Sanguine et Purpure

Drexel Sig Eps Shave Heads for Charity

2010-03-17T09:03:00.001-05:00

Sig Phi Ep funds cancer research
David Stephenson

Media Credit: Sarah Michelson

Juxhin Jupi, a pre-junior electrical engineering major, shaves his head for cancer along with other members of the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity March 11.

Members of the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity shaved their heads for cancer March 11. The event, which was held at the armory, was well attended and the proceeds were donated to the St. Baldrick's Foundation, one of the nation's largest supporters of child cancer research.

The annual event, which has been four years running, was started in 2007 when one of the members of the fraternity, Juan D'Angelo started the program to donate money to the children's charity.

The event this year was much larger then prior years and had a carnival theme. Different events and booths were set up on the floor of the armory, several of which would have been found at a carnival. A short line of students were lined up for a strong man competitions and a candy-striped cotton candy stall provided attendees with a sweet and sticky enjoyment.

The big draw of the night was two barber chairs set up near the entrance where a long line of fraternity brothers and their friends and family were lined up to shave their heads to raise money. Before the event, brothers had solicited donations for their haircuts.

Much like a "Relay for Life" race, each haircut raised a group of donations from onlookers and supporters.

"We raised $15,000 the first year," Mark Brandon, a sophomore mechanical engineering major and member of the fraternity, said. "The next year we raised $24,000. In 2009 we raised $28,000. This year we've set ourselves a goal of $30,000."

Before the night of the event, the fraternity had raised $18,000 in donations, and was expected to meet their goal by the end of the night.

Over 78 frat brothers shaved their heads at the event and a total of one hundred people had pledged to shave their heads in solidarity with the program. The other people who had their heads shaved were other students who felt that the cause needed attention.

Money was also being raised from a raffle for a copy of an "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia" signed by the cast members of the show that had been donated to the event.

Five bands were also scheduled to play at the event including the Philadelphia based Taylor Carson, Mercy Blue, and Absolute Zero among others.

RI Beta(SEC) member is New URI Student Senate President

2010-03-15T10:36:00.002-05:00

Another submission from a reader:

To the unofficial SigEp Blog,

I just wanted to inform you that one of our own brothers for RI Beta SEC, David Coates, has been recently elected as Student Senate President of the University of Rhode Island.

Our Student Senate is one of the most powerful college senates in the country so we are very proud of his accomplishment. If you want to read more about him, the link is [here]. Thanks in advance.

Matt "Pesky" Pescatore

SigEp Represents - St. Louis Leadership Conference

2010-03-15T10:28:00.000-05:00

David Stetter sent this information to us:
I would like to submit a short little posting for the SigEp Blog. It is a little outdated but it took me forever to get a picture to send with the posting. Thanks

David Stetter

Last month, over 50 SigEps attended the Association of Fraternal Leadership and Value’s annual Central Region Conference in St. Louis, Missouri. The conference, held in conjunction with the National Black Greek Leadership Conference, exists to stimulate the growth and development of fraternity/sorority council and chapter leaders by promoting leadership, educational, and values-based experiences and providing resources for student leaders.

Sigma Phi Epsilon had the largest affiliation of fraternity men present, comprising of student attendees, conference faculty, and conference interns, showing proof once again that SigEps are the values-based leaders in higher education and on campuses across the nation.

Indiana ATO's Eliminate 100 in Hazing Investigation

2010-03-13T21:20:00.001-06:00

Fraternity Hazing Still Problematic At IU
Alcohol, Other Violations Among Allegations

Rick Hightower - WRTV 6 News Reporter/Anchor

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- The decimation of Alpha Tau Omega on the Indiana University campus is the latest of several fraternity troubles at the university.

More than 100 of the chapter's 126 members were suspended by the fraternity's national organization, leaving only 20 remaining members, 6News' Rick Hightower reported.

A member who is still in the fraternity said he felt the chapter had been dealt with unfairly, but that "it happens."

ATO is the latest IU fraternity to come under fire in investigations of hazing and alcohol violations.

Alpha Epsilon Pi was recently suspended for two years because of hazing, which involved sleep deprivation, the incitement of fear, requiring behavior that could cause harm and leaving pledges in remote areas, forcing them to walk back to campus.

Members of that fraternity are barred from participating in campus events under their organization's name, including the upcoming Little 500.

Members of Phi Sigma Kappa have moved into Alpha Epsilon Pi's former house.

"We moved into this house when AE Pi lost their charter. Now, we're in here currently until we can get a spot after that," said Taylor Weis, a Phi Sigma Kappa member. "We were kicked off campus many years ago (after membership declined). Now we're just trying to get a permanent house back again."

Phi Sigma Kappa said members don't partake in hazing.

"We're more about getting the new guys involved with brotherhood and trying to incorporate them and anything we can do to get them involved," said member Riley Mcelwain.

Students said they aren't surprised hazing still happens, and some admitted they've seen its effects.

"I know a couple of guys who are pledges, and they missed class because they were so sleep-deprived," said Emily Rawls, a sorority member. "I think it really starts to affect their academics."

ATO national CEO Wynn Smiley said suspended IU members considered the fraternity "party central."

How Well Are You Prepared for a Fire?

2010-03-13T09:06:00.001-06:00

Surprise fire alarms used to test evacuation methods at University of Michigan fraternities, sororities

By Tom Perkins, Freelance writer for AnnArbor.com

At the sound of the fire alarm, the fraternity house cleared out within 40 seconds.

Half its occupants fled to the rear of the large home, and a small group gathered out front as an Ann Arbor Fire Department truck rolled up, lights flashing and sirens blaring.

Their evacuation method was exactly what Jim Rampton, community disaster education coordinator for the Red Cross, cautioned the residents against doing in the event of a real fire.

In this case, it was a surprise fire simulation being used to test the fire safety preparedness of some of the University of Michigan fraternity and sorority houses in the city.

The new initiative is a collaboration between the Washtenaw County Red Cross chapter, Ann Arbor Fire Department and U-M’s Greek Life organization. The purpose is to educate fraternity and sorority houses on the necessity for fire evacuation procedures and protocol.

Rampton used it as a lesson to inform the Phi Delta Theta members of the correct way to evacuate a burning house.

“If you take one thing away from this, it’s have a designated gathering spot out front where you all can account for one another,” Rampton told the roughly 26 residents.

Rampton explained fraternities and sororities are particularly at risk because so many students live in a small area. At Phi Delta Theta, 26 students live in 12 rooms, and Rampton added many of them are living on their own for the first time.

Rampton also pointed out the University of Michigan has the oldest and one of the largest Greek networks, and many of the houses are more than 100 years old. That means they’re

“Some of these houses are very flammable,” he said. “What would normally take a couple minutes to burn would take a couple seconds instead.”

Rampton said Greek houses differs from dorms, which are typically better regulated by the university. He called the simulations an effective tool for preventing a tragedy.

“It’s an opportunity for some outreach, especially with a group of students that are high risk,” he said. “It’s a really good chance and way to get them thinking some of these things.”

The Washtenaw County Red Cross chapter and city Fire Department are arranging simulations throughout the Greek community with only the house president aware, leaving the others to suspect it's a true emergency. To add to the authenticity, an AAFD truck rolls up, along with a Red Cross emergency vehicle.

Once the firefighters are out of the truck, and the residents are informed about what’s taking place, they all meet inside to discuss what happened and how to improve evacuations.

Rampton said he hasn’t been particularly encouraged with the reactions thus far, but is optimistic the initiative will improve the situation.

