Lehigh Greek Community

Whitney Chen comes to Lehigh!

2012-01-31T10:22:00.000-05:00

Follow Your Passion Cooking Demo:

Join Whitney Chen '05 (Delta Gamma) as she discusses her journey from energy consultant to Three Michelin Star line-chef to food editor and writer and how she's used her IE degree to get her from one career to the next. The Next Food Network Star contestant will be demonstrating some of her favorite meals perfect for cooking at college! Recipes will be provided for all attendees.

Date: March 15, 2012
Time: 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM

Location: Wood Dining Room, Iacocca Hall

Contact Information for event:

Amanda Fabrizio

610-758-2986

Amanda.Fabrizio@lehigh.edu

Services for Debbie Pearsall

2012-01-30T17:06:00.004-05:00

TO: Students, Faculty and Staff,

A University memorial service for Deborah Pearsall, Class of 2012, will be
held at 7 p.m. on Thursday, February 9 in Packer Memorial Church. All are
welcome to attend. Deborah's parents asked us to share that they will be
in attendance.

Deborah's funeral service will be held on Thursday, February 2 at 10:00
a.m. at the Gutterman's Memorial Chapel, 175 N. Long Beach Road, Rockville
Center, NY 11570. Directions are available on their website:
http://www.guttermansinc.com/location/rc_directions.html.

We have reserved several busses to provide transportation to the funeral
service. Seats on the busses are limited and should be requested through
the contact persons listed below. All requests must be received no later
than 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 31.

-- Athletes and affiliates sign up with their respective coaches
-- Brown and White staff and affiliates sign up with Matt Breitel at
mdb212@lehigh.edu
-- Zeta Tau Alpha members and affiliates sign up with Kimberly Campbell at
kac213@lehigh.edu
-- Any other students, faculty or staff may request a seat by contacting
Ann Schadler at ams1@lehigh.edu.

The busses will load at 5:30 a.m. Thursday morning and depart promptly at
5:45 a.m. and will return directly after the funeral as the burial service
is limited to family only. Transportation will be provided at no cost.

John Smeaton
Vice Provost for Student Affairs

Hawks Against Hazing

2012-01-27T10:35:00.000-05:00

Hawks Against Hazing is a Lehigh University campus-wide initiative hazing assessment. This assessment has been created and administered to gain a better understanding of the perceptions and realities of hazing at Lehigh University. As a community we are taking a stand against hazing, in all ways, shapes and forms. Take the assessment here if you are an undergraduate or graduate student at Lehigh.

Faculty/Staff Advisor Spotlight: Amanda Fabrizio

2012-01-26T09:48:00.001-05:00

Advisor Spotlight

Name: Amanda Fabrizio

Role on Campus: Communications Specialist forthe Industrial and Systems Engineering (ISE) Department

Chapter You Advise: Pi Beta Phi

As a faculty/staff advisor, howare you involved with the fraternity or sorority that you work with? How wouldyou like to be involved? Please be as specific as possible.

I meetwith the Pi Beta Phi president on a monthly basis and provide her with adviceand feedback. I’d like to have more opportunities to interact with them attheir fundraisers and events and be able to provide them with necessaryguidance and advice.

Whatare some of the chapter’s accomplishments that you are proud of?

Pi Beta Phi is a gold chapter andhas been for a couple of years. I’m so proud of the sisters for beingacademically and philanthropically strong leaders!

What do you find is mostrewarding about advising?

I enjoyinteracting with the sisters of Pi Phi and seeing all the great work that theydo. Seeing them pay it forward to the community is rewarding to me. I alsoenjoy working the Greek Leadership Conference that’s held in the fall semester.Every student involved with Greek Life should attend!

Asa faculty/staff advisor, why did you decide to become involved in thefraternity/sorority community here at Lehigh University?

I enjoy getting involved with thecampus community at all different levels, especially being able to give back tothe students. When Tim Wilkinson mentioned he had an opening to be an advisor,I jumped at the opportunity. I also wanted to get educated about Greek Life aswell. Unfortunately, when I was in college, we didn’t have a Greek Life. Beingable to learn and see all the great things that Pi Phi and the Lehighfraternity/sorority community do as a whole has also been extremely valuable!

Do you have any specificinterests or areas of expertise that you would like/be willing to share withthe fraternity/sorority community?

I havebeen asked on several occasions to do presentations about Networking, SocialMedia and Professional Communications Etiquette. The feedback I have receivedfrom the students who have been in my presentation said that they found itextremely beneficial and have picked up some great tips! (And…the presentationis entertaining…it’s in color and has fun videos…No dozing off in this one!)

What is your best advice forGreek-affiliated students?

Don’tsweat the small stuff and take a deep breath! You’ll look back on many of thesesituations in five to ten years, and hysterically laugh.

What do you like to do when youaren’t helping to advise?

Alongwith advising Pi Phi, I’m also a First-Year Experience facilitator, and amember of the Holiday Party Committee. I’m President-Elect of the Rotary Clubof Saucon and the Rotaract Chair for our Rotary District 7430. (Rotary is aninternational organization of business men and women that do community serviceand fundraising on the local, national and international level,www.rotary.org). I advise the DeSales Rotaract Club, the college version ofRotary, and help out with the DeSales Senior Success Series. As a DeSales alumna,I’m also one of the Class of 2007’s Class Agents. And in my spare time, I enjoytrivia nights, playing with my new Wii and tweeting, a lot(www.twitter.com/Fabreeze13185).

Any other additional comments?

Ifyou’re chapter is looking for a fun way to help out the community, and you needto get community service hours in, sign up for The Yvette M. Palmer PurplePinkie 5K Run/Walk on Sunday, April 22 at DeSales University. Registration forstudents is $10 with a valid school ID and goes to PolioPlus (Pi Phi and a fewother chapters participated last year!)www.active.com/running/center-valley-pa/the-yvette-m-palmer-purple-pinkie-5k-2012?int=29-6

I wouldbe happy to do a presentation to your chapter on Networking, Social Media andProfessional Communications Etiquette. Please feel free to e-mailme for details amf208@lehigh.edu.

Eco-Rep Program

2012-01-06T10:00:00.002-05:00

If you are unaware, last semester the Eco-Reps program, a sustainability course at Lehigh funded by residential services to provide peer-to-peer education for residential students, grew from a few residential halls to all dorms and Greek houses. Fall semester Greek Eco-Reps had representation from six sororities and five fraternities and held three sustainability focused events organized by the reps.

I am contacting you all now to ask that you encourage any members interested in increasing sustainability in your house to apply to be an Eco-Rep for your house for the coming spring semester. More information is provided in the application, which can found in the link below, or I can answer any questions via email at luecoreps@lehigh.edu. Having an Eco-Rep in your house is a great way to gain information about living sustainably in your house, be a part of a new but growing program at Lehigh, and help your green accreditation rating!

Applications are due January 19th but please encourage members to turn them in earlier or email us with interest so we can get a feeling for the number of reps we will have:

Greek Eco- Rep Application for Spring 2012

Thanks so much and we look forward to hearing from a member from each of your houses!

Teresa Chamberlain

Greek Eco-Rep Coordinator

tac314@lehigh.edu

Purple Pinkie 5K Run/Walk

2012-01-03T09:24:00.002-05:00

The Yvette M. Palmer Purple Pinkie 5K Run/Walk will be on Sunday, April 22, 2012 at DeSales University. Registration begins at 9am, race starts at 10am. All proceeds from this event will go to PolioPlus to help eradicate Polio world wide. This event is sponsored by the DeSales University Rotaract Club and Rotary District 7430. At our first race last year, we rose $5,000 for PolioPlus and we hope to top that this year!

We renamed the race in honor of friend, Rotarian and last year's co-chair/founder of the 5K, Yvette M. Palmer, who lost her battle to lymphoma a few weeks ago. If it wasn't for her passion, drive, leadership, vision and energy, last year's Purple Pinkie 5K would not have been a success.

Below is the online registration link. We hope you're all able to participate and support the cause! I also ask if you please forward this information along to your friends, family, colleagues, students, Greek Life chapters, student clubs, Rotarians, fellow runners/walkers etc., who may be interested in participating, that would be greatly appreciated! (We had 100+ participants last year!)

http://www.active.com/running/center-valley-pa/the-yvette-m-palmer-purple-pinkie-5k-2012?int=29-6

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to get in contact with Amanda Fabrizio at amf208@lehigh.edu.

A Message to Parents

2011-12-19T17:05:00.000-05:00

DearParents and Family Members,

Since1870, Fraternities and Sororities at Lehigh University have been creatingopportunities for leadership, development, and lasting friendships for thosewho choose to join one of our various Greek letter organizations on campus. Thisletter has been sent to you because your son or daughter has expressed interestin the fraternity and sorority community at Lehigh. It is important to theOffice of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs (OFSA) staff that parents and familymembers are aware of the opportunities and obligations that come with beingpart of the community. Some of these include; information regarding thecommunity, the New Member Education process, and potential of life-longmembership in a Greek organization. LehighUniversity maintains a commitment to creating a positive learning environmentwhere students can engage and participate in the full collegiate experience. Fraternityand sorority membership will provide each member with the opportunity todevelop valuable leadership skills, pursue academic excellence, fosterrelationships on Lehigh’s campus, and serve the greater Bethlehem community.

Agreat place to start is the OFSA website:www.lehigh.edu/ofsa. On this website youwill find information on each organization in our three governing councils(Interfraternity, Multicultural Greek, and Panhellenic Councils) as well asprogramming opportunities for members, reports and statistics, new member educationplans, and contact information the six professional staff members working inour office.

Inan effort to keep parents and family members informed about the happenings of fraternityand sorority affairs at Lehigh University, we will be implementing virtualIlluminate (online webinars) and weekly Google Chat sessions (live chat with anOFSA staff member). For those who are interested in receiving regularcommunications, a Parent and Family listserv will also be utilized. If you areinterested in receiving emails from our listserv, please email Rosa Guzman at rmg308@lehigh.edu.You may also choose to follow us on Twitter at @LUGreeks, “like” our LehighGreeks page on Facebook and subscribe to the Greek Community Blog, which isunder the “Lehigh Greeks Blog” link on our website.

Asadministrators and advisors to the fraternity and sorority community, we arecommitted to assisting each student achieve their highest potential. We workdiligently to ensure safety for each member and have a strict anti-hazingpolicy at Lehigh University. More information on Hazing Education Awareness canbe found on our website under the “Hazing Ed. & Awareness” link.

Itis our hope that each student has a positive, life enriching experience whileat Lehigh University. Please know that we are here to help and assist in anyway that we can. If you have questions or comments, please do not hesitate tocontact the appropriate staff member below.

Sincerely,

TimWilkinson

AssistantDean and Director of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs

Interested in joining a fraternity at Lehigh?

2011-12-19T16:59:00.002-05:00

ProspectiveGreek Students,

Thankyou for showing interest in becoming a part of the outstanding Greek Communityat Lehigh University. As the fallsemester comes to a close, I wanted to inform you of the process for joining anInterfraternity Council (IFC) fraternity.

Recruitment Kick-Off: There will be a kick-offevent located in Perella Auditorium on Tuesday, January 17 from 6-8 pm. This isan event where you will get an opportunity to meet members from each IFC chapteras well as the IFC Executive Board members and to learn more about the Greekcommunity at Lehigh.

Recruitment Period: Tuesday, January 17 - Saturday,February 4, 2012

Recruitmentis an opportunity to explore the Greek Community and decide if joining an IFC fraternityis right for you. Chapters will contactindividuals or advertise open recruitment events. These events are an opportunity to learnabout the chapters, their values, and meet the brothers to decide which chapteris the best fit for you.

BidSigning

Monday, February 6^th: 10am – 4pm
Tuesday, February 7^th: 10am – 4pm
Wednesday, February 8^th: 10am – 4pm

-Ifyou receive a bid to join a fraternity, you will be notified by email by amember of the OFSA staff starting Monday, February 6^th. The email will contain instructions detailinghow to accept/decline your bid.

Eligibility Requirements:

Inorder to be eligible to receive a bid to join an IFC fraternity, you must havea minimum cumulative GPA of 2.25 or higher. Additionally, you must be a full-time Lehigh University student, takingat least 12 credits, and have a minimum of 12 earned credits from LehighUniversity. (Some organizations may have higher academic standards.)Transferstudents must have a minimum of 12 approved transfer credits and meet the GPArequirement.

New Member Education:

NewMember Education may begin on Thursday, February 9^th. New Member Education is different for eachchapter, but may only last 6 weeks and hazing is strictly prohibited. Moreinformation on the Anti-Hazing policies, please go here. New Member Education plans will be submittedby each chapter to OFSA and will posted on the OFSA website, here.

MulticulturalGreek Council:

Additionally, you have mayhave met with men from the three Multicultural Greek Council fraternities,Kappa Alpha Psi, Lambda Sigma Upsilon, and Omega Psi Phi, during open housesthis year. Each of these chapters is also actively recruiting men who areinterested in their chapters. If you are interested in any of theseculturally-based chapters, please contact Christa Wessels (caw408@lehigh.edu), who can provide you different informationregarding the Intake process. The process for culturally-based chapters differsin dates and has a 2.5 GPA requirement.

Lastly,we hope you may choose to follow the Lehigh Greeks’ Twitter account @LUGreeks, “like”our Lehigh Greeks’ Facebook page, and subscribe to the Lehigh Greeks’ Blog here.

Ifyou have questions about any of the topics outlined above, please feel free tocontact any of the following resources:

John LeDuff	Tim Wilkinson	Jessi McPherrin
IFC Recruitment Chair	Director of Fraternity & Sorority Affairs	Assistant Director of Fraternity & Sorority Affairs
Jpl312@lehigh.edu	tsw205@lehigh.edu	jlm@lehigh.edu
	(610) 758-4157	(610) 758-4157

Regards,

John LeDuff

IFC Recruitment Chair

Faculty Advisor Spotlight: Professor Sinclair

2011-12-13T10:27:00.001-05:00

Professor Kenneth P. Sinclair

Education/College:Ph.D., University of Massachusetts(1972), M.S. in Accounting (1970), University of Massachusetts, B.B.A.University of Massachusetts (1968)

Roleon campus: Professor of Accounting (1972—present)and Senior Advisor to the CBE Dean (2007—present)

Areyou a member of a Greek organization? If so, please specify: ChiPhi

Chapteryou advise: Chi Phi

Howlong have you been advising this chapter? Since1973

Whatis your role with the chapter? FacultyAdvisor

Whatdo you find is most rewarding about advising?

Students seemappreciative of what is done for them.

Whatare some chapter accomplishments you are proud of?

Chi Phi hastypically excelled in all areas, but even when the fraternity has facedchallenges, all related Chi Phi constituencies have rallied together to addressthe challenges successfully.

Whatis your best advice for Greek-affiliated students?

I have alwaysbelieved that the happiest and most successful Greeks are the ones who balanceacademics and what I call personal growth.

Doyou have any specific interests or areas of expertise that you would like toshare with the fraternity/sorority community?

I have presenteda “Career Opportunities” program to Greek chapters. I have also presented a program on “OralCommunications Skills.”

Whatdo you like to do when you aren’t helping to advise?

I still enjoyteaching after 40 years at Lehigh. Outside of Lehigh I am a huge sports fan,following my favorite teams and attending countless games. I am also an entertainment enthusiast, goingto independent movies, theater performances, and concerts. I am a politicaljunkie, reading, listening, and observing important national people and issues. Traveling is also something I like todo. Finally and most importantly, Ienjoy being with my family.

Anythingelse you would like to include:

Staying veryactive and helping others are my secrets to being content.

Greek Week Chair Application

2011-11-21T09:36:00.001-05:00

If you are interested in being the 2012 Greek Week chair, please fill out the following in a document format and send completed forms to maw212@lehigh.edu

GREEK WEEK CHAIR APPLICATION

Name:

Chapter:

Major:

Email:

Briefly explain experiences and positions that qualify you for this position:

What would you like to see different in next years greek week?

