Chapter Advisor Monthly Spring 2012, Issue 2
Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life Update Spring quarter is coming to an end and the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life is preparing for this year’s commencement. All four councils have held their final executive board meetings of the quarter, chapters are preparing to say goodbye to their graduating seniors, and Northwestern is holding its last events before summer. Dillo Day marks the final major event for the community. Summer presents an opportunity for each of us to reflect on this past year and set goals to move forward into a successful Fall Quarter 2012. It is an exciting yet bittersweet time of transition, development, goal-setting, and positive change for the future. We wish you all a relaxing summer! In this issue: Dillo Day MaySing Greek Awards Greek Scene Commencement Alumni Involvement End of the Year Check-In Summer Housing If you have suggestions for future articles or topics, please contact Maggie Heffernan at Margaretheffernan@northwestern.edu
Greek Scene: Frat Edition Greek Scene, the National Pan-Hellenic Council’s annual th step show, took place on Saturday, May 5 . NPHC hosts Greek Scene each year as an opportunity for the chapters to choreograph and execute their own stepping performance. Each of the seven NPHC chapters is represented on the judging panel- organizations are asked to find a representative to serve on the panel as the voice of the specific organization. Judging criteria includes crowd participation, stepping, theme, and overall performance. This year, only the NPHC fraternities participated in the show, making this the first “Greek Scene: Frat Edition” to date. A large crowd was in attendance to support the organizations and the council in their hard work and efforts. Congratulations to NPHC and the participating chapters on a wonderful show! And congratulations to this year’s Greek Scene winner- Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc.
MaySing MaySing, the community’s annual lip-sync and dance th competition, was held on May 14 . Chapters team up to compete in the event which consists of a five minute performance in accordance with the year’s theme. Teams typically consist of one Panhellenic chapter, one or two IFC chapters, and at least one MGC or NPHC chapter. This year’s theme was “Rock of Ages”- teams chose artists from the 80’s, 90’s and today and compiled their musical selections to support their choreographed performance. A cross-council programming team is responsible for coordinating and executing the event; a special thanks to this year’s programming team- Colin LaBran-Boyd, Sigma Chi; Isabella Pasbakhsh, Sigma Lambda Gamma Sorority, Inc.; Yomaira Silva, Sigma Lambda Gamma Sorority, Inc.; Jasmine James, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.; and Janelle Henney, Zeta Tau Alpha. We would also like to congratulate this year’s winners for a job well done! st
1 place: Chi Omega, Sigma Chi, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. nd
2 place: Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., Gamma Phi Beta, Phi Delta Theta rd
3 place: Delta Tau Delta, Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., Zeta Tau Alpha A special congratulations to the women of Chi Omega for their fourth consecutive win!
Members of Chi Omega, Sigma Chi, and Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. celebrate their win at MaySing 2012. This year marks Chi Omega’s fourth consecutive win at MaySing. Chapters team up with different groups each year to compete in the song and dance competition. Congratulations to all participating teams on a successful event!
OFSL Staff Departures The Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life would like to thank Megan Latchford Morgan and Corey Sampsel for their service to the University and fraternity and sorority community this past year. Megan volunteered as a graduate intern in the office since January 2012- Megan worked on various projects including Panhellenic Recruitment Counselor training, Greek Leadership Retreat curriculum development and New Member Panhellenic. She also co-advised the councils on several community initiatives. Megan recently graduated from Loyola University Chicago with her Masters in Higher Education. Megan also serves as the Advisory Board Chair for the Alpha Phi chapter of Zeta Tau Alpha here at Northwestern. Corey worked as a Graduate Assistant in the office since September 2011. Corey co-advised NPHC, GreekBuild, and Gamma Sigma Alpha in addition to leading several research initiatives in the office that led to the development of a cross-council new member education guide and a fraternity and sorority life social justice ally program. Corey will graduate this June from Northwestern University with his Masters in Higher Education Administration and Policy. Megan and Corey were integral to the success of the office, the students, and various programmatic efforts this past year. We thank them for their commitment and a true job well done, especially in regards to their extra effort as the office has been down an Assistant Director since January. We wish them the best of luck in their future endeavors and they will certainly be missed around the office!
