As hazing is a detailed and complex issue, the following information is meant as a general overview (future posts will focus on specific aspects of hazing in a more comprehensive manner).

Like a storm cloud on a summer day or a hair in your food, the issue of hazing is the ever-looming aspect of Greek life that threatens to ruin everything. While every inter/national fraternity and sorority has a no-hazing policy, the issue continues to be a problem (in fact, last week a chapter at my alma mater was reprimanded for hazing). For all those Greeks who don’t believe hazing is a prevalent problem, here’s a reality check, courtesy of the National Study of Student Hazing*:

• 55% of college students involved in clubs, teams and organizations experience hazing
• 69% of students who belonged to a student organization were aware of hazing that occurred inanother student organization
• 95% of students who identified their experience as hazing did not report the events to a campus official
• alcohol consumption, humiliation, isolation, sleep-deprivation, and sex acts are common hazing practices
• 25% of organization advisers were aware of hazing behaviors
• 9 out of 10 students who were hazed in college do not consider themselves to have been hazed
• 25% of hazing occurred on campus in a public space
• 25% of hazing experiences occurred with alumni present
• college and university students recognize hazing as part of the campus culture

Despite the consequences of hazing (personal injury, college expulsion, & chapter closure), many Greeks take the issue lightly, believing that, for some miraculous reason, it could never happen to them. Therefore, it’s important to bring the issue of hazing to light in your chapter. There are three basic steps to preventing and discouraging hazing: education, establishment of hazing policies, and enforcement of policies. While you may say that this is common sense, you’ll find that it is easier said than done. So, here are some pointers.

Chapter Education

As with most chapter issues, the first step to preventing hazing is to give your members the facts. A hazing education program should cover the following:

• What hazing is (an action expected of a member that embarrasses, or puts the individual at risk, regardless of the individual’s willingness)
• Examples of hazing (from mild hazing like cleaning to severe hazing like physical abuse)
• Dangers of hazing (personal injury, death, individual expulsion from college, legal ramifications)

Remember that your chapter education extends not only to your members, but to your executive members, alumni and chapter advisors. It is important to remind these individuals, in addition to your chapter, of the issue of hazing.

Hazing Policies

Like I said before, all national sororities and fraternities have a no-hazing policy. However, in most cases this is not enough to prevent hazing from occurring. In addition to your national’s hazing policy, it is critical to create hazing policies and consequences for your chapter. These should also be presented to your members, alumni and advisers, and should cover the following:

• A statement of the chapter’s stance on hazing
• A system of consequences and punishments for members who are caught hazing (i.e.: 3 strikes, expulsion from the chapter for serious offenses)
• Your college or university’s policies on hazing and the related punishments
• Chapter contacts for members to report hazing

Policy Enforcement

Creating hazing policies and presenting them to your chapter is just the easy part. The hardest part is enforcing your policies. Unfortunately, there is no snap-of-your-fingers way to make this happen. Rather, your policy enforcement will be successful due to the cooperation between the executive members, chapter members, advisers and alumni:

• Executive members need to follow through on hazing policies and consequences (no matter what), and they need to set a good example for the chapter
• Your members need to feel comfortable reporting hazing incidents by other members
• Your advisers need to support executive decisions and be a confidential contact for members to report hazing (if they so choose)
• Your alumni need to set positive examples and deter younger members from hazing

Finally, the most important thing to remember is repetition. Your members may take something away from the initial hazing meeting, but chances are slim that the information will stick five or six months down the road. Reiterating your hazing education material and hazing polices once a quarter or semester is a great way to ensure that your members retain the information (it also guarantees that your newly initiated members know the information as they become an active part of the chapter).

*Note: More findings from the National Study of Student Hazing, as well as study overview, methods and implications , can be found at hazingstudy.org.

This post was generously provided by ChapterBoard.

The post Hazing appeared first on The Campus Companion Chapter Life.

Identifying troublesome members is a hard task, made harder by the fact that a single occurrence of bad behavior may not reflect the member’s true intentions and potential. However, there are a few red-flag behaviors that, more times than not, signal a need for executive intervention:

• Not paying dues and still participating in events
• Repeated bad behavior at public and chapter events
• Poor academic performance (and a low GPA)
• Severe addiction or abuse of alcohol or drugs

When identifying these members, be sure to keep in mind that one of the responsibilities of the chapter is to help and benefit its members. (however, this doesn’t mean babying a member or looking the other way when a problem arises). If a member is identified, the chapter should act with discretion and respect, and keep the best interest of the member in mind. At the same time, its important to remind members that they too have responsibilities to the chapter, and they can’t expect to benefit without giving back.

Not Paying Dues

Without money, things can’t be done. Thus, having a high collection rate is extremely important for every chapter. Members who don’t pay their dues are just as destructive as members who behave rudely or drink excessively. While exceptions exists, such as members who loose their jobs or have financial trouble in their family, the majority of these situations are signs of carelessness and disrespect by the member.

