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Perspectives / Fall 2005
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in this
issue – Allison Swick-Duttine, Editor
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t is hard to believe that a year has passed since I accepted the role of Perspectives Editor. Before beginning a new year, I want to thank the 2005 Editorial Board members for all of their hard work in soliciting contributors, writing and editing articles, and most importantly, critiquing content.
On the Cover: Thank you to those AFA members who provided photos for the cover of this issue.
A FA
I appreciate the willingness of the Editorial Board members to try some new things in 2005, and for their candor about things that they did not think would work. My goal is to make this publication relevant to all AFA members at all levels of membership and experience. Thanks, as well, to all of the readers that have given feedback about the past several issues. Your input is helpful and always welcome. With that being said, I would like to make this column short this month to allow room for a letter to the editor, as well as a correction. Thank you for sharing your opinions.
The First 30 Years
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Form and Function in the College Fraternity:
1776 - 2006
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LETTER TO THE EDITOR Dear Editor, As an out, gay professional fraternity advisor, who was a closeted undergraduate fraternity member, I was very pleased to read the fall issue of Perspectives. Educating the fraternity/sorority community about gay, lesbian, and bisexual (GLB) issues is an ongoing responsibility and I am proud of AFA for taking the lead in the endeavor. With that said, I want address an oversight in the issue, which is related to the “T” in GLBT – an abbreviation used universally throughout the Perspectives fall issue. While expertly speaking to GLB issues, none of the articles dealt with transgender needs. It is important to understand that transgender issues are very different from GLB issues. Being transgender has nothing to do with sexual orientation (beyond the fact that both GLB and T individuals face discrimination). To lump the “T” into GLB issues is a disservice to trans individuals whose life challenges are far and above anything a GLB person faces. The fraternity and sorority communities, to my knowledge (and I welcome contradiction on this point), have never had to face what we would do if a member decides to get a sex change, or live life as the opposite sex even without an operation. Would a woman who is still biologically a man be allowed to join a sorority, or the reverse? How would alumni react to seeing a fraternity brother come to a reunion as a fraternity sister? As can be seen just from these simple questions, the “T” issues are vastly different from the “GLB” issues and it is vital we not lump the letters together, expecting solutions to fit for all. GLB issues are not new on college campuses. Transgender issues, however, are and few mechanisms exist to support trans individuals. Only 40 campuses out of the thousands nationwide offer any protection in policy for trans students and staff. Even on such campuses, support for trans folks is often intermittent and haphazard.
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Annual Meeting Review
Nominating Know-How:
Your Guide to AFA’s Election Process
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2005 AFA Award Recipients
regular columns The Mighty Quill ...................................... 3 From the Top..............................................4 Putting it in Perspective ............................16
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Perspectives is the official publication of the Association of Fraternity Advisors, Inc. (AFA). Views expressed are those of the individual authors/contributors/advertisers, and are not necessarily those of the Association. AFA encourages the submission of articles, essays, ideas, and advertisements. All Perspectives correspondence and submissions should be submitted to:
Allison Swick-Duttine 2006 Editor Director of Fraternity/Sorority Life & Leadership Development State University of New York College at Plattsburgh Angell College Center 204 101 Broad Street Plattsburgh, NY 12901-2681 allison.swick@plattsburgh.edu 518.564.4825 Fax: 518.564.4839 Perspectives is published four times per year. Submission deadlines: Spring February 15, 2006 Summer May 15, 2006 Fall August 15, 2006 Winter November 13, 2006 Send address corrections to AFA: Association of Fraternity Advisors 9640 N. Augusta Drive, Suite 433 Carmel, IN 46032 317.876.1632, Fax 317.876.3981 info@fraternityadvisors.org
2005 Editorial
Board Todd C. Sullivan Vice President for Resource Development Doug Case AFA Listserv Editor James Barber Monica Miranda Smalls Angela Carver Kirsten Siron Young Amber Garrison Melinda Sutton Timothy Haskell
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Presidential Remarks Delivered on Friday, December 2, 2005 – Amy Vojta, 2005 President
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s Yogi Berra once said, “It’s déjà vu all over again.” For those of you who may not know, this is actually the second time I have been at the Business Meeting delivering a President’s Report. A series of extraordinary circumstances occurred resulting in my reassuming the office of president only a few months before I thought I was going to rotate off the board. While some of you may have joked about it, I’m here today to tell you that I am NOT announcing my campaign for re-election! My only intention is one of all outgoing presidents…to begin scouting locations for my presidential library. Sure, there will be some presidential perks that I’ll miss…my secret service detail, my ability to pardon a turkey at Thanksgiving, the lighting of the AFA Christmas tree on my front lawn. In all honesty though, it has been an amazing experience. People have asked, “How has this term been different?” The answer is simple: we wrote a strategic plan. For those of you who are new to AFA it is important to know that this is our third strategic plan. Our first was created in the mid-1990s and resulted in the establishment of a Central Office and Executive Director. Our second plan, completed last year, focused the Association’s attention on building credibility and influence. We created a Code of Ethics, identified Core Competencies for success in the profession, and laid groundwork for fruitful partnerships. If our old plans challenged us in establishing our identity as a profession and an association, then our new plan challenges us to take on a new role within the interfraternal and higher education landscape. The new mission statement states that our reason for existence is to enhance our members’ ability to do their jobs. We will help you to create experiences that will positively affect students, their institutions, and their communities. It’s a bold statement and there’s much to do… we still don’t have a grip on how to stop hazing. We still don’t have the magic formula to stop the self-destructive behaviors associated with alcohol and drug use. We still have members who feel marginalized because of their racial or ethnic identity or their sexual orientation. We still have members who struggle emotionally.
In recognizing the challenges we face our vision becomes even more important because it talks about unifying the fraternal movement. What will it take for that to happen? If all of us let go of our turf issues and our egos and admitted that individually we don’t have all the answers, perhaps we could truly partner together and harness our collective commitment to the ideas and ideals of fraternity life. In my homeroom session after the “Open Minds, Open Roads” keynote by Steve Uzzell, a colleague offered a thought about preparing for progress. The thought regarded Uzzell’s desire to stray from the regulation photos for the Yellow Truck advertising campaign in favor of the more visually appealing photos he knew he could take if given freedom. What image of fraternity and sorority life might we create together if we stop doing what we have always done and create a more appealing photo? If we shared information freely, if we allowed ourselves to be vulnerable, if we let our passion guide our practice…what masterpieces would we create together? If “providence truly does favor the prepared mind,” as Uzzell presented, then we need to take advantage of the opportunities that exist. Just as providence sent those two trucks to appear on the bridge as the sun set, or just as Steve’s wife suggested a way to get a perfect photo of the American flag, I am convinced that good things…tremendous things…amazing things will happen to because of our strategic plan and because we are ready. As Ron takes over as president I’m sure that you will be as supportive of him as you were of me. I want to take just a few moments to thank the people who have helped me over the past year. • My husband, John Logan, whom I met at the Annual Meeting in 1992 and JoAnn Arnholt, my colleague and partner in crime at Rutgers… both of whom picked up slack for me during the time I was not at home or at work because of my volunteer commitment • The members of the Executive Board for all of their hard work, the many conference calls, emails, brainstorming, and planning sessions… it has been a pleasure to work with you and to laugh with you
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• To Jeffrey Cufaude, who led us through our Strategic Planning process…for all that you did for us • To our Central Office staff, Sue Kraft Fussell and Amanda Bureau, for your professionalism, many talents, and friendship • And finally to all of my friends and colleagues who have supported me in the past year…I offer my sincerest thank you.
– Dr. Ron Binder, 2006 President
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ood morning. My name is Dr. Ron Binder. I serve as the Associate Director of Residence Life and the Director of Greek Affairs at Bowling Green State University. More importantly, I am proud to serve as the 2006 President of the Association of Fraternity Advisors. To say that I am excited and humbled to lead this great Association would be an understatement. AFA is an association with quality members who represent a spectrum of our fraternal movement. I hope that my work will advance both AFA and the fraternal movement. I would be remiss if I did not thank Bowling Green State University for their support. It is wonderful to work at an institution that values the fraternity and sorority experience so much. I know that I will rely on the dedicated faculty, staff, and students to “hold down the fort” this year while I spend much of my time working with our association. Contrary to popular belief, I was not present during our 1976 founding as an association; however, this is my 21st Annual Meeting. In my time in AFA I have been fortunate to make many interfraternal friends, all of whom I consider my family and who I am proud to call my friends. If the old saying is true, that you “can tell a man’s character by his friends,” then I am blessed. At BGSU I tell graduate students that there are six degrees of separation in the world; three in student affairs; and one in the fraternity/sorority world. In this business you either know of someone, served on a committee with someone, are fraternity brothers or sorority sisters with someone, or graduated with, worked for, or supervised someone. Take the following for example: In 1985, at my first Annual Meeting, I served on the first AFA graduate staff. The conference was under the direction of Ed Whipple, who is now Vice President for Student Affairs at my host institution, Bowling Green State University. As a freshman at the University of Toledo I noted a senior member of my fraternity who appeared to excel in fraternity and student life. He went on to BGSU for his master’s degree, then to Purdue as the Fraternity/Sorority Advisor, and finally to University of California – San Diego, where he currently teaches leadership classes. Many of you will recognize the name Paul DeWine, the 1990 AFA President. In this business, you just never know. There are four things that drive me as a person and they all start with the letter F.