One Hundredth and Fifty-Fourth Commencement th
Northwestern University will celebrate its one hundredth and fifty-fourth annual commencement on Friday, June 15 . The commencement ceremony will take place in Ryan Field; gates will open at 8:30 am and only those guests with a ticket will be admitted. The ceremony begins with the procession of graduates, the faculty, and the President’s party. The program is expected to last one and a half hours and will include the awarding of honorary degrees, this year’s featured commencement speaker, the President’s message to the graduates, and the conferring of degrees by school. Each school will hold its own th convocation on Saturday, June 16 . A full schedule of ceremonies is available on the Commencement website. Paul Farmer will speak at this year’s commencement. Paul Farmer is a physician, anthropologist, and Harvard professor known worldwide for his pioneering work in global health. Farmer is one of the founders of Partners in Health, an international health and social justice organization. His work is the subject of Tracy Kidder’s 2003 book Mountains Beyond Mountains: The Quest of Dr. Paul Farmer, A Man Who Would Cure the World. The book was the 2010-2011 selection for the “One Book One Northwestern” program- a community-wide reading program for students, faculty, and staff hosted by the Office of the President that aims to engage the campus in a common conversation centered on carefully chosen, thought-provoking book. The Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life extends our sincerest congratulations to those fraternity and sorority men and women graduating this year. We thank the 2012 graduating class for their years of service, commitment, and dedication to the community- they will be truly missed.
Northwestern Alumni Association As graduation approaches, it is important for chapter advisors and personal mentors to talk with graduating seniors about their opportunities for involvement post-graduation. The Northwestern Alumni Association is committed to learning as a lifelong process and encourages all graduating seniors to stay connected to the University through one of many alumni clubs. Northwestern Alumni Association has 47 local clubs in 26 states, eight international clubs, and 14 national clubs open to all alumni based on a specific interest or identity. Graduating seniors are encouraged to pursue membership through the Northwestern Alumni Association and advisors can serve as a model for this type of involvement. If you are an active member of your alma mater’s Alumni Association, speak with the students about the opportunities it has provided for you in your postundergraduate life and the benefits of membership. Additional information about the Northwestern Alumni Association and various club options is available through the Alumni Association’s website. Graduation also provides an opportunity to speak with seniors about the benefits of joining the local alumni/alumnae chapter for their organization and staying involved as an alumnus of the chapter. This is a wonderful opportunity for advisors to share their personal experience as an alumni member and encourage the seniors to stay involved and continue to give back to the chapter that has given them so much through their undergraduate experience.
Greek Awards th
This year’s Greek Award ceremony was held on Thursday, May 10 . Greek Awards is presented by Order of Omega, the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life, Interfraternity Council, Multicultural Greek Council, National Pan-Hellenic Council, and the Panhellenic Association. Chapters are able to apply for recognition in 11 chapter categories, seven individual award categories, and two community-oriented categories. The council executive boards review the applications for their own councils to provide recommendations to the awards committee. The Awards Committee is comprised of the Order of Omega executive board, one representative from each of the four councils, and the Fraternity and Sorority Life staff. The committee makes final recommendations for recognition. A full list of award winners is available on the Fraternity and Sorority Life website and some highlights from the evening are listed below: Chapter Advisor of the Year Congratulations to the following advisors or alumni members of their organizations for their dedication and continued service to our community: Eric Farbman, Alpha Epsilon Pi; Teresa Chung, Sigma Psi Zeta Sorority, Inc.; Tiffany Woods, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc.; and Heather Siscel, Zeta Tau Alpha Chapter President of the Year Congratulations to the following chapter presidents for their year of service and commitment to change in our community: Adam Matsil, Alpha Epsilon Pi; Michael Belmonte, Omega Delta Phi Fraternity, Inc.; Jessica Holden, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc.; and Maddy Bloch, Delta Gamma Outstanding Senior The Outstanding Senior award recognizes a senior from each council who has made a lasting impact on the