for America's Student Leaders
by Blake Bradley, Illinois Wesleyan

In this day and age, everyone uses Facebook to communicate, many times more than email or even our phones. So, establishing that "friend"ship with your campus fraternity/sorority advisor is a great way to communicate with him/her as well as to get to know him/her on a personal level.

However, many students do not want to put their chapter or themselves at risk because of something that may pop up on a news feed, tagged photo, etc. so they simply miss this opportunity. While I truly believe that the best solution is to simply not put yourself or your chapter in questionable situations or to violate policies, I understand that we are all human and entitled to make our own choices.

First to address a few myths.
1. Campus-based Advisors actively search for policy violations on Facebook. While this may be true for some, the majority of professionals in the field simply don’t have the time to "stalk" our students looking for violations. Frankly, I don't know many professionals that wake up each day hoping to find a risk management violation.

2. Universities can pay to access anyone's FB profile regardless of the privacy settings. If you believe this, you haven't read your FB Privacy Policy. If someone who has a private profile has got in trouble for items posted on Facebook, it wasn't because an administrator paid to access his/her profile. Chances are it was from a student that had access and shared that information with the University. Trust me, it happens. At least twice a semester I have a student stop in reporting something they saw on FB that another group did.

So I offer this simple solution, create a friends list and add those individuals that you do not want to see your questionable items and then edit the settings to limit what they can see. Here is how to do it.
1. Go to the Friends Tab at the top of your FB homepage. Select All Friends. Now create a new friends list. Title it something like "Limited Profile" or "University Officials" or whatever you want to call it.

2. Go to the Settings tab at the top of your FB page. Under the Privacy Section, click on manage. Select the Profile section. Under Photos tagged of you and Videos Tagged of you, click the Edit Custom Settings. Under the Except these people, type in the name of the Friends List that you put those you don’t want to see your stuff. Click on Okay. You can also do this for Status Updates and Wall Posts, but these are a little more obvious to campus professionals who have probably been on FaceBook longer than you have been able to be on FB (remember it started with college student when 90% of today’s college students were still in high school and the high school version wasn’t offered). Unless you typically talk about the party your chapter is hosting that violates University or Inter/national Headquarters policies on your wall or in status updates, you should be ok to leave these accessible to your advisor. It allows him/her to get to know you better.

3. Enjoy increased communication and support from your Fraternity/Sorority Advisor that isn't readily available via email. Plus, you can be rest assured that if you or your chapter does slip up, something posted on Facebook will not result in someone holding you accountable.

As a final tip, if your chapter happens to get in trouble for something on FB, do the responsible thing and own it. Photos don't lie. Placing the blame on everyone beside your own organization or yourself doesn't help you keep from being at risk in the future. Neither does de-friending the campus Advisor. The later just make him/her more aware that your organization plans to not make any changes and continue to break policy. Take responsibility for mistakes and learn from them.

THIS IS BY NO MEANS AN ENDORSEMENT FOR VIOLATING UNIVERSITY OR INTER/NATIONAL HEADQUARTER POLICIES. IT IS SIMPLY AN ALTERNATIVE TO EASE THE MINDS OF STUDENTS THAT ARE UNEASY BEING FACEBOOK "FREINDS" WITH THEIR CAMPUS-BASED ADVISOR.

SigEp Foundation Facebook pages

Will Hull asked us to post this notice for two Facebook pages relating to the Sigma Phi Epsilon Educational Foundation.

Brothers,

As many of you are currently using Facebook for your social networking needs, I would like to invite you to join the SigEp Educational Foundation Fan Page and the SigEp Educational Foundation Cause to show your support for the SigEp Leadership Continuum and our great Fraternity's Educational Foundation.

In the past, we have asked each of the members of the SigEp Educational Foundation Cause in a campaign to donate $10 per person, in doing so, we could potentially raise over $10000 with the members currently associated with the cause. To date, $231 has been raised using the Facebook Causes application I would like to begin a campaign to share $10 of your hard earned money with the SigEp Educational Foundation Cause on Facebook. It is the price of a beer in Vegas or any major city for that matter. So I say, share the price of a beer with your fraternity and ask others to do the same. Let's see how much we can collectively raise by the end of 2008. All transactions are secure and you can print out a page after the transaction for tax deduction purposes.

Can't donate or won't, if you are already a member of the cause and fan page, then please help by inviting others to join.

I hope you can join the SigEp Educational Foundation on Facebook.

VDBL,
Will Hull
NV Alpha '03

A SigEp starts group protesting Facebook Layout - 1+ million strong!