Urgent Message from the Health & Wellness Center

2011-11-17T20:28:00.001-05:00

We wanted to make you aware that a female undergraduate Lehigh student who lives on campus is suspected of having a bacterial meningococcal infection. We are awaiting the results of medical tests, and she is currently being treated at St. Luke's Hospital.

We have already contacted individuals who have been in close contact with
the student in order to make them aware of the potential risk of exposure
and provide them with prophylactic antibiotics. The ill student attended a
party at Theta Chi on Tuesday, November 15th. If you attended this event
and drank out of a cup that may have been used by others, please come to
the Health Center for consideration for preventative medicine.

Students who have been in close contact to a person ill with meningococcal
disease should take preventive antibiotics even if they have been
vaccinated, as they may still be susceptible to the illness.

Please note that this disease is typically spread only through close
contact such as shared saliva, or prolonged contact with a person who is
infected. It is not spread through casual contact, such as being in the
same classroom or eating in the same dining hall. Infectious disease
experts do not recommend treatment for people with casual or random
exposure.

Some common early symptoms of meningococcal meningitis include fever,
severe sudden headache, lethargy, stiff neck, nausea, vomiting and rash. It
is extremely important to seek medical attention if you do have these
symptoms.

The Lehigh University Health Center will be open until 10 p.m. this evening
(Thursday, November 17th) and again beginning 8:15 a.m. on Friday, November
18th. Any students who need medical attention after the Health Center has
closed should call Campus Police at 610-758-4200.

Additional information about the disease can be found at
www.lehigh.edu/health or on the website of the Centers for Disease Control
at http://www.cdc.gov/meningitis/about/faq.html

Questions can also be directed to the Health Center at 610-758-3870 or by
email at inluhc@lehigh.edu

Susan C. Kitei, M.D.
Director, Health and Wellness Center

Alpha Phi is internationally recognized for their Intellectual Development

2011-11-16T16:29:00.001-05:00

Last weekend, seven of the newly elected members of Lehigh’s Alpha Phi executive board attended the Alpha Phi Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regional conference in Baltimore, Maryland. At the conference, the new executive board members had the opportunity to network with the Alpha Phi international office members, as well as fellow Alpha Phi executive boards from schools throughout the region. Each chapter contributed ideas and thoughts on how to generate a positive influence on our own campuses, along with explanations of how our individual chapters operate. Our executive board was able to gather many new ideas, and we are excited about introducing them to our chapter. Our chapter (Epsilon Psi) was awarded for our Intellectual Development Program, which is a program that is meant to generate positive influence throughout our chapter. Personally, the conference served as a great learning opportunity and experience and has helped to prepare me for the challenges that I may come across while serving as the President of our chapter.

The Alpha Phi regional conference was an opportunity for our new executive board to develop leadership skills relevant to our own individual responsibilities, as well as skills that can be used to help our chapter function sufficiently. Discussion-based lectures gave us an opportunity to share the practices of our chapter with others, while also allowing us to learn other chapters’ best practices. We hope to incorporate some of the things other chapters discussed into our own programs. Being in a group with fellow Presidents and VPs gave us the opportunity to openly discuss struggles different chapters face and ways to overcome them. These discussions educated me with ways I can shape our chapter’s future through effective management.

Our chapter’s executive board shared ideas from our Intellectual Development Program since it is one of the most successful programs our chapter possesses. Our Intellectual Development Program fosters women empowerment and open intellectual conversations. An important aspect of our Intellectual Development Program is our “Jam Sessions,” which are serious intellectual discussions between our members and faculty adviser, Professor Walsh. These discussions are based on both worldwide issues as well as campus-based issues. This year, our topic for discussion has primarily been sexism, in honor of the 40th anniversary of women at Lehigh. Other parts of our Intellectual Development Program promote intellectual relationships between our members and their professors. In events such as “Tea with A Phi,” members were given the opportunity to converse with their favorite professors outside of the classroom atmosphere. Events such as Tea with A Phi create an environment in which deeper discussions can be held, and learning can be taken to the next level. We believe there is more to learn than what is taught in the classroom, and our Intellectual Development Programs cultivates a continuous learning atmosphere within our chapter.

Alpha Phi Internationals has recognized this program and awarded us for its success. Over the course of the weekend, we were asked to share with other chapters the importance of the program and how we incorporate it into our chapter’s activities. Other chapters showed interest in the program, and we hope our ideas will be able to travel and have a positive impact on other chapters throughout our region. We were happy to contribute to the overall purpose of the Alpha Phi conference, and hope that our chapter was able to generate a positive influence and stream of ideas to other chapters.

-Kaitlin Slattery, President

Alpha Phi, Epsilon Psi

Photo: From left to right - Ellie Fried (VP Program Development), Kaitlin Slattery (President), Rachel Sarakin (Director of Formal Recruitment), Val Phillips (VP Member Recruitment), Kelly Bloom (Director of Finance), Janine Necef (VP Chapter Operations), and Christine Caruso (Chapter Adviser)

Peer Values Educators Applications

2011-11-16T11:29:00.001-05:00

As a student-driven initiative, a group of individuals came together in the fall 2008 semester to develop dynamic programs that allow for open and honest conversations in a true peer-to-peer format on a variety of topics including alcohol and social decision making, anti-hazing education, and bystander intervention. Peer Values Educators have been presenting to different Lehigh student groups ever since. This program is made up of upper class student representatives of the Lehigh Greek community who serve as positive role models and facilitate interactive workshops for the campus population.

Expectations of Peer Values Educators:

-To serve as a leader and positive role model within your organization and the Lehigh community

-To have strong public speaking and group facilitation skills

-To engage with audiences in an authentic and enthusiastic manner

-To attend PVE trainings and meetings through the year

-To represent the Greek community and the Office of Fraternity & Sorority Affairs in a positive and professional manner

Apply to be a Peer Values Educator today! http://www.lehigh.edu/~indost/greek/programed.shtml

LSU AIDS Week

2011-11-16T09:50:00.001-05:00

Lambda Sigma Upsilon will be hosting the 3rd annual AIDS Week from Dec 1st to Dec 6th. The week will start off with the human red ribbon event on the UC front lawn at 12:10pm. We are also placing orders for AIDS week t-shirts. Show your support and please inform all of your members.

The shirts are $12 each and all proceeds will be donated to St. Lukes HIV/AIDS center. Orders are due by Sunday Nov. 20th and can be given to me in person or put in my campus mail box B889. Attached is the shirt design and the order form.

Thank you.

Daniel Cobar

Lehigh 2012
Chapter President
Lambda Sigma Upsilon Latino Fraternity Inc.- Uman Chapter.

Thanksgiving Break Safety Memo

2011-11-16T09:46:00.001-05:00

If your off-campus residence is going to be unoccupied during Thanksgiving break, you should register the residence with the University Police. To register on-line, go to Lehigh's home page and select "Police" and access the registration form by clicking on the "Living off-campus" link or you can simply go to (http://www.lehigh.edu/~inlpd/liv_1.html).

Off-campus security is a concern of everyone. By registering your residence when you are away, you will enable our department, as well as the City of Bethlehem Police Department, to serve you better.

Also, as an extra safety precaution, be sure to make arrangements regarding mail and newspaper deliveries so they do not accumulate outside your residence.

Edward K. Shupp
Chief of Police

Panhellenic Woman of the Month - October

2011-11-14T11:24:00.001-05:00

Mary Nunley, of Zeta Tau Alpha, has been selected by Lehigh's Panhellenic community as the October 2012 Panhellenic Woman of the Month. Mary's chapter members had this to say about her:

She is our VPI (Coordinator ofCommittees), and has been a fantastic role model for our large group of new Zeta’s by going completely above and beyond her call of duty. Mary has been working hard as our VPI, while also working as the President of Student Senate, being a Teaching Assistant for an architecture studio, and working as the Alumni President of her High School in New Mexico. She always makes time in her busy schedule to help out the community at an Animal Shelter on weekdays, and absolutely loves to play with the kittens there. Mary is an Architecture /Civil Engineering Major juggling an extremely tough course load. She is now studying hard (staying in many weekends) for the GRE’s for graduate school admissions. After graduation from Lehigh she will be taking a year off to help children by participating in the Teach For America Program, and then will be off to graduate school. Many of the girls in ZTA look up to Mary because of her many leadership roles on campus, her time management skills, her devotion to the community and humanity, and her ultimate success in every task that she takes on.

A short and specific example of Mary’s devotion to Zeta was extremely apparent this Fall. Upon returning to Lehigh, many of the girls with executive positions in ZTA dropped out. Without anyone asking, Mary cheerfully took on the loads of these positions while we were interviewing others to fill the positions. Mary did a fantastic job filling these positions, and showed the girls that with some hard work, you can keep an organization running through some tough times.

The thing that separates Mary from other students here at Lehigh is her passionate attitude towards helping people. She never becomes involved inactivities just to “put them on her resume”. She is an extremely genuine person who just loves to help whoever she can, when she can. Thank you for considering Mary as a nomination for Sorority Woman of the Month- She certainly deserves recognition for her hard work, and definitely does not get thanked enough!

Panhellenic Woman of the Month- September

2011-11-11T11:58:00.001-05:00

The Panhellenic Council at Lehigh University would like to congratulate Jackie Kocot, of Delta Gamma, for being named Woman of the Month for the month of September. Here is a little bit about why Jackie is so deserving of this title:

Jackie is the Director of New Member Education for Delta Gamma which is a large task as the chapter is creating a completely revised program for their new members. Furthermore, Jackie is a Pre-Med student, works with Emergency Medical Services, the Senior Program Coordinator for Greek Allies, and also helps to deliver babies at a local hospital. Her sisters had this to say about her: "Jackie is able to manage all of this with a smile while still enjoying her senior year at Lehigh. She is a role model for us in Delta Gamma."

MOVEMBER

2011-11-09T12:43:00.000-05:00

A message from Nick Gambino, IFC Community Service Chair:
As you may have notice, last months Breast Cancer awareness month was a great success across the board. Lehigh students, both Greek and Non-Greek, came together raising both awareness and money to help the female community support cancer research.

Now the time has come to help support a cause closer to the males of the Lehigh community. As you are all aware Movember is in full motion and the increasing presence of mens facial hair has been generating a lot of attention.

In an attempt to further increase the awareness of the theme of the month of November, we at IFC have created a T-shirt with the intention of spreading the word. Shirts will be sold for 12 dollars each and can be purchased through FMA as well as cash.

In order to get the shirts before the month of November is over, I will need a total number of shirts desired by each house no later then sunday night by 6pm. Again, shirts can be purchased through FMA.

Please spread the word to those within your respected houses, faculty/staff, as well as those who may not be greek affiliated.

Email Nick at nag213@lehigh.edu for ordering shirts and other information.

Barnespeaks and Students Listen - by Emma Shannon, AOII

2011-11-07T09:23:00.001-05:00

Barnespeaks and Students Listen

by Emma Shannon, AOII

In today’s college atmosphere, the word hazing gets thrown around all the time and yet few students and faculty members are confident of the definition. Though there are some obviously unethical actions, easily classified as “hazing”, it is often hard to determine where some actions lie on the spectrum. When Rick Barnes from Campuspeak came to Lehigh as part of Hazing Prevention Week to discuss the grey areas surrounding the issues of hazing, he took a unique approach to the discussion. Instead of the typical reprimanding tone that many presentations cling to, Barnes began the discussion away from the concept of hazing altogether.

Barnes started his discussion by presenting a spectrum of morally questionable behavior, from an innocent yet age-segregated quiz game to an obviously unethical violent action of an upperclassman towards a new member of a hypothetical organization. He asked the audience what they thought of the actions and the response to the violence was predictable – obviously wrong, hazing. However, the nodding of heads and remarks of agreement were not as universal about the other side of the scale. Was the other incident mentioned hazing? Barnes used this inability to come to a consensus as a segway into his next point.

No one can truly agree on the absolute definition of hazing, largely because there is no absolute definition. Universities nation-wide are called to act in prevention of issues surrounding hazing and yet there are as many definitions for wrong behavior as there are universities. With that said, pleading ignorance is hardly the solution to hazing problems on campuses nation-wide. Barnes’ solution to this elusive concept is simple: the golden rule. If we learn to treat others the way we wish to be treated, the issue of hazing will disappear altogether.

Barnes’ presentation was effective because it was untraditional. Instead of reprimanding students for crossing lines they didn’t know existed, Barnes simply reminded the audience that eradication of hazing is as simple as that, do unto others as you would do unto you.

Update 11/4

2011-11-04T13:10:00.001-04:00

To all members of the Fraternity & Sorority community:

During the power outage Lehigh originally committed to feeding the members
of the Greek community who are on a board plan through Sunday dinner. Once
power was restored, a second email went out to fraternity & sorority
leadership which explained that meals would be offered through Thursday
dinner. This change was made based on power restoration occurring on
Wednesday and information that we received in consultation with FMA and
several cooks that food programs within the houses would be up and running
by Friday morning. Tim Wilkinson, Director of Fraternity & Sorority Affairs
sent a communication to house leadership explaining this change on
Wednesday. We apologize if this information did not filter down to all
chapter members. We did our best to accommodate you during the power outage
and throughout your return to campus, but now that the campus is back to
normal operation and activity, as of this morning, your board plan is your
chapter house responsibility. Thank you for your understanding.

Sincerely,
David Joseph
Executive Director of Student Auxiliary Services

Faculty Advisor Spotlight- Alpha Phi- Professor Walsh

2011-11-04T09:14:00.001-04:00

Name: Vincent A. Walsh

Department: English

Chapter You Advise: Alpha Phi

As a faculty/staff advisor, why did you become involved with Alpha Phi?

Two of my former freshman English 1&2 students, Jenny Ingalls and Bari Mogil, both members of Alpha Phi, approached me during the fall term of 2008 and asked if I would be willing to serve as faculty advisor for the sorority. Since I had developed a great relationship with both Jenny and Bari as students, I readily agreed. I am very interested in Greek Life here at Lehigh, as well as nationally; I’m also an enthusiastic supporter of student activities, particularly initiatives that develop strong leadership and critical thinking/problem solving skills, and also activities that promote intellectual life at Lehigh. I serve as faculty advisor for a student club on campus -- one that formed just last year -- called The Music Box, which provides a forum for Lehigh musicians to stage performances on campus and at local Bethlehem venues that showcase the amazing musical talents of Lehigh students, particularly those who are not formally involved in Zoellner’s music program. I’m also working as a mentor for student mentors who will be working with local inner-city students in Allentown and Bethlehem; this mentoring program is being organized and directed by Christa Wessels from OFSA and Maria Asayag from Admissions. In general, I feel that Greek Life has so much to offer our students and our campus community that is truly exemplary! I want to help develop these positive aspects of fraternity and sorority life, at the same time as we interrogate and challenge some of the less savory aspects of Greek Life, which unfortunately get a lot more press. It has been a true privilege to work with Tim Wilkinson and all of the staff at OFSA, and to feel part of the amazing work all of you are doing to transform Greek Life on campus, so that it can realize its optimal potential, and also serve as a model for how Greek Life should be promoted and transformed nationally.

As a faculty/staff advisor, what are you expecting from Alpha Phi in regards to communications with you?

Kaitlin Slattery is our scholarship/intellectual development chairperson this year, and she’s doing a great job. We keep in steady contact via email and phone; we are planning one jam session (seminar style conversation) each month for the rest of the year; our first session in early September focused on the topic of sexism, and we’ve all decided to stay with that topic for the year, especially considering this is the 40^th Anniversary of Women at Lehigh. Kaitlin has also worked with me to get Alpha Phi on board as a sponsor for the special Women’s Concert at Lamberton on Nov. 5 -- which will feature all women performers; this event is being sponsored by the Women’s Center and President Gast’s 40^th Anniversary Celebration of Women at Lehigh Celebration.

As a faculty/staff advisor, how would you like to get involved with Alpha Phi?

