by Joshua Beebe, coordinator for Greek life and student programs

Q: What’s going on with Greeks on campus?
A: The 2008-2009 academic year marked the first full year that the Greek organizations were held to the minimum standards. These standards are designed to help the members of the Greek organizations achieve their best potential. In addition, the Greek Council added the Standards of Excellence, which will be in place for the first time as well. The Standards of Excellence are designed to recognize those Greek organizations that go above and beyond in categories such as service, academics, community involvement, and organizational development. Both Standards documents were in effect as of the first day of the semester and are due on the first of April.  The Standards committee, made up of Greek students appointed by Greek Council reviewed and scored the documents. Last year all of the Greek organizations met the minimum standards.

Q: Does Trinity want to expand national Greek organizations on campus?
A: A Greek Advisory Committee was convened last fall to research, review, and offer analysis regarding the opportunities and challenges of incorporating a national Greek chapter into the existing local system at Trinity.  The committee was co-chaired by Diane Graves, University Librarian and Dr. Don VanEynde, Professor in Business Administration.  Other members of the committee included staff, Greek and non-Greek alumni, and student leaders including the Greek Council Co-Chairs Rachel Hugman and Patrick Nuttall.  Throughout their meetings, they researched Trinity’s comparator and competitor institutions to find out what the best practices are for Greek life regarding mixed model systems.

To complete their task, they sought out information on what types of Greek systems are present at our comparator and competitor institutions.  In particular, they looked to find other examples of mixed models and to understand how different colleges and universities have established governance and support of a mixed model system.  Moreover, they asked questions about the best practices regarding expansion of the Greek system.  Lastly, the committee explored risk management issues and how changes related to current campus Greek life issues affect Greek Alumni relations.   

In December, at the completion of their research, the Greek Advisory Committee submitted a report to me outlining their findings and recommendations for action; I accepted their recommendations in full.  At the January 2009 meeting of the Board of Trustees, the report was discussed and the trustees voted to accept and implement the recommendations, which include the following:

• Trinity University will continue to preserve the rich local Greek system that Trinity has long enjoyed.  A national-only model is not recommended at Trinity.
• Rush rules, as well as Minimum Standards, general regulations, risk management procedures, insurance requirements, etc will be enforced regardless of affiliation.
• Additionally it was decided that a committee be formed with the following charges:
• Assess the needs of students, the interest in and the sustainability of additional Greek social organizations.
• Should this assessment support further movement this committee will craft a purposeful expansion review to ensure a smooth introduction of new groups, either local or national.
• Develop specific criteria for accepting new organizations, either current organizations affiliating with inter/national organizations or as new expansion groups forming on campus. 
• This committee will consist of faculty, staff, as well as Greek and non-Greek students, to ensure that the campus interests are best represented.
• After the committee’s immediate charge is completed, it is my hope to utilize this committee as an on-going and additional resource to solicit insights and perspectives related to Greek life at Trinity. 

I want to ensure each and every one of you that Trinity University will continue to support all of our social Greek organizations and we look forward to continuing to help each of you be as successful as you desire
                Written by Dr. Felicia Lee in a letter to Greek students last spring.
Q: Are administrators cracking down on alcohol with Greeks?
A: The three tenants of Trinity’s Alcohol Policy are:
1) We acknowledge that students will drink alcohol
2) We care deeply about student health and safety
3) We will enforce policies and support laws related to alcohol use
As a Student Affairs professional, my number one concern related to students and alcohol use is safety. Staff in Campus & Community Involvement, Residential Life, and Counseling and Health Services strive to teach students responsibility, accountability, and respect for others and to provide them the tools to make choices that are congruent with their personal values, and if they are in a Greek organization, their club’s values.

In the same vein, recently Campus & Community Involvement (CCI) developed a student organization handbook to streamline the various policies that govern our student organizations, including Greek organizations. Prior to the development of the handbook, Greek organizations followed Greek Council alcohol policies while other student organizations followed University policies. In an effort to align all of our student organizations and to equalize the standards and expectations of our student organizations, we created a universal policy for risk management best practices for student organizations and alcohol use. The majority of this policy was adapted from other universities’ best practices.

Another reason why we created the risk management policy was to align the practices of our student organizations with the University Alcohol Policy. CCI wants Trinity students to have fun, but we also want them to be aware of potential liability and harm. For instance, we require student organizations to turn in an alcohol permit each time they want to host a party where alcohol is served, as well as speak with the Coordinator for Greek Life & Student Programs about their risk management plan for the event. We encourage students to plan ahead, hire security guards, having a guest list, and host parties at licensed establishments. The Greek organizations are already doing a great job of abiding by the new risk management policies and are becoming more responsible hosts for not only themselves, but their guests as well.

Q: Who works with Greek students?
A: Within Campus & Community Involvement, however, there are specifically two staff members who work directly with the Greek community. First, the Director, Dr. Raphael Moffett, oversees all CCI programs, which includes Greek Life. Dr. Moffett, in conjunction with other Greek Life staff, works with the Greeks on “big picture” issues such as Bid Day, risk management for events with alcohol, and hazing. Second, the Coordinator for Greek Life and Student Programs, Joshua Beebe, advises Greek Council and oversees rush, new member orientation, Greek Life issues, judicial hearings, and serves as a liaison between the Greek community and the University. Needless to say, the University, and specifically Campus & Community Involvement, created Greek Life staff positions to provide the Greek community resources to help them succeed in their endeavors.

Q: Are there changes being made to rush and Bid Day?
A: We encourage Greeks to recruit throughout the year, even after Bid Day. Recruitment is an informal way to promote an organization by being active on campus, supporting other members and other Greek organizations, displaying high standards in academics and leadership, etc. Other students see what great things a group does and, as a result, might become more interested in joining that group even though the organization did not actively seek out that individual. In essence, recruitment is more about promoting a club to the campus community than just soliciting potential new members. Rush, on the other hand, is a formal and strategic process for Greeks to acquire new members. Rush events are those that are planned in advance and the sole purpose of that event is to get potential new members interested in one’s club. For the most part, rush chairs plan these events and they are calendared through the Campus & Community Involvement office.

            The various rush events have not changed, and if they have, it has been at the discretion of that particular organization. Sororities still have holiday parties, date parties, and other theme parties, and the fraternities still have their various rush parties. The main change to rush this year is the length of the formal rush process; with rush starting one week later than in recent years.

            Bid Day is one of the most exciting days to be a Greek; people wear silly costumes, the new members run to the fountain from lower campus, and older members see their hard work in rushing pay off. Campus & Community Involvement wants this event to remain fun, but also complement the values of the University and the Greek community. Bid Day will be an alcohol-free event again this year, but will be heavily supported by the CCI staff.

Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions concerning Greek Life. My e-mail is joshua.beebe@trinity.edu and my phone number is 210-999-7547. Thank you!