fraternity and sorority community during his or her experience at Northwestern. Congratulations to the following men and women: Jonathan Adair, Chi Psi; Hazim Ahmad, Omega Delta Phi Fraternity, Inc.; Leila Pree, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.; and Emily Fletcher, Kappa Alpha Theta Undergraduate Service Award This award recognizes members of the community who have displayed a commitment to their communities and an exceptional pledge to philanthropy and service. These students are involved on campus, in the Evanston and Chicago communities, and around the globe. Congratulations to: Anthony Duran, Sigma Chi; Sandy Garnica, Lambda Theta Alpha Latin Sorority, Inc.; Kyra Woods, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.; and Jean Montano, Delta Zeta Greek Leadership Award The Greek Leadership Award was designed to recognize graduating seniors who have helped shape the direction of the community. These students are selected by the Fraternity and Sorority Life staff to honor the significant impact that the students have made on their chapter, council, and community. Congratulations to Kelsey O’Hearn, Chi Omega and Paul Huettner, Pi Kappa Alpha. Greek Man of the Year and Greek Woman of the Year Congratulations to Scott Ritter, Sigma Chi and Kirstin Nordhaus, Delta Zeta on their recognition as Greek Man and Greek Woman of the Year. This award recognizes the two students who have committed themselves fully to the development, growth, and well-being of the fraternity and sorority community. Scott and Kirstin have played an active role in their own chapters, their respective councils, several major on-campus events and initiatives, and in community programming. They are model members of the community and certainly have left a lasting mark within the community. Chapter of the Year Congratulations to this year’s Chapters’ of the Year: Alpha Epsilon Pi, Sigma Lambda Gamma Sorority, Inc., Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., and Pi Beta Phi. These chapters exceeded expectations and went above and beyond in programming efforts, chapter management strategies, campus events, and community relations. Congratulations on a successful year! Thank you to the Order of Omega, Interfraternity Council, Multicultural Greek Council, National Pan-Hellenic Council, and Panhellenic Association for helping to host such a lovely evening. Congratulations to all award winners.
Dillo Day th
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Northwestern University’s Dillo Day will celebrate its 40 Anniversary during this year’s festivities on Saturday, May 26 . The first Dillo Day was held in 1972 when Northwestern students from Texas held a small celebration in honor of the armadillo. Today, Dillo Day is an annual festival on campus organized by Mayfest student group and takes place on the last Saturday of May as a culmination of Mayfest. The day features an all-day music festival, special events, promotions, games, and food on Northwestern’s lakefill. This year’s musical line-up will feature Reel Big Fish, Kendrick Lamar, Cold War Kids, Big Boi, and Steve Aoki. Students must present a valid Northwestern ID or an over 19 driver’s license in order to gain admittance onto the lakefill; students can come and go throughout the day. Students are able to bring a guest to the lakefill on Dillo Day- the guest must have a college idea or an over 19 driver’s license. If the guest is under 19, the Northwestern student must register his or her guest through Residence Life or the Dean of Student’s Office. The Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life, IFC, and Panhellenic will sponsor a free pancake breakfast on campus from 9:00-11:00 on Saturday morning and free pizza on the lakefill Saturday afternoon. Pancakes and pizza are available to all members of the Northwestern community. IFC and Panhellenic also donated a combined $5000 to Mayfest toward the water station on the lakefill which will feature refillable water bottles and a re-filling station. Members of the IFC and Panhellenic executive boards will be doing rounds throughout the fraternity and sorority quads. Further, staff members from the Division of Student Affairs, including Fraternity and Sorority Life staff will be on campus and in the surrounding neighborhoods throughout the day should any students need assistance. Chapters should have their own risk management policies in place for Dillo Day that might include officers stationed in the house, a standard of who can come into the house throughout the day, sober brothers and sisters on call, and a simple way to share emergency contact information. Chapter presidents are encouraged to have open conversations with their advisors about the plans for this upcoming Saturday. IFC and Panhellenic are hosting a Dillo Day Risk Management meeting for all chapter presidents and th risk managers on Thursday, May 24 at 5:30 pm. Dillo Day is open to all members of the community and is family-friendly. For additional information on Dillo Day, please visit Mayfest’s website.
