Focusing on Our Future
A New Model to Build Courageous Leaders
T
he delegates to the 174th Ekklesia in Washington, DC, faced a weighty legislative agenda in the form of proposed amendments to the Constitution, Bylaws and Articles of Incorporation. At the top of everyone’s mind was the proposal from the Archons to eliminate pledging. Another group of amendments would simplify the process for chapters to discipline members, including, most significantly, giving chapters and their officers the authority to suspend and expel members, authority previously reserved to the Archons and Ekklesia. Beyond these two momentous proposals, there were numerous amendments on fraternity governance and other matters not directly impacting undergraduate chapters. Working through this agenda would require focus and stamina.
While the Ekklesia is an opportunity to celebrate Phi Gamma Delta’s history and traditions, it is, more importantly, a time for undergraduate and graduate leaders to look to the future. In his State of the Fraternity address at the opening business session on Friday, August 12, retiring Archon President Nic Loiacono put the challenge this way: “Successful organizations embrace change as a means of ensuring their sustainability.” It has been said that the future is built on a knowledge of the past and an honest assessment of the present. In the latter regard, three data points – one internal, the other two environmental – stood out: • During the previous four years, the Fraternity had disciplined 38 chapters for hazing, closing 16. Efforts to eliminate hazing
– focused on education and accountability and stretching back over 60 years – had not been effective enough to attain our goal. • Male college enrollment had been in decline for a decade, with no expectation that this trend would reverse soon. • Research had found that 35% of men who consider fraternity membership do not join because of their perception of the typical fraternity experience, led by concerns over hazing. Schooled in the language of courageous leadership, the delegates recognized that Phi Gamma Delta faced a testing point. They understood the need for a different approach to bring in new members, one which puts a greater emphasis on quality recruitment and reduces
Congratulations to Alpha Omicron at Akron for being one of the first 32 Early Adopter chapters!
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THE PHI GAMMA DELTA|FALL 2022
www.phigam.org