Many chapters have in place a process for dealing with members who don’t pay their dues. Normally, this is the responsibility of the chapter’s treasurer. However, if matters worsen and the member is far in debt with no intention of paying, it may be time for the president and chapter adviser to step in. It also may be time to say goodbye to the member and bring in a debt collection company on behalf of the chapter. While this may seem extreme, sometimes its better for the chapter and the member to severe ties than to continue the relationship of “collector” and “payee”. That is not how your members should consider themselves in the chapter.

For these members who are the exceptions, there are many options to ensure their dues are collected and the member stays in the chapter. Many times, a payment plan is all that is needed, allowing the member to pay small amounts over a specified period of time. Other options include reducing the member’s dues and limiting their activity in the chapter, finding a financial sponsor (usually a chapter alumni) for the member, or finding a scholarship for the member (from your nationals or chapter). In these cases, be sure to remember that while dues are the lifeblood of the chapter, members are just as important. And if the member is worth it, you should always work your hardest and exhaust every option to keep them in the chapter.

Repeated Bad Behavior in Public

By far the broadest category with the most severe consequences is member behavior. It only takes one member and one action to taint a chapter’s reputation, or worse, revoke the chapter’s charter and loose their place on campus.

Members in trouble with the law, who are abusive or offensive to others, or who participate in fighting must be approached and dealt with immediately. As these actions are very broad and can range from mild to extreme, the consequences of such actions are at the discretion of the executive board or chapter. For minor offenses, social probation or fines may be enough. However, extreme cases may require expulsion from the chapter or membership deactivation. When deciding on a consequence, be sure to take into account the member’s behavior over their entire membership, and consider different punishments over member deactivation. If the situation is so serious that it involves campus administration, don’t hesitate to contact your national headquarters or regional adviser for help.

Poor Academic Performance and Low GPA

Every Greek fraternity and sorority have strict GPA requirements for their members as academic excellence is one of the most important aspects of the Greek community. While the social aspect of fraternities and sororities is a motivating factor for members to stay active, your chapter should also stress the importance of academics. You are, after all, in college to receive an education (not do keg stands). Members should encourage each other to work hard and perform well in their classes, if not for the chapter, then for their personal future success. Additionally, the chapter itself should encourage academic excellence through the use of study hours, peer tutors, course notes, a strict scholarship program, and a chapter-wide emphasis on school.

For members with repeatedly low GPAs, penalties for such should serve to improve their grades, not just punish them. Fining a member for a low GPA won’t do much to motivate them in the next quarter or semester. However, assigning more study hours with a peer tutor will help your member understand the subject and devote more time to their classes. In rare situations, extreme penalties may be needed, such as a member who parties too much and studies too little. Social probation is always a good way to start with these members, but remember to not only deprive them of what they enjoy, but also provide them with tools to succeed academically.

Severe addiction or abuse of alcohol or drugs

As a chapter, your members are your family, and, as a family, your members should feel comfortable talking about their problems and seeking help. Every member of your chapter should be open to listening and helping other members. They should also know how to identify when a member is in need of such help and who to talk to. As executive members, make sure you are not only open to those who have problems, but also to those members who suspect another’s addiction or abuse.

Dealing with alcohol or drug addiction and abuse in a member is a difficult thing. Of the entire process, the most complicated part is approaching the individual. Remember that many times an individual may not think they have a problem. Additionally, remember that an individual can be abusing alcohol or drugs without having an addiction (they are two very different issues). After approaching the member, the next step is to find help. Some members may simply require a social network to keep them in order, while others may require a substance abuse and addiction program. Additionally, for some members the best option may be leaving the fraternity or sorority, even if they have done nothing wrong. Remember that in these severe cases, the priority is the health of your member, not necessarily that of your chapter.

Finally, when dealing with alcohol or drug problems in your chapter, do not shy away from your resources. Communicate with your chaper adviser, regional adviser and national headquarters. Use discretion if you’re not sure of the severity of the situation, but be open and honest about the problem. Additionally, every college and university has resources (and usually an entire office or department) for substance abuse and addiction. Use these resources, teach them to your members, and refer back whenever you’re unsure.

This post was generously provided by ChapterBoard.

The post Dealing with Troublesome Members appeared first on The Campus Companion Chapter Life.

Let me preface this article by saying that if you feel dirty rushing is being overlooked at your school, it is important to say something. Contact your school’s Greek life adviser, speak with your chapter adviser, or even speak with a university administrator.

Every day of our lives we make decisions and choices. The majority of our choices are mundane and made with little reasoning or thought of consequence. However, every once in a while there comes that tempting option that tests your moral compass. Should I cheat on this test? Should I lie about last night? As unethical as these choices are, for some, the decision is unclear and the temptation is too difficult to resist. Such is the case with dirty rushing.

Most major fraternities and sororities are members of a national governing body who is represented on every campus and who establishes rules for recruitment. Basically, dirty rushing is any type of recruitment activity involving an unaffiliated individual that doesn’t conform to these recruitment rules.