SigEp member Scott Sanders did not like the new Facebook layout. He did what Facebook themselves encourage - started a group about the topic. Now that group has over 1 million members. That is over 1% of Facebook's entire population.

Scott comes in at about 39 seconds into the video. He's wearing his SigEp shirt.



Millions of facebook members protesting new layout - iReport.com

I don't use Facebook enough to care, but some of you obviously think it is a BFD. Go for it. Scott's group is "http://www.new.facebook.com/group.php?gid=21195574231".

Foundation Web Site Adds Social Network Features

It has been a while since I logged in to the Foundation Web Site to do more than look at the occasional message or new pictures for one of my contacts or groups. However, I went in today and found a *New* feature - at least it is new to me.

You can now add links to your presence on other networks, such as LinkedIn, Facebook, Flickr, Blogger, and so on (yes, even MySpace, though who would admit to having a page there?). I did this for a few of my other networks, now those networks show up as links in my profile so you can see how I present myself in other areas of the web.

How does this make the world a better place? Well, besides the "Gee Whiz" factor, you can see and maybe connect to a SigEp contact who is in another network but that you had not found yet. For instance, if you see that I am also on LinkedIn you can use the email address I show on my profile to request a connection. The more we connect, the more useful all the sites become for sharing information. Not to mention we can reverse global warming and decrease greenhouse gases (Hey, I can dream, can't I!?)

This feature is pretty new. The message just went out today so there are not a whole lot of participants. Yet. But I think it will grow. Things can grow quickly on the web once the word gets out. (The SigEp group on LinkedIn has 175 members in the little over 2 months since it was started.)

Of course you have to be registered on the Education Foundation site to participate. All SigEps can register there, then add as much or as little information as they feel comfortable sharing. I'll look for you there!

Drexel Fraternity Web Site Gets Them Suspended

Delta Sigma Phi chapter suspended
By Aditi Dubey
The Triangle
Drexel University

The alumni of Delta Sigma Phi fraternity decided to suspend the Gamma Chi chapter at Drexel University June 13 amid allegations of X-rated pictures of female Drexel students being posted on the group's internal Web site.

The current undergraduate members have been removed from the fraternity house, located at 214 N. 34th Street. The chapter will be reorganized in fall.The decision came after allegations were made against the fraternity for having objectionable content on their internal Web site, which only the brothers of the fraternity can access.

According to a message sent to the presidents of all Drexel sororities by an anonymous source, the Web site has links to Facebook profiles and had posted pictures of over a hundred women."Recently it has come to my attention that the brothers of Delta Sigma Phi have dedicated a portion of their member Web site to the degradation of Drexel women," the letter said. "Under headings such as 'jawn spotting' and 'smuts,' brothers can access your pictures, Facebook profile links, a list of brothers who have been with you, nicknames, comments about you and even a place where the men can rank you."The letter further said that this internal Web site also had "X-rated" content and derogatory "falsehoods" against the women, including whether or not they had any sexually transmitted diseases and accusations of sexual promiscuity."Not only is it voyeurism, and pornography, it is also morally wrong," the letter said. "I can not even express in this e-mail how disgusted and disturbed I was to see the comments written about some of your unsuspecting women. I leave it to every chapter to handle this situation as they please."

The sender of the above letter is not yet identified to the public and it could not be ascertained whether all of the allegations against the fraternity are true. The entire Web site of the chapter has since been reorganized and the "brothers-only" section was deleted, according to Charles Williams, president of the Gamma Chi Alumni Corporation of Delta Sigma Phi.

"All of the current undergraduate members were immediately denied access to the brothers-only section of the Web site, which no longer exists," Williams said. "We took the word of our undergrads that some of these allegations were true and took action to make sure that none of this questionable content would ever be seen again. We worked with the Department of Public Safety to permanently destroy that content.

"Williams also said that the alumni of the chapter had no information that any of the above was going on since they have no access to the "brothers-only" section and were not aware of the objectionable content being posted on the site.

"The allegation that alumni had access to the brothers-only section of the Web site is absolutely and entirely false," Williams said. "Had any of our alumni known that there was content of a questionable nature on the Web site, action would have been taken immediately. There are over one thousand innocent Drexel alumni that are being libeled by this anonymous writer and I want that to be stopped immediately.

"The alumni of Delta Sig only have access to a member database, which is used to keep in touch with other members of the fraternity, and a calendar function letting them know about upcoming events, Williams told The Triangle.

"Our alumni board acted immediately and I personally confiscated the Web site server that evening to ensure that there would be no attempt at covering up," Williams said.

