One of the most challenging things every college student must learn is time management. Between classes and study, extracurricular activities of all sorts and maybe even a job, never mind a social life, it’s easy for a new student to dismiss anything that might add to their workload, especially joining a fraternity or a sorority. But that would be a mistake. The benefits of the Greek life, the strong friendships and social life, academic support, career networking opportunities, assistance in times of hardship, and the chance to serve the community and fellow students in positions of leadership and service, to strengthen and develop character and discipline, are just too great to ignore. Yes, membership in a fraternity or sorority is demanding, but it’s worth it. And with some basic principles of time management, academic and Greek life can coincide easily and enhance each other positively.

Here are a few tips to handle the load:

• Learn to say “No”. Distractions from studies and responsibilities abound in college, and it’s tempting to skip classes or study times or other duties to party, take a road trip, or just slack off. As adults in charge of their own time, students have to learn how to “take care of business” first and party later, even when their friends are trying their best to convince them otherwise.
• Learn to deal with procrastination. It’s a fact that getting started is the hardest part of any venture, but once started it’s easy. Putting things off till the last minute results in stress and poor performance.
• Set priorities. It’s a good idea to get in the habit of sitting down at the beginning of each day with pen and paper and writing down in order of importance the things that need to be done. Such plans often don’t survive confrontation with reality, but it always helps to have a plan.
• Have a life. It might seem to contradict the first tip, but everyone needs some time to relax and have fun, for the sake of their mental health. Just plan it wisely.
• And speaking of health, a student shouldn’t neglect sufficient rest, exercise and nutrition. These are the key to high energy levels.

Greek life, studies and other activities can be handled efficiently and be mutually beneficial, it’s just a matter of priorities and self-discipline. That holds true for life after college too. And that is one of the most important lessons to be gleaned from Greek life and a college education.

This is a guest post contributed by Greek Streak, an online Greek apparel retailer providing fraternity and sorority clothing for the Greek community.

The post Greek Life and Class Time appeared first on The Campus Companion Chapter Life.

Boom. Win a free, professional Beer Pong table courtesy of BJ’s Beer Pong. It’s cool. It’s awesome. You’ll be the envy of every college partygoer.  Do it.

The post Win A Free Professional Beer Pong Table From BJ’s Beer Pong [Giveaway] appeared first on The Campus Companion Chapter Life.

 The Rules Are Simple:

*You still need to do these things through the Rafflecopter widget, even if you already like us on Facebook*

• Like The Campus Companion on Facebook
• Like Category 5 Boat Shoes on Facebook
• Share This Post

a Rafflecopter giveaway

From their website: Category 5 is a lifestyle. Finding its roots on the beaches of Cape Cod, Cat 5 is for those that love the laid-back nautical life and represent what they believe in. The company, founded on July 4, 2011, is the vision of 5 best friends. Unsettled by the abundance of overpriced products with subpar quality, The Cat 5 team sought a solution.

Boat shoes are for more than just sailors – at least that’s the case on college campuses. The boat shoe is a college staple because wearing them shows you care enough not to wear running shoes, but you’re not a try-hard either. Also, once you break ‘em in, they’re damn comfortable.

So chances are, if you’re a college student, you wouldn’t say no to a free pair of boat shoes. Yeah, didn’t think so.

Cat 5 boat shoes were born from necessity. The genesis of the idea came when CEO and current UMiami student Jason Shuman order a customized pair of boat shoes after retiring his old ones. He threw his fraternity’s letters on there, too, just to add a personalized touch.  The shoes were a big hit on campus, and Shuman realized he had stumbled onto a great idea. People loved the customized branding, and they wanted a pair for themselves. The rest, as they say, is history.

What Cat 5 is offering is something fresh. Not only are these affordable (for our lucky winner, they’ll be free), but they break in fast as hell. They’re sturdy, too. And the best part? They’re designed by students, so they know exactly what students are looking for in a pair of shoes.

Cat 5 spent two years designing these, and even put a pair in the field for six months before taking them to market, just to ensure they could stand up to the wear and tear of college life. No doubt about it, these will stay with you through thick and thin; parties, hookups, and whatever, or whoever, else you can think of doing in the them.

Because customization is at the nexus of the company, Category 5 prides itself on being a quality shoe made for the people. Don’t be stupid, sign up for your free pair today. If you win, you’ll be able to pick any color and size you want. No restrictions.

The post WIN a Pair of Category 5 Boat Shoes appeared first on The Campus Companion Chapter Life.

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.

One of the great benefits of being part of a sorority is the relationships you build with other members. Many sisters looking back on their collegiate days will recall the friends they met who are still a major part of their lives. Unlike finals, fraternity gifts, and ex-boyfriends, sorority sisters will be around long after college has come and gone. While there are, of course, exceptions to the rule, many times you’ll run into women who are still in contact with their best friend from college (who also turn out to be a sorority sister).

Building these lasting relationships is easier for some than others. A great way to facilitate such friendships in your chapter is with a big sis/“lil” (little) sis program. In addition to the following tips, I also encourage you to speak with your chapter adviser and/or your national adviser for more information and recommendations.