The first is faith. I regularly give thanks that I am able to work in a world where I make a difference in students’ lives, where I have great
The Mighty Quill continued from page 3 I would urge my colleagues to be precise in offering programs, advice or other thoughts, especially in relation to fraternity/ sorority issues, and not automatically use “GLBT” when making reference to the gays, lesbians, and bisexuals. The issues and needs associated with the letters are not the same and to bunch them together renders invisible the unique needs of the transgender. Sincerely, Mike Esposito, Assistant Director, Student Activities Boise State University
CORRECTION: In the Summer 2005 issue article: Two Roadmaps to One Destination, Part 1 (p. 13), portions of the University of New Mexico’s fraternity/sorority community strategic plan were used and the reference was omitted. We apologize for the oversight.
working relationships with many colleagues, where I get to work with some of the most dynamic students, and where my passion lies. The second is family. I am fortunate to have a large family that loves me, even though they sometimes do not have a clue what I do for a living. I remember taking my dad out with me one night at the University of Georgia to visit several fraternity parties where he spent his time introducing himself as “Ron Binder’s dad.” He had a great time but still is unsure of what I do for a living. In order to be dedicated to the fraternal movement, we generally have someone at home who supports us. I am fortunate to have a partner who supports me, although he sometimes does not understand why I am so passionate about fraternity. The third is friends. I am blessed to have many friends who I can call on throughout the country, many of whom are at this conference. The AFA Annual Meeting is like “old home,” where I can see many friends I do not get to see frequently. The fourth is fraternity. I am passionate about fraternity. I was fortunate to have had a great fraternity experience at the University of Toledo, which is primarily why I am in this profession and still involved with my fraternity 26 years after my initiation. After volunteering on five alumni boards and chairing a national committee of my fraternity, Sigma Phi Epsilon, I believe in the potential of fraternities to transform lives. This potential is the reason why many of us can’t wait to get to work some days. As I say to my grads, “Without passion, it is just a job.”
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F r o m t h e To p continued from page 5 If we do our jobs right, we will enhance the undergraduate experience for our fraternity and sorority members, as well as our campuses. This is what drives us to spend time away from our loved ones in exchange for the opportunity to mentor young fraternity and sorority members. As many of you know, this is our last year of a joint meeting with the North-American Interfraternity Conference (NIC). AFA was founded in 1976 at an NIC meeting. The members attending that meeting saw the need for a professional association of campus-based fraternity and sorority advisors. I am not sure these founders could have envisioned that 30 years later AFA would be the dynamic organization it is today. Throughout our young tenure we have been supported by the NIC. They wisely saw the need for AFA and were invested in our success. We are appreciative of the NIC for nurturing AFA for these many years. As we stand on the threshold of our 30th year as an association, we are appreciative of our past. Our new five-year strategic plan has mapped out an exciting future for both AFA and the fraternal movement. Our new mission and vision calls for campus-based professionals, national staff, foundation members, chapter advisors, volunteers, and vendors to come together to achieve this goal. As we strive to achieve our vision of a unified fraternal movement, I am reminded of a quote by President Harry Truman (incidentally, a Lambda Chi Alpha member), who said, “We accomplish more when we don’t worry about who gets the credit.” The issues facing the fraternal movement, while seemingly intractable, will only be solved if we work together on our campuses and on the national level. We need to reach out to all our fraternal partners to solve these problems. Our students do not live in island environments, but in environments where we all interact with and influence each other. We need to bring all groups together to create a fraternity/sorority community on both the campus and national level to solve our problems. Students rely on us to model this behavior no matter our role: campus, headquarters, foundation board, or volunteer. This morning a historic gathering occurred when the leadership of the fraternal
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movement gathered to break bread and explore ways to collaborate to improve the fraternity/sorority experience. The gathering of the Association of Fraternity Advisors, Fraternity Executives Association, National Association of Latino Fraternal Organizations, North-American Interfraternity Conference, North American Interfraternal Foundation, National Panhellenic Conference, National PanHellenic Council, and the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators Fraternity/Sorority Knowledge Community is a great example of how AFA is enacting our strategic goal of convening the fraternity and sorority leadership. We are excited about this gathering and hope that we will solve some of our most pressing issues as a result. We look forward to gathering on an annual basis.
The issues facing the fraternal movement, while seemingly intractable, will only be solved if we work together on our campuses and on the national level. While optimistic about our future we face many challenges. The challenges to the fraternal movement boil down to four major areas: • The first is increasing our standards not just to join, but to maintain membership. Too often students are recruited with high standards and virtually no standards are expected to remain a member. This is not how the world works and it should not be for our fraternities and sororities. We need to make it possible for our groups to remove members who do not live up to fraternal values. • Recruitment is the second challenge – not because of lack of membership numbers, but because of values. We must teach students to recruit others who believe in the core values from the start. They do not have the luxury of recruiting a student with the hope that they can teach them fraternal values. As my former student, Dr. Walter Kimbrough said, “No matter how hard you try, you can’t turn lead into gold.”
• The third issue is that memberships in fraternities and sororities must reflect both campus and society. As a profession, we have made great strides; however, we need to do more. If our goal is to prepare students for the future, then we must have organizations that reflect the world in which they will work and live. • Finally, we need to recruit active volunteer advisors to mentor students. It is no surprise that the strongest and most stable chapters have advisors. We need to support these advisors, rather than make them an afterthought. Having served as an advisor to five chapters, I can attest to the value of having involved advisors. The challenges facing our Association are equally great. Our challenge will be to make the new strategic plan a reality and will require an alignment of resources, both financial and human. The plan will also require us to think differently about how we conduct business. Our bottom line is that we want quality fraternities and sororities that uphold the values espoused in our rituals. Our plan is intended to take us to this goal. Additionally, we need to elevate the position of the campus-based fraternity/sorority advisor. On too many campuses this is an entry-level position. The knowledge, skills, and talents required to be effective are ones that take time to develop. If you look around this room, you will see many tenured advisors who make a difference on their campuses. Institutions need to create positions for our campus-based advisors that reward them for years of excellence. We also need to recognize the value of someone serving in these roles for many years. Fraternity and sorority advising is a career for many of us. The position of a campus-based advisor is one that can have tremendous impact on the future. We need seasoned advisors who can make a difference to our students. We stand on the threshold of progress, knowing that we have had a great past, and a great plan for our future. We know the challenges ahead and we know we have many partners to help make this happen. The fraternal movement is counting on the leadership in this Association to make a difference. Let’s not let them down!
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afa The First 30 Years – Dan Bureau
This is the first installment in a four-part series about the evolution of the Association of Fraternity Advisors. “The association will be designed to represent campus advisors/deans, provide input to the NIC [National Interfraternity Conference] and FEA [Fraternity Executives Association], organize in-service training for a highly mobile group of student personnel members, and encourage research and publications benefiting the field.” (Fraternity Newsletter, December 1976, p.3) This series will explore four eras of the Association of Fraternity Advisors (AFA): the formative years (1972-1981); the progress years (1982-1990); the strategic planning and decision making years (1990-2001); and the evaluative years (2001-present day). Each stage has resulted in the development of an association that has impacted thousands of individuals as they work to advance the fraternal movement.
THE FORMATIVE YEARS (1972-1981) “Our goals at the 1976 Williamsburg commemoration of the bi-centennial of America’s fraternity movement were modest ones revolving around communication between institutional staff and those involved with the national organizations.” – Dr. John R. Mohr, 1977 AFA President (Sullivan, 2001, p. 4) “This next year is very crucial to AFA. We expect improvement and growth, and more programs meeting our goals and purposes…This year we will see the strength of the group and its commitment to professional growth. I anticipate that our new officers will lead this group to its fulfillment as an effective professional organization.” – Barbie Tootle, 1978 AFA President (Lilly, December 1978, p. 9) In 1974, Jerry Lilly, Kansas State University, declared the need for collaboration between the National Interfraternity Conference (NIC) and campus professionals who were only loosely organized through the Fraternity Advisors Association (FAA): “There is no reason that the NIC, FEA, and FAA should always meet at separate times and in separate locations” (December 1974 Fraternity Newsletter (p. 9)). The joint meeting in 1976 allowed for these individuals to conceptualize AFA. Lilly (1977, June) provided the purposes as adopted by the Association: • “To provide a forum through publications, meetings, and informal interaction for the regular sharing of ideas among
student personnel administrators with responsibilities or interest in fraternity advising; • To offer informational services to campuses and individuals with questions or problems related to [fraternal] organizations; • To raise the visibility of and support for fraternity advising on college and university campuses; • To encourage interested and qualified individuals to seek college and university staff positions which include job responsibilities related to [fraternal] organizations; • To assist in maintaining positive, supportive relationships among student personnel administrators, fraternity executives and staff, the National Interfraternity Conference, and related organizations; • To stimulate educational programming and student development concepts among fraternity chapters; • To promote research related to [fraternal] organizations” (p. 2). Evidence of early growth in the Association can be found by studying membership lists and conference attendance. Barbie Tootle, the second President of AFA stated, “We have come from a dozen advisors sitting in Williamsburg to 185 interested professionals” (Lilly, December 1978, p. 9). A newsletter served as the primary method of communication. The opportunity to come together once a year at an annual meeting provided the chance to gather with colleagues, share ideas, and develop methods to assist in the development of those who worked with fraternities and sororities.
