Welcome to the fraternity and sorority life potential new member orientation module I’m Kara Jenkins the senior director for the office of fraternity and sorority life thank you for taking the time to learn more about our community please pay close attention as you will be asked to answer a few comprehensive questions after viewing
This video ok let’s get started through this video you will learn about the fraternity and sorority life office and our chapter standards and expectations we will also discuss topics related to health and wellness and the community of care we hope to foster finally we will discuss bystander intervention and the ideal chapter
Culture the office of fraternity and sorority life is located in room 238 of Psych Student Union our phone number is six one zero four three six two one one seven and email is FSL @wc UPA edu you can follow us on instagram @ w CU f SL and on facebook at fraternity and
Sorority life W Cu our office has three full-time staff members and two graduate assistants dedicated in advising chapters on an individual basis and chapter operations our staff also advises our four governing councils and a programming board which we’ll talk about next the office of fraternity and sorority life overseas and advises for
Governing councils the inner fraternity Council or IFC the multicultural Greek Council or mgc National pan-hellenic Greek Council or NPHC and panel anak Council or pH C chapters operate on a shared governance model these governing councils oversee individual chapters these chapters and their governing council designation are listed on our
Website overall our community is comprised of almost 2,000 members which is 15 percent of the student population the office of fraternity and sorority life is committed to holding groups accountable when they are not living out their values or providing a safe community for student members in partnership with the Office of Student
Conduct the office of fraternity and sorority life may change a chapter status in response to behaviors that do not align with the Student Code of Conduct such as violations to the anti hazing policy groups can lose recognition for many reasons including but not limited to hazing furnishing alcohol to minors or sexual misconduct
For a listing of our unrecognized groups please visit our website we also encourage you to visit the group Conduct section of the Office of Student Conduct website for a full listing of group conduct investigations and outcomes remember if you ever feel unsafe or hear something that doesn’t seem right please
Submit an Office of Student Conduct report which is anonymous and can be found on the front page of both of our websites the office of fraternity and sorority life is committed to providing a co-curricular values-based experience where students are empowered to lead cultivate connect and engage both at
West Chester University and beyond in other words the mission of the office of fraternity and sorority life is to assist our organizations to align with the values in which they were founded and to help define what a meaningful fraternity and sorority experience is because when done right fraternities and
Sororities can be a powerful mechanism for students to explore their identities create meaningful relationships and serve the community and support each other’s personal and professional pursuits we have high expectations for the fraternity and sorority community in order to be a recognized fraternity or sorority chapters must follow specific
Rules such as maintaining a 2.5 chapter and new member GPA average chapters and individuals must sign the anti-hazing agreement and practice a zero-tolerance policy for hazing and chapters must provide a values-driven experience for their members we want fraternity and sorority members to understand that joining a fraternity or sorority is a
Lifelong commitment rooted in tradition values and ritual if a chapter is not providing a positive values based membership experience they are not welcome here at West Chester University next we will cover some things we think you should know about what type of experience our chapters should be
Providing if you choose to join a fraternity or sorority we truly want you to love this experience we will use the heart eye emoji to designate this over-the-moon ideal fraternity and sorority experience let’s take a moment what would this look like for you now keep that feeling in mind as we discuss
Some scenarios first some introductions meet our friends Greek Grey sorority sera fraternity Frank it’s Thursday night and Sarah and gray invite their new friend Frank to come to a party at their favorite fraternity on campus Frank doesn’t normally drink but decided to dive into the experience and accepts
A cup of the fraternities famous juice after a few hours Sarah and grey can’t find Frank and someone mentioned that there’s a drunk person leaning against the side of the house Sarah and gray go outside to check and find Frank on the ground covered in vomit people around
Them are laughing about Frank being a lightweight and taking snapchats of him Sarah here someone mentions a video of him falling over to barstool Sarah and gray try but are unable to get Frank up gray tell Sarah they think they should call for help Sarah hesitates her boyfriends in the
Fraternity and she doesn’t want them to get in trouble for no reason in this scenario the worst decision you can make is to leave Frank there he should have paced himself better and you don’t want to get the fraternity in trouble the next decision may be considered the
Status quo it’s still very problematic taking Frank back to your off-campus apartment because you can’t go back to the residence hall without getting cited and he probably just needs to sleep it off the decision that reflects a community of care the path not everyone takes but the path the fraternity and