I see my main role as helping develop the intellectual achievement of Alpha Phi, and communicating the importance of this crucial aspect of Greek Life with other Greek houses at Lehigh, and across the campus generally. I also want to help connect Alpha Phi to events like the Nov. 5 concert, and also elicit their continued support for Lehigh’s outreach effort to connect with students in nearby inner-city schools. We had our first jam session at Lehigh with the Latino Leadership Club members from William Allen H.S. in Allentown last spring; Alpha Phi provided a huge stack of fresh hot pizzas and a small lake’s worth of a variety of soft drinks. The jam was a huge success; in January, we will be kicking off a mentoring program run by Lehigh Latino undergraduates who will be working directly with the William Allen Latino leadership Club; we hope to expand this program to Bethlehem schools next year.

Do you have any specific interests or areas of expertise that you would like/be willing to share ?

I bring a wide-ranging scholarly research base of knowledge that can help promote intellectual discussion on numerous levels, particularly issues connected directly to students’ individual majors and specific career and research interests.

Do you have any specific interests or areas of expertise that you would like/be willing to share with the entire Greek community?

I would like to help promote serious intellectual discussion among all members of the Greek community at Lehigh -- both about crucial issues affecting the world at-large, and in particular issues right here in the Greek Life we share at Lehigh regarding hazing, sexism, the out-of-control drinking “culture,” racism, and homophobia.

Any other additional comments?

I feel proud and happy to be part of the OFSA and Lehigh’s vibrant, evolving Greek Life; I really think we can create a model here at Lehigh that will serve as a lodestar for Greek Life across the country.

UPDATES

2011-11-02T11:59:00.001-04:00

Good Morning All,

I hope the last few days have been as smooth as possible. We all appreciate your cooperation and flexibility as we worked through this most unique circumstance. Please forward this update to all chapter members as soon as possible.

Power has been restored to campus this morning and we are asking students

to return to campus after 4 p.m. today. We understand that this is a

compressed time frame, but we are doing all we can to return to normal

operations at the university as quickly as possible. Classes are canceled

for today, Wednesday, but will resume tomorrow, Thursday, November 3rd.

Four o'clock exams scheduled for Thursday, November 3rd will be moved to

Tuesday, November 15th.

Please reiterate to chapter members the need to not return to the facilities until 4 p.m. Staff members have been continuously working to ensure the safety of each facility as the power comes back up. I can only imagine how badly you all want to return to your homes, please work with us little while longer.

Upon your return to the facility, if you have a specific building-related issue to

report, please contact Facilities at 610-758-3941. After 5 p.m., emergency calls should be directed to LUPD by calling 610-758-4200.

Most chapter cooks have confirmed that food shipments will be up and running tomorrow morning and dinner will be served in the facility tomorrow night. Please check in with your chapter president and/or steward regarding the status of your organization. Meals will still be served to chapters without food service through tomorrow night's dinner (Thursday, November 3rd). Meals will be served to chapter members on a fraternity/sorority board plan. Please bring your ID with you in order to verify student status. Please note: meals will be served in Rathbone Dining Hall only.

Although custodial staff was able to discard most of your perishable items from your refrigerators and freezers, some were locked or inaccessible. Please take the time to evaluate your refrigerators and freezers and dispose of any leftover perishable items as soon as possible.

We understand that most of you left your chapter house in a rush and did not have the time to clean the areas of the house for which you are responsible. Please take the time today or tomorrow morning to address these areas.

OFSA will be up and running as of noon this afternoon. Your Assistant Directors will be in touch regarding resuming activities and answering questions. Please compile chapter related questions for your Assistant Directors so as they check in with you, they can be thorough as possible.

Thank you again for your cooperation and flexibility. Keep checking your e-mail and the #LUGreeks twitter account.

Best,

Tim Wilkinson

Important Memo

2011-11-01T11:53:00.003-04:00

To all Fraternity and Sorority Leadership-

This email is a follow up to our previous communication regarding the status on campus at Lehigh. As previously mentioned, the university lost power on Saturday, October 29, 2011 at approximately 1 PM. Unfortunately, power is still off and it looks like it will remain off for at least the next day. As a result your houses have now been without power for almost 3 days.

Some updates:

•
As previously mentioned, all food in refrigerators and freezers is lost and beginning to smell. In order to avoid excessive odor issues, we have begun to work in your facilities to dispose of kitchen trash and food that has spoiled within your facility.

•
We understand that once the University reopens, your kitchens may not be able to function until new food deliveries are made. Again, Lehigh plans to offer all fraternity and sorority residents access to University dining halls for meals through Sunday evening, November 6, 2011. All students need to do is show their Lehigh ID and will be able to enter and eat for free.

•
Please understand that students cannot return to campus until all power has been restored to the entire campus and all safety concerns have been rectified. We will update more on this as information becomes available.

•
You should be working with your various billing agencies to coordinate timing for new shipments of food.

•
As of right now, students should prepare for classes on Thursday, November 3. If classes resume on Thursday,please be prepared for exams unless instructed otherwise. Please note this is subject to change pending updates on power on campus.

•
Parents’ Weekend is currently still schedule to occur. Once power is restored we will re-work existing needs for that event: tailgate registration, events, etc.

Again, thank you for your patience and understanding. Please call Residential Services at 610-758-3500 or e-mail either one of us with any questions.

Ozzie Breiner

Director of Residential Services

lb05@lehigh.edu

Tim Wilkinson

Assistant Dean and Director of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs

Tsw205@lehigh.edu

FALL OPEN HOUSES

2011-10-20T10:45:00.002-04:00

Interested in joining a Fraternity at Lehigh? The Interfraternity Council (IFC) and Multicultural Greek Council (MGC) will be hosting their Fall Open House events next week for all interested men. Events will run from 5-8pm at individual chapter houses or the Ulrich Student Center. This is an awesome opportunity to get to know the many different chapters that Lehigh has to offer!

The schedule is as follows:

Monday October 24:
Psi Upsilon
Delta Upsilon

Chi Psi
Kappa Alpha
Delta Phi
Delta Chi (Ulrich Student Center)

Tuesday October 25:
Lambda Chi Alpha

Phi Gamma Delta
Theta Xi
Theta Chi
Alpha Tau Omega
Sigma Phi Epsilon
Pi Kappa Alpha (Ulrich Student Center)

Wednesday October 26:
Kappa Sigma
Phi Kappa Theta
Phi Sigma Kappa
Chi Phi
Sigma Chi

Lambda Sigma Upsilon (Ulrich Student Center)

If you have questions please contact:
IFC- John LeDuff-jpl312@lehigh
MGC- ArmandoBerdiel - arb512@lehigh.edu

Order of Omega: Now accepting applications

2011-10-06T13:18:00.004-04:00

Written by KimberlyPreusse, Kappa Alpha Theta

The Zeta Lambda Chapter of the Order of Omega wasre-activated in spring 2011 with 12 new members. One honorary membership wasalso given to Professor Terry Hart, faculty advisor of Delta Upsilon, for hisoverall commitment to the fraternity and sorority community at LehighUniversity. The current active membership is planning for a great year, but weneed you! Applications for this junior and senior class standing Greekleadership honor society are now available and due by 12:00 noon on Friday,October 14^th.

Zeta Lambda’s Chapter goals are based off the results of asurvey that was given to juniors and seniors at Greek Council Meetings at the endof the spring 2011 semester. These goals include providing networkingopportunities with Greek alumni in terms of mentoring and career aspirations;bridging the gap with faculty and administration; providing a service tochapter presidents; engaging in service; and programming related totransitioning out of Lehigh University. Exciting possibilities related to thesegoals are already being discussed for the fall and spring semesters. Leadershippositions are available within the organization!

Throughout the year, Order of Omega Headquarters awardsmembers with scholarships. Since 1985, Order of Omega has awarded $721,850 inundergraduate scholarships, including $63,150 during the 2010-2011 academicyear. Graduate fellowships are also available! Zeta Lambda is currently in theprocess of nominating two active members to apply for scholarships ranging from$300 to $1,000.

Weare very excited for the future of the Zeta Lambda Chapter of the Order ofOmega!

Formore information, please see the below timeline. Applications for membership can be found on theOffice of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs website under “Policies and Forms.”

Timeline:

-Completedapplications are to be submitted by 12:00pm on Friday, October 14th, 2011.

-Notificationof membership will be communicated by email on Tuesday, October 18th, 2011.

-Ifaccepting membership into the Zeta Lambda Chapter of the Order of Omega GreekHonor

Societyat Lehigh University, two separate payments are due. A check in the amount of$50 to

Orderof Omega and a $25 check to the Lehigh University Chapter of Order of Omega isto be

submittedto the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs (Warren Square E.) by 5:00pmon

Monday,October 24th, 2011.

-AnOrder of Omega Initiation ceremony and program will take place at 5:00pm onMonday,

November 7th, 2011.

Novak Institute for Hazing Prevention: Erin Wildeman

2011-10-03T09:46:00.000-04:00

I attended the Novak Institute for HazingPrevention this summer. I feel as though my experience at the institute waspretty unique compared to most of the people who went. I come from a chapterthat has recently gotten in trouble for hazing, so before last semester, hazingprevention was not something that was even on my radar. I always equated hazingto the stereotypical events such as forced alcohol consumption or paddling, butbeyond that I feel as though my definition of hazing was very narrow. Becauseof this, the biggest thing I took away from the institute was a whole newdefinition of hazing. I learned that hazing isn’t about the task you are beingmade to do, but it is an attitude. The attitude stems from the hierarchicalstructure that can be found in most our organizations, as well as that mindsetof dominance or power.

As an undergraduate student, Ican’t tell you the number of times that I’ve heard that “hazing is a greyarea.” When we think about our new member education plans, whether they are ourofficial or unofficial plans, we tend to look at each activity individually. Forsome of the activities it’s simply hard to understand why OFSA thinks itshazing. The institute taught that we need to take a step back and truly thinkabout the major goals of our member plans. If we keep in mind “attitude” and then reflect on the member plan as awhole, rather than trying to analyze each activity individually, much of the“grey area” surrounding hazing is eliminated.

My chapter has been presented witha difficult challenge, to stop hazing. One of the hardest parts has beengaining universal chapter support. Hazing is part of our tradition as achapter, and it is fueled by the fact that hazing has been so normalized acrossall of Greek life at Lehigh. It is hard to go from chapter that hazes, to onethat does nothing over night, but when it really came down to it last semester,everyone chose to keep our charter over continuing with these traditions. I amproud to tell you that physically, my chapter has stopped hazing, but mentally,not all of our members have fully grasped it yet. They are willing to stophazing because they could see how critical our situation was, but it is hard tounderstand why we are not just channeling our efforts into brainstorming betterand more clever ways to hide what we are doing from OFSA, because that woulddefinitely be easier.

I would say that the biggest thingthat has helped our chapter move forward has simply been to have a more opendialog about hazing. I know that several members, as well as myself now feelcomfortable having these discussions with people in OFSA or conduct officers atLehigh. Furthermore, I learned that it only takes a couple of members who arewilling to lead their chapter to turn the attitude of hazing around. We nowhave the unique opportunity to be an example for the other chapters on campus.I think that we are on our way to proving that we can be just as close and havejust as much fun without hazing in our chapter.

-Erin Wildeman

Hazing Prevention Week - What Would You Do Lehigh?

2011-09-29T15:23:00.001-04:00

As you may be aware,the Office of Fraternity/Sorority Affairs and the Women's Center launched abystander intervention initiative for the entire Lehigh community in the fall2009 semester. The initiative has been received well and we are constantly re-inventingways to expose the campus community to the concept of bystander behavior;instilling the message of individual responsibility to stand up and intervene.

This week is Hazing Prevention Week and the Office ofFraternity & Sorority Affairs along with its governing student councils(IFC, Panhel and MGC) have partnered with Julie Sterret and Lehigh Athleticspeer groups to bring awareness to hazing prevention and education. This week isa very important event sponsored by our office as we aim to bring awareness toan issue that not only affect college campuses, but society as a whole. Whilethere have already been numerous well received and attended programs thus far,we wanted to bring your attention to one that will be used a social experimentfor the campus.

If you have heard of the ABC Series, “What Would You Do”with John Quinones, you are familiar with the concept of the events that willoccur. If you are not, please allow me to give you a brief synopsis. What wouldyou do if you saw an act of injustice? How would you react to something sooutrageous or tragic that it compels you to do something about it? “Primetime:What Would You Do?” sets up elaborate realistic scenarios with actors testingreal controversial subjects to see what ordinary people would do when pushed toact, or if they act at all.

The purpose of this program: 69% of people on campusesnationwide say that they are aware of hazing occurring at their schools, yethazing goes unreported each year. We want to gauge people’s reactions to thevarious acts of hazing carried out throughout the day and let them know what todo if they see something similar in the future. These examples of hazing are the most obvious and most common forms(that don’t involve forced consumption of alcohol or sexual acts), so theywould be the best ways to show the campus community what hazing looks like.

1. Abduction

Why: 9% of social fraternity and sorority members reportbeing abducted as part of their hazing process. It is also one of the most apparent forms of hazing (both due to thepublic aspect of it and the cultural glorification) and is something that canvery easily be reported.

2. ForcedCalisthenics

Who: Panhel

Why: Physical acts of hazing are common, especially forathletic groups and male fraternities. This form of hazing can sometimes bedisguised as a “group workout”

If you have any questions or concerns about today’sprogramming, please do not hesitate to contact the Office of Fraternity andSorority Affairs. Our hope is that by bringing these issues to the public’sattention, we may educate on what hazing is and how to identify acts of hazing.

Recognizing the negative impact hazing has on all of Greeklife, 20 international fraternities and sororities have joined together toestablish a national Anti-Hazing Hotline. The toll-free number, 1-888-NOT-HAZEis available to those who think they, or students they know, have been or maybe victims of hazing. Callers may remain anonymous or provide personalinformation so that they may be responded to directly.

The law firm of Manley Burke will forward copies of messagesto the appropriate national organizations along with the relevant hazing lawsfor that jurisdiction. Lehigh University students, faculty and staff areencouraged to use this resource, along with the local and campus resources, ifthey suspect that hazing is occurring within the Greek system.

If you feel that you may have insight to an incident thatmay be considered hazing, please fill out the online form at https://www.lehigh.edu/~indost/greek/hazingeducation.shtml. This form is anonymous and youridentity will be kept confidential. It will not be disclosed to the individualsor group in question. If you would like our office to contact you about thestatus of the investigation, please provide your contact information below fora follow up. All information obtained will be used solely for this purpose. Ifyou would prefer to speak with someone about this form and disclosing youridentity, please feel free to call the Office of Fraternity & SororityAffairs at 610-758-4157.

Greek Week 2011

2011-09-28T16:57:00.003-04:00

Greek Week 2011 Results

Teams-

Purple-
Alpha Chi Omega
Sigma Phi Epsilon
Lambda Chi Alpha

Orange-
Alpha Omicron Pi
Phi Sigma Kappa
Sigma chi

Black-
ALpha Phi
Theta Xi
Phi Kappa Theta

Yellow-
Delta Gamma
Delta Phi
Delta Chi

Blue-
Gamma Phi Beta
Kappa Alpha
Psi Upsilon

Red-
Kappa Alpha Theta
Delta Upsilon
Alpha Tau Omega

Green-
Pi Beta Phi
Phi Gamma Delta
Theta Chi

Brown-
Zeta Tau Alpha
Chi Psi
Pi Kappa Alpha
Multicultural Greek Council

White-
Alpha Gamma Delta
Chi Phi
Kappa Sigma

Events -

Dodge Ball- Male

Yellow
Green
White

Dodge Ball- Female

Black
Green
Brown

Dodge Ball- Co-Ed

Blue
Red
Green

Chariot Races

Purple
Yellow
Orange

Greek Sing

Black
Orange
White

Clips from Greek Sing

Kickball

Purple
White
Black

Volleyball

White
Blue
Yellow

Can Castle

White
Orange
Brown/Yellow

Trivia

Black
Brown
Blue/Purple

Tug o' War

Black
Purple
Orange

3 Legged Race

Black
Orange
Green

Sack Race

Black
Orange
Green

Final Scores:
1st place: Black team
2nd place: White team
3rd place: Orange team

Congratulations and thank you to all participating teams!