YEARS
OF
PROGRESS (1982-1990)
“[Fraternity and Sorority advising] is not now, and will probably never be, a top priority with too many university/ college presidents…We are not in the mainstream of higher education…We need to admit that we augment a good education; we do not initiate it.” – Vic Boshini, 1984 AFA President (Beyers, February 1985)
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afa The First 30 Years “As we continue to confront our challenges…and accomplish our objectives…we will continue to grow as a professional organization in higher education, while having a significant impact on the men’s and women’s fraternity movement of North America.” – Paul DeWine, 1990 AFA President (Roble, February 1991, p.13) From its very origin, AFA would accept the onus to advance the profession of advising fraternities and sororities throughout North American colleges and universities. Action resulted from this process began and in 1981 a resolution was passed that “encourages colleges and universities to provide a professional staff member to serve as fraternity/sorority advisor, whose time is spent in fraternal affairs in commensurate with the needs of students and chapters on their campuses” (AFA, November 18, 2005). The continued existence of AFA was due to the assistance of both the FEA and the NIC. These organizations provided AFA with resources throughout its first 10 years. However, with the FEA Advisory Board ending its formalized assistance in 1981, the NIC was left to evaluate how it would support the Association. In addition, AFA came to question whether or not its dependence on the NIC for its Annual Meeting should continue. AFA and the NIC had offered joint meetings for close to 10 years, but in 1985 President Barb Robel would state that “[a] move such as this [separation] could…be a sign of maturity for our association” (AFA Executive Committee July 7, 1984). The fraternal movement was changing and the profession responded. AFA was faced with opportunities to evaluate its relationship with other constituents and emerged as an association committed to professional development in the fraternal movement.
THE STRATEGIC PLANNING AND DECISION MAKING YEARS (1990-2001) “Our Association has changed dramatically over the course of the last 20 years. It has grown from an idea of a select few to an international organization with almost 1,000 members...change has been the mainstay within AFA, and the only way that our Association will continue along the path of progress will be to aggressively address this issue [of change].” – Gregory Singleton, 1996 President – (Singleton, April/May 1997) “In my view, the single most important aspect of the upcoming year for the Association will be the strategic planning process that will take us into the middle of the next decade...It is time for us to step back, re-assess our mission and purpose, and develop the next phase of the future.” – Charlie Warner, 2000 President – (Warner, Winter 2000)
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The 1990s would bring more changes to the Association and the overall fraternal movement. Association leadership was forced to think strategically about the future. While an effort had been made in 1985 to develop such a plan, little documentation exists to verify its facilitation and successful completion. It is not until the 1990s that the practice of strategic thinking and planning became a focal point for the Association. In 1991 a formal strategic planning process was initiated. Completed in 1995, it laid the groundwork for the next stage of long-term planning which would begin that year (AFA, 1991; AFA, 1995). Through this process, many initiatives were undertaken and notable happenings include the hiring of AFA’s first executive director, as well as a second staff person six years later; the revamping of the Fraternity Newsletter into what is today called Perspectives; a thorough membership survey; and the establishment of the Association of Fraternity Advisors Foundation. In 1996, AFA conducted its most thorough membership survey to date. Areas of assessment included: demographics of members, reasons for joining and maintaining membership, tenure in the profession, assessing perceived effectiveness of association leadership, evaluation of the Annual Meeting, and identifying key issues related to working on campuses with fraternities and sororities. Approximately 400 of the 915 members offered significant information through this survey. Noteworthy information included: the membership had an average tenure of 3.69 years and had joined AFA for professional development, to network, to keep current on fraternal trends, to attend the Annual Meeting, and to receive support from colleagues (AFA, 1996). While none of this was probably shocking to the leadership or overall membership of the Association, the undertaking was significant and laid the foundation for a strategic planning initiative. Finally, the strategic thinking and decision making years of 1992-2001 were represented by numerous innovations. In these years, the newsletter became Perspectives, the Association hired its first Executive Director, and the AFA Foundation was created. All of these and numerous other accomplishments during this time were the result of big thinking and dreaming. The groundwork for these accomplishments had been laid by the early leadership and fostered by those who followed.
THE EVALUATIVE YEARS 2001-PRESENT DAY “…Our 25th Annual Meeting was an extra special one as the Association of Fraternity Advisors celebrated its Silver Anniversary. Throughout the weekend, meeting attendees were reminded of how the association began, the progress we have made and the potential for the future…On behalf of the 2002 Executive Board, I can assure you that we have been duly impressed by the accomplishments of our predecessors.
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We look forward to the challenge of leading the Association into its next 25 years.” – Linda Wardhammar, 2002 President (Wardhammar, Winter 2002, p. 2) “We must assess the experience that our members are having and drive our work based on the results of such evaluation… Our association will always exist first and foremost to serve campus-based professionals, but does this mean we can’t find a way to better use the skills of our affiliate membership or our associate and graduate membership?” – Dan Bureau, 2004 President (Bureau, Winter 2004) Honoring the past while evaluating necessary changes for the future would be the theme throughout the most recent five years of the Association. Significant changes to the structure of the executive board, advancing partnerships with other professional associations and the fraternal umbrella groups, and realizing potential through assessment and research were early priorities in the new millennium (Bureau, 2004; Kraft Fussell & Bureau, 2005). In addition, conversations regarding the benefits derived from different categories of membership would prove to be an important cornerstone as the Association reshaped its purpose. AFA had become much more than an association existing to simply serve campus based professionals (AFA, Summer 2004). Evaluating the Association’s role in higher education and the sometimes antagonistic, but more often complementary relationships it had with interfraternal partners would become a pivotal process as the conclusion of the existing strategic plan approached in 2004. During this time members, association leaders and staff persons, and interfraternal and higher education partners began to view AFA as the convener of the larger fraternal movement (AFA, December 2004). This would reshape the mission and vision of the organization. By the summer of 2005, the Association was poised to take on a new and different role as the entity that brought together all invested parties in the advancement of fraternities and sororities on college and university campuses (AFA, November 15 2005). In the next issue, learn more about some of the decisions that shaped the formative years of the Association as the years 1972-1981 are explored.
– Dan Bureau is the Assistant Dean of Students for Greek Affairs at University of Illinois,Urbana-Champaign. He served as the 2004 AFA President. References on page 10
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REFERENCES Association of Fraternity Advisors (AFA). (2005, November 18). Resolution regarding fraternity/sorority advising and support services. Retrieved November 18, 2005 from http:// www.fraternityadvisors.org/resolutions/advising_services.htm Association of Fraternity Advisors (AFA). (2005, November 15). AFA strategic plan. Retrieved November 15, 2005 from http://www.fraternityadvisors.org/strategic/2005SP.htm. Association of Fraternity Advisors (AFA). (2004, December). AFA-annual summary. Notes from strategic thinking focus groups conducted at 2004 Annual Meeting. Unpublished. Association of Fraternity Advisors; Carmel, IN. Association of Fraternity Advisors (AFA). (2004, Summer). Executive board meeting minutes. June 13-16. Association of Fraternity Advisors; Indianapolis, IN. Association of Fraternity Advisors (AFA) (1996). Association of Fraternity Advisors 1996 membership survey. Copied with permission from the Bowling Green State University Library Student Life Archives. AFA. Proceedings. MS-364. Box 4. Post-Conference Board Meeting minutes/reports. 1985-1991, 1993-1999. Association of Fraternity Advisors (AFA) (1995). Annual Report. Copied with permission from the Bowling Green State University Library Student Life Archives. AFA. Officer Files. MS-364. Box 7. Michael Hayes. President. 1994-1996 Association of Fraternity Advisors (AFA) (1990). Annual Report. Copied with permission from the Bowling Green State University Library Student Life Archives. AFA. Officer Files. MS-364. Box 2 Paul Dewine. President. 1990-1991. Association of Fraternity Advisors Executive Committee (1984, July 7). Meeting minutes. Copied with permission from the Bowling Green State University Library Student Life Archives. AFA. Proceedings. MS-364.Box 5 Executive Committee minutes/reports 1985-1986. Beyers, G.. (Editor). (February, 1985). Fraternity Newsletter. Vol. 12. No. 6. Indiana State University. Copied with permission from files at the Association of Fraternity Advisors Central Office in Carmel, Indiana during October of 2003.
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Bureau, D. (2004, Winter). Installation speech – AFA president 2004. Perspectives. pp. 10-13. Association of Fraternity Advisors; Carmel, IN. Kraft Fussell, S. & Bureau, D. (2004, Spring). From the top. Perspectives. pp. 2-4. Association of Fraternity Advisors; Carmel, IN. Lilly, J. (Editor). (December, 1978). Fraternity Newsletter. Vol. 6. No. 4. Kansas State University. Copied with permission from files at the Association of Fraternity Advisors Central Office in Carmel, Indiana during October of 2003. Lilly, J. (Editor). (June, 1977). Fraternity Newsletter. Vol. 4. No. 10. Kansas State University. Copied with permission from files at the Association of Fraternity Advisors Central Office in Carmel, Indiana during October of 2003. Lilly, J. (Editor). (December, 1974). Fraternity Newsletter. Vol. 2. No. 3. Kansas State University. Copied with permission from files at the Association of Fraternity Advisors Central Office in Carmel, Indiana during October of 2003. Robel, (Editor). (February/March, 1991). Fraternity Newsletter. Vol. 18. No. 4. Kansas State University. Copied with permission from files at the Association of Fraternity Advisors Central Office in Carmel, Indiana during October of 2003. Singleton, G. (1997, April/May). President’s perspective: A change in perspective. Perspectives. Vol. XXIV. No. 1. Association of Fraternity Advisors; Indianapolis, IN. Sullivan, T. (Fall 2001) 25 years of reflections by AFA Past Presidents. Perspectives. pp. 4-6. Association of Fraternity Advisors. Carmel, IN. Wardhammar, L. (2002, Winter). A silver celebration…A golden future? Perspectives. p. 2. Association of Fraternity Advisors; Carmel, IN. Warner, C. (2000, Winter). The president said… Perspectives. pp. 6-8. Association of Fraternity Advisors; Indianapolis, IN.