Sorority community needs is understanding that Frank needs help your call nine-one-one and let the fraternity know help is on its way wcu has a wide variety of resources related to this scenario you can visit the Wellness promotion office to talk with a staff member about healthy decision-making you can also chat with
One of the drug and alcohol counselors at the Counseling Center on campus which also has walk-in office hours as always you can submit a student of concern report through the Office of Student Conduct if you’re concerned about a friend what does the culture of a chapter look like that has a positive
And healthy new member experience the worst case scenario for a new member experience would be including the chapter making an effort to break down new members to build them back up new members have little or no information on what to expect out of the new member process new members don’t feel they have
The ability to say no without repercussion the problematic status quo may look like the chapter having bonding events that might make members feel uncomfortable there are parts of the new member process that the University and our national office are unaware of and the new member experience that aligns with the community of care
Would look like the chapter having a firm understanding of the organization’s mission and values and thus they create a new member program that reflects those beliefs the chapter develops members and leaders through structured team-building and bonding activities and all members feel they have a voice in decisions and
Have the autonomy to make change as a potential new member of our community we need you to know that hazing is never okay we need you to say no and if you can’t because you feel a repercussion then the action is likely considered hazing the West Chester University
Hazing policy is defined as any action using relational power which creates a coercive environment leading to an act or variety of acts perpetuated with or without consent that reasonably may result in personal distress ridicule embarrassment humiliation criminal activity or in dangers the mental health physical health or safety of a person or
Property for the purpose of initiation or ongoing membership in an organization wcu recognizes that hazing occurs on a continuum from subtle to violent and therefore includes these actions in an attempt to educate prior task elation these actions are graded from subtle hazing to aggravated hazing depending on the severity of the safety concern
Definitions of hazing all vary but have a common factor having a power differential between those in a group and those wanting to join overall these activities can often be summed up as things you would not be proud to share with family members also it’s important to note that the willingness to
Participate does not absolve responsibility either party new members will sign an anti-hazing policy when they join and each time a chapter brings in new members current members agreed to follow the policy again it’s important to note that individual students can be found responsible for hazing along with an
Organization if you are ever questioning if you’re going through hazing ask yourself these questions what I feel comfortable participating in this activity if my parents are watching am I being asked to keep these activities a secret am i doing anything illegal does participation in this activity violate my values or those of this
Organization is this causing emotional or physical distress or stress to myself or others am I going to be able to get a job if I have to put a criminal arrest on my application your answers to these questions should make it very clear if what you’re participating in would be
Considered hazing again there are several resources on campus where you can report incidences of hazing you can report hazing on the anonymous Student Conduct reporting form or in sex 238 with staff from the Office of Student Leadership & involvement office or the office of fraternity and sorority life
Next we’ll be talking about how the culture of a chapter looks that has a commitment to inclusion that actively recruits members of the same background students or people of marginalized identities regularly report feeling unsafe around the chapter chapter has songs chants or practices that uses derogatory and demeaning language the problematic status quo
Chapter may claim to be diverse but members of the chapter will use demeaning or derogatory language regularly members from marginalized identities will joke about being the token member a chapter that lives out the values of diversity equity and inclusion and creates a culture of acceptance and actively supports its
Members in their identity the chapter provides resources for members and the community to explore and discuss issues of inequality and advocates for a campus chapter and fraternity and sorority community that accepts and embraces all people for resources related to diversity equity and inclusion you can VIN you can visit the Lawrence a Doughty
Multicultural Center in Sikes the office of diversity equity and inclusion at 13:15 University Avenue the office of trans and queer advocacy in Sikes where as always you can submit an anonymous student conduct report or an or report an incidence of bias next up mental health what does the
Culture of a chapter look like that supports students in their mental health the worst case scenario would be a chapter that ignores and inflames issues of mental health this may include targeting members through no member education perpetuating unhealthy and unrealistic body images and harassing those who may exhibit