The Dean of Students’ Office sponsors a “Play it Smart” campaign each year around Dillo Day to encourage students to make smart decisions during the day and to be prepared to do the right thing should a situation arise. This year’s campaign features eight different posters with armadillos practicing safe habits and making good decisions. Encourage your chapter leaders to share these posters with their members!
End of the Year Check-In
Summer Housing
Graduation marks a significant transition in the academic year; students are heading away from campus for the summer, seniors are leaving the chapter, and everyone will return in the fall with new goals and a new vision in mind. The senior’s departure can cause a cultural transformation within any chapter as one class leaves and another takes over as the most experienced members. It is an opportunity to ensure that the incoming senior class stays committed throughout their senior year and does not lose sight of the lifetime commitment they have made to the organization. The summer presents an opportunity for chapters to reflect on this past year, address current challenges facing the chapter, and set goals to elevate the organization. Summer is also a wonderful opportunity for chapter advisors to reflect on this past year with their members and address personal challenges to most productively move into the fall and continue building a successful relationship with the chapter. Summer provides a much needed reprieve for all advisors from daily student interaction and allows for personal reflection and goal-setting.
Summer is here and it is time to prepare the houses for the quarter! If you will be having anyone live in your chapter’s house this summer, please make sure the chapter notifies the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life by filling out the form they were sent. Information needed for each summer resident includes: name, phone number, email address, and whether or not they are a student. This information will help the office notify students in the event of a power outage or other emergency situation and is a requirement for each chapter housing residents this summer.
The Association of Fraternity/Sorority Advisors has provided a list of key questions for advisors to ask themselves and reflect upon: 1. Do I know all of the brothers/sisters and pledges/new members by name? 2. Have I attended meetings of the chapter or the executive committee or both on a regular basis? 3. Do the chapter and I understand what we expect from each other, and are we meeting those expectations? 4. Am I satisfied with my relationship with the officers of the chapter? 5. Do I maintain adequate communication with and receive support from the (inter)national headquarters? 6. Do I believe that the chapter communicates adequately with me, and vice versa? 7. Have I been approached by brothers/sisters and pledges/new members at least occasionally for help with personal problems? 8. Am I promoting the objectives of the Fraternity or Sorority? 9. Is the chapter a better one because of my association with it? 10. Do I enjoy my time spent with the chapter or working on chapter-related tasks? 11. What challenges did we face this year? 12. What will we focus on for fall 2012? And what role do I play in helping the chapter focus on these goals? If you are uncomfortable, in all honesty, with any of your answers to these questions, then use this an opportunity to analyze the reasons for the discomfort and treat them as areas for improvement.
Important Dates and Upcoming Events It is important that chapter advisors are aware of what is going on within the fraternity and sorority community and the greater Northwestern campus community. Please encourage chapter members to participate in community events and attend relevant campus programming. If you have questions about a specific event, please contact an OFSL staff member or speak with your chapter president. As changes are made to this schedule, we will be sure to update advisors via future newsletters or email correspondence. Due to the Jewish holidays of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, the schedules for Wildcat Welcome 2012 and the 2012-2013 academic year have been pushed back from their regular start dates. New student move-in and Wildcat Welcome will now begin on Thursday, September 20, 2012, and fall classes will begin on Thursday, September 27, 2012 which will affect the schedules for all breaks and next year’s commencement. The full academic calendar can be found here.
May 26th- Dillo Day May 28th- MGC and NPHC Barbeque May 29th-June 1st- Reading Week June 4th-June 8th- Finals Week June 11th-June 14th- Senior Week June 15th- 2012 Commencement June 18th- Summer Session Classes Begin September 20th- Wildcat Welcome Begins September 27th- First Day of Classes
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