The Big Sis/Lil Sis Program
Every chapter has their unique version of a big sis/lil sis program. All differences aside, the goals of each program should be:

• Help new members adjust to sorority and campus life (remember most new members are younger students in unfamiliar surroundings)
• Provide new members with a role model who has positive behavior and a good attitude towards her sisters and the chapter
• Keep older active members involved with the new members process (this is an often overlooked bonus of the program, and can result in more active involvement during recruitment)

During your big sis selection, be sure to keep the second point (above) in mind. You want to make sure that new members are paired with an active member who is in good standing with the chapter, and who will encourage positive behavior in her lil sis. Many chapters have requirements that must be met before an active member can be selected as a big sis. My chapter, for example, required sisters to be financially current (dues paid on time), maintain a specific GPA, and be actively involved. Although these requirements may seem excessive, you’d be surprised at how much this can help motivate your active members.

Running a Successful Program

Once you’ve assigned your big and lil sises, don’t think that you can lay back and relax yet. A good big sis/lil sis program will not only correctly pair sisters together, but will nurture and foster their relationship. Some big and lil sises hit it off immediately, especially if they already knew each other or have spent a lot of time together. Other pairings may take more time to warm up to each other, and may rely on the sorority to help them do so. Here are a few ideas of what you can do once the big and lil sises are revealed:

• Chapter sponsored events, such as arts and crafts, movie night, bowling, and dinners, provide a good opportunity for face time between the big and lil sises (these events not only give your sisters a comfortable environment, but it also allows new members to meet other active members and vice versa)
• Friendly competitions between the big/lil pairs (such as sorority trivia, highest GPA, pictionary and charades) with an award for the two sisters at the end (dinner paid by the chapter, big/lil sorority letters, shopping gift cards)
• Sister study hours where big and lil sises can study together, or in a group with other sisters (again, a great way for new members to get to know other active members)

Just remember: whatever you choose to do, make it a big deal! New members can be shy and guarded at first, not wanting to make a fool out of themselves by being overly excited or emotional. As big sises, your active members should go all out to make the new members feel welcome, involved, and comfortable. Unfortunately, this may mean being super excited and bubbly during big sis/lil sis revealing (something your active members may not be interested in doing), but just remind them that it is for the benefit of the new members.

Final Thoughts

If your big sis/lil sis program seems different than previously described, there’s no need to worry. However, if you feel the goal of your program is different, it may be important to step back and look at the bigger picture. The point of a big sis/lil sis program is not to just pair party girls with party girls and bookworms with bookworms. While many relationships may start out based on a common interest, they should, inevitably, bring value to both sisters’ lives, as well as benefit to the chapter. If you feel your program is not accomplishing this, it may be time to reassess and make some changes.

By encouraging mutually beneficial relationships, you not only teach your sisters what good relationships should be, but you also give them friendships that will last long after college has finished.

This post was generously provided by ChapterBoard.

The post Big Sis/Lil Sis Program 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.

The key to getting alumni interested and involved in your chapter is to find them a niche and give them a reason to stay. Whether by giving alumni responsibilities and roles, or connecting alumni of the same graduating class, if you give your alumni a purpose for their involvement, they’re more likely to stick around. While there are many ways to reconnect with alumni, we suggest the following four easy steps to improving alumni relations and involvement.

1. Gather contact information

Work with your chapter adviser and even fraternity or sorority nationals to gather the contact information of all known alumni from your chapter. This will be a tedious job but the work will pay off in the end. Also, if you’re interested in broadening your alumni base, consider including alumni living in the area in addition to alumni of your chapter. This is a great way to meet alumni of other chapters and learn about how other chapters and Greek communities function.

2. Contact your alumni

We promise, they won’t bite! Email or call your alumni to get complete and accurate information for your records. Have various members of the chapter do this so people other than you know who the alumni are. And remember: be relentless! In all probability, the alumni you’re trying to contact have full time jobs, families and other social networks. It might take more than one phone call or email to get a response.

3. Plan an alumni event

This is the biggest step of the four step process, and while it is time-consuming, make sure you complete steps 1 and 2 before (trust us, you’ll be glad you did!). Planning a chapter-hosted event for your alumni can be as simple as meeting at a bar for drinks or as complex as a sit-down dinner. You can choose to host an alumni-only event, or an event with both active members and alumni (you might want to save this one for after your alumni meet each other and reconnect). The choice is yours. Just remember, getting alumni out takes time and many, many events. While your first event may not be extremely successful, plan another one and see who else ends up attending.

4. Keep your alumni involved

Once you’ve made contact with alumni and gotten them out to a few events, work to maintain (or even increase) their interest. Chapter newsletters are a great way to keep alumni involved (and keep up-to-date contact information), as are alumni-specific newsletters. Make sure the alumni know what’s going on in the chapter and what the chapter has accomplished, as well as what other alumni are doing.

One final note: we all realize that one of the more prevalent reasons for alumni involvement is fundraising and financial contributions. While you can’t avoid this issue with your alumni (and they probably don’t expect you to), remember to stress that the chapter’s desire for alumni involvement extends beyond writing checks. Being part of an alumni network or association not only serves to involve alumni in chapter business, but it also provides alumni with a social community and network of support. The chapter should encourage alumni to reconnect with each other as this will not only create a tighter and more proactive alumni base, but benefit your alumni on a personal level.

This post was generously provided by ChapterBoard.

The post 4 Easy Steps to Reconnect with Alumni appeared first on The Campus Companion Chapter Life.