C A T H A R S I S
P R O D U C T I O N S
P R E S E N T AT I O N
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Incorporated in 1992, the Association of Fraternity Advisors Foundation’s mission is to obtain and provide ongoing financial support and resources in an effort to aid the Association of Fraternity Advisors in the fulfillment of its educational objectives. The AFA Foundation provides thousands of dollars annually through scholarships to individuals and via grants to AFA in the pursuit of this mission.
Please join CAMPUSPEAK in making a contribution to the AFA Foundation, supporting the future of college fraternities and sororities. Donations make it possible for future leaders to gain insight and improve the quality of advising across North America. Please visit the AFA Foundation at www.fraternityadvisors.org/foundation, or call 317-876-1632 for more information.
303.745.5545 info@campuspeak.com Winter 2006 / Perspectives
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Form and Function in the College Fraternity:
1776 - 2006 – Charles G. Eberly and James A. Wallace
T
he famous architect Frank Lloyd Wright said that “form follows function,” but more specifically, “Form and function should be one, joined in a spiritual union.” Recently, the authors were asked to reflect about the relationship between form and function within the American college fraternal organization. History must be reinterpreted and revised by each generation (McMillan & Schumacher, 2001), and what appears below is our response to the request. A revisionist approach to fraternity history In the formative years of fraternities, men and women who started or joined these groups did so for very specific reasons, not the least of which was that many of them wanted to acquire the habits of thought and behavior associated with the upper, educated classes of American society (Horowitz, 1988). As sons of farmers and factory workers, they banded together to practice the social skills that would enable them to rise above their working class origins and help them develop the social capital to become respectable members of the middle and upper-middle classes. As fraternities became established organizations on college campuses (meaning that their presence was accepted by faculty members, administrators, and the student body), college administrators envisioned a new function for the fraternity that changed the organizational form. Rather than the college building housing for students, the students themselves, in the form of fraternities, created their own housing, thus saving money for the administration (Brubacher & Rudy, 1976).
The development of housing in the mid-19th century promoted a fundamental change in the fraternity. Prior to this change, membership was conferred to juniors and seniors only after active members carefully watched the campus behavior of men during their freshman and sophomore years. With the advent of fraternity housing, a new category of membership emerged, “the pledge,” allowing fraternity housing space to be made available to
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non-members. The new form of fraternity also changed the fraternity function in another important aspect – the fraternity was now a business enterprise. By the early part of the 20th century, fraternities were firmly established in many of the best private and public liberal arts colleges and universities, as upper class establishment organizations among student clubs, teams, and societies (Brubacher & Rudy, 1976). Group photographs of fraternity members in college yearbooks of the era emphasized the prestige of fraternities by proudly listing those brothers on the faculty (Fraters in Facultate) and alumni living in the city (Fraters in Urbe) with the undergraduate members (Fraters in Universitat) (Ogle, 1907). Fraternities were a well established part of collegiate society. By the 1920s, the era of Prohibition, the secrecy practiced by these upper class fraternities created a haven for alcohol use and abuse (Robson, 1976). An annual campus-wide competition between the freshman and sophomore class males called “rush,” when faculty members gleefully lined up to see whether the freshmen could beat back the sophomores long enough to retrieve the “prize” atop a greased pole and thus no longer have to wear the despised “beanies” for the rest of the year, now became a term used to recruit new freshmen men and women into the fraternities and sororities of the time. In a large sense, the form and function of fraternities and sororities stayed much the same from the 1920s to the 1950s (Horowitz, 1987). Membership in them represented both the best of and the worst of college life. Lofty ideals were lifted up in rituals at the same time that members were unceremoniously hazed prior to initiation. Fraternity life was monitored by the Dean of Men, and the members’ behavior toward women was monitored by the Dean of Women (Robson, 1976). Leemon (1972) created an enduring collage of the “classical” college fraternity in his book, Rites of Passage in a Student Culture. His anthropological study of
transition from pledge to active member, carried out in 1963, presages the qualitative fraternity and sorority research that is currently popular. His book provided an intimate portrait of fraternity life prior to the social unrest of the late 1960s, when the fraternity’s association with the “establishment” resulted in students of the time avoiding membership by the thousands. Large numbers of chapters were closed in the early 1970s due to the marked decline in membership (Conroe, 1999). For over a half century, these changes in fraternity form and function were chronicled in two publications, Leland’s Fraternity Month (1933-1971), and Banta’s Greek Exchange (1913-1972) (University of Illinois Archives). Readers of these publications could learn about the activities of all the college fraternal societies of the day, and be informed about local campus events as well as the initiatives of national organizations. Unfortunately, these publications, too, seemed to be causalities of the anti-establishment late 1960s and early 1970s. Bicentennial: Fraternity for the Year 2000 The bicentennial of the American college fraternity was celebrated in 1976 as this anti-establishment, anti-fraternity atmosphere was diminishing. The American College Fraternity Bicentennial Commission used the occasion to make a series of projections about what the form and function of the college fraternities belonging to the North-American Interfraternity Conference (NIC) would be like in 2000 (Schreck, ed., 1976). Then as now, the writers admitted that “in many minds the subject of fraternities often conjures up images of hazing, anti-intellectualism, discrimination, snobbery, arrogance, and conformity. No thoughtful observer, however sympathetic, can dismiss such charges out of hand…”(Owen & Owen, 1976, p. 7). Acknowledging these shortcomings, the authors expressed both their idealism and their hope for the future. Our commentary on a selected set of the Commission’s projections follows.
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Technological Change – Their hope for the fraternity/sorority experience in the face of technological change appears to have had some substance. “To the extent that the classroom, the faculty office, and the campus at large become the settings for rather matter-of-fact, mechanical transactions, the fraternity may offer itself as an alternative common ground for those who prize the personal encounters that imbue the process of teaching and learning with many of its greatest satisfactions” (p. 8).
was an expectation that change in the groups would result in a greater proportion “of persons of varying ethnic, religious, social, and economic backgrounds, reflecting in many respects the diversity of the college population” (p. 12). We suspect the sheer increase in diversity in all areas that has occurred since 1976 would surprise the Commission, particularly with regard to the presence and acceptance of gay members, for which no mention was made in the report (Case, Hesp & Eberly, 2005).
Housing and Programming – Chapter housing was anticipated to be constructed in smaller units housing “25 to 35 members” (p. 9) rather than “60 to 100 members” (p. 9), with sufficient flexibility to meet the needs of changing college curricula and changing student demographics. While Commission members anticipated the concept of “residential learning centers” (p. 10), their perception of chapter programming largely remained that of “preparing pledges for their responsibilities as initiated members” (p. 10). Nowhere in their projections of chapter programming for 2000 did these men anticipate the fouryear programs of character and leadership development based on student development theory that are most notably represented by Sigma Phi Epsilon’s Balanced Man Program or Beta Theta Pi’s Men of Principle Initiative. As the function of undergraduate chapter programming changed from a rather narrowly-focused perspective of preparing men to be active members to the more encompassing preparation to be lifetime community leaders, we think the form of fraternity developmental programming has changed to meet the function. Today, organizations with four year programs of development centered in a horizontal structure, rather than a superordinate/subordinate membership relationship, lead the fraternity world.
Diversity Confluence – Starting in the 1950s, fraternities slowly adjusted to the changes in society brought about by the Civil Rights Movement (Robson, 1976). A single line in the Bicentennial Commission’s report mentioned the National Pan-Hellenic Council’s (NPHC) formation in 1929 (p. 45). As Robson foresaw, brotherhood extended to men of goodwill made the difference. Without much fanfare, rituals and ceremonies such as “stepping” are spreading across the country and around the world. Although the popularity of step shows originated in African American fraternities and sororities, today many other fraternities and sororities participate in campus step shows, such as the Annual East Coast Stomp championship, exemplifying how rituals once thought to be culturally specific are merging across fraternity and sorority communities.
Diversity and Selectivity – There was little expectation among Commission members that campus chapters would change markedly in terms of “diversity and selectivity” by 2000 (Owen & Owen, 1976, p. 11) due to the “conservative acceptance of change” (p. 12) in fraternities. Yet, there
Paideia – The concept of educating the whole person was highlighted as a major objective of the fraternity experience then, in 1976, and for 2000. The authors anticipated the sense of community found in the positive fraternity experience would by 2000 be replicated in few other “continuing agencies left in higher education” (Owen & Owen, 1976, p.17). While mention was made of learning communities, there was no anticipation of the widespread college curriculum-based residential learning communities existing on college campuses today (Smith, MacGregor, Matthews, & Gabelnick, 2004). Philanthropy – Chapter corporate support of social and philanthropic service activities was expected to be replaced by member’s
individual initiatives. Clearly, the growth of group supported national service activities such as Lambda Chi Alpha’s national canned food drive, and all-campus fraternity/sorority events such as Up ‘til Dawn supporting St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital were not anticipated in 1976. There was no mention of the concept of service learning (Jacoby & Assoc., 1996), now one of the major initiatives within the academy. Alumni Support – The lack of alumni participation in the life of the chapter was an issue in 1976 as it is today, and by 2000 the writers “hoped that a growing number of alumni will be drawn into greater involvement with undergraduates at all levels of fraternity activity” (Owen & Owen, 1976, p. 20-21). It was challenging then, as now, to find good alumni volunteers, but the hope was that by 2000, “the greatest single source of strength may well be the renewed or reclaimed interest of alumni who will want to take part once again in the life of the fraternity” (p. 21). Even with today’s increased programming to educate alumni in how to be effective chapter advisors, the goal of increased numbers of alumni actively supporting the undergraduate experience has yet to be met. From 1976 to 2006: The era of the Association of Fraternity Advisors (AFA) In the context of these projections of fraternity life from 1976 to the year 2000, the Bicentennial Commission’s description of the future is missing aspects that have proven to be influential to the fraternal movement. Nowhere in the document did we find specific mention of the need for a professional association of campus fraternity/sorority professionals formed for the purpose of advising campus chapters. The Association of Fraternity Advisors however was founded in 1976 and now celebrates its 30th anniversary. While respect was paid to existing research on the college fraternity, no suggestion to promote research such as that done by the Center for the Study of the College Fraternity was part of the report either.