“Unfortunately, from what I’ve seen so far and from the responses that I’ve gotten, only one house actually has a plan,” he said. “Some are so limited in their knowledge that they have no idea of what to do, which is why this is helpful - they’re getting a taste of what they should expect in real life situation.”

In the case of Phi Delta Theta, at the corner of Washtenaw and South University avenues, the students' reaction to the fire alarm was both positive and negative.

While the fire alarm and fire extinguishers had been inspected by the fire marshal three months earlier, not everyone had been properly trained on how to use them.

More importantly, the house didn't have an evacuation plan or system for accounting for its occupants.

“We hadn’t really thought about it before, but that’s one of the things we can do now,” house president Tom Hardenbergh said, holding up a packet containing Red Cross suggestions on improving evacuation procedures and statistics on fires in university homes.

Hardenbergh added he was pleased with how quickly everyone reacted and gathered in groups, but believes it can be accomplished in a more orderly fashion.

“We know everyone has a sense of what to do, but we were not as organized as we need to be,” he said, adding that developing a plan will be placed at the top of the priority list.

Ann Arbor Fire Captain Jim Budd also made several recommendations. He pointed out the fire doors meant to prevent flames from spreading from room-to-room were propped open.

He also said if an emergency occurs, house officials should clear the building immediately and have a sober representative work with fire officials, which he said has presented problems on previous calls to fraternities and sororities.

“What I ask from you gentleman is that you treat firefighters with respect,” he said.

In 2008, a fire at a fraternity house near campus gutted the historic home - but it was during the summer, so few people were living there at the time. No one was injured.

“That was what spurred on this idea - looking at those pictures of that house,” Rampton said.

FEMA statistics show there were 3,800 university housing fires between 2005 and 2007. Of confined fires, roughly 80 percent are cooking related. Intentionally set fires, open flames and unintentional fires comprise the bulk of uncontained fires.

http://www.annarbor.com/news/u-of-m-greek-homes-tested-in-fire-emergency-simulation

Ultimate Wedding? Why not?

2010-03-10T23:03:00.000-06:00

Ryan Blank has been on staff at HQ for several years. He and Amanda Coate are planning to wed and have entered the Crate and Barrel "Ultimate Wedding" contest. You can read all of their story and vote for them at the site.

Our love story.

Ryan's coworkers told him, "I met your perfect girl", and, two weeks later, we met over a business meeting. As the meeting ended we parted ways thinking we would never see each other again. As we walked away he texted a friend, "I met the future Mrs. Ryan Blanck" and I turned to my coworker and said, "I wish I was with a guy like that."

SU Sig Ep Has Supportive Idea

2010-03-08T13:11:00.004-06:00

Syracuse University student's business featured in Inc. magazine

By Charley Hannagan / The Post-Standard

SU economics junior Ryan Dickerson of Beaufort, S. Carolina, is shown with The Rylaxer, a lumbar support bolster that turns a college dorm bed into a sofa. The bolster he is shown leaning against is Half Back. The one at right against the wall is called Full Back. Michelle Gabel/The Post-Standard
Syracuse, NY--Ryan Dickerson’s business started with a backache.
Now Dickerson and his creation, a 6-foot long pillow that turns the average twin bed found in any dorm room into a couch, are in the pages of Inc. magazine in a feature story about companies started by college students.

Dickerson, 20, is a junior majoring in economics at Syracuse University. His company, Rylaxing Inc. makes and sells a firm pillow that turns the average college dorm bed into a couch.
College dorm rooms are notoriously cramped and cluttered. In his freshman year at SU, Dickerson bought body pillows and pillows with arms, fluffing and rearranging them behind his back, to make sitting on his bed more comfortable.

“Ultimately I ended up with lower back problems because I wasn’t getting adequate lumbar support,” said Dickerson.

The summer between his freshman and sophomore years in college, Dickerson worked with his mother, Erica Dickerson an interior designer in Beaufort, SC, using a computer design program to find ways to make the dorm room more habitable.

He designed a bolster that fits lengthwise on a twin bed. The bolster is made of firm foam, has lumbar support, and is wide enough so that a person can sit as comfortably on a bed as they do on a couch. The product named Rylaxer also stands up for easy storage when the person wants to use the bed for sleeping.

The fall of his sophomore year Dickerson took the pillow to his room at Sigma Phi Epsilon.

Visitors mistook the Rylaxers for couches.

“I never meant it to be an actual business. I designed the first one to serve my own needs,” he said. “When I found out there were other people interested in the concept, I took it to the business school.”

When he showed up at Falcone Center for Entrepreneurship at the Martin J. Whitman School of Management at the beginning of this school year, Executive Director Tom Kruczek said he was impressed with Dickerson right away.

A lot of students want to talk about ideas; Dickerson was different, he said. Dickerson already had a product and a business plan.

“Every time I asked him a question about something he had the answer,” Kruczek said. “He’d been thinking about this for a long time.”

The center offered Dickerson a spot in The Couri Hatchery, a business incubator that provides students with office space and hooks them up with local resources to bring their business ideas to reality.

Dickerson got legal advice from SU’s law clinic. The Newhouse School’s student advertising agency drew up a marketing plan, created advertising and is shooting Youtube commercials. Students in industrial design helped with the prototype.

The Hatchery found a Camden company that upholsters for the university to make the prototypes.

Before Christmas break Inc. magazine called Kruczek looking for students to feature in a story about college start up businesses. Kruczek suggested the magazine feature Dickerson.

An Inc. reporter interviewed Dickerson several times over the phone. Three weeks ago a magazine photographer shot pictures of him lounging on the Rylaxer in one of the fraternity’s rooms.

Monday, the story featuring several college students and their business ideas appeared online and in the magazine. Readers are asked to vote for their favorite student business at http://www.inc.com/college/2010/index.html

Dickerson has received three orders for his pillows since the article came out. Over all he’s sold about a dozen in the last couple of months.

A 6 foot-long Rylaxer sells for $150 to $185. The 3-foot version that fits at the head of a bed sells for $75 to $110. Prices vary by fabric choice.

Although the product looks good, feels good on the back and stores easily, it has a drawback. “You do have to make your bed every day,” to use it, Dickerson said with a laugh.

For now the Camden company is filling Rylaxing’s initial orders. Dickerson is looking for larger foam or furniture manufacturers to expand capacity as orders increase.

“I’m having a really hard time being taken seriously because we’re not bringing in $50,000 to $100,000 in an order, which we would love to be able to do, but currently it’s not possible. Without money there, they’re not willing to talk to you,” he said.

The Camden company has asked Dickerson not to identify them.

His parents loaned him the $4,000 to start the company, and he hasn’t made a profit, yet. That’s not the point, Dickerson said.

“I’ve been having a lot of fun doing this. It’s not about the money any more,” Dickerson said. “It’s something I figured out I wanted to do.”

“It all started because I wanted to make myself a little more comfortable,” he said.