The Bandana Project

2011-09-28T14:51:00.001-04:00

The Bandana Project is a national campaign, launched in 2007, that adopted the bandana as a symbol of solidarity to end sexual violence against farm worker women because many use bandanas on the job to cover their faces and bodies in an attempt to ward off unwanted sexual attention that often leads to rape. On October 5th, Lambda Theta Alpha, alongside volunteers from the Hispanic Heritage Month Committee and the Women's Center will be tabling and educating people in the University Center from 10-4pm, we will be also handing out white bandanas (we will be asking for a donation of any amount for the bandanas). On these bandanas, people will be asked to write an inspirational message. On October 6th, those who have the white bandanas are asked to wear these bandanas for the entire day, whether it is tied on the book bags or around their wrists. As leaders of great communities on this campus I am asking for everyone's involvement in this opportunity to raise awareness on a very serious issue. I have 300 bandanas available for this project and I would love to see these bandanas being worn by our Greek community. If you would like, I can set aside a specific number of bandanas for each chapter interested in being involved. Please let me know if you have any questions about being involved or about the campaign. -Sara Santos, President of Lambda Theta Alpha Latin Sorority, Inc.

OFSA Intern Perspective: Jaclyn Halm

2011-09-28T09:04:00.003-04:00

Hello Lehigh GreekCommunity,

My name is JaclynHalm, and I am a senior studying History and Secondary Education at RowanUniversity. I am a proud member of Alpha Epsilon Phi, Phi Kappa chapter andcurrently hold the title of president. This summer I had the remarkableopportunity of fulfilling the position of an undergraduate intern at the Officeof Fraternity and Sorority Affairs at Lehigh. I was asked to write this blog inorder to share with you not only what I experienced throughout the summer as anintern in OFSA, but to shed some light on all the interoffice happenings andimprovements that took place.

Throughout thesummer I worked closely with all of the OFSA staff on creating a presidentsresource guide, as well as establishing Lehigh’s first Presidents’ Academy. Theresource guide was a twenty-page document, which highlighted all the variousopportunities and services that each office on campus could offer to a chapter.It also offered a listing in the appendix of all the programming provided bythe university in order of which requirement they would fulfill foraccreditation.

Through thisexperience I gained insight into what it was like to not only work on a daily basiswithin a campus community, but to work directly with an extremely successfulstaff that had amazing inter-office relations. Quite frankly, I wasspoiled. I learned what it was like towork with others as a team, as well as the importance of reliability within theworkplace.

Hazing Prevention Week - by Steph Albano

2011-09-16T09:07:00.002-04:00

Throughout the week of September 26th, Lehigh University will be honoring National Hazing Prevention Week with programs designed to spread awareness and educate the Lehigh community on how to prevent hazing. The highlight of the week will be the keynote speech by Rick Barnes from CAMPUSPEAK, who will talk about the prevalence of hazing in our communities and what we can do to stop it. Other programs include a Leadership & Hazing program that will focus campus leaders' roles in hazing prevention, a New Member Educator brown bag discussion and a Hazing Prevention Panel with experts from across the Lehigh community. The detailed schedule is as follows:

Monday 9/26

Leadership & Hazing - Mg 101

Tuesday 9/27

Rick Barnes of CAMPUSPEAK - Pa 101

Wednesday 9/28

New Member Educator Brown Bag Discussion - Mg 101

Thursday 9/29

Hazing Prevention Panel - STEPS 102

Please join us in participating in Hazing Prevention Week this year. Whether you’re a member of the Greek community, an athlete, a general member of the Lehigh community, or a concerned bystander, you can benefit from the programming and together we can stop hazing.

Greek Week 2011!

2011-09-15T14:57:00.003-04:00

Schedule of Events:

Sunday, September 18

6-7pm: Opening Ceremony: Packard 101

Monday, September 19

4pm: Kickball: Sayre Lodge

7pm: Dodgeball: Grace Hall

Tuesday, September 20

4pm: Volleyball: Lower Cents

7pm: Chariot Races: Memorial Walkway

Wednesday, September 21

7pm: Fundraising Contest/Can Castle: Memorial Walkway

Thursday, September 22

4pm: Trivia: Lewis Lab 270

7pm: Lip Sync: Packard 101

Friday, September 23

4pm: Field Events: Sayre Lodge

6pm: Closing Ceremony: Tamerler Courtyard (Rauch)

Panhellenic Recruitment - by Taara Ness-Cochinwala

2011-09-14T08:48:00.004-04:00

Interested in joining the 42% of Greeks on Lehigh’s Campus? Read on!

Greek Life is a great way to get involved on campus, open the door for leadership opportunities within your chapter, perform community service around and off campus, and join a family that will be with you for life, all across the nation! There are countless opportunities that come along with Greek Life both during your college experience and beyond it, as well as just having a great time with friends! If this sounds like something you’re interested in, a great first step is joining the Facebook group to stay updated on events. The group is called: Lehigh Sorority Recruitment 2012.

As far as specific recruitment events, the Panhellenic Council recently sponsored a Bagel Brunch on the UC Front Lawn. Upcoming is the Sorority Open Houses held October 13^th, 18^th and 19^th from 6-9pm. Attendees will be visiting three of the nine different chapters each day, and this will be your only opportunity to see the inside of the chapter houses first semester! (You can sign up in the Facebook group.) The next event is Recruitment Orientation on November 7^th.Finally, Formal Recruitment is January 10^th-15^th and you can register on the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs’ website.

Greek Life is a great opportunity to get involved and be part of a growing community here at Lehigh. For more information about Sorority Recruitment, please email Taara Ness-Cochinwala, VP Recruitment at tan212@lehigh.edu.

GEM Mentor Program: By Eric Pletcher

2011-09-12T08:53:00.001-04:00

So you just joined a Greek letter organization. Now what? If you’re committed to making positive change within your chapter while uniting the Greek community as a whole, then the Greek EMerging Leaders program has the potential to hone your leadership skills in the company of peers committed to the same goal. Mentees are not only given the opportunity to build relationships with fellow emerging leaders, Lehigh faculty and staff, as well as the upperclassmen Mentors facilitating the sessions, but a chance to branch out and make the most of their Lehigh Greek Life experience. With representatives from over twenty Greek chapters, the program pools myriad first-hand accounts that are exchanged via group discussion, personal reflection, and valuable activities which will benefit its members throughout their time at Lehigh and beyond. Any student who becomes a new member of a Greek organization during the Spring of 2012 may apply to be part of the program for the Fall of 2012. After an interview process, 35 students will be selected to participate in the experience. We also look for current sophomores and juniors who have demonstrated leadership ability, maturity, and charisma to apply to be a mentor. We will select 8 mentors during November of 2011 to take part in training to prepare to run the sessions in Fall of 2012. Applications for Mentors will be available in November on the OSLD and OFSA websites.

Greek Allies - by Jackie Kocot

2011-09-07T08:25:00.002-04:00

The Greek Allies Program was founded in Spring of 2009 and is a student run group that was founded to provide a communicative outlet for current Greeks who struggle with LGBTQIA (Lesbian, Gay, Bi-sexual, Transgender, Queer, Questioning, Intersex, and Ally) issues and to support students who identify as LGBTQIA who are interested in Greek Life at Lehigh. Greek Allies will be offering modules that are designed to challenge pre-conceived ideas and emotions when it comes to the LGBTQIA community, explore the impact of word choices, and to provide resources and knowledge for you to assist those who may be interested in finding out more. For more information about Greek Allies, please contact Christa Wessels, Assistant Director of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs at caw408@lehigh.edu

Faculty/Staff Advisor Spotlight: Seth Goren

2011-09-02T10:08:00.002-04:00

We wanted to connect with some faculty and staff advisors to take a better look at why our chapters are so great! This month's faculty/staff advisor spotlight highlights Lambda Chi Alpha's advisor, Seth Goren. Seth is the Director of Jewish Student Life and the Associate Chaplain here at Lehigh. He received his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Linguistics from the University of Pennsylvania as well as his Doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania Law School. He was ordained at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in 2007.

Seth is a member of Kappa Alpha Society since 1992 where he has served his International board as Secretary, Treasurer, and Chapter Representative. At Lehigh, Seth currently advises the brotherhood of Lambda Chi Alpha and has been doing so for four years. He finds the most rewarding part about advising to be the opportunity to walk with students as they learn and grow over time, as undergraduates and beyond. Seth is proud of the members in Lambda Chi Alpha for their increasing resilience in encountering difficult situations and the members’ cultivation of a broader and deeper sense of humor and perspective.

When asking Seth what his best advice for Greek-affiliated student is, he responded by saying that you should allow your chapter and organizational affiliation to be a part of who you are, but not everything you are, both to yourself and others.

When Seth is not working or advising he can be seen spending time with his adorable daughter, Liana, and other family and friends. He also enjoys running and singing loudly with the radio in the car as well as “Jewy” things. Get to know Seth and he can tell you all about that!

We are lucky to have Seth as an advisor and advocate for the Lehigh Greek community. If you see Seth on campus, be sure to thank him for his service to making our community that much stronger.

Welcome Back! - Tim Wilkinson, Assistant Dean of Students; Director of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs

2011-08-26T16:43:00.002-04:00

Hello Everybody! I hope you all had a peaceful and productive summer. The Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs has been busy at preparing for 2011-12 and we are excited to have you all get back and get started. Like most summers, we’ve undergone some staffing changes and are excited for an infusion of new ideas and experiences to spice up what’s already the best staff there is! We are excited that Jessi McPherrin is with us, and hopefully you will all get to interact with her as she advises chapters, works with the Interfraternity Council and oversees Greek Week and our communitywide interactions with the Greek Alumni Council.

Our summer was one of the busiest in recent years as OFSA hosted the Hazingprevention.org Novak Institute on Hazing Prevention. Additionally we ushered in the new Accreditation process, and began planning for Greek Week and Hazing Prevention Week. We know that you all had busy and rewarding summers as well. We have already been informed of Sigma Phi Epsilon receiving the prestigious Buchanan Cup (outstanding chapter award), as well as Kappa Sigma receiving their National Most Improved Chapter Award. Congrats to them and all others that were recognized by Inter/National Headquarters over the past few months.

Watching the progress that our Fraternity and Sorority Community continues to make is an amazing thing, and something that the entire OFSA staff is very proud to be a part of. Lehigh’s Greek Community is such a vibrant piece of the campus climate, and we need to continue to challenge each other to partner with the rest of the campus to ensure this legacy of excellence continues. Hopefully I will have the chance to interact with you all during chapter lunches, dinners and programs; council meetings and around campus.

Welcome Back!

Tim Wilkinson

Assistant Dean of Students; Director of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs

GREEK WEEK 2011!

2011-04-28T09:35:00.003-04:00

It may be over four months away, but it's never too soon to get excited for GREEK WEEK 2011!

The teams and events were just announced yesterday! Please see below for additional information.

SEPTEMBER 18 - 23, 2011

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

Sunday, 9/18
Evening: Opening Ceremonies & Banner Competition

Monday, 9/19
Afternoon: Kickball
Evening: Dodgeball

Tuesday, 9/20
Afternoon: Volleyball
Evening: Chariot Races

Wednesday, 9/21
Afternoon: Southside Service
Evening: Can Castle Competition & Philanthropy Donations Due

Thursday, 9/22
Afternoon: Trivia
Evening: Lip Sync

Friday, 9/23
Afternoon: Field Games - Tug of war, 3-legged race, etc!
Evening: Closing BBQ & Meet the Greeks

TEAMS

The theme for this year's Greek Week is GAME SHOWS. At the first Greek Week chair meeting on 9/2, you'll get to pick your team's game show theme!

Team 1:
Alpha Chi Omega
Sigma Phi Epsilon
Lambda Chi Alpha

Team 2:
Alpha Omicron Pi
Phi Sigma Kappa
Sigma Chi

Team 3:
Alpha Phi
Theta Xi
Phi Kappa Theta

Team 4:
Delta Gamma
Delta Phi
Delta Chi

Team 5:
Gamma Phi Beta
Kappa Alpha
Psi Upsilon

Team 6:
Kappa Alpha Theta
Delta Upsilon
Alpha Tau Omega

Team 7:
Pi Beta Phi
Phi Gamma Delta
Theta Chi

Team 8:
Zeta Tau Alpha
Chi Psi
Pi Kappa Alpha
Multicultural Greek Council

Team 9:
Alpha Gamma Delta
Chi Phi
Kappa Sigma

GREEK WEEK CHAIRS

Each chapter must select a junior or senior Greek Week chair by Thursday, 5/5. Chairs must be able to attend the Greek Week meetings at 4pm on 9/2, 9/9, & 9/16.

QUESTIONS about Greek Week? Contact:

Rachel Modica, Panhellenic Vice President of Programming, rhm212
Nick Toth, IFC Vice President, nlt212

2010/2011 Greek Awards

2011-04-28T09:12:00.003-04:00

The following individual awards were distributed at the annual Greek Awards celebration on Tuesday, April 26th at the Candlelight Reception & Conference Center in Bethlehem.

Multicultural Greek Council

Humanitarian Award: Gregory Martin, Omega Psi Phi
Savant Award: Mario Paredes, Lambda Sigma Upsilon
Apollo Award: Mario Paredes, Lambda Sigma Upsilon

Panhellenic Council

Alumnae Advisor Award: Lauren Motch, Kappa Alpha Theta
Faculty Advisor Award: Allison Gulati, Delta Gamma
Emerging Leader Award: Laura Belair, Gamma Phi Beta
Outstanding Sorority President Award: Taylor Kite, Alpha Gamma Delta
Sorority Service Award: Sam Goldstein, Alpha Chi Omega
Panhellenic Award: Lauren Koenig, Alpha Phi
Outstanding Greek Woman Award: Chloe Mullins, Gamma Phi Beta
Mary Ann Mikitka Award: Professor Beth Gallant & Rabbi Seth Goren

Interfraternity Council

Peter Wolle Alumni Advisor Award: Hans Sitkus, Sigma Phi Epsilon
Emerging Leader Award: Josh DiDio, Lambda Chi Alpha
President of the Year Award: Adam Pittenger, Theta Chi
Interfraternal Award: Chris Cassidy, Sigma Phi Epsilon
Lifetime Achievement Award: Zac Jaindl, Alpha Tau Omega
Greek Man of the Year Award: Andrew Woodward, Phi Gamma Delta

Residential Services

House Manager of the Year - Fraternities: Chris Campisi, Lambda Chi Alpha
House Manager of the Year - Sororities: Mari Freeburg, Pi Beta Phi

Congratulations to all recipients and nominees!

IFC Fraternity Recruitment - UPDATE

2011-01-17T17:23:00.006-05:00

DUE TO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS, OPEN HOUSES FOR TUESDAY, 1/18 HAVE BEEN RESCHEDULED. PLEASE NOTE THE REVISED SCHEDULE BELOW. CHAPTER CHANGES HAVE BEEN STARRED *.

The Interfraternity Council's spring recruitment kicks off this week with Open Houses. The schedule is listed below. All unaffiliated male students are invited to visit the chapters, meet the brothers, and learn more about each organization. All Open Houses are held on the Hill, unless otherwise noted.

A reminder that you must have a least a 2.25 cumulative GPA (some chapters require higher) and 12 earned credits to join a fraternity.

Wednesday, January 19, 5:00-8:00 PM
Delta Upsilon *
Chi Phi
Chi Psi *
Kappa Sigma
Phi Gamma Delta (Fiji)
Phi Kappa Theta
Phi Sigma Kappa
Pi Kappa Alpha (in Ulrich Great Room)
Psi Upsilon *
Sigma Chi

Thursday, January 20, 5:00-8:00 PM
Alpha Tau Omega
Delta Chi (in Lamberton Great Room)
Delta Phi *
Delta Tau Delta *
Kappa Alpha *
Lambda Chi Alpha
Sigma Phi Epsilon
Theta Chi
Theta Xi

Questions regarding the IFC fraternity recruitment process can be directed to Jim McSweeney, IFC Recruitment Chair, at jcm311@lehigh.edu.

