Chapter Advisor Monthly Spring 2012, Issue 1
Assistant Director Search Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life Update Spring is always an exciting time of year on campus and within the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life. All of our councils have new executive boards and are in the midst of goal-setting and action planning for the year ahead. Chapters are busy transitioning their leaders and welcoming new members and new initiates into chapter programs, educational initiatives, and service and philanthropy projects. There are many exciting events ahead for this quarter both campus-wide and within the fraternity and sorority community. In this issue: Winter Quarter Academic Report Recruitment and Intake Update Greek Leadership Retreat Dance Marathon MGC Interest Groups Sexual Assault Awareness Month Important Dates and Upcoming Events
The Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life is in the midst of a search for the vacant Assistant Director position in the office, previously held by Danny Miller. We had a deep pool of applicants and have narrowed our pool to four candidates- one man and three women. Two of the four candidates were on campus for their interviews the week of th April 16 and the remaining two will be on campus the week rd of April 23 . While on campus, candidates have an opportunity to meet with the Fraternity and Sorority Life staff, campus partners, staff within the Division of Student Affairs, and student leaders. Following the four on-campus interviews, we will make a final decision and move forward with the hiring process. Once a decision is made, an announcement will be sent to all chapters and chapter advisors.
If you have suggestions for future articles or topics, please contact Maggie Heffernan at Margaretheffernan@northwestern.edu
Intake and Recruitment Update Congratulations to Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Kappa Phi Lambda Sorority, Inc., and Sigma Lambda Gamma Sorority Inc. for their successful winter quarter intakes. Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. welcomed seven women into their chapter; Kappa Phi Lambda Sorority, Inc. welcomed five women, and Sigma Lambda Gamma Sorority, Inc. welcomed four women. Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. crossed one man into their city-wide chapter this spring quarter. Additionally, we congratulate the Interfraternity Council (IFC) for successful spring recruitment. The IFC community welcomed an additional 37 men amongst nine chapters and the number continues to grow. Finally, the Panhellenic community has extended bids to 21 women through continuous open bidding thus far this quarter. Panhellenic chapters under Panhellenic total (122) are eligible for Continuous Open Bidding (COB).
NU Dance Marathon Executive Board following the reveal of the total amount of money raised through DM 2012. Many executive board members, including the DM co-chairs, are members of fraternities and sororities. Congratulations to all students involved in NUDM2012!
National Volunteer Appreciation Week th
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Last week, April 15 -21 was National Volunteer Appreciation Week. We would like to take a moment to offer our belated thanks and recognition for your hard work and volunteer role within the Northwestern fraternity and sorority community. The time, energy, passion, and support you offer our students certainly does not go unnoticed or unappreciated. The fraternity and sorority community would not be what it is without each and every one of you and we thank you!
Greek Leadership Retreat th
The Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life’s annual Greek Leadership Retreat was held April 13-15 in Madison, Wisconsin. Council officers and chapter presidents from all four councils participated in Greek Leadership Retreat. Participants were led by Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life staff, eight student facilitators, and two professional facilitators in discussions about the current strengths and weaknesses of the fraternity and sorority community at Northwestern and what can be done to move the community forward over the next year. Participants also discussed effective leadership strategies and spent time getting to know one another as a team of community leaders. Students and facilitators discussed values congruence, accountability, cross-council collaboration, developing the courage to lead, and personal influence. The Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life would like to recognize and thank the lead and student facilitators for their hard work and commitment to the Northwestern fraternity and sorority community: Brent Turner, Director, Rollins College Office of Student Involvement and Leadership Erin Huffman, Director of Resource Development and Collegiate Development Specialists, Delta Gamma Fraternity Headquarters Hazim Ahmad, Omega Delta Phi Fraternity, Inc. Maddy Bloch, Delta Gamma Alex Conway, Phi Gamma Delta Paul Huettner, Pi Kappa Alpha Sharon Kim, Kappa Phi Lambda Sorority, Inc. Kirstin Nordhaus, Delta Zeta Leila Pree, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Scott Ritter, Sigma Chi