Sig Eps and KKG Raise Charity $$$ in San Diego

2010-03-07T08:58:00.001-06:00

Hootenany raises $3,500 in funds for Haiti relief and UNICEF

By Lindsay Price, Staff Writer

ERIN SCHNEIDER/THE VISTA

Carnival games, square-dancing and donations for Haiti flooded the UC on Friday night. Sigma Phi Epsilon and Kappa Kappa Gamma collaborated to create a country-western themed fundraiser called the “Cowtown Throwdown” to raise money for UNICEF. Students dressed as hillbillies, cowgirls, cowboys and even farm animals attended the fundraiser with overwhelming enthusiasm.
“It was refreshing to see the student body come together to support such a good cause,” sophomore Rachel Lee said. More than 450 students attended to play games, dance and show their support for Haiti.
A wide variety of organizations collaborated to raise money for the fundraiser. The booths occupied by each organization were either informational or had a western-style county fair game such as “Lasso a Kappa,” “Milk Pong,” or even, “Pin the tie on the Alcala Club member.” The venue not only provided county fair games and prizes, but also had an entirely separate dance floor. Two Sigma Phi Epsilon brothers tag-teamed the spin tables with the musical stylings of DJ Nick Metrie and Fergie Ferg.
Mid-way through the dancing festivities, Ruffles and Bows, a professional group of square dancers, led a step-by-step lesson on how to do traditional square dancing. The square dancing group expressed their excitement to teach an old-school dance to a younger generation.
Sophomore Mark Toyama, creator of Cowtown Throwdown, said, “I really feel like USD as a whole stepped it up for this event to show the children in Haiti that we care.” The massive 7.0 earthquake that struck Haiti on Jan. 12 affected over 3 million people, leaving the impoverished country in desperate need of help. With nearly half of Haiti’s population under 18 years of age, the majority of the youth have been left injured, homeless and orphaned.
Lee expresses that, “supporting Haiti hits close to home when reaching out to people that are in the same age group as us.” With the cost of admission alone, the event raised over $2,500. Also, a donation box at the door was stuffed with bills adding up to $415. Toyama estimates that the Cowtown Throwdown raised a total of roughly $3,500.
In response to the enthusiasm and attendance of the Cowtown Throwdown, Toyama was overwhelmed by the support that USD collectively contributed. “Though I did put a lot of my time and effort into this event, I can’t take credit for its success. That is why I believe this event was USD’s, or better yet, Haiti’s.” When asked if the Cowtown Throwdown will become an annual event, Toyama said, “Given the amazing response from the student body and the experience of putting this on, I think the second annual Cowtown Throwdown has a nice ring to it.”

Rider Sig Eps Win with Fantasy Academics

2010-03-07T08:53:00.002-06:00

Sigma Phi Epsilon honored with academic award

By Emily Landgra

From left, sophomore Brian Williams, juniors Mike Savard and Christian Kuumar, and sophomore Robert Mannanice receive the Amy Vojta Impact Award for Academic Achievement.

The Rider chapter of Sigma Phi Epsilon (SPE) thought about academics in a new way, and was awarded regionally for its efforts.

The fraternity won the Amy Vojta Impact Award for Academic Achievement at the National Greek Leadership Association (NGLA) conference at the Connecticut Convention Center in Hartford, Conn. The conference took place from Feb. 18-21.

According to sophomore Brian Williams, SPE devised a program to help brothers better their GPAs.

“We created this program called Fantasy Academics,” he said. “The brothers with the highest GPAs would draft brothers with lower GPAs to be on their team. The guys with the higher GPAs would have team meetings and the brothers would help each other get better GPAs.”

Junior Mike Savard said that despite grouping members together, brothers were willing to step outside of those teams.

“The teams aren’t exclusive either,” he said. “You can always find brothers from different teams working together. I have seen brothers working harder on their studies, but most importantly, I’ve seen people working together more instead of studying separately.”

Williams was impressed with the improvements that he has seen in his brothers.

“There has been a change,” Williams said. “I know one brother had, like, a 2.6 average and jumped to, like, a 3.1, I think. It was amazing.”

The NGLA consists of members from fraternities and sororities throughout the Northeast region, which extends from Maine to Michigan and south to Virginia. According to Director of Greek Life Ada Badgley, SPE’s win is impressive.

“To have one of our fraternities submit a program and win an award is kind of a big deal,” she said. “It makes us very proud.”

Badgley said that when SPE came to her with its idea, she was intrigued.

“They came to me last year with the idea of the program they wanted to do,” she said. “It’s an exciting, new way to look at how to create an academic culture in a fraternity.”

Williams was proud that the fraternity won the prestigious award.

“We were so excited; we couldn’t believe it,” he said. “That fact that we were able to represent SigEp and Rider, it was awesome.”

Coordinator of Greek Life Ashley Ganoe was present at the award ceremony and was thrilled when SPE won.

“I felt like a proud mom,” she said. “We felt really excited for them.”

Coordinator of Greek Life Meredith Bielaska was also present and was excited about the win.

“As a community, we haven’t applied for an NGLA award in three or four years, so to have them win was really special,” she said.

Bielaska also believes that the program was an innovative way to get students involved in academics.

“I definitely think it was creative,” she said. “This program drew people in and made them want to be excited about doing better in school.”

Ganoe believes that this will encourage chapters here and at the schools present at the ceremony to start applying for the awards.

“They could be recognized, not only in their community, but in the region for the things that they do,” she said.

Badgley was impressed with the fraternity’s efforts, and not simply because individual brothers have done butter.

“It’s exciting to see real improvement in individuals,” she said. “But more than that, when a fraternity puts an emphasis on academics, that is something important to our culture.”

Badgley is hoping that SPE will continue to succeed with Fantasy Academics, and that its success will encourage the other Greek organizations on campus to “find their niche.”

“If each group could pick a topic and make it their focus, there would be some really interesting things going on on the campus,” she said. “I hope that SigEp inspires them to think about how they want to be seen and how they want to be awarded.”

Dr. Seuss Celebrated All Across USA

2010-03-03T16:55:00.000-06:00

Seuss’ fraternity at Georgia reads to students

by KATI BRASWELL

Green eggs and ham were on the breakfast menu for one fraternity Tuesday morning.

Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity brothers read books by Dr. Seuss — a member of the fraternity — to students at Barrow Elementary School. Photo by Jon-Michael Sullivan.

Members of Sigma Phi Epsilon, a social fraternity at the University, share a common brotherhood with the award-winning children’s author Dr. Seuss. On Tuesday, the chapter spent time reading Dr. Seuss’ books to elementary school students to honor the author’s birthday.

“We wanted to start giving back to the community,” said Matt Matuszewski, the fraternity’s philanthropy chairman.

For the first time in the fraternity’s history, 24 brothers went into 14 classrooms at Barrow Elementary to follow Dr. Seuss’ humanitarian footsteps.

The fraternity aspires to become more centered on serving the Athens community, Matuszewski said. The University’s chapter already raises money for the Children’s Miracle Network, but the group is now adding this annual service project to serve on a more local level. The fraternity hopes to one day expand the event to raise money for the local schools’ book funds.

“We love having University students here,” said Tad MacMillan, Barrow Elementary principal. “It is a great opportunity for us to learn together. They bring great energy and the latest ideas.”

The idea came to the fraternity’s philanthropy board after the group was influenced by another chapter’s involvement in its local elementary schools.

The group saw March 2 — which marks the National Read for America Day organized by the National Education Association in honor of Dr. Seuss — as a perfect opportunity to get involved with literacy.

And Dr. Seuss has set the bar high for his fraternity brothers.

Through his concern for illiteracy, the author was inspired to write “The Cat in the Hat,” using 236 words that first graders should recognize.

Caleb Penn, a member of the fraternity, expressed a sense of connection with the children’s author.

“The best thing about being brothers with Dr. Seuss is learning how much he impacted several generations of children,” he said.

Electrical Fire at ZBT at U Penn

2010-02-22T20:20:00.001-06:00

Nobody hurt in electrical fire at ZBT

by Victor Gamez, Jared McDonald and Samantha Sharf

Smoke was seen coming from the Zeta Beta Tau fraternity house at 39th and Spruce streets Wednesday morning.