Questions regarding recruitment eligibility can be directly to Michelle Rebholz, Greek Life Coordintaor, at mim408@lehigh.edu.

A President's Perspective: Police Liaisons

2010-11-23T10:39:00.005-05:00

A brief interview with Theta Chi's President, Adam Pittenger, '11, regarding his experiences with the Lehigh University Police Department Police Liaison program.

Based on your observations during your Lehigh University Police ride-along, what is the primary concern of LUPD?

I'd say the primary concern would be the safety of the students. Not once did I feel they were stopping someone just for the sole reason of "stopping them". Many times, the police were just trying to maintain things and the student dug themselves into a hole and got into trouble.

What did you learn from your Lehigh University Police ride-along experience and how will you apply it to your fraternity's risk management education and awareness initiatives?

I really try to stress cooperation within my chapter. It is simply not worth it to lie or try to deceive the police. If you are nice, courteous, and help the police out in any way that you can, they will show you the same courtesy and respect. A lot of problems could be avoided if the majority of students held this attitude.

Look for more brief interviews like this with chapter presidents and officers in the months ahead.

A Chapter's Perspective: Risk Management

2010-11-03T14:51:00.004-04:00

An interview with Kappa Alpha Theta's President, Kelsey Duffy, and Risk Management Chair, Jessie Jacobson. The chapter won the Panhellenic Council Risk Management Award at the 2009-2010 Greek Gala.

How does Kappa Alpha Theta encourage dialogue related to risk-management within the chapter? How do you think members and the chapter have benefited from these initiatives?
At each chapter meeting, the risk manager presents a module to the chapter related to a risk management issue. Some topics include: how to recognize depression, how to wrap a sprained ankle, etc. We also implemented longer modules presented each year on FIPG policies, NPC regulations and other risk management issues. We had one module that was facilitated by our advisors, as they put together a series of real-life insurance cases that occurred to fraternities. In groups we discussed what we thought was the result. Each group presented their case to the chapter and then the advisors gave us the real results. This helped all of our members to understand that risk management is not just alcohol related, but in many different aspects of our lives. I think our members have a much better understanding of what we do to prevent risk as well as what constitutes risk. Since implementing these initiatives, we have seen a change in our members and their personal responsibilities.

We have also implemented a risk management question/suggestion box for sisters to ask any question relating to risk management while staying anonymous. We also hand out index cards with the risk management team’s phone numbers so that in the event of a risk management issue, sisters can call us to assist. The names are in the “chain of command,” so sisters know who to contact first in case of an emergency. We also have a nine-member risk management team and at the beginning of each year with new members we stand and introduce our role at a chapter meeting.

What educational programming does Kappa Alpha Theta provide on risk management and/or on the dangers of alcohol misuse to its' members that you think is unique?
New members are required to meet weekly with the VP of Education to learn about the sorority, one of the topics being Theta’s risk management policies. Kappa Alpha Theta also requires all new members to complete GreekLife Edu, which covers many Greek issues including many related to risk management. Another program Theta has launched is the Sisters Supporting Sisters program; we have joined with Talk One-to-One, which is a 24 hour hotline that is available to all members of Theta. It is geared towards depression, anxiety, stress and other issues facing many college women. It is completely anonymous and can be used if you are feeling depressed as well as by someone in search of information about how to work with and help a friend who might be having a difficult time.

What proactive steps does Kappa Alpha Theta take to reduce risk and the likelihood of a tragedy?
The risk management team meets prior to every event to address possible risk management issues specific to each event we are planning. We assign party monitors as well, as they are responsible for watching out for other sisters and assuring that everyone is safe. After each event, we meet to discuss what went well and what we should change in the future. In addition, we are required to submit a pre-event checklist to Theta advisors two weeks prior to each event which serves the dual purpose of forcing the risk management team to systematically plan events in an organized fashion and assuring that we are engaging in the best risk management practices. This process is unique and effective due to our multiple levels of advisors. For an event to be approved it must go through three different advisors each who sign off. By having this, every detail is looked at and if anything is missed by one it is picked up by another. It is Theta’s way of ensuring that the undergraduates are not just saying they are following procedure, but that we actually are. It is an extra layer of someone asking “what if” questions and helping us to really manage our events. We also continually educate our members as to who to contact if a tragedy was to occur and how to remain calm if the situation arose.

What does Kappa Alpha Theta do to hold members accountable for their poor behaviors related to alcohol misuse?
Members who engage in poor behaviors related to alcohol misuse can be called in to speak with the Member Development Committee (MDC), a panel of sisters consisting of one member of each member class, the VP of Development, and the President. An advisor is also on call or present for MDC meetings. MDC is completely confidential and assesses each situation on a case-by-case basis. The way in which sisters are asked to hold themselves accountable varies depending on what the instance that occurred was. We also look to each sister to hold everyone accountable. We allow people to report problems to MDC without the fear of being “found out,” as well as encourage the use of the resources available to us as members of Kappa Alpha Theta.
Any other comments as it relates to Kappa Alpha Theta's risk-management initiatives?
We conduct walk-throughs of the facility on a monthly basis to assure the house is substance free and that there are no other risk management issues, fire alarms, broken windows etc.

A Chapter's Perspective: Risk Management

2010-10-28T18:07:00.002-04:00

An interview with Psi Upsilon's President, Bill Mistretta, '11, and Risk Management Chair, Ian Smyth, '12. The chapter won the IFC Risk Management Award at the 2009-2010 Greek Gala.

What educational programming does Psi Upsilon provide on risk management and/or on the dangers of alcohol misuse to its' members that you think is unique?
Each new member is required to complete Greek Life Edu in order to be initiated and this is a requirement from the Psi Upsilon International Office. The chapter leadership tells new members that the chapter is theirs as much as it is the current members’, and it is within their duties as future members of the organization to take risk management into their own hands and understand how their actions hold consequences for the chapter as a whole.

What proactive steps does Psi Upsilon take to reduce risk and the likelihood of a tragedy?
The majority of chapter members feel obligated to run their future actions by the Vice President or President if they feel there is even a small chance that the activity will lead to a risk management issue or tragedy. In the event that a chapter member notices another participating in an activity that could easily become a risk management issue or tragedy, he generally feels it is his duty to either confront the other member about the activity or find one of the chapter leaders. If the confrontation route is chosen and it does not resolve the issue, the member then goes to the chapter leadership.

What does Psi Upsilon do to hold members accountable for their poor behaviors related to alcohol misuse?
The executive board has the ability to fine chapter members for poor behavior related to alcohol misuse. Although such fines can be appealed by the guilty individual to the standards board, the board generally recognizes such behavior should not go unpunished. Additionally, rights have been stripped in the past when a member has acted poorly. An example of such is the ability to participate in social and/or recruitment events. Another method that works well to keep members accountable for poor behavior is peer pressure as this type of behavior risks chapter disapproval. Since our philosophy is that risk management is a group responsibility and not solely on the shoulders of a few individuals, each member will bear another’s poor actions from the past in mind and work to pressure him away from repeating such actions in the future.

How does Psi Upsilon encourage dialogue related to risk management within the chapter?
We encourage each member to take risk management upon himself. The Vice President, who has risk management amongst his duties, and the President can’t be everywhere or see everything, so each member understands that it is also his responsibility to think about how his actions will affect the chapter as a whole. In the event that a member feels he is unable to act and resolve a risk management issue, the Vice President and President are available to help.

Any other comments as it relates to Psi Upsilon's risk management initiatives?
Risk management is not simply a list of rules and regulations. No single policy could possibly cover every scenario the chapter might face, and through open communication between the chapter officers and general membership, Psi Upsilon has effectively kept good risk management at the core of the fraternity. Psi Upsilon also believes that risk management goes well beyond alcohol-related incidents, and the chapter works hard to recognize issues in all activities.

Panhellenic Pink Week

2010-10-25T09:01:00.004-04:00

The 2010 Panhellenic Pink Week, in support of breast cancer awareness, kicks off today with a series of events on and off campus, with all proceeds benefiting the Susan G. Komen Foundation.

Monday, 10/25
Pink Week Tie-Dying
UC Front Lawn
12:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Sponsored by Kappa Alpha Theta & Pi Beta Phi

Monday, 10/25, Tuesday, 10/26, & Wednesday, 10/27

Asian Bistro Fundraiser

24 E. Third St, Bethlehem, PA

Bring flyer & 15% of your dine-in lunch or dinner check is donated

Sponsored by Delta Gamma & Theta Xi

Tuesday, 10/26, Wednesday, 10/27, & Thursday, 10/28
Penny Wars
UC Front Lawn, Ulrich, & Upper UC
10:00 AM - 2:00 PM

Sponsored by Alpha Phi, the Women's Lacrosse team, Gamma Phi Beta, & Lambda Chi Alpha

Wednesday, 10/27

Pink Pumpkin Decorating

Lamberton

12:30 PM - 4:30 PM

Sponsored by Alpha Chi Omega & the Women's Center

Thursday, 10/28

Real Men Wear Pink Fashion Show

Lamberton

7:00 PM

Tickets $10

Sponsored by the Panhellenic Council

Friday, 10/29

Dave's Deli Lunch

3 W. Third St, Bethlehem

11:00 AM - 2:00 PM

Sponsored by Junior Panhellenic

Friday, 10/29

Breast Cancer Walk

Starts at the Delta Phi parking lot

4:30 PM

Sponsored by Delta Phi & Alpha Chi Omega

Friday, 10/29

Pink Out Women's Volleyball Game vs. Lafayette

Grace Hall

7:00 PM

Wear your Pink Week shirt in support!

Saturday, 10/30

Denim & Pink Tailgate & Football Game vs. Colgate

Goodman Campus

10:00 AM

Free giveaways for the first ones there!

The official Panhellenic Pink Week Shirts will be worn on Friday, 10/29!

Lehigh's 2010 Hazing Prevention Week

2010-09-29T14:27:00.003-04:00

Hazing Prevention Week will be a time to educate Lehigh’s Greek community as well as the campus community as a whole about the dangers of hazing and how to prevent hazing. Our focus is on holding honest dialogue with all participants throughout the week in order tailor hazing prevention programming leading into the new member education period in the spring.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

Monday, October 4th

Event: “Haze Documentary”
Time & Location: Lewis Lab 270 at 6:30pm
The documentary “Haze” will be shown. Following the documentary, we will break out into small group discussions (2-3 breakout rooms upstairs) with an initial facilitation by Tim Wilkinson, Director of the Office of Fraternity & Sorority Affairs, in order to discuss the major themes.

Tuesday, October 5th

Event: Speaker Reception
Time & Location: Multicultural Room at 6pm-7pm
Meet and greet with refreshments served in order to welcome Travis Apgar to campus.

Event: Travis Apgar, Speaker - "Hazing: The Fallout"
Time & Location: Packard 101 at 7pm
Travis’ keynote, “Hazing: The Fallout”, is a fresh, new look at hazing from the perspective of a victim with a background that contributed to the severity of the impact. Travis’ emotional and powerful story is a wake-up call about the hidden harm of hazing.

Wednesday, October 6th

Event: Book discussion of “Pledged: The Secret Life of Sororities”
Time & Location: MG 101 at 6pm
Each sorority chapter will send at least 3 members to attend this book discussion. In advance, passages from the book will be selected and passed out to the attendees of the discussion. These passages will guide our discussion about the major themes of “Pledged: The Secret Life of Sororities” which will be facilitated by Michelle Issadore from the Women’s Center. The discussion will be focused on the harmful effects of hazing on sorority women including (but not limited to) negative body image and substance abuse.

Thursday, October 7th

Event: New Member Educator Discussion
Time & Location: MG 113 6pm
Samantha Bello (Panhellenic VP Judicial), Lauren Koenig (Panhellenic President), Stu Harwood (IFC VP Judicial), and Brian Casey (IFC President) will oversee a discussion between the new member educators of each Lehigh chapter. The discussion will kick off with a role play debate run by Tim Wilkinson. Upon completion of these activities, an open, honest discussion with new member educators will occur regarding their concerns about hazing.

Questions about Hazing Prevention Week?

Contact Samantha Bello or Stuart Harwood.

Greek Gala

2010-09-28T09:06:00.005-04:00

The inagural Greek Gala was held on Monday, 9/27 in the Asa Packer Dining Room at Lehigh University. In a switch from years past, the chapter awards and Accreditation plaques were handed out at this gathering, while the individual Greek awards were distributed at the annual Greek Awards banquet in April 2010.

Below is the list of chapter award winners, with the finalists noted in italics.

Interfraternity Council Awards

Most Improved GPA: Chi Psi

Highest GPA: Sigma Phi Epsilon

Alumni Relations: Sigma Chi
(Theta Chi, Delta Upsilon, Alpha Tau Omega)

Community Service & Philanthropy: Psi Upsilon
(Sigma Phi Epsilon, Phi Kappa Theta)

Greek Life Leadership: Sigma Phi Epsilon
(Theta Chi, Lambda Chi Alpha, Alpha Tau Omega)

Risk Management: Psi Upsilon
(Phi Kappa Theta, Sigma Phi Epsilon, Lambda Chi Alpha)

Scholarship Programming: Sigma Phi Epsilon
(Phi Sigma Kappa, Lambda Chi Alpha, Theta Chi)

Quay Cup (outstanding fraternity): Sigma Phi Epsilon
(Phi Sigma Kappa)

Panhellenic Council Awards

Most Improved GPA: Kappa Alpha Theta

Highest GPA: Alpha Gamma Delta

Alumnae Relations: Alpha Gamma Delta
(Kappa Alpha Theta, Alpha Phi)

Community Service & Philanthropy: Alpha Phi
(Alpha Gamma Delta, Alpha Omicron Pi)

Greek Life Leadership: Alpha Omicron Pi
(Delta Gamma, Alpha Gamma Delta)

Risk Management: Kappa Alpha Theta
(Alpha Omicron Pi, Pi Beta Phi)

Scholarship Programming: Alpha Gamma Delta
(Alpha Omicron Pi, Kappa Alpha Theta)

Outstanding Sorority Chapter: Delta Gamma
(Alpha Gamma Delta, Alpha Omicron Pi)

Multicultural Greek Council Awards

Outstanding Campus Involvement: Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.

Commitment to Service: Lambda Sigma Upsilon Latino Fraternity, Inc.

Dedication to Scholarly Achievement: Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.

Residential Services Awards

Stewardship Chapters of the Year: Sigma Phi Epsilon & Kappa Alpha Theta

Congratulations to all!

Sorority Extension Presentations

2010-09-08T16:01:00.004-04:00

As previously announced, the Lehigh Panhellenic Council voted to expand the sorority community this past April and the Extension Committee narrowed down the applications from National Panhellenic Conference organizations to invite four sororities to visit campus and present the week of September 13th.

The presentation schedule is listed below. All presentations are open to the Lehigh community.

Monday, September 13 - 4pm

Phi Sigma Sigma

PA 416

Tuesday, September 14 - 4pm

Delta Zeta

PA 466

Wednesday, September 15 - 4pm

Kappa Delta

PA 416

Thursday, September 16 - 4pm

Zeta Tau Alpha

PA 466

The Extension Commitee will convene in the weeks following the presentations and announce the final selection on Friday, October 8th. The new sorority will begin recruitment and colonization efforts in January 2011.

Questions regarding extension? Contact Veronica Hunter, Greek Life Coordinator, at vmh207@lehigh.edu

Learning and Leadership

2010-08-30T08:41:00.001-04:00

By Sean Maloney, '12, Phi Sigma Kappa

This August, four brothers from the Nu chapter of Phi Sigma Kappa attended the Shonk Leadership Conference in Indianapolis, Indiana. These brothers representing leadership roles in the house ranging from President to House Manager took it upon themselves to further their education in what it takes to be an excellent leader. The conference was three days long and consisted of a variety of different events. There were group activities including a barbeque at the National Headquarters for Phi Sigma Kappa that promoted brotherhood and communication. There were also smaller breakout sessions that taught valuable lessons on topics including recruitment, risk management, leadership, scholarship, and a variety of different issues. The overall goal was to capture the abilities to bring these ideas back to the chapter here at Lehigh and educate the other brothers, which the group plans on doing this year.