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Form and Function i n t h e C o l l e g e F r a t e r n i t y : 1776
The comment is often made that the American college fraternity is a reflection of the wider society of which it is a part (Robson, 1968). The past 30 years surely reflect that observation. The authors of the 1976 volume did not anticipate the change in the 18-year-old drinking age. When the Commission’s report was completed, a fraternity party where alcoholic beverages were served had few, if any, underage drinkers. By the early 1980s, 80 percent of most chapter members were illegally drinking underage. As fraternity membership started to soar in the early 1980s, the people who joined may have done so under less than positive motives. In many situations the organizations became havens for underage substance abuse. One long time fraternity executive was known to frequently say, “We pledged entire generations of the wrong men.”
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from the injuries and deaths led a set of national fraternity leaders to advocate for substance free housing in the mid-1990s. In this case undergraduate members were consulted prior to changing the alcohol regulations, but their choice was essentially limited to accepting the change after a grace period of individual adjustment to the new rules. Now the form of chapter living was changed, but the function of alcohol in undergraduate life remained much the same. Alcohol was still used to reinforce undergraduate norms of behavior such that the “culture of alcohol” and the rites of passage involved in its use were barely changed (Arnold, 1995). While ritual values were upheld then as ideals (Robson, 1976), and continue to be honored today, the exemplification of those values in visual ways that undergraduates recognize has never been effectively translated. The visual images of modern media in posters, music, and movies have done little to support ritual values. Each fraternity has its set of principles, but we are aware of few that have easily available wall posters that undergraduates can hang in their rooms as constant reminders of these principles. An ancient Chinese proverb suggests that “We are what we read.” Fraternity members could awaken to an “ideal of brotherhood.” Instead, many wake up to the “images of brotherhood,” unclad centerfolds and cynical posters, with empty liquor bottles as nearby icons.
penultimate development is the emergence and growth of the Association of Fraternity Advisors. One has to wonder who would have provided the local campus leadership to develop risk management programs, leadership training initiatives, new member education programs, and who would have provided such caring interest in all undergraduate chapters without the presence of the AFA. Others will have to outline the extensive contributions that members of AFA have made to the fraternity/sorority movement. Suffice to state the AFA record is one of prodigious output. Form and function in the 21st Century Just as the 1976 Bicentennial Commission projected the future of the college fraternity 30 years ago, thoughtful people can now work to peer another 30 years into the future. What will the form of higher education itself assume in 2035, when demographic projections suggest that nearly half of all college students will be from those ethnic and cultural groups currently considered minorities? How will professors interact with students as “guides on the side,” often in long distance relationships (Palloff & Pratt, 1999)? On the technological campus of this future, what will be the place of the college fraternity/sorority? What function will a naturally occurring residential learning community take, and in what form will that community be found, virtual or physical?
While the Commission’s report acknowledged the fact that fraternity life included excesses of drinking and hazing, the members could probably not have imagined the increase in litigation and deaths (Nuwer, 2004) arising from those excesses, and what the fear of more such litigation among fraternity leaders would do to change the way fraternities functioned as organizations. The term “risk management” came into common parlance, and the difficulty of obtaining liability insurance resulted in the establishment of a selfinsuring group, the Fraternity Insurance Purchasing Group (FIPG), know today as the Fraternal Information & Programming Group. Perhaps the most prominent of those changes in function occurred among the NPHC groups when pledging was officially abolished in 1989 in favor of “intake” (Kimbrough, 2003). The change from pledging to intake was made without extensive consultation with undergraduate members, and they met the directives with strong resistance. That resistance has remained so stubborn, and the hazing thus driven underground has continued so unabated, that Kimbrough (2005) has called for a five-year moratorium on undergraduate intake among NPHC fraternities and sororities.
Recently, a committed group of college presidents calling itself the Franklin Square Group, promoted the idea of the Call for Values Congruence (NASPA Knowledge Communities), and the fraternity and sorority umbrella organizations of National Association of Latino Fraternal Organizations (NALFO), National Panhellenic Conference (NPC), NPHC, and NIC support these concepts. These thoughtful leaders are also working across the country to convince undergraduate leaders to support the underlying concepts of leadership, responsibility, citizenship, scholarship, and service.
We will encourage those among you just starting your professional career in fraternity/ sorority advising to shape the form and function of things to come as you work with dedicated undergraduates. As Frank Lloyd Wright suggested about architecture, we remain in solid agreement, the “form and function [of the college fraternity] should remain one, joined in a spiritual union.”
Another change in function was influenced by the continuing abuse of alcohol in chapter activities. The litigation that resulted
Throughout all of these changes in the form and function of the college fraternity and sorority during the past 30 years, the
– James A. Wallace is Assistant Professor of College Student Development at Eastern Illinois University.
Perspectives / Winter 2006
– Charles G. Eberly is a Professor of Counseling and Student Development at Eastern Illinois University.
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REFERENCES Anson, J.L. & Marchesani, R.A. (Eds.). (1991). Baird’s manual of American college Fraternities, 20th ed. Indianapolis, IN: Baird’s Manual Foundation.
NASPA Knowledge Communities. (n.d.). A call for values congruence. Retrieved December 7, 2005 from http://naspa.org/ communities/kc/page.cfm?kcpageID=84&kcid=6
Arnold, J. (1995). Alcohol and the chosen few: Organizational reproduction in an addictive system. Indiana University: Unpublished doctoral dissertation.
Nuwer, H. (2004). The Hazing Reader. Bloomington, IN: Indiana University Press.
Brubaker, J.S., & Rudy, W. (1976). Higher education in transition: A history of American colleges and universities, 16361976. New York: Harper & Row.
Ogle, J.E., Jr. (ed). (1907). Michiganensian 1907. Ann Arbor, Mi: University of Michigan.
Case, D., Hesp, G., & Eberly, C.G. (2005). An exploratory study of the experiences of gay, lesbian and bisexual fraternity and sorority members revisited. Oracle: The Research Journal of the Association of Fraternity Advisors. (electronic publication).
Owen, K.C., & Owen, S. M. (1976). Toward the year 2000: Perspectives on the American college fraternity movement. In Thomas C. Schreck (ed.). The American college fraternity for the year 2000: Commission report. Bloomington, IN: Commission on the American College Fraternity for the Year 2000.
Conroe, S. (1999). Fraternities forever. Cornell Magazine, 101 (6). http://cornell-magazine.cornell.edu/Archive/May1999/ MayFrats.html.
Palloff, R.M, & Pratt, K. (1999). Building learning communities in cyberspace: Effective strategies for the online classroom. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
Horowitz, H.L. (1987). Campus life: Undergraduate cultures from the end of the eighteenth century to the present. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press.
Robson, J. (Ed.). (1968). Baird’s manual of American college fraternities, 18th ed. Menasha: WI: George Banta Company, Inc.
Jacoby, B., & Assoc. (1996). Service-learning in higher education: Concepts and practices. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass. Kimbrough, W. (2003). Black Greek 101: The culture, customs, and challenges of Black fraternities and sororities. Madison Teaneck [NJ]: London: Fairleigh Dickinson University Kimbrough, W. (2005). Should Black fraternities and sororities abolish undergraduate chapters? About Campus, 10 (4), 27-29. Leemon, T.A. (1972). The rites of passage in a student culture: A study of the dynamics of transition. New York: Teachers College Press. McMillan, J.A., & Schumacher, S. (2001). Educational Research: A Conceptual Approach (5th ed.). Boston: Longman Publishers.
