February 5,
2007
New approach to fraternity and sorority life receives
national attention
Hallie Cohn ’09 joins her fellow sisters from
Alpha Phi sorority during a recruitment event on January 30.
When University administration first introduced the
idea of “reviewing” the fraternity and sorority system on
campus, there were concerns among some that it was the beginning of the
end.
If national trends could be used as a gauge, there was
reason to be concerned. Colleges and universities across the country were
starting to take a hard-line approach to dealing with campus problems
linked to Greek life, including eliminating fraternities and sororities
altogether.
That approach, however, was not the one taken at
Rochester. Instead, a three-year review process that began in 2003 and that
involved trustees, faculty, staff, alumni, and students has led to a new
system designed to emphasize freedom, responsibility, and community, while
promoting active learning and connection to the College.
“There is a need for fraternities and
sororities. As long as the need is there, we might as well help them be the
best they can be,” says Matt Burns, associate dean of students.
Monica Miranda Smalls, director of fraternity and
sorority affairs, and Burns led the team that helped develop the new
program. The approach is already receiving national recognition, most
notably from the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators,
the largest national professional organization for student affairs
professionals. The group has selected Rochester to receive the Grand Bronze
Excellence Award in the Student Union, Student Activities, Greek Life,
Leadership category.
Both Smalls and Burns say what makes Rochester’s
award-winning system so unique is that it gives fraternity and sorority
members the freedom to pursue their passions while giving them the
responsibility to hold the organization accountable for its
efforts—an idea that blends seamlessly with the College’s
academic mission.
“In the past, people could not see the good
things fraternities and sororities were doing, because they were always
focused on the negatives,” says Smalls. “Now, students have a
systematic way to share all of their efforts and successes on campus and
with the local community.”
Hallie Cohn ’09 joined a sorority because, as an
only child, she liked the idea of having dozens of new
“sisters” and being part of a tight-knit campus group. She sees
her sorority as an organization whose members share interests, support each
other, and work together toward a common mission.
Cohn, now a sister in Alpha Phi, says that for newer
members like herself who arrived after the changes were implemented, the
approach seems to be working.
“[The administration] is not trying to kick us
off campus; they’re trying to get us involved,” Cohn says.
“The family aspect is (the sorority’s) primary purpose, but
we’re also still an organization that should be contributing on
campus,” she adds.
That emphasis on campus and community involvement is
considered the hallmark of the new approach. The program’s
“Expectations for Excellence” (more commonly known as E for E )
encourages the groups to set goals, plan, and evaluate the results in
an accreditation-type model.
“Connecting their programming with
self-assessment created phenomenal synergy,” says Burns. “They
now have a way to measure their success and that gives them a sense of
accomplishment.”
As part of the system, fraternity or sorority groups
create action plans for each year. The plans are submitted to a committee
for review. Each group is required to follow up with a presentation
outlining how successful their efforts have been. Later, the committee
issues its review and offers recommendations for improvement.
Alex Pearlman ’07, Students’ Association
president, says that while the new system does make additional demands, it
also helps focus attention on the positive effect Greek Life has on campus
rather than on instances of rule-breaking.
“I am a structured person, so to me the
structure makes sense,” Pearlman says. “We can use the
information we collect to promote what the Greeks are doing on
campus.”
Other elements of the program include enhanced
leadership training and a new orientation program. Cohn, one of the
students who helped launch the orientation program in the fall and is
helping to organize efforts this spring, says the sessions address issues
such as hazing, underage drinking, and fighting.
“The most important message we hope new members
take away from the orientation is that when you are a member you are always
representing your organization.”
College Dean of Students Jody Asbury says the new
system offers students another chance to define their goals. “At the
University we always encourage students to follow their passions. So if
part of that passion is being in a fraternity or sorority, we want to give
them the resources, training, structure, and support they need to be a
responsible and effective member of that community.”
This systematic approach to fraternity and sorority
life has been in practice for about a year, and there are early signs the
program is leading to new relationships between campus groups. During
Yellowjacket Weekend, an annual celebration to mark the beginning of the
academic year, the Sigma Phi Epsilon brothers broke with tradition.
Normally the group would organize its own luau/tailgate party outside of
the events planned by the College, but this year the group collaborated
with Wilson Commons Student Activities and Dining Services. Such
partnerships, many say, helped support one of the most well attended and
successful Yellowjacket Weekends in recent years.
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