A special privilege was presented to one of the Phi Sig brothers, Sean Maloney, as he was nominated and chosen to attend the Zillgitt Institute. A group of 18 brothers from all around the nation were brought to the conference a day early to participate in a through leadership training. The day these brothers arrived they were put on a bus and arrived at the Damar Services facility. This is a living community for children ages 10 to 21 with Autism or other maladaptive behaviors. The brothers in Zillgitt were able to play games, get a tour of the facility, and connect with the young gentlemen in the program. Also during the Institute, the brothers had a crash course in leadership in an all day session of presenters. They then attended the rest of the conference and brought what they learned back to the other brothers.

Throughout the conference awards were given out to the chapters on various levels. The brothers of the Lehigh Chapter had a successful leadership school as they walked away with 7 awards for the chapter. They were in the areas of Scholarship, Community Service On Campus, Community Service Off Campus, Campus Involvement, Philanthropy (participation), Philanthropy (sponsorship), and New Member Education. James Trollo also received special acknowledgement when he was presented with an award for scoring over 70% on the Phi Sigma Kappa Ritual History Test, which he opted to take during the conference. Overall, the brothers of the Nu Chapter feel that they were recognized for their excellent year and plan on continuing this tradition again this year.

Greek Week 2010

2010-08-26T09:19:00.003-04:00

Throughout the 2009-10 academic year, the three Greek governing councils, in conjunction with the Offices of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs and the Dean of Students, convened a joint student/faculty/staff Greek Week Revisioning Committee, tasked with assessing all aspects of Greek Week including its purpose, content and timing. Emerging from this process was a vision for a new Greek Week that would, “Be a time for Lehigh’s fraternities and sororities to promote our high standards and deep sense of pride and respect for community by showcasing the talents and uniqueness of members through a variety of philanthropic and entertainment-based events”. The committee centered all events on the shared fraternity and sorority values of Scholarship, Leadership, Citizenship, Partnership, and Stewardship, as well as utilized the Core Competencies Skill Development Map in creation and assessment.

The revised Greek Week will occur September 19 - 24, 2010. Major changes include the Greek Week conduct policy and behavioral contract, events being held on Asa Packer campus rather than at individual houses, chapters competing on teams rather than alone, participation of faculty/staff advisors in events, and the designation of Wednesday as Philanthropy and Community Service Day.

Schedule of Events:
Sunday, 9/19
6pm - Opening Ceremonies

Monday, 9/20
4pm - Kickball
7pm - Dodgeball

Tuesday, 9/21
4pm -Volleyball
7pm - Trivia/Quiz Bowl

Wednesday, 9/22
Community Service & Philanthropy Day

Thursday, 9/23
4pm - The Amazing Race
7pm - Game Show

Friday, 9/24
4pm - Tug of War
6pm - Closing Ceremonies

More information and the full Committee report is available on the OFSA website:
http://www.lehigh.edu/~indost/greek/GreekWeek.shtml

Psi Upsilon Pride

2010-08-24T17:35:00.004-04:00

By Dan Grande, ’11, Psi Upsilon

The Psi Upsilon Fraternity’s 167th convention took place at the University of Illinois (Omicron Chapter) in Champaign, Illinois from June 25th through June 28th. Overall there were 141 brothers in attendance representing 30 different chapters. But what really stood out was the fact that there were 66 active delegates compared to 75 alumni delegates ranging from age 22 to 75. Immediately I understood that these brothers held the phrase “lifelong friendship” as highly as we at the Eta do.

I was joined by my fellow brothers Dan Coviello ’13, Ian Smyth ’12, Todd Jenkins ’12 and alumni Jeremy McKeon ’08 and Alexander Senchak ’06 over the three day trip. Our schedule included a Leadership Institute for undergraduates and alumni, committees on Awards, Budget & Development, Nominations and Credentials, and a special memorial service for those brothers who had recently passed. I found the Leadership Institute to be particularly helpful as we learned how other chapters deal with different situations. Through a three hour session we explored ways we can better ourselves as well as help the new chapters shape their futures. In typical fashion Psi U fashion, we also managed to fit in a few social events such as a cookout at the Omicron chapter house, a banquet and awards ceremony, and a special Centennial Dinner honoring the Omicron for its 100th year. It was at these events that delegates from different chapters really got to interact with one another and share stories and experiences with one another. In particular, I liked to hear stories from brothers whose chapters were located outside of the northeast, as they often had very different fraternity experiences than I have had.

But perhaps the highlight of the entire ordeal was recognition of the Eta via two awards, the Clasped Hands Award and the Award of Distinction. The Clasped Hands award is “presented to chapters that have devoted significant time and effort to philanthropic efforts and community service” while the Award of Distinction “recognizes a chapter when they perform in an extraordinary manner [in philanthropic service] which merits special recognition.” Being recognized at this high of a level with such prestigious awards has made me really value what I have here at Lehigh- a great brotherhood. After attending convention this summer I can say with conviction and absolute certainty that I am a proud member of the Eta and a proud member of Psi Upsilon as an international fraternity.

Gamma Phi Beta Convention Memories

2010-08-09T11:30:00.003-04:00

By Katie Beattie, '12, Gamma Phi Beta

The Gamma Phi Beta Convention was held this summer in Orlando, Florida. Over 850 collegiate members, alumni and advisors gathered in Disney World to reconnect, participate in ritual and business sessions, and share best practices to bring back to their respective chapters. I attended the convention in the company of Kate McCarthy, our Financial Vice President. We both found the days to be informative, helpful and an interesting insight into the international aspects of Gamma Phi Beta.

During Convention, we elected the new International Council members and conducted the business of the sorority. Every International Council member went through their officer reports, detailing the news in their respective departments over the past two years. Kate and I also had the opportunity to attend workshops during the afternoons; the collegiate workshops covered everything from recruitment advice, standards board procedures and positive public relations practices. We are excited to bring this information back to Lehigh and start the academic year on the right foot. This was the first year that the Delta Kappa chapter had applied for awards at an International Convention; though we didn’t win anything, we were proud of our accomplishments over the past few years and took note of the impressive things other chapters were doing on their campuses.

Gamma Phi Beta Convention was also a wonderful opportunity to connect with sisters from around the country and our alumni base. Kate and I traveled with Denise Vollert-Parrotto, our chapter’s long-standing Financial Advisor and Debra Dalrymple-Kleinfeldt, a new addition to our House Corporation Board. It was great to spend time with Gamma Phi alumni who contribute a great deal to our chapter. The Gamma Phi Beta Convention was a fulfilling experience and a great leadership opportunity for all who attended.

Awards & Achievement with AGD

2010-08-06T09:20:00.003-04:00

By Taylor Kite, '12, Alpha Gamma Delta

When I found out that I was going to be attending this summer’s Alpha Gamma Delta Convention a few months ago, I was not sure what to expect. Would it be fun? Overwhelming? Informative? Exhausting? Well, I can honestly say that my experience at Convention this June in Tampa, Florida was all of these things, but all in a good way. I was fortunate enough to have Gwen Hauck ‘12, Ari Stillman ‘13, and our advisor Montana Clelland ’09, accompany me on this adventure. It was fun getting to know sisters from all over the country, including two special alums from our Zeta Beta chapter here at Lehigh University. One of these women, Mary Beth Morabito ’85, currently serves on International Council. It was such an honor to be able to sit down and talk with her about both Lehigh and Alpha Gamma Delta memories. Another sister I connected with was a woman who was 80 years old and had been to many Conventions. After talking with her for a little while, I asked where she went to college. As it turns out, she grew up just down the street from my home in Cincinnati, Ohio. We talked more about her college and high school experiences, and by the end of the conversation we determined that she graduated with my grandfather and remembered him quite vividly. This remarkable encounter touched me in ways that I cannot articulate in words, but I am positive it will stick with me forever. It is moments like this one that Convention was all about.

The Leadership Institute sponsored the break out meetings and discussions, which were enlightening, engaging, and spirited from start to finish. We learned everything from the best way to handle conflict to how to better relate to alums, from recruitment ideas to how to make each chapter dollar spread even further. All the attendees were eager to share their respective best practices and ideas with everyone else, which reflected the general atmosphere of sisterly bonding and encouragement that surrounded Convention. It was rewarding to see how your own ideas really helped one chapter, and to in turn learn some things from them.

At the awards ceremony, our chapter was honored to receive several awards including Strive for Pi, which awards chapters with an overall GPA of 3.14 or higher; a Quota and Total award; the Myra Vedder Foxworthy Panhellenic Honor Roll; Rose Bowl Honor Roll; and Annulet Honor Roll, the highest honor for an Alpha Gamma Delta chapter. To be able to accept these awards on behalf of my Zeta Beta sisters and the hard work and dedication they put into the chapter helped me realize how incredible my sisters really are. It also inspired the four of us to work over the next year as leaders in our chapter to ensure that we continue to maintain this high standard and even raise the bar. While it is always nice to see when your hard work pays off, there is always room for growth. Keeping this in mind, we look forward to incorporating everything we learned at this summer’s Convention into our daily chapter functions back at Lehigh, and it never hurts to work towards these awards for the 2012 Convention!

Convention Connections

2010-07-19T09:46:00.003-04:00

By Adam Pittenger, '11, Theta Chi

Incredibly, with over 500 brothers in attendance, the central region of Florida was more appropriately named “Brolando” from June 30th-July 3rd. Though this is seemingly only a small inside joke from the 154th Anniversary Convention of Theta Chi Fraternity, the nickname proved to be true. It seemed everywhere you turned you were running into a brother. Men from all across the nation (and Canada) traveled to the home of Disney World in order to take part in this spectacular event. I, along with Jon Pribis ‘12, Jason Raschiatore ‘12, Todd Ferreira ‘13, and Alex Lass ‘13, represented Lehigh University’s Beta Sigma chapter.

Our first night at the Rosen Plaza was one to remember. The five of us were honored to receive awards for Chapter Excellence for New Member and Member Education Programming, The Ritual, Community Service & Philanthropy Programming, Alumni Programming, Chapter Finances, Chapter Operations, Internal Cooperation, Campus Involvement, Risk Management Practices, and Social Programming. While that served as great recognition for our past achievements, we realized that convention is about meeting new people and learning for the betterment of our chapter.

Throughout the next three days, the five of us took part in numerous challenges, team-building exercises, and listened to a variety of speakers. Personally, I felt the breakout sessions were the most valuable learning tool in regards to the future growth of our chapter. Also, having never been to a national event before, it was great to meet brothers from different chapters and learn about the changes taking place within our international headquarters. Not only were we able to take part in the election of a new Grand Chapter, but Beta Sigma got to take pictures with the group during our formal banquet. Finally, the brothers of Theta Chi spent Saturday night out on the town as we all went and explored City Walk in Orlando. In all, the experience was invaluable and the lessons we learned will certainly carry over to our chapter in the 2010-2011 school year. And since the 2012 Convention is in sunny Palm Springs, California, I’ve already told our younger members that if they need an alumni delegate… I’m their man.

Leading with Integrity

2010-07-14T09:15:00.009-04:00

By Jennifer McCusker, '12, Delta Gamma

I learned a lot about myself as a leader during my time at The LeaderShape Institute in June. I appreciated learning how to develop my vision for the future and planning action steps to reach my vision. The vision I developed at LeaderShape is very broad, but I plan on using my experience from the program to create and act upon visions for Delta Gamma and teach other chapter management team members how to do the same. My favorite part of LeaderShape was taking the DiSC leadership style assessment. I found that learning about my leadership style and those of my peers helped me work better in groups, and I think taking this assessment would also benefit DG’s chapter management team.

The most important thing I learned at LeaderShape is to lead with integrity and have a healthy disregard for the impossible.

Novak Institute for Hazing Prevention

2010-07-12T16:59:00.003-04:00

By Tim Wilkinson, Director, Office of Fraternity & Sorority Affairs

From June 9th through June 13th, I had the opportunity to attend the Novak Institute for Hazing Prevention, hosted by Hazingprevention.org and held at The State University of New York (SUNY) Geneseo. The Institute is an annual educational opportunity that brings together college campuses to discuss all aspects of hazing. Some of the discussion points included the perceived intent and psychology behind hazing, ways to educate students on the effects and dangers of hazing, and tips for building campus coalitions to eradicate hazing from an entire institution. Some of the interesting takeaways from the Institute included…

• The problem of hazing begins well before college. Nearly half (47%) of college students reported being hazed in high school, according to the National Student on Student Hazing.
• Over half (55%) of college students involved in clubs, teams, and organizations experience hazing.
• In 95% of the cases where students identified their experience as hazing, they did not report the events to campus officials.
• 69% of students who belonged to a student activity reported they were aware of hazing activities occurring in student organizations other than their own.

One of the things that most impacted me was the way we can all take a new approach on recognizing hazing. As students and staff, we are always arguing about what is hazing. How often when we debate hazing do we hear the following statement?

“According to the definition, everything’s hazing!”

We need to stop thinking of hazing in terms of a list of activities. Think of hazing the way it has been reframed at Florida State University.

“Students should not be demeaned or exposed to harm when pursuing involvement in campus life.”

If you are on a sports team, a member of a fraternity or sorority, or in a club or campus organization, and you can’t answer that statement, then you know it is hazing! OFSA is continuing to lead the charge in understanding and eradicating hazing at Lehigh. We are continuing the Bystander Initiative, Peer Values Educators, 888-NOT-HAZE, the on-line hazing reporting system, as well as all of the educational programming we do with chapters. Look for OFSA to continue to build campus coalitions in 2010-11 with faculty, athletics, student organizations and university alumni. This is the number one way to make hazing prevention the priority that it needs to be.

Lehigh will continue to take the lead in hazing prevention, as we have been chosen as the host site for the 2011 Novak Institute for Hazing Prevention. When we come together as a Lehigh community, it can be a very powerful thing. Isn’t eradicating hazing worth coming together for?

2009-2010 Accreditation Results

2010-07-01T15:25:00.025-04:00

The 2009-2010 Accreditation reports for each of Lehigh's fraternities and sororities are now available on the Office of Fraternity & Sorority Affairs website, under the "Reports and Statistics" page.

GOLD:

Alpha Gamma Delta
Alpha Omicron Pi
Alpha Phi
Delta Gamma
Kappa Alpha Psi
Kappa Alpha Theta
Phi Sigma Kappa
Pi Beta Phi
Sigma Phi Epsilon

SILVER:

Alpha Chi Omega
Alpha Tau Omega
Chi Psi
Delta Phi

Delta Upsilon
Gamma Phi Beta
Kappa Alpha
Kappa Sigma

Lambda Chi Alpha
Lambda Sigma Upsilon

Lambda Theta Alpha

Phi Kappa Theta

Psi Upsilon
Sigma Chi

Theta Chi

BRONZE:

Delta Chi

Phi Gamma Delta
Pi Kappa Alpha
Theta Xi

POOR:

Delta Tau Delta

Welcome, Joe!

2010-06-23T16:30:00.004-04:00

Joe Gurreri
Leadership Programs Coordinator

(formerly the "Greek Life Leadership Coordinator")

Hometown:
York, PA

Educational Background:
B.A. Political Science, Gettysburg College
M.Ed. Higher Education Administration, Vanderbilt University

Fraternity Affiliation:
Lambda Chi Alpha

Professional Highlights:
Member of the Association of Fraternity/Sorority Advisors (AFA)
Training for Intervention Procedures (TiPS) Trainer
Past advisor: Order of Omega, Dance Marathon, Panhellenic, IFC
Areas of Interest: Leadership, new member education, risk management, member wellness

Why did you decide to pursue a career in fraternity and sorority affairs?
My undergraduate experience as a member of the fraternity community was highlighted by the formation of a steadfast support network, numerous opportunities to enhance my leadership abilities, and an understanding that we were part of a larger group that was more important than just one or two individuals. That being said, I also recognized that not all of our organizations could claim to provide the same opportunities to their members. It was my desire to help others have positive, meaningful experiences that inspired me to enter this field.