Several fire trucks and various security personnel surrounded the house. At about 11 a.m., the smoke appeared to have stopped.

Penn Police Chief Mark Dorsey said the cause of the fire is still under investigation. However, he said, it appears to have been an electrical fire started in an electrical room. There were no injuries and the building is now being ventilated.

Chief of Fire and Emergency Services Eugene Janda said the fire appears to have started in a first floor electrical room.

A representative from the Philadelphia Fire Commissioner's Office said it could be 24 hours before the investigation is complete and the cause of the fire is released.

There were 16 brothers and two cooks in the house when the fire began. Everyone inside evacuated to the lobby of Harrison College House after ZBT's fire alarm sounded, Janda said.

According to Janda, a member of the Facilities and Real Estate Services staff was passing the house when the fire started. He entered and tried to put out the fire with the help of one of the cooks, but was unsuccessful and had to evacuate the house.

College sophomore and ZBT brother Jon Schwartz said he believe the fire was contained to one room but smoke filled the house quickly.

Wharton junior and outgoing ZBT president Joe Schinco said everyone in the house exited safely.

“There was a small electrical fire in the basement. Everyone is fine, everyone got out and there were no injuries,” Larry Moses, program coordinator with the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs, said. He added that OFSA hopes to get the ZBT brothers back in their house today or tomorrow.

Moses added that Director of Facilities Tom Hauber made arrangements for Houston Market and Einstein Bagels to provide meals to the brothers.

Assignments editor Dana Vogel contributed reporting to this article.

http://thedp.com/article/nobody-hurt-electrical-fire-zbt

TCU Kappa Sig Branded with DDD Symbols

2010-02-22T20:16:00.003-06:00

University student has his buttocks branded

By Cynthia Trowbridge

Amon Carter IV, a sophomore at Texas Christian University, agreed to have his buttocks branded with his fraternity Kappa Sigma symbols. But he ended up with more than just their symbols.

Breckenridge, United States - On spring break more than a year ago Amon "Chance" Carter IV had consented to have the symbols from his fraternity branded on his buttocks. The branding was not completed so while on a ski trip in January the 20-year-old while drunk agreed to have his fraternity brothers finish the job by using a hot coat hanger.

The students along with members of Tri Delta Sorority in Breckenridge, Colorado had rented a house for the trip. While Carter was passed out they continued to brand the other butt cheek with the large triangles of the Tri Delta Sorority.

Carter said it was a dumb, drunken decision.

Carter said it was taken too far but he takes full responsibility for his actions both the underage drinking and making the dumb decision.

Carter said, "I woke up the next morning and I was in a lot of pain. My whole other butt cheek was destroyed."

Carter is the great-grandson of Amon G. Carter Sr., a Fort Worth civic leader and founder of the Star-Telegram.

Carter said he doesn't remember anything about the second branding.

Amon Carter III hired attorney Kathryn Craven to investigate the incident. She found that it was likely one student was the main perpetrator but up to 18 people were present while the branding took place.

During the branding Carter incurred second- and third-degree burns on his buttocks which will need at least six plastic surgeries to repair the damage.

After an investigation by the Breckenridge Police Department they released this statement, “All the evidence suggests that Amon Carter IV was a willing participant and the branding was not part of any fraternity initiation, as he is already a full member." With that they concluded no crime had been committed.

Carter said, "People are saying, 'Chance needs to be held accountable. Like I haven’t been punished enough.

"This may be the hardest lesson I’ll ever learn in my life."

http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/287944 (Note: link contains graphic video)

WOW! Penn State Dance Marathon Tops ALL!

2010-02-22T16:53:00.001-06:00

PENN STATE DANCE MARATHON 2010 LOVE BELONGS HERE
Thon raises record $7.8 million

By Ed Mahon

Despite a national recession that has hampered giving to many charities, Penn State IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon raised $7,838,054.36 to help families fighting pediatric cancer.

“I’m a little in shock about the number. ... I couldn’t believe we did it,” overall chairwoman Caitlin Zankowski, a 22-year-old industrial engineering major from Pittsburgh, said in a news conference afterward.

Zankowski choked up as she revealed the total at 4:15 p.m. Sunday in front of a cheering crowd of about 16,000 inside the Bryce Jordan Center. In response, the crowd chanted “FTK” - short for “For the Kids.”

The announcement capped off the 46-hour no-sitting, no-sleeping dance marathon and a year of fundraising.

“You rose above it all. It’s just fantastic,” Charles Millard told Zankowski during the news conference.

In 1972, Charles and Irma Millard founded The Four Diamonds Fund in memory of their son, Christopher, who died of cancer at the age of 14. Since Thon organizers partnered with the fund in 1977, they’ve raised about $69 million to support pediatric cancer research and have covered expenses for about 2,000 families with children being treated at Penn State Hershey Children’s Hospital.

Zankowski credited hard work from volunteers, committee members and students organizations for the increase over last year’s $7.49 million total.

“No matter what the state of the economy is ... students love this and families need us,” she said.

Thon continued to grow in ways aside from its bottom line. More than 100,000 people watched the Thon webcast during the weekend compared with 10,000 last year. At one point early Sunday afternoon, Thon was the third most common phrase appearing in Twitter messages worldwide.

The size of the crowds caused organizers to close all but one gate of the Bryce Jordan Center at 11 a.m., earlier than they did last year. From that point on, audience members could enter only as others left.

The most emotional part of Sunday for many volunteers was the Family Hour, which started about 1 p.m. Dancers, volunteers and crowd members watched videos, focusing on Four Diamonds Fund children who had survived, and also those who had died. About 240 families took the stage, and four of them addressed the crowd.

Tammy Ziegler told how her 14-year-old daughter, Miranda, was “a healthy, strong, three-sport athlete, ready to begin her first of year high school” when she was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in the summer of 2008.

“She cried, we cried, as she shaved the last of her hair off of her head. She said that she made bald look good,” said the mother.

“The steroids bloated her face and her belly, and you can imagine how a teenage girl would feel about that. But once again, she took it like a champ.”

Miranda’s repeated refrain during treatment: “It is what it is, let’s just do what we’ve got to do.”

But she became sicker - and died on Jan. 30, 2009, 167 days after her treatment began. While Penn State students were never able to meet Miranda in person - she was too sick for visitors - Tammy Ziegler said their support was essential.

“Her fraternity and sorority had adopted her, and her pen pal never left her side. And they’ve never left ours to this very day,” she said. “They brought smiles to her face when she was sick and they brought smiles to ours while we’ve been sad.”

At the end of Family Hour, students, volunteers and parents locked arms as the song “Angels Among Us” played. Amanda Maples hugged Mike McCauley, whose son, Lachlan, has been in remission for more than two years.

“It just touches your heart,” the 20-year-old Maples said of Family Hour, adding that it’s an “emotional ride.”

Dancer Katy Poole said she felt re-energized in the last few hours.

During the last 15 minutes, she joined a circle of friends as Israel Kamakawiwo’ole’s version of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow/ What a Wonderful World” played. She mimed all the motions to the last line dance. And just before the final 10-second countdown began, Poole locked hands with a friend and ran around in circles with excitement.