According to Williams, the undergraduate members admitted that some of the above allegations were true and the others were not."There were other serious allegations made that-as far as we can tell-were completely false," Williams said.

"What we found when we investigated was in poor taste, but we found no evidence at all of the worst accusations. The content in poor taste was still of great concern to us, as it did not align with our high moral standards and the values our organization represents.

"Williams also said that the decision of the alumni to reorganize the chapter was not solely based on the above incidents and allegations. "These allegations were not the primary driver of our decision to restructure the chapter," Williams said.

"Plans were already in motion, but this incident did provide us with the confidence and proof to move forward, and that what we were doing was necessary and right."Since March, the alumni have had concerns about whether the chapter had "the 'right' group of men" and therefore decided to keep both the individual and organizational performance of the chapter under close observation in order to reach the best decision, according to Williams.

"Our recent decision to re-structure the chapter came after nearly four months of observation, discussion and coordination with both the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life and our national organization," Williams said.

In a letter sent to Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life and the Greek community at the University, Williams wrote that the chapter was being suspended and because the undergraduate members were not holding up to the established, "non-negotiable" code-of-conduct.

"Grades, risk management and leadership, essential cornerstones to maintaining a healthy chapter, have been areas of increasing concern," said the letter from Williams. "These men are not bad men, but we have found that they are simply not living up to the lofty values that make Delta Sigma Phi the respected institution that we work so hard to protect…Effective Saturday, June 16th, the chapter as the campus currently knows it will cease operations and we will immediately begin re-building operations.

"A letter of apology has since been issued by the chapter president of the Delta Sigma Phi, Michael Colligan, to the chapter presidents of all the sororities on campus, saying that actions of those brothers were not in accordance with the values of Delta Sigma Phi and that the alumni are working diligently to "repair the wrongs in the chapter and bring a return to living the ideals of Delta Sigma Phi for all its members.

"E-mails sent to Colligan for comment were not returned. E-mails were also sent to other brothers of the fraternity, Jordan Eggles and David Zoltowski, who referred The Triangle back to Williams.

Another of the brothers, Eric Stephenson, a senior majoring in Entrepreneurship, said that most of the allegations in the anonymous letter were false."I did not have the opportunity to see the letter that went out to the sororities, although I know that it contained a lot of inaccurate information," Stephenson said.

"There were no naked pictures. Any pictures that were on the site were taken from Facebook or other public domains. Some of the pictures did have comments, to my knowledge none of them referenced STDs."

The Delta Sigma house, which is University-owned property, has not been shut down. According to Williams, the alumni took over the house for approximately one week to do some necessary repairs during the term-break. "At the beginning of summer term, a select group of 'core individuals,' who are undergraduates, will be invited to move back in to join the alumni advisors in the rebuilding process," Williams said.

"Our goal is to be back at full steam in the fall and participate in the fall rush process."The Office of FSL provided alternative housing options for the dislocated former members of Delta Sigma Phi. Accommodation in University residence halls was offered to the brothers and a list of available API apartments was provided as well.

"Delta Sigma Phi is an organization that believes in values, moral standards and gentlemanly conduct," Williams said. "We are taking this action to ensure the entire Drexel Community that those are not empty words."The fraternity has not been asked to leave the University campus and the Office of FSL has supported the reorganization.

"We want the fraternity on campus and they are still in good standing," said Stephen Rupprecht, assistant dean for Fraternity and Sorority Life."

Look for Delta Sig be back in the fall, stronger than ever," Stephenson said in an e-mail. "We've been one of the strongest chapters on this campus for over 50 years and we're not going anywhere."Rupprecht also said that the University has not closed a chapter on its own since the mid-1990s.

Just as for Delta Sigma Phi, it's usually the alumni or the student leaders that first address the concerns within a chapter."This is not the first time a chapter has been re-organized at Drexel and it certainly won't be the last time," Rupprecht said.

"We continue to challenge our alumni to provide oversight to their chapters that is consistent with the values of the organization. When the students demonstrate behavior that is ever inconsistent with the organization values, we expect someone from the alumni advisory team to address this behavior if the student leadership does not."The University steps in only if the students do not correct this behavior and if the alumni do not correct this behavior, Rupprecht told The Triangle.

The Office of FSL is confident that the reorganization will be a positive step for the chapter."By looking at a larger view of their organization, they [alumni of Delta Sigma Phi] determined that the organization was not going in the direction they wished it to, so instead of just doing nothing they decided to take responsibility for the future direction of the organization," Rupprecht said.