What do you hope to do during your time at Lehigh University?
I hope to build on an already impressive offering of leadership programs available to our organizations and continue advancing the Lehigh Greek community. I also hope to challenge and support members so that they can make the most of the incredible opportunities that come with their fraternity or sorority membership.

What has been your impression of the Lehigh Greek Community so far?
While it is the summer and not many students are on campus, it is clear to me that there is a great deal of passion and pride in the Greek community at Lehigh that I am sure will be even more exciting to experience when everyone returns to campus in the fall!

Mini-Golf Masterpiece

2010-06-16T12:33:00.003-04:00

Psi Upsilon fraternity received recognition for their hard work and commitment to building and maintaining a portable mini-golf course for the Bethlehem Area Public Library.

Article in The Express-Times

Video

Senior Reflections - Part 10

2010-06-10T09:28:00.003-04:00

By Nick Anderson, '10, Theta Chi

As a senior reflecting on my experience at Lehigh as a member of the Greek community, I can’t help but reminisce and procrastinate in writing this entry. I have shared so many great experiences with not only my brothers but the entire Greek community. I believe a Lehigh Greek experience is truly beneficial to those who participate. I can honestly say that part of my success as an undergraduate can be attributed to the Greek experience. I believe this is true for three reasons:

First, as a member of the Greek community, I was able to participate in numerous service and philanthropic events that I would not have had the opportunity for otherwise. The community service and philanthropy that come from the Greek community arise from student interest. The students believe they should support or donate, and the means of doing so are all student driven. It is truly rewarding to see a philanthropic effort that contributes to a good cause and that students have fun not only planning and running, but participating in as well.

Secondly, the Greek community is a fantastic way to meet people. I feel that I was able to establish many connections and network effortlessly through the Greek community. I was able to use contacts from the Greek community to help bridge connections between my other involvements on campus. As the first Greek to be President of the Association of Student Alumni (ASA), I feel as though I was able to effectively unify the entire campus (both Greek and non-Greek) at key points in the year such as Lehigh-Lafayette week and Hawk’s for Haiti.

Finally, being Greek helped me to develop as a leader. I learned how a room full of 40 different viewpoints can be combined to achieve a common goal. As my chapter’s Accreditation chair I was able to collect input, articles and perspectives from the entire chapter to produce a report that the chapter as a whole could agree with and be proud of.

The Lehigh Greek experience is truly unique and positive in so many ways. I would highly support the decision to go Greek for anyone who is interested. I had a blast, and will never forget it.

Senior Reflections - Part 9

2010-05-13T16:57:00.002-04:00

By Avi Lessner, '10, Delta Tau Delta

My Lehigh career has been more than incredible. This is due in large part to the Greek system. My experiences in Greek life have been extraordinarily memorable. Coming to Lehigh as a freshman I had no concept of Greek life. My freshman year roommate, who has turned out to be my pledge brother and is still my housemate, convinced me to trek up the Hill. What I found was a system with an incredible amount of diverse perspectives, students of every background and a general feeling of welcoming to every chapter. My freshman Greek experience could not have been better and becoming involved is certainly one of the best decisions I have made in college.

From then on in I became more involved in the system, becoming my Fraternity President and then a Vice President of the Inter-Fraternity Council. These leadership positions helped me grow tremendously as a person and create bonds that I am sure will last for a very long time. While my involvement at Lehigh has not solely been Greek, it has in many cases been my Greek brothers and sisters that have pushed me to excel in a variety of areas and the common link we share as a community has empowered us to do great things both on and off of Lehigh's campus.

Looking back it is almost impossible to take it all in and appreciate how much I have gained but I am sure that my life has been more that significantly impacted by my Greek experience and I am elated to say I am a Lehigh Greek alumnus.

Senior Reflections - Part 8

2010-05-13T13:31:00.002-04:00

By Becca Raphael, '10, Gamma Phi Beta

(top row, 3rd from the left - with 09/10 Panhellenic exec)

On August 24, 2006 I wore a white and navy polo shirt, jean shorts and Rainbow flip-flops. I had a peanut butter and jelly sandwich that my mom had made me for lunch and I wore my hair in a half-ponytail. I can remember these details because it feels as though today is August 25 and just yesterday, my parents moved me into my first dorm room at Lehigh. The last four years have gone by so quickly that they hardly feel like they ever happened at all. It’s as though I woke up after my first day of Freshman Orientation and the whole experience was over. In what feels like a few short hours, I’ve made a ton of memories that I will cherish for the rest of my life and owe a lot of them to being a part of Lehigh’s Greek life.

I came to college knowing for sure that I would join a sorority. With a middle-sized student body, I knew it was the best option for me to make a solid group of friends and to hopefully find my niche at Lehigh. After meeting a slew of sorority girls my first semester, I began the recruitment process already having an idea of which chapter I’d like to join. What I think is so great about Lehigh’s recruitment process is that it gives you ample amount of time to get to know the sororities and for them to get to know you, rather than coming to school in the middle of August and receiving a bid from a house that selected you based on fake premises. I joined Gamma Phi Beta after the recruitment process without any regrets. I am graduating in just a week, and while I am leaving the school behind, I am not leaving any friends behind—my friends have really become my family.

While yes, I’ve enjoyed the date parties, the Greek Weeks and the permanent sleepovers with my best friends, the most important thing I’ve taken from this whole experience is my own self discovery. If there is anything I can tell to an incoming student about taking advantage of the Greek system here at Lehigh, it’s to never hold back. Find a leadership position within the chapter and pursue it without hesitation. As a new member, I became the Jr. Panhellenic delegate and saw potential for myself in this realm. I became Gamma Phi’s Panhel Delegate during my sophomore and junior year which led me to my position on Panhel’s executive board my senior year. I have no regrets for pursuing positions as a part of the larger community, and because of it, I’ve made friends outside of my house.

Coming to Lehigh was the best decision I’ve ever made, and joining a sorority is what made my experience here so amazing. So, to anyone on the fence about the whole recruitment process, I hope you jump to the Greek side. I can guarantee your experiences will rival anything else.

Senior Reflections - Part 7

2010-05-11T13:51:00.002-04:00

By Dana Giallonardo, '10, Gamma Phi Beta

I’m sitting at my desk in the off-campus house I share with five other Gamma Phi Beta seniors and I’m thinking. I’m graduating in less than a month. What have I learned? What do I know? And what do I have to show for it?

As a journalism major, I know how to write an article. I know how to edit your paper. As a writing and communications minor, I could write you a fairy tale or a poem. I could tailor a public relations plan for your company. I’ve been in an A Cappella group for four years. I’ve been an editor of the Brown and White. I’ve been a Big Sister to a little girl at a Bethlehem elementary school. I’ve made the Dean’s List, I’ve volunteered my time, and I’ve learned the art of time management. All valuable. I’ve packed my “future suitcase” tight with knowledge and work ethic and social skills.

But, above anything else, what I’ve really learned over the past four years are the lessons that I’ve learned about myself. I attribute a vast majority of these lessons to having been involved in Greek life at Lehigh.

When I came to Lehigh as a freshman I knew I was a smart person. I knew that I was skilled in the social arena, I was athletic, and talented, and creative. I knew that I had excelled in high school and was ready to excel as a college student – whatever that meant.

Joining a sorority was a no-brainer. From the beginning of sorority recruitment, I knew that Gamma Phi Beta was where I was meant to be. I had known girls already in Gamma Phi and they, along with the girls I kept seeing come back along with me, would soon become my Lehigh family.

I would eventually spend the next two years living in the sorority house. I would be elected assistant to the New Member Educator as a sophomore. I would be elected President as a junior. I would attend the International Gamma Phi Beta Convention. I would deal with both older and younger members on a day-to-day basis. I would learn how to balance my social and academic lives. I would be forced to deal with the conflict and controversy that sometimes occurs when fifty women live together. I would learn to live by my own value system, which was reinforced not only by the values of my sorority, but by the women who were members alongside of me.

Being in a sorority has put me in situations unlike any other. It is through these types of situations that I have learned how to manage my likes, my dislikes, my personality traits, the types of things that really make me tick and the types of things that really don’t make me tick. I have discovered the kind of the woman I am becoming and the woman I am meant to be. This intuitiveness reaches far beyond the realm of surface realizations, but has allowed me to really reach inside of myself and open the door to a life of personal fulfillment and happiness.

When I look back, I can honestly say that this has been the most fun four years I have ever had in my entire life. I can also say that I’ve met the most amazing people and have garnered friendships that I know will continue on well past these college days. But what I know, what I really know, is me, and that Gamma Phi Beta certainly played a part in this knowledge. That is the most important thing I could have ever learned in college.

Senior Reflections - Part 6

2010-05-10T08:58:00.003-04:00

By Eurie Choi, '10, Alpha Gamma Delta

Four not-so-short years ago I was a senior in high school and knew that I was going to Lehigh University in the fall. Being clueless about the Greek system in general, I didn’t know what to tell all of the people who congratulated me and then asked me if I was going to join a sorority at Lehigh. I had no idea what a sorority was beyond the stereotypical movie-esque Greek house, let alone if I wanted to join one. So I let it stew in the back of my mind and came to Lehigh in the fall. Amidst the freshmen orientation and new friend making frenzy we were all in, I began noticing the Greek letters and advertised events for something called “sorority recruitment” (a term which I know well now, but had no idea of back then). Right before the deadline, I decided to sign up for recruitment, went through the blurry five days of endless small talk and conversations, and found myself with a bid to Alpha Gamma Delta.

I could not have asked for a better thing to happen to me. Being a part of Alpha Gam has been an incredibly rewarding and stimulating experience for me. It got me involved in so many ways across campus from joining different organizations to meeting a plethora of people – and, especially, making some of the best friends I’ve ever had. The women I met in Alpha Gam have been there for me through thick and thin and, with my graduation date approaching faster and faster and my nerves flying along with it, I know for certain that even though my Lehigh career is ending, at least these friendships will be long-lasting. They have truly helped to make my Greek and Lehigh experiences remarkable and truly life-changing.

However, joining Alpha Gam is only half of what has made my Lehigh Greek experience what it was. At the beginning of my junior year I applied to be on the Panhellenic Council and served as a chair to the board. This was the first time in my sorority career that I got to step out of my own chapter and act as a voice for the entire sorority community here at Lehigh. I had friends in other sororities, but this was the first time that I worked with women with different Greek letters and saw them beyond their letters. It was an eye-opening experience that allowed me to truly see the Lehigh Greek Community as a whole community instead of thirty or so individual chapters.

I won’t lie – the Greek pride in me swelled a bit at this point and with my growing appreciation for the Greeks on our campus and what we are all capable of doing here, I ran for and got elected to the Panhellenic Council for my senior year. This past year has been, by far, the most rewarding with friendships, accomplishments, and a general pride for our Greek Community. I truly believe that our Panhellenic Council along with IFC and MGC have made great efforts and strides in uniting our Greek community and showing Lehigh what we’re capable of accomplishing when we all work together. I’m incredibly excited to come back and visit in the coming years to see the progress that I know the community will be making.

So I’m still not entirely sure what convinced me to join a sorority back when I was a freshman. It might have been my hall mates. Or perhaps the great advertising of Panhel. Or maybe it was all of those people back home who asked me about it in high school. But whatever the reason was, I am incredibly thankful that I did because joining Alpha Gam and thus becoming a member of the Lehigh Greek Community was by far one of the greatest decisions of my life.

Senior Reflections - Part 5

2010-05-07T13:52:00.002-04:00

By Jaclyn Weissman, '10, Alpha Phi

Many students at Lehigh choose to join Greek life after a full semester of witnessing all of the positive aspects it offers - strong friendships, leadership opportunities and social advantages – but my reason for joining was different than most.

I began my freshman year at Muhlenberg only 20 minutes away from my older sister who was a student at Lehigh and a junior in Alpha Phi. I had visited her many times before and had always loved the college atmosphere that Lehigh had to offer but had originally planned to study dance and theater, which Lehigh doesn’t specialize in. Before spending much time at Muhlenberg I began to realize that the extremely small class size was not going to provide the college experience I wanted, nor allow me to reach the full potential and gain influencing experiences that I believed I could during my four undergraduate years. The disappointment of beginning at a college that I felt unattached to, coupled by the fact that I had began to grow interests in new and different fields of study, left me looking for a change.

Only a few weeks into school I began visiting my sister regularly at Lehigh and spending time with many of her friends in Alpha Phi. I became increasingly close with them and it wasn’t long before they had convinced me to apply to Lehigh mid-year and join Alpha Phi as soon as I arrived in January. To be honest, I didn’t decide to transfer because of my sister, as close as I was with her, but rather because of her close-knit group of friends. I was jealous of their relationships and how they were fun, had a great sense of humor in open honesty, and closeness that allowed them to raid each other’s closets for clothes to every occasion. I wanted to study at Lehigh and have friends with the same group dynamic that my sister had. When I finally received my acceptance letter shortly after Thanksgiving there was no question that I would attend Lehigh and follow in the footsteps of my sister in Alpha Phi.

Without rambling on I will say this – being a part of Greek life has significantly enhanced my college experience and I can’t imagine having found the close friendships that have resulted from being a part of it in any other way. It has provided me with a network of girls that will be my close friends for the rest of my life. To add, many of the positions that I’ve held in Alpha Phi, including co-recruitment chair my junior year, have helped me to develop my leadership skills and confidence. This year I served as VP Communications on the Panhellenic Council and formed strong friendships with girls in many other chapters as well. I believe that my experience goes against all of the negative stereotypes that surround fraternities and sororities, and I’m lucky to have had such a positively influential experience during my college years.

Sorority Expansion

2010-05-06T09:39:00.001-04:00

The Lehigh University Panhellenic Council is very excited about the opportunity to add another chapter to the sorority community. It has been 13 years since the addition of our last chapter, Pi Beta Phi. Since switching over to the Priority Recruitment Method, Lehigh has seen a record number of interest, retention rates and the number of women being placed. OFSA has properly notified the NPC Extension Committee of the vote to move forward and exploration visits will begin this summer. The official bulletin was released on Wednesday, April 28th. Lehigh's new NPC sorority will be notified later in the fall semester and will prepare to participate in formal recruitment in the spring 2011 semester.

Senior Reflections - Part 4

2010-05-05T16:03:00.002-04:00

By Nathalie Martin, '10, Lambda Theta Alpha

When I first started my undergraduate career, I had a plan: get a degree in Biology, get a PhD, and do brilliant lab research for the rest of my life. Joining a sorority had absolutely no place in this plan. If I could go back in time and give myself some solid advice, it would be to shut up and quit pretending that you can make a life trajectory for yourself at 17 years old. One of the most important lessons I learned at Lehigh was not that I am terrible at Organic Chemistry, but that the best opportunities come along when you kick the plan aside and let life happen. When I finally figured that out, I changed my major a couple times, traveled way outside of my comfort zone to make new friends, and became a founding sister of the Delta Upsilon chapter of Lambda Theta Alpha Latin Sorority, Inc.

My junior year, I moved in with two women who were part of the LTA interest group. A couple months later, Gabriela Saade, who is now my line sister, best friend, and mentor, asked me to join the interest group. LTA was one of the most inspiring organizations I had ever come across. The principles of Unity, Love, and Respect were carried out by every sister I met, and the organization’s passion for community service and strong sisterhood were unlike anything I’d ever experienced. And even though I am not Latina, I had a strong desire to give women a different option for Greek life. For all these reasons, I became a sister of LTA by the end of the Spring 2008 semester, and I haven’t looked back since.