“There were definitely parts, like in the really early mornings - where the stands were kind of empty - it starts to get a little bit mentally draining. Your feet are kind of starting to ache,” said Poole, a 20-year-old kinesiology major from State College. “But as the kids come in, the stands start to fill up, (and) especially after your totals are released, I feel like I could stay awake for another 46 hours.” http://www.centredaily.com/2010/02/22/1807476/thon-raises-record78-million.html

MI Kappa at GVSU Rocks Against Rape

2010-02-22T10:45:00.000-06:00

ALLENDALE - Students at Grand Valley State University held a special event Saturday night. Rock Against Rape is in its 6th year, and as the name shows, it's far from the typical lecture raising awareness about sexual assault.

Instead, hundreds of students show up and enjoy bands and free food, all while learning more about stopping sexual assault. Organizers say the relaxed atmosphere helps bring up a topic that can be tough to talk about. The event is sponsored by Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternit and the group Eyes Wide Open, a resource for survivors.

According to the Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network 1 in 6 women and 1 in 33 men will be sexually assaulted at some point in their lives and college-aged women are four times more likely to be assaulted.

GVSU Rocks Against Rape - FOX 17

Alcohol- fueled Hazing Law Goes Forward in Utah

2010-02-20T11:30:00.001-06:00

Utah House panel OKs bill to stiffen penalties for alcohol-fueled hazing
Legislature falls short of family's goals

By Brian Maffly, The Salt Lake Tribune

A pair of bills filed in response to the binge-drinking death of a Utah State University freshman moved forward Wednesday in the Utah House.

But the family of Michael Starks, the fraternity pledge who died in the 2008 incident prosecuted as a hazing, feels the measures do not go far enough in protecting college students from booze-fueled initiation events.

HB138, which would elevate the crime of hazing when it involves the consumption of drugs or alcohol from a class B to a class A misdemeanor, punishable by up to a year in jail, cleared the House Judiciary Committee.

HB277, which seeks to protect under-age drinkers who call 911, generated less controversy and was passed unanimously Wednesday by the House.

Carol Spackman Moss, D-Salt Lake City, sponsor of HB138, told the committee her bill is "a chance for Utah to lead on this issue. Cases like [the Starks death] will end with more education, legal remedies and fear of serious consequences."

George Starks Sr., Michael's father, told lawmakers that fraternity pledges have been dying since 1885, when a blind-folded Cornell University student stumbled off a cliff. Hazing deaths today often involve reckless drinking, he said.

At least three other fraternity pledges died in the U.S. during the same fall Michael, an 18-year-old USU freshman from Salt Lake City, pledged the Sigma Nu fraternity. Near the end of rush, his would-be brothers selected him for a ritual involving the women next door. Teen-age members of the Chi Omega sorority "captured" Starks, taking him to an off-campus residence where they stripped him, painted his skin Aggie blue and furnished a bottle of vodka.

Starks drank most of the bottle, which some of the women held to his lips. He then succumbed to alcohol poisoning several hours later at the frat house.

Twelve participants were charged with hazing, but none were convicted of the offense. Cache County prosecutors dismissed charges against seven Greek members. Four others pleaded guilty to related offenses and a fifth entered a guilty "plea in abeyance" to hazing, dismissed after she completed probation.

Moss originally intended her bill to bar courts from accepting pleas in abeyance in hazing cases where a death was involved. But the Statewide Association of Prosecutors opposed the provision on the grounds it would limit the flexibility of prosecutors and judges, said the group's executive director, Paul Boyden.

Such pleas deals are useful tools, particularly in hazing cases where there are many participants with varying degrees of culpability, he said.

"When you take that away, you compromise the capacity of our system to do justice," added Rep. Kay McIff, R-Richield, a retired Sixth District Judge. "It places the prosecutors in the position of charging a more serious offense or doing nothing."

McIff's amendment to HB138, which the committee passed on a 7-4 vote, stripped the plea in abeyance ban over Starks' objections, who dismissed McIff's and Boyden's concerns as a "red herring."

HB277, sponsored by Christine Johnson, D-Salt Lake City, offers the possibility of leniency for underage drinkers who "do the right thing" when a companion imbibes too much.

On the morning Michael Starks died, Sigma Nu members were concerned about the drunken freshman's condition but no one called for emergency responders until he was already dead hours later, Johnson told the Judiciary Committee last week.

The Starks family wanted full amnesty for participants in illegal drinking who call 911. But Johnson's bill merely requires the court to take the "good deed" into consideration as a mitigating factor when sentencing someone convicted of underage drinking, a class B misdemeanor.

The leniency would apply only if no other crimes were involved and the person calling for help did not exploit the afflicted person or coerce him or her to drink, Johnson stressed.

Unlike Moss' measure, HB277 enjoys the support of prosecutors and passed the House unanimously.

The law would tell young drinkers "they still have an obligation to perform a responsible act in the midst of irresponsible conduct," Scott Reed, of the Utah Attorney General's Office, told the committee.

http://www.sltrib.com/news/ci_14419390

Cal Poly Goes to Deferred Recruitment

2010-02-18T16:43:00.000-06:00

Cal Poly changes its fraternity rush policy after Carson Starkey's death

Nick Wilson

Starting in the fall, new students must wait at least until their second quarter to rush Cal Poly fraternities, according to a new plan agreed upon by university officials and the Interfraternity Council.

Cal Poly officials announced the move this week, which will keep freshmen and transfer students from pledging fraternities in their first quarter to allow them to adjust to their new academic and social environment.

The decision came as part of Cal Poly’s widespread efforts to avoid party situations like the one that led to the Dec. 2, 2008, death of freshman Carson Starkey. He died of alcohol poisoning after an alleged alcohol-related hazing.

Starkey, of Austin, Texas, was pledging the fraternity Sigma Alpha Epsilon. He was in his first quarter when he died.

New Cal Poly students will be allowed to rush, the process of formally joining a Greek organization, starting in their second quarter at the university, or subsequent quarters.

“I think it’s a good idea,” said Andrew Farrell, Cal Poly’s IFC president. “It will help students to establish themselves in an academic sense before they start participating in clubs or social life.”

The new rule applies only to Cal Poly’s 17 fraternities, which university officials claim are the source of more behavioral problems than sororities. No such rule is in place now.

Nationwide, universities have seen more problems occur with fraternities during the initiation process than sororities, said Stephan Lamb, Cal Poly’s associate director of Student Life and Leadership.

Lamb said that sorority leaders at Cal Poly have discussed with university officials the idea of deferring rush as well, but Lamb noted sororities tend to have much more formal, structured approaches to rush that reduces problems.

Lamb said that the Interfraternity Council and the university collaborated closely on the latest move, adding that “the fraternity members took those conversations to heart.”

“The fraternity members want to be viewed positively,” Lamb said.

In addition to deferring rush, the university has conducted five retreats with Greek leaders since Starkey’s death to discuss safe and responsible behavior.

Lamb said officers of Greek organizations now also must sign agreements that they may be held personally responsible by Cal Poly if a member of the group violates a state law, as alleged in the Starkey case.

Four Cal Poly students now are facing criminal charges, including hazing and furnishing alcohol to a minor, in connection with Starkey’s death.

The lawyers for Zacary Ellis and Haithem Ibrahim, who were charged with a felony in Starkey’s death, are planning to file an appeal to the California Supreme Court today, claiming Judge Michael Duffy ruled incorrectly by allowing charges to be upheld at a preliminary hearing. Their appeal recently was denied by the California 2nd District Court.

The lawyers allege that their clients weren’t responsible for Starkey’s actions and that the 18-year-old made the choice to consume the alcohol that led to his death that night.