Dirty rush activities range from small individual indiscretions to planned chapter events. A member can even dirty rush without knowing it. Below are the most common dirty rushing activities:

• Promising a bid or pressuring someone to join
• Spreading negative rumors about other chapters
• Giving presents to a potential new member
• Secret parties where alcohol is served to minors (who are you kidding – someone always finds out)

Normally, dirty rushing by an active member is dealt with by the chapter, and chapter-sponsored dirty rushing is dealt with by the overseeing Greek committee such as IFC or Panhellenic (keep in mind there is a fine line between a member’s actions and those of the chapter as a whole). Sometimes however, people will turn a blind eye to dirty rushing activities. Although dirty rush tactics may go under the radar for a year or two, eventually, people find out and the consequences are inevitable (police involvement, parental complaints, individual expulsion and even the closure of a chapter).

What You Can Do

As a leader of your chapter, its important to address the issue of dirty rushing with your members. For some chapters this can be done online in a discussion-like forum, while for others, in-person chapter meetings are best. Here are some things to remember when facilitating the “dirty rushing” conversation in your chapter:

• Explain what dirty rushing is (while it may be reiteration for older members, this is important for new members, members who have a misconstrued view, or members who have never participated in organized recruitment)
• Go over the recruitment rules set forth by your Greek committee (this may seem tedious, but its valuable to your chapter that your members know the rules)
• Provide examples (both individual and chapter related) of dirty rushing activities as it relates to your campus rules
• Discuss the consequences of dirty rushing (what actions the Greek community, your University, and/or your national organization can take)
• Provide contact information for your executive members and the Greek committee members to whom dirty rushing should be reported
• Allow for questions and comments (dirty rushing isn’t entirely black and white, so your members may need to discuss the gray areas)

I emphasize chapter discussion as it is very important. Make sure that your talk is a discussion among all the members of your chapter, and your members are comfortable asking any sort of question. Additionally, schedule time after the meeting for one-on-one discussions. This is especially useful if a member is dirty rushing, thinks they are dirty rushing, or suspects dirty rushing in the chapter, and wants to discuss it with you.

Discretion is Key

My final point is about discretion. Its absolutely, undeniable that there is competition within the Greek community, especially when it comes to recruitment. While some Greeks may believe in the “us vs. them” motto, remember that the chapters on your campus make up a community. As competitive and cut-throat as that community may be, it is still a singular body that represents your chapter to the rest of the university.

Just as community service and academic success shed positive light, university punishment of any chapter reflects negatively on the entire Greek community. Thus, if you know of dirty rushing by another chapter, act with discretion. This doesn’t mean ignore dirty rushing, but rather, act as you would want to be treated if it was your chapter who was caught. The Greek community relies on the strength of every chapter, and the downfall of one chapter can quickly lead to the downfall of the entire community.

Remember: while we encourage competition and separate chapter identities, behind all the letters, all the chants, and all the rivalry, we are all the same: we are all Greek.

This post was generously provided by ChapterBoard.

The post Dirty Rushing appeared first on The Campus Companion Chapter Life.

Serenades are a fun and entertaining way to improve public relations between fraternity and sorority chapters. Depending on who you’re serenading, songs can be romantic, funny, or completely raunchy. They can include props, live music, or even a sister from the sorority. Just remember that knowing your audience is key, and picking out the right song can be the difference between a memorable serenade and a total flop.

To help you in your singing endeavors, here are five Serenade Questions that will help you narrow your search for the perfect song for your serenade. We’ve also put together a list of great Serenade Songsalong with some helpful hints as to their appropriateness. Enjoy!

Serenade Questions

What chapter are you serenading?

Above all, the number one most important thing about serenades is to keep your audience in mind. Know what sorority, or sororities, you are serenading, and understand how your fraternity brothers interact with the girls. What is your chapter’s relation with the sorority? If you’re introducing your brothers for the first time, “The Bad Touch” by the Bloodhound Gang is probably not the best way to go. On the other hand, if your chapters are close and friendly, “Hot in Herre” by Nelly may be the perfect song.

Note: When choosing a song, keep in mind if you’re serenading multiple sororities. If you have time, practice different serenade songs for different sororities (depending on your relation with them). Or, if you decide to use the same song for every house, choose something that will work across the board.

What is your chapter’s image? What type of image do you want to present to the sorority?

We’ve all heard the old adage, “image is everything”. Although our parents may tell us different, in the case of serenades, image is an important factor. While we at ChapterTalk don’t condone fraternity and sorority stereotypes, we think its important for chapters to know and acknowledge their image within the greek community (and change that image if needed). Thus, when picking your serenade song, consider how sororities perceive your chapter, and what type of image you want to present. If your chapter is considered sedate and grim, a comical song like “Men in Tights” (from “Robin Hood: Men In Tights” movie) or a parody of the Jonas Brothers will make sororities laugh and help to refresh your image.

What, if any, messages do you want to send?

