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Greek Life: The Journey to Membership

Greek Life: The Journey to Membership. Laura Bauer Program Director for Fraternity & Sorority Life Alemayhu Ayanaw Graduate Assistant for Fraternity & Sorority LIfe. Overview. We will discuss the following: How does a student go about joining a fraternity or sorority?

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Greek Life: The Journey to Membership

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  1. Greek Life: The Journey to Membership Laura Bauer Program Director for Fraternity & Sorority Life Alemayhu Ayanaw Graduate Assistant for Fraternity & Sorority LIfe

  2. Overview We will discuss the following: • How does a student go about joining a fraternity or sorority? • How does this impact students today? • What do they do after they join in order to get initiated? • What is initiation and how does it work?

  3. Four Corners

  4. Two Models • National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) & National Association for Latino Fraternal Organization (NALFO) • Interfraternity Council (IFC) & Panhellenic Association (PHA)

  5. How to join: NPHC & NALFO Informational/Interest Meetings: • Interested students (aspirants) are invited to learn more about a specific organization • Aspirants are expected to have researched all of the fraternities and sororities and know a great deal about the organization they are visiting. • It is not generally accepted behavior for a person to attend more than one organization's informational meeting. • Contact Information of chapter members is given to the aspirants

  6. How to join: NPHC & NALFO Interview/Application Process: • Aspirants are interviewed by chapter and sometime alumni • Chapter votes on interviewed candidates • Selected Aspirants are notified • Aspirants send application to headquarters

  7. How To Join: IFC & PHA Informal Recruitment Events • Chapters obtain names from council & alumni • Chapters will host a series of events including going for dinner, wings, ice cream, etc., going to a Royals game, attending a KU event, or other chapter specific events. • After meeting a prospective member (PM) 3-4 times the chapter Chapter votes • Bids are extended

  8. How To Join: IFC & PHA Formal Recruitment Events • Council organizes a recruitment period and PM’s register & pay to participate. • Every PM meets every chapter through a series of rounds of events. • PM’s rank chapters and chapters create an invitation list for the next round. • PM’s will visit chapters who invited them back in order of their own rankings. • At the end of the recruitment period, Chapters will extend bids to join.

  9. Impact on the Millennials • Fraternities and Sororities are protected by Title IX • They are free to be single sex • They are free to select their membership • Millennials are not used to selection • Parents consistently reinforce how great they are • Everyone makes the team • Not used to rejection

  10. The Road to Initiation:NPHC & NALFO Intake Intensive Educational Process: • Learn the History of the organization • Learn the culture and values of the organization • Write essay and reports on material • Risk management training • Practice event planning • Practice public speaking • Step Practice • Final Exam

  11. The Road to Initiation:IFC & PHA New Member Education • Pledge Ceremony • Weekly Meetings with NM Educator • Book or Manual to follow • Team Building • Retreat/New Member Skip • Big Brother/Big Sister Revealing • Final Exam • Sometimes disaffiliation occurs

  12. The Mystery of Initiation: • Each organization has its own ritual ceremony • Week of activities leading up to initiation (I-Week) • Initiation date may or may not be known by the potential initiates • Initiation into the organization may be done at Regional level and chapter level • May only take a few hours, may take all day • Special Dress is usually required

  13. The Mystery of Initiation: • It’s a beautiful ceremony, usually based in ancient and/or Greek Mythology • May be in one part or several parts • New Members may wear a blindfold or hood • New Members may be lead in by active members or in a line holding onto each other

  14. The Mystery of Initiation: • Ceremonies may include: • Oaths or pledges to take • Robes or Special garments • Candles • Alters with paraphernalia • Religious Symbols • Something to Sign • Description of the organization symbols • An opportunity to leave • Some Ceremonies may: • Be confusing because of language • Be outdated • Have evolved over time (others are still as they were originally written)

  15. The Myth of Initiation • In the past 20-30 years, initiation has been tied to hazing. • When it is done hazing-free, it is an incredible experience for the students • It sets expectations and reinforces values • It creates a roadmap to live your life

  16. Mock Initiation • To give you an idea of what it is like, we have created our own mock-initiation ceremony. • It is meant to take a comedic approach and help you understand what a ritual ceremony may look like. • Only participate if you are comfortable doing so.

  17. Questions?

  18. Thank You! Laura Bauer, lcbauer@ku.edu Alemayhu Ayanaw, a2ayanaw@ku.edu

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