Prosecutor Craig Van Rooyen has argued that SAE members carefully planned a night of drinking that was a “hazing ritual” and that Starkey was conditioned to obey the older fraternity members.

Sigma Alpha Epsilon members Adam Marszal and Russell Taylor are facing misdemeanor charges in the alleged hazing and have a trial-setting conference scheduled for March 15, according to the District Attorney’s Office.

http://www.sanluisobispo.com/news/local/story/1033606.html

USCD Party Exhibits Frat Boy Image Big Time

2010-02-18T14:24:00.001-06:00

UCSD probing off-campus party
Event held to mock Black History Month

By Eleanor Yang Su, Union-Tribune Staff

LA JOLLA - University of California San Diego officials have begun an investigation into the off-campus party held Monday that mocked Black History Month, and hope to decide within the next few weeks whether students involved with the event will be disciplined.

The party sparked outrage on a campus that has struggled for years to recruit black students, and the president of the fraternity whose members helped organize the event issued an apology yesterday.

“The fraternity regrets the display of ignorance and error of judgment made by any individual members who may have attended or were associated via social media with the racially offensive party,” Garron Engstrom, chapter president of the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity, said in the statement.

Engstrom, who didn’t respond to requests for comment, noted that the party was not an official fraternity event. He said disciplinary actions have been taken against some members and that all members attending the party have been encouraged “to reach out to the African-American community.”

Campus administrators have identified nine partygoers and are trying to learn their motivation for holding the event, said Penny Rue, UCSD’s vice chancellor for student affairs.

“The most important thing for me is having the students understand the impact of their actions on the rest of the community,” Rue said. “And secondly, to understand what they were thinking.”

In an invitation circulated on Facebook, party organizers said they would be serving “Kegs of Natty, dat Purple Drank - which consists of sugar, water, and the color purple, chicken, coolade, and of course Watermelon.”

Male partygoers were urged in the invitation to wear white T-shirts, with “XXXL smallest size acceptable.” Female attendees were given this guidance: “Ghetto chicks have a very limited vocabulary, and attempt to make up for it, by forming new words, such as ‘constipulated’, or simply cursing persistently, or using other types of vulgarities, and making noises, such as ‘hmmg!’, or smacking their lips, and making other angry noises, grunts, and faces.”

Rue said it’s too early to say whether student conduct codes have been violated, but she noted that many policies don’t apply off campus. In the case of the party, fewer rules apply because the event wasn’t sanctioned or organized by a specific student organization, just fraternity members.

UCSD’s conduct code bars cheating, theft and sexual offenses, among other things. For off-campus incidents, the university has discretion to discipline students for misconduct “under limited circumstances,” based on the seriousness of the misconduct, impact on the campus community and the university’s ability to gather information.

Justin A. Buck, executive vice president at the fraternity’s headquarters in Memphis, Tenn., denounced the actions of the UCSD members involved in the incident and said the fraternity’s constitution doesn’t discriminate on the basis of race.

Several UCSD students said they have been unimpressed by the university’s response, especially given the larger challenge it faces in recruiting black students, who make up less than 2 percent of undergraduates.

“The students are fed up,” said David Ritcherson, the head of UCSD’s Black Student Union. “The campus climate is horrible. People are thinking about transferring.”

Others say the administration has overreacted and shouldn’t get involved with off-campus parties.

Bryan Kim, a UCSD senior from Central California, said he had been planning to host a similar racially themed party this month tied to Black History Month. He wanted attendees to dress up as “gangsta” rappers and participate in a costume contest judged by a black friend.

“People laugh at stereotypes because there’s an element of fun,” Kim said. “People need to get a sense of humor or they’re just going to spend their whole life being angry about things they can’t control.”

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2010/feb/18/ucsd-probing-campus-party

San Diego Greeks Inspired by Sig Ep

2010-02-17T08:38:00.003-06:00

Moved to Find Cure

By JACQUES SPITZER

Getty Images

Every year fraternities and sororities at San Diego State University adopt a cause for their Greek Week, but this year’s fundraising hits a little closer to home.

A member of the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity suffers from Leber’s hereditary optic neuropathy. LHON affects the cells within the optic nerve and can result in severe loss of vision or total blindness. During the week of April 19-23, the Greek community will be raising money to help fund research.

Jonathan Cunha, the National Pan-Hellinic Council Activities Director and one of the organizers of Greek Week, said the decision to raise money to fund research for LHON did not take long.

“The fact that this gentleman was at San Diego State and he was in our own Greek community, a lot of people were touched by his story," said Cunha. "It was kind of an easy decision.”

San Diego State University's Greek Week is the biggest Greek Philanthropy of the year and hundreds of members from the Greek community unite through friendly competitions in efforts to raise funds and awareness.

“The goal is to get unity amongst all the Greeks and then as one Greek community work toward one cause and kind of show the San Diego State community, as well as the surrounding community, what the Greeks are doing and that we are more then just partiers,” Cunha said.

A majority of the money will be raised through T-shirt packets being sold to members of the Greek community. The packs will get them entrance into events going on throughout the week.

Cunha said if everyone in the Greek system purchases a shirt, they would be able to raise at least $15,000 and from there they will be looking to the surrounding community for additional help.

“We’re also trying to find someone like Rotary to match us,” he said.

The specific beneficiary of the fundraising will be the Doheny Eye Institute, where Dr. Alfredo Sadun and his research team believe they are less than ten years away from finding a cure.

Reports from CLA 2010

2010-02-15T14:29:00.001-06:00

Steve Taylor reports from the st. Louis CLA:

The St. Louis CLA was awesome! It was the largest CLA ever, but also the best. The undergraduates well well engaged and active throughout the experience.

Friday night started with District Meetings run by the DG's that allowed for late arrivals to get active in the CLA upoin arrival. Saturday morning started with a full breakfast that was well attended.

While I initially thought there would be a problem with transporting 600 people from the first floor up to the 12th floor ballroom for the Ritual, the hotel staff had six elevators that were express to the top floor.

Starting the day with the Ritual in coat and tie led to an active and engaged group of participants for the whole day. Having the Ritual early set the right tone for the CLA.

Concluding the day, NBD Phil Cox gave an excellent speech that concluded with a standing ovation from the audience. Many thanks to the staff, the facilitators, and to the undergraduates for a great CLA!!!

Fraternally,
Stephen J. Taylor

What about the rest of you?

Good? Bad? Meh?
What impressed? What was cheesy? Leave a comment and let us know how your CLA weekend went.

Sig Ep Returns to William and Mary

2010-02-13T08:07:00.001-06:00

Sigma Phi Epsilon returns to campus after losing charter

By Ben Hubert February 12, 2010

Sigma Phi Epsilon, returning to the College of William and Mary after a six-year hiatus following the loss of its charter, will begin recruitment Feb. 20, after all other fraternities’s Bid Signing Days. It will be the 19th fraternity on campus.

While re-establishing itself on campus, representatives of Sigma Phi Epsilon said the organization hopes to change the recruitment process by discarding recruitment tactics.

Now, after a member joins, he will go through a self-paced, four-step advancement through the organization. Sigma Phi Epsilon created this new program to encourage member retention.

The program is credited with improving Sigma Phi Epsilon’s national GPA and giving Sigma Phi Epsilon the largest undergraduate membership of any fraternity nationally. Other fraternities have introduced similar programs at the College.

Along with this program, the Sigma Phi Epsilon national organization created a voluntary board of nine members to nurture the chapter at its inception and pledge support to the growth of the new chapter.