Robson, J. (1976) The college fraternity: two hundred years of service. In Thomas C. Schreck (ed.). The American college fraternity for the year 2000: Commission report. Bloomington, IN: Commission on the American College Fraternity for the Year 2000. Schreck, T.C. (Ed.). (1976). The American college fraternity for the year 2000: Commission report. Bloomington, IN: Commission on the American College Fraternity for the Year 2000. Smith, B. L., MacGregor, J., Matthews, R. S., & Gabelnick, F. (2004). Learning Communities: Reforming undergraduate education. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass. University of Illinois Archives. (n.d.). National fraternity and sorority life collections. Retrieved December 7, 2005 from http://web.library.uiuc.edu/ahx/slc/National.html
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Part I: The Evolution of the Association of Fraternity Advisors
A
30th anniversary is a milestone for any organization, particularly one that relies heavily upon volunteer leadership. The Association of Fraternity Advisors (AFA) is no exception, and it has been especially fortunate to benefit from the intense dedication and visionary leadership of the 27 individuals who have held the position of president since its founding. Some were founders of AFA themselves, others were undergraduate fraternity and sorority members when the Association began, and a few were in their own infancy when the Association took its first steps. Regardless of their places in life or the time period in which they served as president, each contributed in his or her own way to the growth and advancement of the organization. Past AFA presidents were asked to reflect on their association experiences and consider what the future offers AFA, and the fraternity and sorority advising profession. A questionnaire was e-mailed to past presidents, and many took advantage of this opportunity to offer their thoughts on these issues. Following are themes that emerged based upon their answers and insight. Accomplishments
For those who have joined AFA in the past 10 years, it may be hard to imagine a time when the Association operated without a Central Office with full-time staff members; when Perspectives didn’t exist and a hand-stapled, mimeographed newsletter was the only communication piece of the organization; and when representatives from the National Panhellenic Conference (NPC) didn’t attend the Annual Meeting. However, these were all accomplishments of AFA over the past 30 years that made many of the former presidents proud. In particular, several past presidents mentioned AFA’s role in bringing all the stakeholders within the fraternity and sorority community to the table. Before AFA’s existence, these groups operated largely in isolation without much communication with their counterparts. 16
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Larry Lunsford, 1979-1980 President, mentioned that he was most proud of AFA for “bringing the NPC and NIC together. They had never met together until AFA invited NPC to its Annual Meeting.” Douglas Lange, President from 1981-1982, also discussed the inclusion of NPHC. He was proud of AFA for “reaching out to NPHC in the early 1980s at a time when communication between the NIC, NPC, and NPHC had become dysfunctional.” The growth in membership numbers and the benefits these members receive as a result of their involvement in AFA was also a frequently mentioned accomplishment of the Association, which began with less than 100 members and has grown to more than 1,400 today. Dan Bureau, 2004 President, specifically mentioned the resources that are now available to members as a major accomplishment. “Our members benefit greatly from the expertise we have built in a library full of resources,” he said. This includes not only the development of publications such as Perspectives and, most recently, Oracle: The Research Journal of the Association of Fraternity Advisors but also the listserv and website, where members can access a number of resources, including the Advising Fraternities and Sororities Manual, the Chapter Advisor Manual, and a host of other resources. The development of a professionallystaffed Central Office was also mentioned frequently as a major accomplishment for the association. For Doug Case, 1991 President, “Having professional staff to facilitate our work…greatly enhanced what the Association is able to accomplish.” In addition to the membership support the Central Office staff provides, they also play a large role in planning, coordinating, and executing the Annual Meeting. Before the Central Office’s existence, the Annual Meeting was run solely by the volunteer leadership of the organization, an extraordinary amount of work for a full-time professional with another job!
– Melinda Sutton
Same Issues, Second (or third) Verse Although many of the opportunities and challenges have changed throughout the years, it appears that the basic issues affecting fraternity and sorority communities and their advisors have not. Almost every respondent reported alcohol abuse and hazing as issues affecting fraternities and sororities during their terms as president, and almost all reported these are still issues facing fraternities and sororities and their advisors today. “We’ve come a long way, but we are still dealing with many of the same issues we were dealing with 30 years ago,” said Doug Case. Gregory Singleton, 1997 President, cited the deaths of students at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Louisiana State University during the fall of 1997 as pivotal moments in how university personnel and fraternities and sororities relate to one another. “Those student deaths dramatically changed how we as professionals were looked upon and what we were expected to do as professionals to both educate and hold accountable students on our respective campuses.” A few issues that past presidents mentioned were more specific to the point in time when they served. As Gayle Webb, 1986 President, said, “Things are cyclical, so many of these things recycle after several years and after several pledge classes. But, that is also the case within higher education that you see many of these things recycle on college campuses. Things become fads again after having been gone for awhile.” For example, in 1979, fraternities’ and sororities’ singlesex status was a prominent issue. By 1989, the abolishment of fraternities and sororities on many campuses in the northeast was a serious concern for fraternity and sorority advisors, and alcohol-free housing, freedom of association, and standards and expectations were all issues for fraternities and sororities by 1999.
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In recent years, technology has emerged as the fraternity and sorority world’s best friend and biggest enemy. In many ways, it has made the Association much more efficient, but it has also created challenges for fraternity and sorority advisors, particularly in the ways fraternities and sororities are portrayed in the media. Today, portrayals of fraternity and sorority members on MTV’s Sorority Life and Fraternity Life, recent movies such as Old School, and books like Pledged: The Secret Life of Sororities have not shown the positive aspects of fraternity and sorority membership, but this problem may have been around as long as the Association itself, considering Animal House made its debut in the early 1980s. One former president specifically named its release as a major issue he had to address as a fraternity and sorority advisor during his term of office. AFA’s Future AFA past presidents were asked what the future holds for the Association, for the fraternity and sorority advising profession, and whether colleges and universities should continue to support all fraternities and sororities. Although their outlooks for all these areas are bright and optimistic, they temper their comments with a realism that comes from years of experience working within the field and the Association. Many recent past presidents pointed to the AFA strategic plan as the Association’s map in the near future and mentioned some recent positive developments within the Association as a result of this work. Some early past presidents cautioned against “re-inventing the wheel” every few years, however. “Innovation is good but constant change could keep the Association in a constant state of flux,” said Larry Lunsford. Others felt the Association’s membership would continue to diversify with more chapter advisors and fraternity and sorority staff members joining, not to mention more campus fraternity and sorority professionals. Gayle Webb said, “There are still so many of those members out there that are at our fingertips.” One of the major accomplishments that several past presidents mentioned was the professionalism of the fraternity and sorority advising field over the past years and many believe that there is still much work left to do in this area. Jennifer JonesHall, 1999 President, said that universities must “take the responsibility of hiring professionals who want to and are capable of
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working with fraternities and sororities. If [universities] want a good product (fraternities and sororities) they need to hire professionals who will help develop that good product!” All the past presidents enthusiastically supported the maintaining of fraternities and sororities on college and university campuses. “Research has clearly shown that membership in a fraternity or sorority enhances student development, and if we truly care for our students, we should do whatever is absolutely necessary to make sure that they have a quality educational experience. I strongly believe that if students join a fraternity or sorority for the ‘right’ reasons, it will be one of the most rewarding and life changing experiences they will ever have,” said Gregory Singleton. For all their enthusiasm, however, several past presidents were quick to point out that fraternities and sororities should be retained as long as they are living up to the ideals they espouse and are providing positive and enriching experiences to the undergraduates who are their members. Victor Boschini, 1984 President, said, “Colleges and universities should continue to support any organizations that contribute to the positive growth and development of our students. Those organizations that do not contribute to this group are not worthy of our support.” What we can learn from our past presidents To have a better grasp of where the Association is today, it is important to have an understanding of its past and to have an idea of the types of leaders who have been at its helm. Many were founders of the organization, especially during AFA’s early years. All were at different points in their career when they assumed the presidency as well. Ten have been female; none have been people of color. Many have mentioned the friendships that they formed within the Association as memorable moments for them as this professional association has spawned many close relationships, and some have shared very personal parts of themselves with those they worked with and led as an almost extended family. During the course of its history, the role and scope of board members evolved, including that of president. The term of president (one year) has remained relatively consistent. In fact, of the 27 AFA past presidents, only three served more than one year in office: Larry Lunsford (1979-
1980), Douglas Lange (1981-1982), and Amy Vojta (2003, 2005). All past presidents have chosen to remain members of AFA (one of the perks of being a past president is complimentary membership dues!) but not all are necessarily fraternity and sorority advisors today. Three past presidents are retired; three are executive directors of the regional conferences’ associations; four are consultants or speakers; and 19 remain in higher education, still affecting fraternity and sorority communities whether as a college president or as a fraternity and sorority advisor. Out of 27 past presidents, only one has chosen to leave the field of higher education altogether. Although reading the questionnaires that these individuals completed was insightful and extraordinarily helpful in gaining a better idea of how AFA got where it is today, there was much more to the past presidents’ responses than merely the words on the paper. Their enthusiasm, dedication, and passion for the fraternal movement were evident. In some cases 30 years after they initially “signed on” for the job, they are still ambassadors for fraternities and sororities and committed to providing quality experiences in these organizations for undergraduate men and women that will make them better people. The simple fact that 70 percent are still eager participants in a field that can experience exceptionally high levels of burnout and most others are still involved in making fraternities and sororities better in some way says a lot about the type of individuals that have led this organization. Learning about the history of an organization from those who experienced its beginnings is energizing and rewarding. Certainly, the past presidents of AFA have served this Association well and helped to create what so many benefit from today. Filling the shoes of these individuals will be a tall order for the next 30 years’ presidents, as they have truly left a legacy for those who follow them. Special thanks to Terry Appolonia, Victor Boschini, Dan Bureau, Doug Case, Melissa Flanagan, Jennifer Jones-Hall, Douglas Lange, Larry Lunsford, Bridget Guernsey Riordan, Gregory Singleton, Amy Vojta, and Gayle Webb for their contributions to this article. – Melinda Sutton is the Director of Student Development at the University of Texas, Tyler.
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Part II: Reflections from AFA’s First Executive Director – Gayle L. Webb
I
t was 1976 and the United States was celebrating the 200th anniversary of its independence; therefore, it seemed appropriate that the Association of Fraternity Advisors (AFA) would take its first steps as an association beginning in Williamsburg, Virginia. A group of visionary and committed individuals attending the National Interfraternity Conference (NIC) annual meeting formed AFA. The purpose was to provide fraternity and sorority advisors a network of colleagues to examine issues and consider more effective ways to work with students who belonged to these organizations. There were not many members in the very beginning. However, prominent names in both the university and fraternity realm became the foundation and framework of the Association – Barbie Tootle, John Mohr, Bill Schwartz, Bill Jenkins, and Robert Shaffer. To some of us, these people are our mentors. The early board meetings were held only at the end of the Interfraternity Institute (IFI) and at the NIC/AFA Annual Meeting. Board members attended at their own expense. Each year saw growth in both the membership of the Association and in the maturity of the Board. The Annual Meeting was the main focus during the first half of the Association’s life. This was the event where the members could get the most professional development. Each year, the programming and workshops have been further developed, although many of the topics still rotate on a cyclical basis. I attended my first AFA meeting in 1978 while still an undergraduate student at Indiana State University. My university advisor, Shelley Sutherland, brought me to the meeting. I was awestruck with the people I met and with the work that they were doing in the field of fraternity and sorority advising; it was there that I “caught the bug” to want to work in the field. My membership in AFA has not lapsed since that date and my love for the Association continues.