MGC Welcomes Two Interest Groups The Fraternity and Sorority Life Advisory Board approved two new interest groups to join the Northwestern community on st March 1 . The Advisory Board is comprised of fraternity and sorority undergraduate members, alumni advisors, Northwestern faculty and staff. The Board had an opportunity to listen to a presentation from both interest groups and determine whether to approve the groups to begin the colonization process. The Advisory Board heard presentations from an interest group of La Unidad Latina Lambda Upsilon Lambda Fraternity, Inc. and Sigma Lambda Beta International Fraternity. Both interest groups are comprised of Northwestern undergraduate men ranging from first year students to seniors. The Advisory Board issued a recommendation to Dr. Patricia Telles-Irvin, Vice President of Student Affairs, to approve the colonization process for both groups. The Vice President approved the colonization process for both groups in March. The interest groups are both Latino-based, though not culturally exclusive. Both groups have a strong foundation in their undergraduate members and volunteer structure. Each interest group is unique in its values, principles, and organizational structure; together, they will provide undergraduate men pursing fraternity membership a diverse set of options. Currently, MGC has one multicultural fraternity, two Asian-interest sororities, and two Latina-based sororities; the Advisory Board recognized the need for additional men’s organizations within MGC. The interest groups of Lambda Upsilon Lambda and Sigma Lambda Beta have been working with Fraternity and Sorority Life staff and the Multicultural Greek Council (MGC) since their approval on policies, procedures, and expectations moving forward. The Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life and MGC are committed to supporting a successful colonization for both groups.
Winter 2012 Academic Report The winter 2012 grade report is available online at www.northwestern.edu/gogreek/resources/grade-reports.html. The all-Greek average was a 3.43, below the 3.44 all-student average. Individual chapter reports are available in the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life for the chapter presidents to pick up. We would like to congratulate the Northwestern fraternity and sorority community on another successful quarter and recognize those chapters that achieved the highest averages in their respective council: IFC: Alpha Epsilon Pi (3.51) NPHC: Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. (3.27) MGC: Sigma Psi Zeta Sorority, Inc. (3.64) PHA: Kappa Alpha Theta (3.57)
Sexual Assault Awareness Month April has been designated Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) in the United States. The goal of SAAM is to raise public awareness about sexual violence and to education communities and individuals on how to prevent sexual violence. The April 2012 National campaign centers on promoting healthy sexuality to prevent sexual violence. Northwestern students and staff from the Women’s Center, the Office of Health Promotion and Wellness, and the Center for Awareness, Response, and Education (CARE) are hosting campus events to promote SAAM. Sexual Assault Awareness Month is a great opportunity to encourage chapter members to get involved in this movement and educate themselves and their brothers and sisters on healthy sexuality, safer sex, sexual violence, and resources available on campus. Students have coordinated a “Dear Sexual Violence” Letter-Writing Campaign to encourage individual students and student groups to write a break-up letter to sexual violence throughout the month of April, leading up to Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Letters are available to view through the “Dear Sexual Violence” blog. The Take Back the Night march is the culminating event of the week. Rape, sexual assault, sexual abuse and domestic violence are often labeled “crimes of silence” because of low reporting rates and social discomfort with the topic. Take Back the Night is an international movement to start a community-wide discussion about the realities of sexual assault, including its prevalence and what we can do to stop it. Take Back the Night is scheduled for Thursday, April 26- it includes a barbeque, campus rally, a march through campus, and an empowering survivor speak out to break the silence. Student organizations, including fraternities and sororities, are encouraged to write a letter, attend Take Back the Night, be heard, and get involved. A full calendar of events for Sexual Assault Awareness Month is available through the CARE website. Sexual Assault affects many members of the Northwestern community, including fraternity and sorority members. It is important that students get involved and educate themselves on sexual assault, ways to support survivors of sexual assault, and the dynamics of victim-blaming attitudes prevalent in the community. Sexual assault crosses all genders and ages. Northwestern