Representatives from Sigma Phi Epsilon said they were excited to re-establish the organization on campus.

“We are confident that this college has many outstanding students who are currently not involved with the Greek community and [who] have the potential to be great leaders,” Sigma Phi Epsilon Director of New Chapter Development Ryan Dressler said.

To ensure that Sigma Phi Epsilon does not take students bound for other fraternities this semester, the Council for Fraternity Affairs barred it from recruiting until the pledge classes of this semester have already committed.

Another fraternity — Sigma Alpha Epsilon — came to campus last fall.

Sigma Alpha Epsilon is the largest fraternity nationally, but has had considerable difficulty in recruiting at the College, garnering only four total brothers.

“I think when you’re starting an organization from the ground up, challenges arise where you’re trying to establish a working process,” Sigma Alpha Epsilon President Andrew Tran ’11 said. “Nothing is set up for you and getting everything created and organized takes time and a lot of energy.”

A number of current brothers and alumni have since developed an organizational foundation, giving Sigma Alpha Epsilon the ability to focus on recruitment. Tran acknowledged this as a difficult task in a school with 19 fraternities.

Although Sigma Alpha Epsilon still lacks the manpower to launch events that larger Greek organizations are able to host, the organization has contributed philanthropically including hosting a poker tournament to support William and Mary Supports Haiti.

The organization also plans to send as many brothers as possible to Sigma Alpha Epsilon’s leadership school over the summer.

Dartmouth Looks to UNH for Alcohol Rules

2010-02-11T08:28:00.004-06:00

UNH sets example for policy change
By Ryan Kim

Before the University of New Hampshire’s chapter of Zeta Chi Beta fraternity was charged for providing alcohol to underage students in 1993, Greek life at the University of New Hampshire more closely resembled Dartmouth’s Greek scene, according to several UNH students contacted by The Dartmouth. The resulting changes in the social scene at UNH could be an indication of changes that Dartmouth students would face if the Hanover Police Department’s proposed alcohol law compliance checks are implemented, several Dartmouth students said.

In a Feb. 4 meeting with students, Hanover Police Chief Nicholas Giaccone announced plans to implement alcohol law compliance checks in College Greek organizations. Officials with Hanover Police cited a New Hampshire Supreme Court decision involving the fraternity as precedent for imposing felony-level fines of up to $100,000 on Greek organizations for serving alcohol to minors.

In “The State of New Hampshire vs. Zeta Chi Beta,” the Court classified the fraternity as a corporation, making it subject to felony charges for serving alcohol to underage individuals. The Court upheld Zeta Chi’s sentence, which included two years of probation that made the physical plant subject to unannounced searches by the N.H. Department of Corrections to determine compliance with state alcohol law.

Partly as a result of the decision, the fraternity lost recognition from UNH, according to the UNH Greek Life web site.

Giaccone announced Wednesday that implementation of the policy would be delayed, in order to allow the College and student groups to formulate a plan to reduce student alcohol abuse.

After the Court rendered its decision, the Greek system at UNH closed its doors, according to Benjamin Coleman, president of the UNH chapter of Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity. Many of the fraternities, concerned about sizable fines, began to host invitation-only parties.

While the number of alcohol related arrests have remained the same, the number of arrests involving fraternities has diminished, according to Coleman. Rather, there has been an increase in arrests involving private parties both on and off campus.

“I think that there’s been an increase in the number of private parties because it’s harder for underage students to get alcohol at [fraternities,]” Coleman said. “A lot of these arrests now are coming from room parties.”

Opponents of the Hanover Police policy have argued that, by cracking down on alcohol consumption at fraternity and sorority events, police will force students to drink elsewhere and to drink hard liquor, as opposed to beer. As such, they argue, the policy would have a negative effect on student health and could exacerbate student drinking.

Most fraternities continue to operate under strict alcohol policies. Fraternities cannot serve alcohol and parties have a mandated bring-your-own alcohol policy, according to Matt Steckowych, a junior at UNH and secretary of the UNH chapter of Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity.

“I can’t remember the last time I could walk into a [fraternity] and see a keg in the corner,” Steckowych said.

Greek policy at UNH mandates that each guest can bring only one six-pack of beer per night, that each guest over the age of 21 must wear a wristband at parties and that fraternities must have four sober monitors at every party, Steckowych said. Each year has brought stricter limitations, he added.

Steckowych said that the social scene at UNH is more exclusive now than it was during his freshman year, adding that most registered parties held by Greek organizations have guest lists.

The Greek system at UNH has mostly adhered to the alcohol policies, according to Coleman.

“We’ve actively attempted to change the social policy for all Greek houses holding social events to keep them closed, and for all houses that register for parties to submit a guest list,” Coleman said.

The strict alcohol policies have limited social options for students, particularly for freshmen, according to Ryan Garbe, treasurer of the UNH chapter of Lambda Chi Alpha.

“It isn’t too hard to get on the lists for the parties here, but again, there is a list,” Garbe said. “Since it’s hard to get on every guest list, a lot of the freshmen just stick to one or two frats.”

The Dartmouth Greek system currently has an open-door policy for all students. Students have expressed concern that, were Hanover Police to implement alcohol law compliance checks, Greek organizations would begin to close events to outsiders.

Although fraternities at UNH have been threatened with heavy fines or prosecution, fraternities at colleges and universities elsewhere in New Hampshire have not been involved in major cases in which they faced serious fines or felony charges for serving alcohol to minors.
Dartmouth fraternity members have said that they plan to be cautious about who they admit to future parties.

“It’s been said before, but if this process ends up going through, it’s going to drive drinking into dorm rooms and other decentralized places,” Matt Applegate ’10, a member of Alpha Chi Alpha fraternity, said.

Greek organizations at Dartmouth may have to enact policies similar to those found at UNH if the sting operations do become a reality, according to Zachary Gottlieb ’10, president of the Interfraternity Council and social chair of Kappa Kappa Kappa fraternity.

Gottlieb is a member of The Dartmouth Staff.

Gottlieb said he is optimistic that Dartmouth’s Greek scene will not be similarly affected, given the indefinite delay on Hanover Police’s implementation of the compliance check policy.

“The ball’s in our court to make the [fraternity] system a safer environment, and we hope to show that we can achieve this without this new alcohol policy,” Gottlieb said.

Northwestern Greeks Go Green

2010-02-09T15:34:00.001-06:00

Green Cup gives Greek houses a chance to engage

By Kris Anne Bonifacio

Fraternity and sorority houses are cutting down and saving up this month as part of their inaugural Greek Green Cup.

The competition is run separately from Green Cup, organized by Students for Ecological and Environmental Development, but the two groups will co-host the same events throughout the month.

Weinberg sophomores Matt Singer and Sam Wheeler, junior Anthony Valente and senior Chris Sell teamed up to organize Greek Green Cup.

“We took the concept of Green Cup and basically applied it to the Greek scene,” Singer said. “We want to see some more activity and enthusiasm from the Greek community about the environmental movement on campus.”

Greek Green Cup’s winner will be determined by which house is most sustainable, based on which fraternity or sorority has the lowest total water and electricity use per capita, Singer said. The competition will also operate on a “green points system,” under which houses will get points for member attendance at various events and for enacting various environmental initiatives.

At Alpha Epsilon Pi, , the brothers celebrated Tu B’Shevat, “basically Jewish Arbor Day,” before the start of Greek Green Cup, said Benjamin Singer, the fraternity’s Greek Green Cup representative.

“It’s basically a spiritual teaching moment for environmentalism,” the Communication senior said. “So we got points for that, by raising awareness amongst the brothers about becoming more sustainable.”