No, we don’t mean “hey, I’ve had a crush on you since freshman year” messages. Rather, when picking your serenade song, make sure it relates to your reason for being at the sorority house. Whether you’re announcing your upcoming philanthropy, introducing pledges, or hyping up next week’s party, your song should remind the sorority of why you’re serenading them in the first place.

Finally, is your chapter good at serenading?

Even though this point is at the bottom of the list, its probably one of the most important aspects of serenading, and one of the first things you should think about (ironic that we put it last, huh?). If your fraternity is made up of drama and music majors and reminds you of the “High School Musical” cast, feel free to pick almost any song you can think of. However, if your chapter is more like the rest of us (biology, psychology, and engineering majors who don’t even sing in the shower), selecting a song won’t be so easy. Try to pick a song with an even (and slower) beat, and if you’re changing the lyrics, make them easy to remember. Finally, if your chapter isn’t Broadway-caliber, make sure to give your brothers time to practice!

Serenade Songs

“Let’s Get It On” – Marvin Gaye

Definitely a song for a fraternity and sorority who know one another. The sexual undertones make this song not for everyone, but the lyrics are easy to remember, the song is slow for singing novices, and the possibility for flirtatious behavior is endless. If you’re looking for similar songs that are less sexual, try other Marvin Gaye songs such as “How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)”.

“A Whole New World” Disney’s Aladdin

If you want to play it safe and go with a song that is romantic, sweet and that everyone knows, this is the song for you. Or, if you want to branch out, most classic Disney songs will work as they are mostly G-rated, and the lyrics are easy to change and easy to remember. The bonus: most sorority girls will have either seen the movie, heard the song, or know the song by heart (great for an impromptu sing-a-long).

“Forever” Chris Brown

Its always good to keep your serenades up to date and current. This song is great for a serenade because its popular, the lyrics are easy to change, and the song is flirtatious without being raunchy or overly-sexual. Also try “With You”, “Yo (Excuse Me Miss)”, and (the Chris Brown dancing isn’t a requirement, but would be a nice touch).

“You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’” Righteous Brothers

Always a classic and a favorite among those of us who remember the movie Top Gun, this song leans more toward the intimate side, but allows for great dramatic performances. Adding costumes or acting out the “Top Gun” scene with this song will make this serenade the best of the best, especially if the brothers mimic the movie and pick out specific sorority girls to sing to.

“Lets Stay Together” Al Green

Like the Marvin Gaye songs, Al Green songs are a great option if you want to be romantic and sweep the girls off their feet. The other great thing about Al Green songs: they’re slower, the lyrics are easy to change, and most people will recognize the song.

“Sweet Child of Mine” Guns N’ Roses

Yes, this song is definitely out of left field and not for the novice singers, but if done well, this song can blow those girls away. Lyrics are easy to change and remember, the beat is good and consistent, and if you have a guitarist (preferably, electric guitar), that’s just icing on the cake.

“My Girl” Temptations

Truly a classic, every girl in the sorority will at least have heard of the song if they don’t already know it by heart. The lyrics are easy to change, just remind your brothers that the song is slow for a reason (not to make it easier for them). This is a great song for introductions as it is romantic, sweet, and will make your brothers look like gentlemen.

“Men In Tights” from the movie “Robin Hood: Men In Tights”

This probably seems like the last song that should ever been on a list for sorority serenades, however, from personal experience, we can truly say this is a memorable one. Of course you have to do the dance along with the song (and costumes don’t hurt either), and your brothers have to be up for a night of embarrassment. However, this is a great way to avoid the sexual innuendos while keeping the girls’ attention and making them laugh.

“8 Days a Week” The Beatles

This is a great song for a clean, G-rated serenade, or to use to serenade multiple sororities. Yes, the song is a little cheesy, but the lyrics are cute and easy to change, most people know the song, and you can add a guitarist if you have one. Bonus: dress up like the Beatles and go all out with the theme (skinny ties are back after all).

If you want something similar to this, try other Beatles’ songs such as “A Hard Day’s Night”, “All My Loving”, and “All You Need Is Love”.

“Kokomo” Beach Boys

Like the Beatles’ songs, this is a great serenade for a sorority you don’t know well and don’t want to offend. Most girls will already know the song, your brothers can go all out on the theme, and there’s the option of a guitarist. Also, given enough time, your brothers can practice the harmonies and clapping (if part of the song) to really impress the girls.

Additionally, consider other Beach Boys songs, such as “California Girl” (change “California” to the sorority’s name), “Wouldn’t It Be Nice” and “I Get Around”.

h4.“Because of You” Ne-Yo

Hands down, a great serenade song but not for every fraternity. This is a fast-paced song (compared to our other suggestions), so it’ll require a lot of practice by your fraternity brothers. Also, if you can bring a stereo to play the music in the background, it’ll help your brothers stay on beat and together. If your chapter has the time to practice the song, this can be a great serenade that the sorority girls will remember for a long time. Bonus: if you have time, add in some choreography or some simple dance moves. This will really make the girls go wild!

This post was generously provided by ChapterBoard.

The post Serenade Songs appeared first on The Campus Companion Chapter Life.