Signs of mental health issues the problematic status quo chapter would likely be aware of members experiencing issues with mental health but provide no resources or support chapter does not provide exceptions for members who need accommodations the chapter might belittle members who are struggling with de missive dismissive language the ideal chapter culture that
Indicates a true culture of care would be an organization that regularly provides opportunities to members to discuss personal issues and provides resources for those who might be struggling the chapter works with resources on campus and from their national organization and encourages members to use them without fear or shame Westchester has many resources
Available to students struggling with mental health students can visit the student health services in Commonwealth Hall or the Counseling Center in the Lawrence Center there are also non wcu resources available to students in the form of the crisis text line The Suicide Prevention lifeline as always if you’re
Concerned about a friend you can submit a student of concern report to elicit additional support finally it’s important to remember that the only confidential resources are Student Health Services and the Counseling Center time for another scenario ryan is a good friend of yours and tells you that they matched with someone named sam
On tinder ryan tells you they invited sam to a party that you’ll be attending while at the party you notice sam encouraging Ryan to drink and Sam appears to be holding Ryan upright Sam begins to lead Ryan towards the bedroom first the worst possible decision would be to let Ryan go with Sam
Thinking Ryan is an adult and he can make his own decision the problematic status quo reaction would result in asking Ryan if they’re okay and Ryan says yes and you let them go and plan to check on them the next morning finally a chapter with a strong culture
Of care would promote members to let the host of the party know they’re concerned about Ryan and Sam and they find a way to get Ryan home safely oftentimes there are bystanders present in scenarios like the one we just discussed with Ryan and Sam these people have the power to stop
Incidences of harm before they cause devastating impacts at Westchester we have the Green Dot program that discusses the three DS of bystander intervention the first method directly confronting the situation this is taking the situation head-on and stopping any further action from taking place for instance you could simply approach Sam
And tell them that you’re taking them home the second method is distracting which is helpful for folks who are less direct distracting changes the conversation and energy of the interaction by distracting the individual or individuals for instance you could spill a drink or tell Sam that
Our car is getting towed to get them out of the situation finally you can delegate or find someone who would be more successful in fixing the problem and intervening for instance you could tell the host of the party call the police or alert the bartender that Sam is not safe for more
Information please reach out to the office of diversity equity and inclusion zs– green dot staff or attended Green Dot training available for students the office of diversity equity and inclusion manages all title nine incidents and investigations but you can also talk to counselors or staff and student health
Services or the Counseling Center if you’re looking for a confidential resource as always you can report a concern or incident on the Office of Student Conduct website or the home page of the diversity equity and inclusion website now that we have discussed individual aspects of a chapters culture
Let’s take a big picture view of chapter culture the worst case chapter culture results in an organization where all anyone cares about in the chapter is the social aspect of number when members of the chapter endanger it’s the new members for example that are expected to step up they fall this
Type of culture is something we do not want here unfortunately the problematic status quo is a culture where the chapter has a sisterhood a brotherhood opportunities once or twice a semester and if someone really needs help the chapter members call the President to intervene the heart eye emoji chapter
That we hope you choose to join exhibits a culture of care members step up when something feels wrong and advocate for one another not only do they look out for one another but they also hold each other accountable when someone’s engaging in behaviors that do not align with chapter values whether you choose
To join a fraternity or sorority here at West Chester or not we hope that your experiences here are all heart I emojis where you feel safe to be yourself take risks be creative express yourself and grow if you look around and feel like you’re out having a heart I am og
Experienced you have the power to change culture we encourage you to speak up and be an active bystander to shape the community in which you now belong let’s keep this important conversation going feel free to stop by our office in Sikes or email us at FSL @wc upa edu follow us
On social media to learn more about upcoming events and check out our website for up-to-date chapter listings and additional resources now that you have finished listening about the fraternity membership experience if you are interested in joining you will need to complete a short quiz to reflect on
What you’ve learned in order to be eligible for membership you need to complete this quiz please visit the website on this screen via QR code or typing in the link directly the link is also available on the FSL website nope you can take the quiz as many times
As you need you must achieve a 100% copy of your responses will be sent to you so please keep this for your records and any questions please email FSL at wcu PA edu thank you for your attention and we hope to meet you all soon
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