"This is exactly what our alumni boards are supposed to do; they made a very good decision and a proactive decision."Also, the Panhellenic Council at the University has since approved 'a proposal regarding the victimization of women' to establish a protocol for the sororities to take action against incidents similar to this."Delta Sigma Phi incident was the catalyst for the composition of this proposal," Katie Ludgate, president of PHC and a sophomore majoring in communications, said. "However, this proposal does not strictly apply to this isolated incident. It is a working protocol for future reference if something like this were to happen again."

Delta Sigma Phi chapter suspended - News

Facebook Can Ruin Your Life

Facebook Pictures Pose a Risk to Future
Facebook has caused extreme devastation in the life of a former resident advisor at the Ohio State University.Gabriel McDonald, a former student R.A. at the Columbus campus, was forced out of his position after someone turned him in for having pictures of underage drinking at a New Year's Eve party posted on Facebook."There are still a few nights where I have trouble sleeping if I start thinking about it because it makes me so mad," he told the Ohio State student newspaper.

HelpTheHokies.com

A Chance for You to Be Part of Helping Those at VA Tech

Brothers-

I'm part of a massive benefit to raise money for the families of those lost in the VA Tech tragedy. If you can make it, I hope to see you there.

If not, please visit helpthehokies.com to send in a donation, or to join the facebook group (a penny donated for every member)The benefit is in Strasburg, VA on 5/2 at 8PM. We're selling tickets at helpthehokies.com and at strasburgtheater.com

The Lineup:
MC: Steve Hofstetter (Collegehumor.com)
Tony Boswell (Meet the Parents)
Ellen Cleghorne (Saturday Night Live)
Tony Deyo (Aspen Comedy Festival)
Denis Donohue (Howard Stern)
Vanessa Hollingshead (Comedy Central Presents)
Jody Kerns (Sarasota Comedy Festival)
Dan Levy (MTV's Your Face or Mine)
Vince Martin (ABC Family)Phil Mazo (Idiots Guide to Jokes)
Rich Ragains (Melbourne Comedy Festival)
Thanks so much, I especially appreciate the help from those who have already donated.

Fraternally,
Steve Hofstetter
New York Phi @ Columbia University '02

(click "Read More" for full press release)

---

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

BENEFIT SHOW FOR FAMILIES OF VA TECH VICTIMS

COMEDIANS, STUDENTS COME TOGETHER TO RAISE MONEY & SUPPORT

Strasburg, VA - April 19, 2007 - The Strasburg Theater will play host to several comedians May 2 as they raise money for the families of the victims of the Virginia Tech shootings. All money raised will be donated directly to the families of the victims, with the theatre, office staff, and performers all volunteering their time.

"We're not paying for travel or office expenses or incidentals," organizer and host Steve Hofstetter said. "This money is being raised for those who suffered a loss. The last thing any of them need to worry about right now is the cost of burying a loved one."

The show has garnered a great deal of support from college students, with a facebook.com group just under 5,000 strong.

Many schools are sending busloads of students, and others have planned road trips to be at the show. Some have been donating instead, and many are volunteering their time and resources for posters, emails, and other such event promotion. Distant schools are also holding fundraising events and donating the money to the same cause.

Organizers planned a show in Strasburg so VA Tech students could come if they wanted to, but it's far enough that the students are also given some breathing room.

"It's too soon to hold a show in Blacksburg," Hofstetter said. "This is a nice alternative."

Hofstetter is also donating out of pocket according to how many students join the group, at a penny per head. The group also encourages members to do something similar.

"We've already raised $500 in donations just from the group," Hofstetter said. "But moreso, we've also been witness to thousands of students trying to reach out to those affected. Millions of people across the country are looking for some outlet for their feelings. We're hoping these donations and this show can help provide that."

Other performers include Denis Donohue, Phil Mazo, and Vince Martin, whose brother went to Virginia Tech and was killed in an accident a few years ago. The show will also feature a few special guests, who will be announced next week.

"What you are doing is great and the families would really appreciate it," said Shaquaya Jones, a student who posted to the group's message board.

Contact:
Chris Edling, Next Round Entertainment
Chris@nextroundinc.com

Johns Hopkins Reduces 'Hood' Party Penalty

Penalty reduced over 'hood' party: Hopkins student's appeal OK'd, group says

Sumathi Reddy
The Baltimore Sun

Johns Hopkins University officials have substantially reduced the punishment of a student suspended for posting online a "Halloween in the Hood" fraternity party invitation, according to an education foundation group that protested the university's actions.