Serenading a sorority can be tricky and nerve-racking, especially if you’re unprepared. Here are some features that no serenade should ever be without. Complete the checklist and the only way you can mess up is by not knowing the song!

Flowers

Doing serenades without bringing flowers is like taking a girl on a $50 dinner on the back of your bicycle. Spend the extra hundred dollars and get a nice bouquet of flowers or a dozen roses for each house you visit, trust us, it’s a good move.

Song From the Heart

Often times a chapter will rewrite a well known song with words to incorporate Greek life or perhaps the chapter to whom they are serenading. Its often a good idea to pick a song that the girls will know, and hopefully one your members can remember.

Background Music

Do you have a guitarist or budding musician in your chapter? Having someone play live music to sing to helps everyone keep their beat and really shows that you took that extra step.

Formal Attire

Shirt and tie. Anything less and you might as well go in your underwear. Some chapters will coordinate their shirt and tie colors, or even wear matching chapter ties. Every chapter is different, but remember the better you look the better the show.

Appropriate Introductions (and Pickup Lines!)

It’s not uncommon to use serenades as a way to introduce your new class of pledges to the girls on campus. It’s also not uncommon for these young gentlemen to embarrass not only themselves but the chapter with inappropriate pick up lines. Alternatives to cheesy pickup lines:

• Give a girl a rose after you introduce yourself.
• Read a few lines from your favorite poem.

Remember: a serenade should be appropriate for your Grandmother, Mother, Sister, Girlfriend and if your as smooth as you think, your future wife.

This post was generously provided by ChapterBoard.

The post Fraternity Serenade Checklist appeared first on The Campus Companion Chapter Life.

10. Mumbling members

Public speaking can be daunting, especially when the audience is a group of sorority girls. And if a brother isn’t ready, his speech may sound more like a foreign language than an announcement. While sorority members may overlook mumbling or think its “cute”, it really doesn’t reflect well on your chapter. Prepare your brothers with a public speaking workshop or a quick bullet-point presentation. Not only will you salvage your chapter’s reputation, you’ll also ensure that your brothers feel confident and avoid embarrassment.

9. Not practicing the song beforehand

One of the easiest things to ensure your serenade goes smoothly is to practice, practice, practice. This doesn’t mean have your brothers practice the song for the first time in the parking lot outside the sorority house. Rather, devote time during meeting to practicing the song and go over how serenades work. Your extra time and practice will pay off. Guaranteed.

8. Showing up late

Just like a date, a final exam or a game, showing up late to a serenade can be taken as a sign of disrespect. While some sororities may overlook your tardiness, its never a good idea to test their patience. If a time is agreed upon for your fraternity to arrive, make sure you show up! And if you’re late, remember to apologize… and don’t do it again.

7. Inappropriate Dress

Showing up to a serenade in a sweatshirt and worn jeans is like showing up for a date with a stain on your shirt. While your brothers may agree on a more casual dress, remember that your serenade is competing with other serenades, and every little thing counts. Feel free to put your own spin on what you wear (matching ties, pinstripe suits, etc.), just remember: When you serenade a sorority, dress as if you were serenading the girl you want to marry. Will she choose the guy with holes in his t-shirt? Probably not.

6. “Bored” or “inattentive” members

When serenading, you want to make the sorority feel important, special, and the only one you have eyes for. This is very hard to accomplish when your brothers look bored and are inattentive. While we all have our preferences, remind your brothers that their actions during serenades reflect the entire chapter. And even if they are bored or uninterested, they should never show it.

5. Doing something for one sorority and not for another

Bringing presents for sororities is a great addition to your serenade. Many fraternities will bring flowers (either roses or the sorority’s flower), chocolates, or cookies. However, if you plan to add this extra touch, be sure to do it for every sorority. Let’s face it: sorority girls talk; they especially like to talk about what fraternities do for them. So chances are, if you do something for one chapter and not another, sorority members will find out and your attempt at going above and beyond will come back to bite you in the ass.

4. Rude behavior

Just like lewd comments, rude behavior can be offensive to sorority members and put your chapter in a negative light. Whether a brother intentionally or unintentionally behaves inappropriately, the end result is never good. Let’s take a popular example: your fraternity is serenading when a brother passes gas. What do the sorority members do? They now associate your chapter with bad smells and uncontrolled flatulence. That’s a reputation no one wants.

3. Not knowing which sorority you’re serenading

While this may be a great joke among your guys, saying the wrong name during a serenade is actually very embarrassing. Thus, make sure every brother knows who they’re singing to. It only takes one bad apple to ruin the whole bunch.

2. Lewd comments

Remember: a serenade is about seducing a sorority and creating a good reputation for your fraternity. Inappropriate comments, whether before, during, or after the serenade, is completely counter-productive. From the second your brothers enter the sorority house to the time they leave, anything they say should be appropriate for their mothers, sisters, girlfriends and grandmothers. Lewd comments during a serenade, whether joking or serious, will tarnish your fraternity’s image, strain sorority relations, and, quite honestly, make other fraternities look better.