Because of Shelley’s involvement in AFA, I was lucky to be drawn into a leadership position early in my career. I became the editor of The Fraternity Newsletter when I graduated from college in 1981. The publi-
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cation, a precursor to Perspectives, was archaic by today’s standards. It was produced on a mimeograph machine that had that lovely blue ink that smelled so good! (I know that some of you reading this remember that type of printing!) The publication was also assembled by hand! I was elected 10th president of the Association in 1986 and have such fond memories of my Board experiences! My fellow Board members became good friends and we shared much laughter as we tried to address serious issues during trying times in higher education. Fraternities, in particular, were not considered desirable organizations on campuses, and it seems they still are not today. That is the frustrating part about the job of a fraternity/sorority advisor and a reason for the continuing importance of membership in AFA. In 1993 AFA decided to open a Central Office in Indianapolis, Indiana. I applied for the Executive Director position and was honored to serve as the first paid executive for AFA. In fact, I was the only AFA employee for six years. To serve in this position for AFA and the Association of Fraternity Advisors Foundation was both an honor and a privilege. It was also an honor to hire and train my successor, Sue Kraft Fussell, in 1999. To paraphrase an old advertisement, the Association of Fraternity Advisors has “come a long way baby.” We used to be referred to as a “baby” by some of our peer organizations, but we cannot be referred to as that any longer! We are now an organization with a significant Associate Member program that grew from three to more than 100 and we have more than 1,400 professional, graduate, and affiliate members who interact to solve problems on our campuses and in our communities. All of this because a few advisors 30 years ago cared enough to say, “Let’s do this. Let’s start this Association of Fraternity Advisors.” – Gayle Webb served as both President (1986) and Executive Director (19931999) of the Association of Fraternity Advisors. She is now the Youth Funds Specialist for Kiwanis International.
In 1976, the year the Association of Fraternity Advisors was founded: Jimmy Carter was elected President. The Viking II set down on Mars’ Utopia Plains. Israeli commandos rescued hostages from Entebbe, Uganda. The Concorde began flights from New York to Europe. Freddie Prinze Jr., Reese Witherspoon, Colin Farrell, 50 Cent, Fred Savage, and Shannon Elizabeth were born. The Cincinnati Reds won the World Series, the Pittsburgh Steelers won the Super Bowl, and the Montreal Canadians won the Stanley Cup. Rocky was the top grossing film. Filming began on George Lucas’ Star Wars. The Eagles became the first band to have an album, Their Greatest Hits, certified platinum. “Tonight’s the Night” by Rod Stewart was the single to spend the most time at the top of the U.S. charts. The television shows Charlie’s Angels and The Muppet Show premiered.
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Part III: Reflections from an AFA Past President – Dr. Douglas Lange
I
n 1976, I began my first professional fraternity and sorority advising position at Iowa State University. I started with the highest salary of my fellow master’s degree classmates – $11,771 for a 12-month position. For me, it was not about the money. It was about having an influence on college student learning and development. The genesis of my work with fraternities and sororities began in the 1970s with the realization that fraternities and sororities were struggling to end hazing. Concomitant with their efforts was tremendous pressure by administrators and faculty members to improve academic performance among fraternity and sorority members or else have the organizations leave the campus. It wasn’t unusual to see a fraternity or sorority placed on probation or fold due to peer pressure. Expectations have changed dramatically during the last 30 years. The attitudes and values of students of the mid-70s hold little resemblance to those of students in 2006. The same may also be said of faculty members and administrators.
Two books chronicling the history of fraternities and sororities were released in 1976: Baird’s Manual of American College Fraternities, Bicentennial Edition, and the American College Fraternity for the Year 2000, American College Fraternity Bicentennial Commission. Also in 1976, at the Bicentennial celebration of the founding of fraternities and sororities in Williamsburg, Virginia, a few fraternity and sorority advisors, myself included, helped found the Association of Fraternity Advisors (AFA). Since that time, fraternity and sorority advisor positions have developed from that small interested group to an established professional position in student affairs administration on many campuses. In cooperation with those pioneering advisors, there was a small group of fraternity and sorority national executives that wanted to define the relationship between higher education, the local chapters, and the national offices. With the recent history of fraternities and sororities, both groups believed that if we wanted our organizations to thrive, the same mistakes could not be made in the next decades. We all knew we had to partner and strengthen communication.
The resolve of the campus professionals and national fraternity executives was simple. We wanted our relationship to benefit students belonging to fraternities and sororities. We wanted students to be better leaders and have better learning experiences than the previous generations of college students. We talked of the many challenges that faced us. In fact, the next book written on fraternities and sororities was titled, The Eighties: Challenges for Fraternities and Sororities (Bryan, W.A. & Schwartz, R, 1983). In that book, R.H. Shaffer explored some unanswered questions about fraternity and sorority affairs. Some of the questions posed were rhetorical; however, I believe that all remain relevant: 1. “In light of our knowledge of organizational behavior and the general disposition of people to act based on images (perceptions), what are the images of the chapters and Greek system on your campus? Are people living up to the expectations that people have about them? 2. What are the perceptions held by the chapters and chapter members about themselves and other chapters in the Greek system? 3. What contributes to the perceptions that people hold about fraternities and sororities? 4. How are adults (campus advisors, national office personnel, alumni advisors, etc.) involved in and providing for the socializing process for the students? 5. Fraternities and sororities can substitute for the small college atmosphere and climate at a complex institution. How can we identify, analyze, and utilize the experiences and impacts of fraternities and sororities to provide the same small group substitution for all students? 6. Have students belonging to fraternities and sororities become more diverse? How? 7. What contributions to student development do fraternities and sororities make on the campus? 8. How do fraternities and sororities provide positive role modeling for the members and the campus-at-large? How can that role modeling be studied and utilized for the whole campus?
9. How do the chapters promote a commitment to lifelong education to its members and the institution? 10. How can the leadership efforts and good citizenship role modeling that are a result of chapter involvement by members be developed for betterment of the campus” (p.p. 23-26)? Many of the above questions are still very relevant today, although we also have new issues to address. Recently, I was asked what I viewed as the challenges for education today. I think the challenges include the vast number of students that come from dysfunctional families, the seemingly omnipresence of drugs, the potential lifethreatening ramifications of casual sex, and the dwindling support of higher education by state legislatures. Thirty years ago, we worried about alcohol abuse, marijuana use, staying out of the Vietnam War, and the almost universally poor relationships between the fraternities and sororities and the university Deans of Men and Women. I believe that the next book written about fraternities and sororities should take into account the challenges that concern today’s students and the impact fraternity or sorority membership can have on a young mind. Thirty years after the founding of AFA, fraternity and sorority professionals still have a lot to think about, but one thing remains clear: fraternity and sorority advising is still not about the money. It is still about student learning and development, which can only be accomplished when fraternity and sorority advising professionals, advisors, student leaders, and national organization leaders work collectively toward that common goal. – Dr. Douglas Lange is the Vice President and Chief Learning Officer of Evolve Learning. He served as the AFA President in 1981-1982.
REFERENCES Shaffer, R.H. Review of research in Greek affairs. (1983). In Bryan, W.A. & Schwartz, R. (ed.) The Eighties: Challenges for Fraternities and Sororities. Carbondale, IL: Southern Illinois University Press.
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Annual Meeting Review – Anne Arseneau, 2005 Conference Coordinator
T
he 2005 Annual Meeting and its curriculum took us back to school to focus on purpose, progress, and partnerships – the fundamentals of advising fraternities and sororities. A record number of attendees participated in the Annual Meeting this year. The 2005 Conference Committee emphasized the importance of creating connections with colleagues through dynamic and engaging learning experiences. Highlights of new initiatives offered during the meeting included: HOMEROOM SESSIONS: Thanks to the participation of attendees and expert facilitation of our “Master Teachers,” daily homeroom sessions were held. The focus of this new initiative was to provide a smaller forum to connect with colleagues, use Kolb’s Learning Cycle to process educational sessions, and discuss hot topics in the field. PEER NETWORK PROGRAM: Did you know that nearly 30 percent of those who attended the Annual Meeting did so for the first time? In an effort to support these new attendees, the First Timers Committee created a Peer Network Program to connect new participants with a group of AFA colleagues. The pep rally-themed “First Timer’s Kick Off” had more than 200 people in attendance and was the first opportunity for participants to meet with their Peer Network groups and leaders.
AFA SPEAKER SHOWCASE: In a new initiative, the AFA Speaker Showcase highlighted five Associate Members in 20-minute lecture excerpts. Individual Perspectives by Matt Glowacki, Sex Signals by Catharsis Productions, In the Blink of an Eye by Marcus Engel, The Magic of Life by Michael Gershe, and What Happy Faces Are Hiding: Talking About Depression by Ross Szabo were intended to inform, educate, and entertain attendees. NATIONAL HAZING SYMPOSIUM: In partnership with CAMPUSPEAK, the second National Hazing Symposium was held in conjunction with the AFA Annual Meeting. A record 175 participants attended the Symposium where leaders in the fight against hazing presented and facilitated dialogue on the topic of hazing and helped to set an action plan for the future. DEVELOPMENTAL RESOURCE CENTER (DRC) IDEA EXCHANGE: The same practical and specific idea sharing that attendees have collected from the DRC information tables in the past was expanded this year to include a structured open space environment where topical tables (with facilitating hosts) were open for drop in discussions and idea sharing. In addition to the new initiatives, many of our most well received programs were the returning “classics” that are also worthy of highlighting.