University defines sexual assault as any intentional or knowing touching or fondling by the accused, either directly or through the clothing, of the victim's genitals, breasts, thighs, or buttocks without the victim's consent. Sexual assault includes touching or fondling of the accused by the victim when the victim is forced to do so against his or her will. Sexual assault also includes any nonconsensual acts involving penetration of the sex organs, anus, or mouth. (Northwestern University Student Handbook 2011-2012). Northwestern is currently in the process of updating its protocol and policies around rape and sexual assault. The Center for Awareness, Response and Education (CARE) serves students who have experienced sexual violence by providing information about resources and options, including counseling, health care, changing housing arrangements, reporting to police and/or filing criminal charges, and filing complaints through the Office of Student Conduct and Conflict Resolution. CARE is a new office, opening in January 2012 with the hiring of a full-time victim advocate. The mission of CARE is to provide information, advice, crisis counseling, support, advocacy, referrals and education about sexual violence (including sexual assault, rape, intimate partner violence and stalking) as well as consent, healthy relationships and healthy sexuality to the Northwestern University community. CARE is a free and confidential resource open to any student. More information is available on the CARE website. Chapter advisors are encouraged to speak with their chapter members about this resource and encourage any student interested in learning more or seeking services to reach out to CARE. Men Against Rape and Sexual Assault (MARS) is another resource available to men on campus regarding men’s role in sexual violence education and prevention. MARS is an all-male peer education group affiliated with Northwestern University Health Service and the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life. Its purpose is to engage and educate men about the issues of rape and sexual assault. Members of MARS are available to speak to student groups, including fraternities, per request. Sexual Health and Assault Peer Educators (SHAPE) is a student organization affiliated with Northwestern University Health Service that provides education, organizes events, and generates dialogue about sexual health and sexual assault. SHAPE's mission is to increase students’ comfort about sexuality, encourage them to learn and adopt healthy sexual behaviors and help them recognize and address unhealthy and dangerous behaviors and attitudes regarding sexuality. SHAPE provides presentations and workshops to students, organizes outreach events, collaborates with other student organizations and serves as a resource for individual students looking for confidential information about sexual health and sexual assault. Members of SHAPE are available to speak to student groups, including fraternities and sororities, per request.
Important Dates and Upcoming Events
Greek Leadership Retreat Facilitators following the weekend retreat. GLR wouldn’t have been the same without their support and commitment.
NU Dance Marathon The Northwestern fraternity and sorority community has a longstanding tradition of strong participation in the Northwestern University Dance Marathon (NUDM). This year NUDM raised $1,107,670 for the The Andrew McDonough B+ (Be Positive) Foundation and the Evanston Community Foundation. This is a record amount of money raised through NUDM and we would like to congratulate all of the fraternity and sorority men and women involved in the remarkable effort. Greek organizations contributed to this total in a big way. The top three large group contributors included: #1: Delta Gamma and Zeta Beta Tau ($113,969.27) #2: Kappa Kappa Gamma and Pi Kappa Alpha ($42,964.09) #3: Alpha Phi and Sigma Chi ($40,692.58)
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.
May 5th- Greek Scene (Annual NPHC Step Show) May 10th- Order of Omega Greek Awards May 14th- May Sing May 17th- NU Day at Wrigley May 19th- NU Gives Back (University-wide Day of Service) May 26th- Dillo Day May 18th- 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
Fraternity and sorority members also contributed big in another way. The executive co-chairs for NUDM 2012 included our own Scott Ritter (Sigma Chi) and Kunal Joshi (Lambda Chi Alpha). The two worked tirelessly to bring about Northwestern's most successful DM in history. The Northwestern fraternity and sorority community looks forward to NUDM 2013, where fraternity/sorority members Matt Larsen (Pi Kappa Alpha) and Katie Amys (Delta Delta Delta) are sure to continue the success of past years and to further exemplify what makes our community so great. The Be Positive Foundation is committed to providing financial and emotional support to families of children with cancer, funding childhood cancer research, and encouraging others to set goals, try your best, show affection, and be comfortable with yourself.
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