1. Inappropriate touching

Just like when you meet a girl in a bar or at an exchange, unwanted or inappropriate physical contact during a serenade can be disastrous. There are some instances when contact is acceptable (if a brother knows a sorority member); however, never encourage your brothers to make contact with a girl they don’t know. Nothing ruins a serenade and a fraternity’s reputation more than inappropriate physical contact. Your song may sound great and your boys may look stellar: but if the sorority members feel uncomfortable, that’s the only thing they’ll remember.

This post was generously provided by ChapterBoard.

The post Top 10 Serenade Don’ts appeared first on The Campus Companion Chapter Life.

Number 10: University of Southern California

While known, and often loathed, for their outstanding football program, USC Greeks are just as amazing as the team they cheer for. Boasting philanthropic donations that exceed $300,000 per year, USCGreeks not only know how to plan and run successful philanthropies, but they also know how to generate the dough. USC philanthropies benefit local and national causes, including the Make-A-Wish Foundation, the Ronald McDonald House, Case De La Rosa and the American Heart Association. And while it may seem that USC is all about the bills (after all, it has been called the “university of spoiled children”), USCGreeks are diminishing the stereotype by also donating their time. For example, as part of their Slam Dunk Scholars program that encourages inner city children to read, members of the Phi Kappa Psi fraternity at USC are up at 8AM (yes, 8:00 in the morning), reading to children at Vermont Elementary School. Phi Psi has also partnered with USC Men’s Basketball; not only do players frequently visit the school and read with the kids, but kids can also win game tickets for doing well with their reading assignments. Phi Kappa Psi, along with the other 20 fraternities and 12 sororities of the USC Greek community prove that the football team isn’t the only one making money.

Number 9: University of Texas

“What starts here changes the world”. This is the motto of the Texas Longhorns, and it seems to resonate with the Texas Greek community. In partnership with the Dean of Students, Texas Greeks have created the Greek Spotlight, an award given each semester to one outstanding member of the Greek community. The award recognizes the individual’s academic achievement, community service, and involvement both within the Greek community and the student body of the university. Additionally, the spotlighted Greek is featured in the Daily Texan, the campus newspaper. Although a newspaper feature may seem overdone, never underestimate the power of good press. Featuring members of the Greek community in the university paper not only honors the achievements of the individual, but gives a recognizable and respectable face to the community as a whole. Past Greek Spotlight recipients include chapter presidents, honor society members, Dean’s List recipients, and countless volunteers of local and national causes like Habitat for Humanity, YMCA, the American Cancer Society, and Voices Against Violence. With the benefit of the Greek Spotlight feature, Greeks at the University of Texas are not only changing their community for the better, but also inspiring others to do the same.

Number 8: University of California, Berkeley

Cal Bears have prided themselves on the uniqueness of the Berkeley campus, student population, and faculty members. After all, how many universities boast Olympic caliber athletes, innovative research, and activists living in trees, all under the same roof (well, not literally)? If this isn’t enough to set Cal apart from the rest, Cal Greeks have one more thing to boast about: the Greek Resource Coalition. The coalition is a student and staff collaboration aimed at increasing awareness through the dissemination of information to the Greek community. The coalition was originally a project of the Sexual Assault/Sexual Harassment Task Force (SASH) and included students and staff from all over the university (including Health Services, Intercollegiate Athletics, and the Associated Students). While the coalition aims to present information of all types to Greek students, the primary focus is educating students about alcohol safety and sexual violence prevention. Programs and presentations funded by the coalition are hosted at the various IFC and Panhellenic houses, and fulfill the chapter’s risk management requirements stipulated by the university. As the issues of alcohol abuse and sexual violence become more mainstream on university campuses, its encouraging to see how the Greek community at Cal has become proactive in their education. By hosting presentations and advising their members to attend, Cal Greeks are not only protecting themselves, but the entire Cal Greek community as well.

To learn more, visit Cal’s Greek Resource Coalition website.

Number 7: University of Washington

In addition to the gorgeous campus of the University of Washington, and its close proximity to the attractions of downtown Seattle, the Huskies offer something else that sets them apart from the rest: Greek weekend. Greek weekend at Washington is much like other Greek weekends in which new students can meet fraternity and sorority chapters, find answers to their questions about Greek life, and sign up for recruitment. In short, Greek weekend is a formal introduction to the Greek community of the university. However, unlike other weekend events, the Huskies generously open their doors to new students, high school seniors, and new students of other universities. Yes, even if a student has no intention whatsoever to attend the University of Washington, they can still visit the campus, meet the Greeks, and learn about Greek life. Additionally, parents are welcome to attend and take part. There is even a special Parent Orientation in which parents can learn about fraternity and sorority costs, what it means to be Greek, and how Greek life works at Washington.