The Philadelphia-based Foundation for Individual Rights in Education said yesterday that Justin H. Park, a junior and former Sigma Chi fraternity member, contacted it with the results of the appeal. According to Greg Lukianoff, president of FIRE, Park said that he was satisfied with the outcome but wanted it to remain private.

"It's a substantial change," said Lukianoff. "But the fact that there's any punishment at all, we oppose."

Reached by phone yesterday, Park declined to comment.

Park had been appealing a Student Conduct Board decision that suspended him from the university until January 2008, during which time he couldn't come onto campus. The punishment also required him to complete 300 hours of community service, read 12 books and write a paper on each, and attend a workshop on diversity.

Because of a federal privacy law, the university cannot discuss disciplinary actions involving individual students. University spokesman Dennis O'Shea said appeals of Student Conduct Board decisions go to the dean of student life.

The controversy stems from an invitation Park posted on the Facebook Web site to an Oct. 28 Sigma Chi fraternity party. The invitation described Baltimore as "the HIV pit" and encouraged attendees to wear "regional clothing from our locale" such as "bling bling ice ice, grills" and "hoochie hoops."

A university official asked the fraternity to take the posting down, but a similar version appeared shortly after, according to a summary of findings from a university investigation.

Members of the Black Student Union who attended the party took pictures of a skeleton pirate hanging from a noose, which they viewed as symbolic of a lynching.

But a report by the university's Office of Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action concluded that the skeleton pirate was meant to represent the movie Pirates of the Caribbean.

The invitation and pictures of the skeleton pirate sparked a polarizing debate at Hopkins and beyond, with members of the Black Student Union and larger community protesting the invitation and saying it exemplifies a larger problem with race relations on campus.

On the other side, Sigma Chi members and friends of Park protested in the name of free speech, saying the university's actions unfairly punished Park for a satirical invitation.

Park was expelled from Sigma Chi. A separate Student Conduct Board hearing resulted in the Sigma Chi fraternity being placed on social probation until January 2008, meaning it is barred from holding parties and other social events.

Despite Park's satisfaction with his appeal, officials with the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education say they still oppose the university's implementation of a set of proposed "Principles for Ensuring Equity, Civility and Respect for All."

"That's a remarkably overbroad code that they've recommended," said Lukianoff. "That's perfectly fine for a university to aspire for, but as a rule that is a disaster for free speech. I think everyone understands that there are some issues ... they don't have an overarching duty to be polite about."

Copyright 2007 The Baltimore Sun

Fraternity party stirs cries of racism

Sigma Chi at Johns Hopkins had a "Halloween in 'da hood" party. Oddly, not everyone was amused.

Black Student Union members protested the fraternity's actions, saying the appearance of a mock lynching highlighted the atmosphere of racial insensitivity and tension at the university.

Waving signs such as "Lynching is not a joke" and "Ban Sigma Chi," dozens of students held photos from the party and distributed copies of the invitation. Black-and-white photocopies of a historical lynching were posted on the protest signs.
[...]
The invitation to the Saturday night party, posted on the Web site Facebook, described Baltimore as "the hiv pit" and encouraged attendees to wear "regional clothing from our locale" such as "bling bling ice ice, grills" and "hoochie hoops."

University officials immediately decried the fraternity's actions and on Monday suspended all of its activities pending a full investigation.

In a statement, President William Brody said he was "personally offended" and called the incident "deeply disturbing."
[...]
The national headquarters of the fraternity also placed the local chapter on suspension and will conduct its own investigation, said Mark Anderson, executive secretary at the Illinois-based headquarters.

Normally I would have a cynically humorous comment, but this one just defies all logic. Was there no one who could stand up and say "this is a bad idea"? Well, that is what makes a "frat boy", I suppose. Inability to see when you are making dumb choices.

Fraternity party stirs cries of racism | Chicago Tribune

Technorati tags: sgma chi, fraternity, college, johns hopkins

Thinking of a career in politics?

Better clean up your Facebook.

Univ. of Washington sophomore Hugh Foskett is running for State Representative as a Republican. Well, he seems to have the "Grand Old Party" part down, at least.

But then we saw the young Republican’s Facebook page. You can’t get to it unless you’re a member, but we know a member or two, and what we found on Hugh’s page was a “very conservative” young man with some very liberal attitudes about, well, let’s go to the photos…

More - and better - pics at the article.

The Stranger | Seattle | Slog: The Stranger's Blog | SCANDAL!!! 43rd District Republican Caught in Naughty Facebook Photos!

Technorati tags: facebook, college, politics