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GRADUATE TRAINING TRACK: The 3rd Annual Graduate Training Track (funded by a grant to the AFA Foundation by Rho Lambda National Honorary) provided a specialized learning experience to the more than 50 graduate students who participated in this sixhour curriculum that focused on these emerging professionals in fraternity/sorority advising. FIRESIDE CHATS: Nearly 625 Fireside Chats occurred between 187 campus registrants and 125 international organization registrants. That’s a whole lot of chatting for a three-hour period! In addition to the scheduled chats, a 30-minute “Meet & Greet” preceded Fireside Chats and provided an additional opportunity to connect with colleagues. AID ATLANTA: Annual Meeting attendees supported AID Atlanta’s Annual Pediatric Holiday Party in recognition of World AIDS Day, which was during the Annual Meeting on December 1st. Thanks to all conference attendees who participated in this year’s conference philanthropy project. EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING: The educational sessions are the very essence of our Annual Meeting. This year, 46 educational sessions were offered with 94 expert facilitators. A broad spectrum of active training and topics were offered to meet the needs of all conference attendees. GENERAL SESSIONS: The educational programming of the Annual Meeting featured two general session speakers. In the opening session, the beautiful photography and inspiring message of Steve Uzzell explored how the open road can open your mind to problem solving. For more information about Steve Uzzell visit http://www.steveuzzell.com/speaker.html. During the Saturday general session, Judy Shepard spoke about the legacy of her son, Matthew Shepard, and focused on what each individual can do to make the world a more accepting place for everyone regardless of race, religion, ethnicity, gender, or sexual orientation. You can learn more about Judy Shepard at http://www.matthewshepard.org/. May Our Curriculum: Purpose, Progress, and Partnerships inspire each of us as professionals until we gather again next year in New Orleans for the 2006 AFA Annual Meeting.
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Nominating Know-How:
Milestones
Your Guide to AFA’s Election Process – Amy Vojta, AFA Past President n Friday, December 2, the AFA Nominations and Elections Committee held its first meeting and kicked off the election process for 2006. Despite the fact that our meeting didn’t have the media coverage of the New Hampshire primary, it remains our goal to educate and inform the membership about the process used by the Association to elect members to Executive Board and Regional Director positions.
Over the course of the next few months, it will be the responsibility of the Nominations and Elections Committee to perform the following tasks:
The Nominations and Elections Committee is chaired by the Past President and is comprised of three Regular or Affiliate members from each of the Association’s Regions, one is appointed by the Past President and the other two are elected by the membership at the Regional Meetings.
• Ensure candidates meet all eligibility requirements
O
I am pleased to report that the following members will serve as the 2006 Nominations and Elections Committee: Region I • Larry Moses, University of Pennsylvania (alternate) • Charlie Warner, West Chester University • Michael Wiseman, University of Massachusetts Region II • Todd Borst, University of Alabama • Jackie Isaacson, Phi Mu Fraternity • John Mountz, North Carolina State University (alternate) Region III • Bob Dudolski, Eastern Illinois University (alternate) • Melissa Flanagan, University of Dayton • Rebecca Wald Stoker, Butler University Region IV • Beverly Farmer, Stephen F. Austin State University (alternate) • Kaye Schendel, University of Wisconsin • Bryan VanOsdale, Northwest Missouri State University Region V • Gary Ballinger, University of Arizona • Lea Hanson, Colorado State University • Jamison Keller, California State University, Northridge (alternate)
• Encourage and solicit members to run for elected positions • Educate the membership about the responsibilities and qualifications of each position
• Evaluate and consider candidate applications • Nominate two candidates for each position, whenever reasonably possible, for the membership’s consideration • Encourage the voting members of the Association to participate in the election process I’m sure you’ll agree that these tasks are important ones. They need the support, cooperation and participation of the membership in order to bring about a successful election process. In upcoming issues of Perspectives, as well as in the Association Update, the electronic newsletter, you’ll find more information about the nominations and elections process. On behalf of the Nominations and Elections Committee, I urge to you participate in the Association’s process of electing new leadership by being informed about the process, nominating others (or yourself!) for a position, voting in our elections and being a full participant in selecting the Association’s future leadership. Should you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me (vojta@rci.rutgers.edu) or one of the Committee members from your region.
Five Year Members Carol Armstrong Sarah Bauer Beth Bell Searcy Diane Blackwelder Jay Brooks Mynora Bryant, Ed.D. Chris Bullins Julie Burkhard David Bynes Renee Camerlengo Kate Carnell Marsha Carrasco Cooper Jennifer Celaya Davis Amy Chapman Beth Condor Tony D’Angelo Chandra Daffer Ashley Dye Andre Early Angie Eichler Michelle Espino Heather Evans Bev Farmer Kevin Fleming Stephan Franklin Pamela Freeman Brandon Frye Andrea Fuller Cooper Amber Garrison Lisa Gatz Scott Gillard Kim Godwin Ival Gregory Kellee Grucci Angela Harper Melanie Hartman Joy Helsel Patricia Hiller Ryan Hilperts Wendy Holbrook Beth Jones Karen Katz Sandi Klassen Aaron Klein Haight Steffani Lautenschlager Paul Lawson Mike Lombardo Heather Lorenz Ryan Lovell Mark Luellen Angel McAdams Prescott Kevin McCord Chris McGill Marc Mores Sara Nash, CAE Malaea Nelms Seleski Tricia Nguyen Margaret Pape Brian Perry Christine Quisenberry Margaret-Ann RadfordWedemeyer Marty Redman Shelley Reynolds Eve Riley Steve Ryder Ronald Shidemantle Michael Smallis Mike Sprinkle
Kristin Torrey Jamison Tucker Angi Ulrich Cassondra Votroubek Stephanie Williams Dan Wrona 10-Year Members Dan Ashlock, Jr. Jim Barber Dennis Black Josh Brodsky Joan Brown Matt Butts Sal Costa Bob Gordon Sally Grant Angela Guillory Andy Hermansdorfer Julie Johnson Danny Kelley Suzanne Kilgannon Paul Kittle, Jr. Tracy Maxwell Tanya McGinn Paolo Kristin Norton Kyle Pendleton Scott Reikofski David Rogers Gena Runnion Jerry Stebbins Dan Stoker Stan Sweeney Yolanda Taylor Inez Vanable Carol Warren Lynda Wiley Mic Wilson 15-Year Members Mark Anderson Ellen Archibald Jim Baurer Jeffrey Caufaude Jan Javinar Dudley Long Dave Maguire Betty Mulkey Mark Potrafka Betty Quick Tom Van Schoor 20-Year Members Rick Barnes Alison Bartel Keller Kenneth Brill Carol Daniels Drew Hunter Wes Schaub 25-Year Members Lissa Bradford Joni Burke Bob Cabello Barbara Laederach Kim Padulo Ed Pease Eileen Stevens
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2005 AFA Award Recipients Jack L. Anson Award:
Marilyn Fordham, Delta Gamma Fraternity
Robert H. Shaffer Award:
Dr. Walter M. Kimbrough
Distinguished Service Awards: Jonathan Brant, Beta Theta Pi Foundation Anne Arseneau, College of William and Mary Mike Hayes, University of Maryland Andy Robison, Theta Chi Fraternity Dr. Mari Ann Callais
Gayle Webb New Professional Award:
Megan Johnson, Dartmouth College
Outstanding Volunteer Awards: Michael Esposito, Nominating Committee Lea Hanson, Professional Development Committee Chair Timothy Haskell, Oracle Advisory Board Grahaeme Hesp, Oracle Editor Kelly Jo Karnes, 2006 Conference Chair Billy Molasso, Oracle Advisory Board
Outstanding Change Initiative Award:
The Ohio State University
Excellence in Educational Programming Award:
Sigma Sigma Sigma, Essential Sigma
Perspectives Awards: “One Voice, The Choices We Make” by Ginny Carroll “Learning Opportunities: Understanding Students’ Definition of Hazing” by Chad Ellsworth AFA/Order of Omega Case Study Competition: First Place – Josh Harraman and Johanne Jensen, Bowling Green State University Second Place – Lindsey Cooper and Phil McDaniel, University of South Carolina Third Place – Kevin Thompson and Lauren Moran, Bowling Green State University
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Washington & Jefferson College — Washington, Pennsylvania
TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT
Fraternity/ Sorority Living
TAKE a closer look at Capstone development, too. As you know, living-learning communities have been shown to have a positive impact on the overall educational growth of the individuals who live in them. That being said, it just makes sense to consider fraternity/sorority livinglearning communities, doesn’t it? If you are, it also makes sense to consider Capstone Development, too. Why? For starters, there’s our experience, which is extensive, specific and we believe separates us from our competition. Secondly, Capstone understands the inherent challenges that are associated with developing fraternity/sorority housing. And we offer an expert staff of finance, design and management professionals to address such challenges. Finally, because we’ve proven we can do the job. Again and again. On time. Within budget. And beyond your expectations. So if you want to take a closer look at fraternity/sorority living-learning communities and how they can enhance your campus, give us a call. You’ll be glad you did.
431 Office Park Drive, Birmingham, AL 35223 205.414.6400 205.586.5187 capstonecompanies.com mcallais@capstone-dev.com
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Association of Fraternity Advisors www.fraternityadvisors.org 9640 N. Augusta Drive, Suite 433 Carmel, IN 46032
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