Finally, as Washington boasts 31 fraternity chapters and 16 sorority chapters, the Greek community has solved the problem of potential new members not knowing enough (well, about the Greek community that is). To ensure that students’ introduction to Greek life is personal and students feel comfortable asking questions, Washington sororities assign a host chapter to each student, and the fraternities host open houses in which students can stay as short or long as they want. Although it may seem unfair to keep students from seeing all houses, Greek weekend at Washington is done with the benefit of the entire community in mind. Rather than stealing potential new members from other chapters, the goal of the weekend is to teach students about Greek life, increase interest in Greek recruitment, and enhance the image of fraternities and sororities in general.

Visit Washington’s Greek Community website for more information about Greek Weekend for both sororities and fraternities.

Number 6: University of Georgia

Greeks at the University of Georgia know what philanthropy is all about. Over the course of the last 4 years, the Georgia Greek’s year-round, student-run philanthropy, ugaMIRACLE, has raised over $2.5 million for Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, and donated hundreds of hours to the cause. As a year-long campaign, ugaMIRACLE does more than just talk about children’s healthcare within the university’s student population. In addition to letter-writing campaigns and canning in downtown Athens, ugaMIRACLE hosts a 5K run/walk, a Tour of Homes in the historic Milledge Avenue District (Homes? Who are we kidding, these are mid-nineteenth and early-twentieth century mansions!), and MiracleFest, a weekend-long celebration of awareness and lives saved. Georgia’s ugaMIRACLE is made possible by the work of over 800 volunteer students as well as the donations of time and money by the surrounding community. And while a lot of hard work, time, and yes, sweat, goes into the preparation of ugaMIRACLE, students say its all worth it when they hear the stories of children who beat the odds. Georgia Greeks seem to have philanthropic planning down to an art, proving that when you find a worthy cause, there’s no limit to what Greeks can do.

Number 5: Florida State

Greeks at Florida State have found new and improved ways of showing off their chapters and are giving the Greek community a bit of a face lift in the process. In partnership with the Office of Greek Life at Florida State, the Greek community has put together the Tomahawk, an all-inclusive booklet about Greek life, active chapters on campus, and answers to literally every question a potential new member might have. While this may seem benign and you may be asking “why is this in the top 10?”, don’t be so quick to write these Greeks off. With a Greek community of over 4,600 members, 21 fraternity chapters, 24 sorority chapters, and 11 multi-cultural Greek organizations, recruitment at Florida State is more overwhelming for potential new members than finding their first class on campus. Fortunately for these Seminoles, the Greek community has made things much easier to understand.

Not only does the Tomahawk list every fraternity and sorority chapter with pictures, chapter information and contacts, it also lists university policies (i.e. hazing and alcohol consumption), as well as information about IFC and Panhellenic. But wait, things don’t end there: the Tomahawk also includes information about Greek honor societies, detailed explanations of the fraternity and sorority recruitment processes, pictures of suggested attire for sorority recruitment (probably the best idea we’ve seen yet for recruitment!), and a break down of costs by sorority chapter. And finally, as icing on the cake, the Tomahawk is available online, either through the downloadable PDF or the online version (done in Flash). By making recruitment information exciting, accessible, and easy to understand, the Greeks of Florida State show that they really know what they’re doing.

Number 4: University of Virginia

The state of Virginia, among other things, is a mecca for Greek life. The first fraternity, Alpha Tau Omega, was founded in Lexington in 1865, as were four other fraternities that are now known as the Virginia Circle. The University of Virginia is no exception as two very successful fraternities, Pi Kappa Alpha and Kappa Sigma were both founded on the university’s Charlottesville campus. Today, the university maintains its dedication to Greek life by not only being host to 35 fraternity chapters, 19 sorority chapters, and six multi-cultural organizations, but also through its Fraternal Organization Agreement (FOA) between the university’s Dean of Students and Greek organizations. The FOA requires fraternities and sororities to provide educational programming for their members on a year-round basis. Chapters must host a minimum of one program each year in all six of the following categories: diversity and discrimination, illegal drugs and alcohol, hazing, liability, physical safety, and sexual assault. As part of the agreement, the Dean of Students at Virginia also provides resources for the chapters including local and national organizations who specialize in the various categories. The partnership between the university and the Greek community not only demonstrates the university’s eagerness to keep Greeks on campus, but also the Greek communities commitment to educating their members and respecting campus policies. With the FOA, Virginia Greeks continue their infamous tradition of being the birthplace of great ideas and innovative action for Greek organizations the world over.

Number 3: University of Michigan

Talk about a complete Greek system, the University of Michigan Greeks are more than organized; they’ve created organizations. In addition to the overseeing bodies of the Greek community at Michigan, the Greek community has also created student-run, Greek-specific organizations that focus on a wide variety of issues. Started in 2005, Green Greeks is an organization dedicated to encouraging environmentally responsible behavior among the Michigan Greek community. In partnership with Michigan’s Greek Week, Green Greeks host a recycling competition that saves cans and bottles, and raises money for Greek Week charities. In addition to Green Greeks, Michigan also has Healthy Houses, a branch of a student education organization that aims to promote wellness and healthy choices within the Greek community, and Greek 101, a multi-session leadership seminar focused on teaching Greeks how to be successful leaders (both on campus, within their chapter, and in the business world). Finally, as these Wolverines have realized that every fraternity brother and sorority sister can’t attend every session, program and seminar, each chapter has designated specific members for each organization. These members act as resources for the rest of the chapter, and distribute new information and educational literature as it becomes available. If taking the initiative, creating educational organizations and improving health, safety and lifestyle awareness could earn you a good grade in college, then the Greek community at the University of Michigan would deserve an A+.