Greek Green Cup will award monetary prizes to the top two houses, Matt Singer said. The organization applied for various grants for the competition, and Singer said he estimates about $2,200 of the grant money will be designated for prize money. One of Greek Green Cup’s primary sponsors is the Initiative for Sustainability and Energy at Northwestern, Singer said.

He said he hopes the competitive setting will urge students to get more involved.

“It’s a good framework to get involved,” Singer said. “There are so many other philanthropic events that many Greek organizations do in which they compete against each other.”

Organizers of both Green Cup and Greek Green Cup said they hope students who participate in the event will continue their efforts to be more sustainable after the events are over.

“Part of it is to get people to think about how they use water and electricity and try to get them to change their habits,” said Phil Dziedzic, SEED’s Green Cup chairman.

The McCormick senior said SEED is still planning the award for this year’s winners, which are determined by a different scoring system from Green Cup’s Greek counterpart.

“We’re struggling with prizes this year,” Dziedzic said. “In the previous years, we’ve had a pizza party for the winning dorms, but it’s not really a good incentive. So right now, we might be offering a Ticketmaster gift card for the winning dorms.”

Students said the success of both competitions is up to the participants and how much effort they put in.

“Sometimes Green Cup just turns into, ‘How can we use energy not in the dorm?’” said Lindsey Kratochwill, Communications Residential College’s green chairwoman. “Some charge their laptops at the library, so while they’re not using it at the dorm, they’re using it somewhere else.”

The Medill sophomore said it is easy to become discouraged from other people’s apathy, but she still hopes students will make an effort.

“It’s difficult because there are always people who just don’t care,” Kratochwill said. “I still have some hope, though, that we can reach out to some people, and they will make even the smallest change.

http://www.dailynorthwestern.com/green-cup-gives-greek-houses-a-chance-to-engage-1.214259

ASU Sigma Chi's Accused Of Sodomy and Rape

2010-02-07T17:10:00.003-06:00

Woman Says Frat Boys Drugged & Raped Her

By JAMIE ROSS

PHOENIX (CN) - Members of Arizona State's Sigma Chi fraternity drugged and sodomized a woman at a toga party, the woman says in Maricopa County Court. She claims the Sigma Chi chapter at ASU has a history of code of conduct violations and "sexual violent offenses" including hazing, forced drug use and animal abuse.

The plaintiff, a former student at ASU and member of the Pi Beta Phi sorority, went with other sorority members to Sigma Chi's toga party at a sushi restaurant which the fraternity had rented for the night. She says she was given alcohol there though she was just 19 years old.

At the restaurant, she says, Matt Potter, a Sigma Chi member, gave her an alcoholic drink "that had been spiked with a drug designed to incapacitate her and impair her memory."

She says her memory of the night was impaired by the drink, until she woke up the next day at the Sigma Chi house with severe rectal pain, without her purse and some of her clothing. She says a friend took her to Tempe St. Luke's Hospital, where a sexual assault examination determined that she had been assaulted and "exposed to bodily fluids" through anal and vaginal penetration.

She claims that members of Sigma Chi and her sorority identified David Gallagher, a Sigma Chi member, as one of her assailants. She says Gallagher went by the nickname "Therapist" - i.e. "The Rapist" - at the fraternity.

The woman says she suffers from severe post traumatic stress and dropped out of ASU after suffering panic attacks and fear while on campus.

She says the ASU placed the fraternity on probation in 2003 for bruising pledges by paddling their buttocks, and that ASU received a report of "screams for help and a possible violent sexual assault" in the house in that time.

In 2005, Sigma Chi members allegedly mutilated and decapitated a woman's pet cat, and caused thousands of dollars of damage to a San Diego hotel. They also harassed other hotel guests, according to the complaint.

And she says Sigma Chi hazed Alpha Phi sorority pledges in 2006 by forcing them to unwillingly participate in "girl on girl" activities and stripteases.

The Sigma Chi House Corporation of Epsilon Upsilon is also named as a defendant in the complaint.

The woman seeks punitive damages for civil conspiracy, assault and battery. She is represented by LaShawn D. Jenkins.

A copy of the Complaint can be viewed at http://www.courthousenews.com/2010/02/05/TogaParty.pdf

Anti-Hazing Hotline Imporves All Greeks

2010-02-04T15:45:00.001-06:00

Anti-Hazing Hotline Aims to Improve Greek Life on College Campuses

The College Fraternity and Sorority Anti-Hazing Hotline (1-888-NOT-HAZE) received 55 calls during the fall 2009 semester. The hotline, launched in 2007, provides a way for members of fraternities or sororities to report possible hazing incidents.

The College Fraternity and Sorority Anti-Hazing Hotline (1-888-NOT-HAZE) received 55 calls during the fall 2009 semester. This is roughly on pace with last year, as more calls are received in spring due to greater recruiting second semester.

The hotline provides a way for members of fraternities or sororities across the nation to report possible hazing incidents. The Anti-Hazing Hotline was initiated in 2007 with 17 sponsoring Greek organizations. There are now 30 sponsors, representing approximately 35% of all national Greek members.

All of the 55 calls were determined to be valid and reported a possible future hazing event or one that had happened. Thirty-five of the calls were related to one of the 30 sponsoring organizations, while the other 20 alleged hazing by a non-fraternal student group, a local Greek group or by a chapter of a national organization not a sponsor.

“The 30 sponsors have approximately 3,000 chapters, so the incidence is roughly one per 86 chapters,” according to Norval Stephens of Delta Tau Delta, one of the founders of the hotline. “After being notified of a complaint, the sponsoring organizations took immediate action through their own investigation. If hazing were substantiated, intervention and sanctions were implemented, including closing the chapter in some cases,” he added.

There is increasing awareness of the hotline through national and college media, articles in the sponsoring Greek organizations’ magazine, letters to parents, postings in chapter houses and on campus.

The hotline is housed in the offices of Manley Burke law offices in Cincinnati. Calls are received around the clock on a voice mail system that digitally records the call. The call is then forwarded via an e-mail audio clip to the headquarters of the group involved together with the state hazing law that is applicable. A call relating to a non-sponsoring Greek organization is handled the same way as if it were a member. Sponsors paid $450 to join initially and thereafter pay a $100 annual service maintenance fee.

Calls relating to another student group or local fraternity or sorority are passed to the college or university involved.

The current sponsors of the hotline are:

Alpha Chi Omega
Alpha Delta Pi
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10 Things to Never Put on Your Resume

2010-02-03T19:05:00.002-06:00

For the most part I agree with this article's suggestions:

For job seekers, the resume may be the most important document they need. After all, what's on that simple piece of paper can mean the difference between landing an interview and landing in the circular file.

While most job seekers concentrate on what they should include on their resume, few pay attention to what they shouldn't include. This article explores 10 things you should never put on your resume.

However, there is one point I take qualified exception:

Achievements that aren’t achievements

Being nominated prom queen is not an achievement. Nor is belonging to a sorority or fraternity. And that award you won in a competitive eating contest? That's right--not an achievement. Stick to professional and community service awards only.

Maybe mere membership is not "special", but I would think leadership positions count for something. President, VP, or a job that involves managing people, resources, and money - like house manager - would have some cred. Certainly for the first jobs out of school. The trick, as with everything, is to show how that experience will help you to do the job you are seeking.

10 Things to Never Put on Your Resume

Update: A link to a PDF file of the points in the article. Suitable for a professional development presentation.