Visit Michigan’s Greek Life website to learn about all the affiliated organizations and what they do.

Number 2: University of Illinois

Its often been said that the Greek community of the University of Illinois is the “best in the country”. While many other Greek communities disagree wholeheartedly (and, really, wouldn’t you do the same?), the Greeks of Illinois have many community features that are worth the acclaim. One of these such features is the Illini Greek, a weekly newsletter (during the academic school year) designed to provide students with fraternity and sorority information and events, campus and community events, Greek-related national news and resources. Since the beginning of 2004, the Illini Greek has graced the Urbana-Champaign campus with 20+ editions each year. Not only can Greeks keep up with community news by reading the Illini Greek, but they can also access archived editions online all the way back to 2004.

In addition to the Illini Greek, there are many other noteworthy aspects of the Greek community at Illinois that deserve attention, including the Greek community’s main website. Whereas other universities may hide their Greek life information or may fail to publish stats and useful information, University of Illinois has nothing but pride for its 61 fraternity chapters and 37 sorority chapters. Information on the website is not only geared towards potential new members, but active members and alumni as well. Need information about recruitment? Want to see how your chapter’s academics compared to the rest of the community? Looking for ways to connect with your fraternity or sorority chapter at Illinois? If you’re visiting the Greek life website, its literally all at your fingertips. Illinois Greeks may come off as somewhat vain and arrogant, but after seeing the community, visiting their website, and learning about what they do, its hard not to agree with them.

Number 1: Penn State

What are the Penn State Greeks roaring about? The university’s 30+ NCAA championships? Their constant ranking as one of the top 20 public universities in the U.S.? How about the IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon? While a Greek dance marathon at other schools may be ignored or shrugged aside as a trivial event, this is hardly the case at Penn State. Nick-named “THON”, Penn State’s Dance Marathon claims to be the largest student-run philanthropy in the world, having raised over $59 million since it started in 1977. THON benefits the Four Diamonds Fund at the Penn State Children’s Hospital, established by Charles and Irma Millard to help offset costs not covered by insurance for children battling cancer. The Fund also benefits pediatric cancer research and supports the hospital’s medical team who care for the children. In 1978, THON designated the Four Diamonds Fund as the sole beneficiary of it’s philanthropic efforts, and since then, THON has donated over $52 million to the Fund.

Unlike other Greek philanthropies, THON is a year-round effort on the part of the 15,000 student volunteers and 700 dancers to raise awareness and money for the fight against pediatric cancer. Penetrating the student and faculty bodies at Penn State, support for THON ranges from the students (Greek and non-Greek) of Penn State and the population of Pennsylvania, to Penn State and THONalumni around the world. While the amount of money raised by THON is overwhelming (in 2009, THONraised over $7.4 million), what is even more amazing is the student involvement. The Greek community of Penn State, with the support of the non-Greek student body, exemplify philanthropic labor, and prove that when Greeks come together, we can achieve the impossible… and then some.

For more information about THON, please visit the Penn State IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon website.

This post was generously provided by ChapterBoard.

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Every fraternity and sorority has a motto by which its members are inspired and directed. Some mottos are secret, some mottos are open (public), and some mottos are a little bit of both. While every motto holds a special meaning to its fraternity brothers or sorority sisters, we found some to be exceptionally refreshing, and motivational for the entire Greek community. Here are our top picks (in alphabetical order by organization).

North-American Interfraternity Conference & Fraternity Leadership Association

Chi Phi
“Truth, honesty and personal integrity”

Delta Sigma Phi
“Challenging each man to a greater good; better men, better lives”

Iota Phi Theta
“Building a tradition, not resting upon one”

Phi Delta Theta
“We enjoy life by the help and society of others; One man is no man”

Pi Lambda Phi
“Not four years, but a lifetime”

National Panhellenic Conference

Alpha Delta Pi
“We live for each other”

Delta Phi Epsilon
“To be rather than to seem to be”

Kappa Delta
“Let us strive for that which is honorable, beautiful and highest”

Phi Sigma Sigma
“Aim High”

Zeta Tau Alpha
“Seek the noblest”

Other Greek Letter Organizations

Alpha Psi Omega
“Seek a life useful”

Epsilon Sigma Phi
“What we want most to be, we are”

Omega Phi Gamma
“Bound by honor, rise above all”

Phi Delta Chi
“Each needs the help of the other”

Sigma Kappa Tau
“Individually unique, together complete”

See more fraternity and sorority mottos at wikipedia.org

This post was generously provided by ChapterBoard.

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