The new member education process allowed me to discover my strengths and acquire a strong sense of self-respect. I met four women who, aside from my mother, have been the most influential and unwavering sources of friendship in my life. My four line sisters, Stephanie Huiza, Gaby Saade, Diana Camejo, and Brittany Lewis, have taught me more about myself than I could possibly imagine. Together, we built the foundation of our chapter. We poured our hearts, energy, and way too many study hours into making our vision a reality. With five members, extremely limited funding, no alumni support, and no sisters within a 60 mile radius, we built strong relationships with Lehigh Greeks, clubs, and administrators, and sponsored entirely too many events. Through this long, difficult process, my sisters taught me how to become a better leader, how to be honest with both them and myself, and how to accept people for who they are. Because of this, my constant focus on people’s negative attributes turned into a never-ending fascination with people who have strengths so different from my own. To me, what it came down to was that differences in leadership styles, beliefs, and personalities are what make an organization stronger. When a group has so many different strengths at their disposal, what is the point of focusing on an individual’s weakness?

If you had told me five years ago that this is the kind of person I would become, I would have told you that you’re out of your mind. Back then, I had no idea I actually disliked science, had natural leadership skills, and had the ability to not be so judgmental. Five years ago, I hated Lehigh. Today, I am overwhelmed with anxiety at the thought of leaving this place behind. In the past year, I’ve had the privilege of being the chapter president of LTA and watch our chapter flourish in more ways than I could have ever imagined. I am so proud of our accomplishments, and I truly hope that the community has benefitted from our strong presence on campus. Today, I can walk away with the certainty that LTA, members of the mainstream and multicultural Greek community, my friends, Lehigh administrators, and professors have given me the tools to take on any challenge thrown my way. To the students lucky enough to remain in this safe haven a little while longer, I leave you with one piece of advice: don’t leave here with any regrets. Push your limits, stay open to new experiences, and never be afraid to make mistakes. That way, when you finally do reach graduation day, you can be sure you’re walking away with more than just a diploma

Senior Reflections - Part 3

2010-05-03T12:37:00.002-04:00

By Walter Joseph, '10, Lambda Chi Alpha

When I reminisce on my undergraduate years, it is often quite difficult to recall all of the Date Parties, trips to Philly for Pat’s Cheesesteaks, plunges into the Lehigh Valley River at the Rope Swing, late night adventures at Pantry 1, or mosh-pits to Steppenwolf’s ‘Magic Carpet Ride.’ Yet, despite the haziness in this whirlwind of memories, one thing never ceases to remain a vivid, indelible part of my Lehigh career – the people who I have shared those memories with.

My involvement in Lambda Chi Alpha has provided me with the best friends I could have ever asked for. Growing up a middle child surrounded by two sisters, I always yearned for a brother figure to toss around a ball with or get birthday punches from. Now, on the brink of college graduation, I can say with confidence and conviction that I have 65 other brothers who have had a profound impact on my undergraduate career at Lehigh, and moreover, on my growth as a person. These guys will be the ones who will stand beside me at my wedding, hit the golf course even when our knees grow stiff, and will be there when I need them most. Their support is unwavering – I have never known and been a part of a group of friends so dedicated to each other and so selfless to one another.

Fraternity life has taught me the importance of accountability and responsibility – two valuable lessons that college students often neglect to truly understand. Whether it may be showing concern for a brother whose grades were dropping, or fining a brother for damaging our house, we all look out for one another and hold each other accountable for our actions. Just like a true brother would. Just like a family would.

For the current Greek students who are fortunate to have some time left at Lehigh: I implore you to make the most of your experience – words cannot describe how fast the time here goes. Make a difference in your chapter, and inspire change. Do not settle for the status quo. Help your fraternity brothers or sorority sisters when they need it – there will be a time when you’ll need it, too. Yet, most of all, do not lose touch with those people who have been so instrumental in the your development – and your successes.

Student Life Leadership Awards

2010-05-03T08:49:00.005-04:00

Lehigh Greek students were represented well at Lehigh Unviersity's 25th annual Student Life Leadership Awards Celebration held on Thursday, April 29 on the UC Front Lawn.

Congratulations to the following:

Student Life Leadership Award
This award is given to seniors in recognition of extraordinary performance as a student leader at Lehigh University. The following areas are used as a basis for evaluating outstanding performance: overall impact on Lehigh students, program development and implementation, bridging cultural differences, and student governance by taking a role to improve student faculty and staff interactions.

Gregory Anderson, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.
Nicholas Anderson, Theta Chi
Steven Bialick, Theta Chi
Nora Diehl, Alpha Gamma Delta
Todd Dobry, Theta Chi
Karl Saxe, Delta Phi
Nickolas Welton, Delta Upsilon

Ujima Award
"Ujima" is the third principle of Kwanzaa and means "collective work and responsibility". This award recognizes a student who has taken responsibility for and worked collectively with others to create a more inclusive campus community.

Karl Brisseaux, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.

Allegiance Award
This award is presented to seniors in recognition of their dedication and continuous improvement focused within a specific organization. Outstanding performance in this area includes: the senior's impact on the organization, being an organizational member for a substantial portion of their time at Lehigh, serving in a variety of roles within the organization, and being instrumental in overall organizational management such as visioning, goal setting and yearly transition for the organization.

Walter Joseph, Lambda Chi Alpha

Student Club/Organization of the Year Award
This award recognizes the club or organization that has been the most active on campus throughout the academic year and has pursued to the highest degree their overall purpose as a club.

Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.

Alumni Association Undergraduate & Graduate Merit Award
The recipients of the Undergraduate & Graduate Merit Award shall be members of the graduating class or a graduate student, respectively, who by exemplary character, personality, scholarship, and participation in extra-curriculuar activities, represents the highest traditions of Lehigh University.

Nicholas Anderson, Theta Chi (Undergraduate)
Zahir Carrington, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. (Undergraduate)
Divya Nayar, Alpha Omicron Pi (Undergraduate)
Uhuru Aseto, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. (Graduate)

Bosey Reiter Leadership Cup
Selection shall be guided by the following considerations: (1) The leadership shall be such as to contribute primarily to the best interest of the University. (2) Leadership shall be defined chiefly in terms of moral character and the definition of character shall be Theodore Roosevelt's: "Resolution, courage, energy, power of self control, combined with fearlessness in taking the initiative and assuming responsibility; a just regard for the rights of others, together with unflinching determination to succeed, no matter what obstacles and barriers have to be beaten down. There is, moreover, one quality too often wholly lacking in men of high intellectual ability, with or without which real character cannot exist - namely, the fundamental gift of common sense."

Zahir Carrington, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.

University Service Award
The intention of the University Service Award is to honor the senior whose influence, ideals and activities have been devoted unselfishly to serve the best interests of his or her Alma Mater and fellow students. It is not so much a measure of the number of activities in which a student has participated, as it is a measure of their devotion to the groups in which they have accepted leadership responsibilities. It is not so much a measure of the extensiveness of a student's campus activities, as it is a measure of the unselfishness with which he or she has given of their time and effort to make those activities serve their fellow students.

Divya Nayar, Alpha Omicron Pi

Senior Reflections - Part 2

2010-04-30T09:56:00.002-04:00

By Jessica Gehl, '10, Delta Gamma

When I was looking at prospective colleges, Greek Life was an absolute priority for me. My dad was involved in his Fraternity in college and I loved hearing his stories and meeting his old-frat-buds all grown up with families. Even further, my nanny growing up was my dad’s fraternity chef, Flo. He recruited her when I was born to help my parents who both worked full time. Thus, from the beginning, I knew I liked the world of Greeks.

Lehigh Greek Life is a significant part of the overall campus. Even non- members of sororities or fraternities still are affected and involved in some way, whether it is participating in an activity hosted by Greek life or even roaming The Hill certain nights. It was from this insight freshman year that I decided I wanted to go through formal recruitment. I had an amazing group of friends in my freshman dorm and at a point I wasn’t sure I wanted to extend myself outside of that group. “What the heck”, was the overall thought process that led to one of the best experiences of my life.

I met so many people.

On so many levels.

I have an incredibly close pledge class. We all live on the same block of Hillside as seniors, even the same side of the street. Last night we went out for Hibachi to celebrate Lauren’s birthday- old lady at 22. But in addition to my amazing pledge class and sorority, I met leaders in all extensions of campus. A casual BBQ led to meeting an accounting major (just like me) who could give me advice from being a year wiser. I am SO EXCITED to have friends from different schools visit so I can show off my sorority and my friends through different activities, fundraisers, and social events. Lehigh has been an amazing experience, and the Greek system has obviously contributed a lot to that experience.

We’ve all seen the movies. Animal House and Van Wilder have given a narrow perception of what college and Greek Life are all about. As a naïve freshman, of course I expected the same thing. What I would never have believed if you told me, was that by junior year I would be President of my sorority. In fact, I probably would have laughed and skipped away without thinking about it twice. However, when our Nationals wanted to change the election year from school year to calendar year, I stepped up as the transition President, with a promise from everyone in my house to work with me and support me through the term. It was one of the best decisions of my collegiate career. I gained new respect for girls in my house that I knew on a personal basis but not necessarily as a “leader.” I was so refreshed and pleasantly surprised to see my own pledge class support me and the younger girls really step up to grow individually and as a sorority. My advice is to absolutely push yourself as a leader. Take on as much responsibility as you can so that you can be pleasantly surprised like I was. Plus, you’ll expand your network and differentiate yourself even further to impress future employers. The Greek system is a great thing to get involved with, to expand with, and to make even better. You can make a difference, and what a better place to do it than a support system consisting of 40% of the University you love.

Senior Reflections - Part 1

2010-04-30T09:18:00.002-04:00

By Brian Weisser, '10, Phi Sigma Kappa

As I prepare to attend my final day of class as a Lehigh undergraduate student, I have to take a moment to reflect on my career here over the past four years. As many of my peers would agree, Lehigh has certainly prepared me very well to take that step outside of academia and into the ‘real world.’ However, I can easily say that knowledge and experience I have gathered has not only come from the classroom, but also from the roles I have assumed in various organizations.

Greek life at Lehigh is an excellent stage for students to develop their leadership skills and build their character. The culture of Lehigh is one that challenges its students to continually grow as a person and strengthen the talents needed to lead a successful career. In addition to that, a leadership role in the Lehigh Greek Community affords students an early experience in managing time, people, and money.

Having been involved with my fraternity’s chapter leadership, IFC executive board, and the Peer Value Educators program, I personally feel that I am a better person having applied myself outside of the classroom in addition to schoolwork. In the process, I have truly defined myself and am very grateful for the choices I have made. While I owe much of my experience and gained knowledge to the dedication of my peers and the Lehigh staff, I will carry these with me after I leave Lehigh. When I look back on my college days, I may forget a few of the topics covered in class, but I will never forget the personal growth that being a leader has provided me.

A Greek Leadership Legacy

2010-04-28T17:37:00.002-04:00

By Kristen Klingler, '10, Alpha Gamma Delta

As a senior enjoying my last few weeks at Lehigh University, I’m finding myself reflecting on the experiences that I’ve had over the past four years. It’s hard to believe that in just a few short weeks, I will be on Goodman Campus with the rest of my 2010 classmates, waiting to receive my diploma. What is it that makes the college years go by so fast? Is it the lifetime friends, the unforgettably fun times? Of course, the people you meet and the times that you share with them make a college experience memorable. But the most incredible aspect of college life, I think, is something that people may not even recognize while they’re students - it is the transformation that a person goes through during their time at Lehigh that makes the experience so unforgettable. I am certainly not the same person that I was four years ago and I would never have become the person I am today without the experiences I’ve had at Lehigh and as a part of Greek Life…

If you would have told me during my first semester of freshman year that I was going to join a sorority, I would have told you that you were crazy. To make a long story short… I fell in love with Alpha Gamma Delta, and when I received a bid there, I accepted, thinking that it would be a great way to get more involved on campus and to meet some new people. What I didn’t realize was that by accepting my bid at Alpha Gam, I was getting myself into much more than “just another extracurricular activity.” I was about to make some of the most incredible friends of my life: Friends that would laugh with me through the most ridiculous scenarios… friends that would provide their shoulders to cry on when I needed it the most… and undoubtedly, I met the friends that would motivate and inspire me to work passionately to improve my Alpha Gam chapter, the Greek community and Lehigh’s campus during my four year stay.

I was initiated into the Zeta Beta chapter of AGD in the spring of 2007 and was later elected to be President during my junior year. While I was president, I transformed as a leader and as a person. I learned the importance of communication skills and mastered the arts of organization, time management, and planning ahead. But most of all, I learned how to push myself beyond the limits of what I thought I could do. I learned that with the right attitude and the right people backing you up, no task was too difficult to take on. This was probably the most valuable lesson I learned throughout my entire college career.

So what is the right attitude? And who are the right people?

Well, the right people are those who are willing to support you undoubtedly through anything you may encounter – these people and the support, guidance and assistance they provide will be invaluable as you push through the good times and the hard times. In the Greek community, we have our brothers and sisters and each other to rely on as an incredibly strong network of support. This gives Greeks an advantage when it comes to having the ability to create positive change within the campus community as a whole. And what is the right attitude? For me, the right attitude was realizing that even small changes now may have a large impact in the grand scheme of things on Lehigh’s campus. It is difficult for one individual or one student organization to do something so monumental that it changes the way that the Lehigh community functions or the way that it perceives its Greek population. However, with many student organizations and individuals working together to carry out small initiatives and programs over time, the impact becomes much greater and takes place much more quickly.

I challenge Lehigh’s future Greek leaders to continue inspiring their brothers and sisters to tear down the negative stereotypes that our Greek community is all too often labeled with and rebuild them into the positive reputation that our community deserves. I hope that when I revisit Lehigh in the years to come, I find a Lehigh Greek system that has exchanged its competition from within for more collaboration among chapters and with the rest of the campus community. Lehigh Greek Life attracts some of the most innovative leaders and the most passionate individuals on this campus… we have the potential to positively impact both the image that we portray and the campus climate in which we live.

The path towards creating positive change is not always easy and pleasant. The reality is that nobody ever feels comfortable addressing a problem that is difficult to fix or changing something that has been done a certain way for years. But always remember that no matter how difficult it may seem to carry out your vision as a leader, it is not impossible… especially if you learn to rely on the amazing support system and resources that we have all have access to as members of the Greek community.

So, my advice to future leaders is: Don’t be afraid to stand by your beliefs and challenge tradition. “That’s the way we’ve always done it” is never a good answer. Over the past four years, I’ve seen countless “traditions” change for the better, and the result has only made our Greek community, and this campus, stronger. Keep up this forward momentum and don’t hesitate to leave your mark on this campus before you graduate.

Now, as a senior, I look back on my time involved with Greek leadership. I’m reflecting on all of the work that needed to be done, all of the meetings that needed to be attended, and all of the spur-of-the-moment problems that seemed to arise at the busiest times of all. I think about whether or not I would re-do it all, knowing what I know now about the time and dedication it takes to be a leader within the Greek community. I immediately answer, “YES” – I would do it all again in a heartbeat because the experiences I had taught me so much and made me the person that I am today. I can’t imagine what my life would be like if I never joined Alpha Gam… I never would have met my best friends and I never would have learned that it is possible to make an impact on something so much larger than yourself or your organization.

2009/2010 Greek Awards

2010-04-26T13:56:00.003-04:00

The Interfraternity, Panhellenic, & Multicultural Greek Councils sponsored the annual Greek Awards banquet on Thursday, April 22 at Candlelight. In a change from years past, only individual awards were distributed, as the chapter awards will now be based on Accreditation results and will be awarded in the fall along with the alumni and faculty advising awards.

Congratulations to all the winners and nominees!

Interfraternity Council
Chapter President of the Year: Jeremy Selwyn, Sigma Phi Epsilon
Emerging Greek Leader: Jonathan Pribis, Theta Chi
Interfraternal Award: Avi Lessner, Delta Tau Delta
Lifetime Achievement Award: Derek Lutchko, Lambda Chi Alpha
Greek Man of the Year: Nick Welton, Delta Upsilon

Panhellenic Council
Chapter President of the Year: Liza Zawarski, Delta Gamma
Emerging Greek Leader: Brittany Wiesen, Alpha Chi Omega
Philippi Sorority Service Award: Dana Giallonardo, Gamma Phi Beta
Stephanie A. Phillips Panhellenic Award: Eurie Choi, Alpha Gamma Delta
Greek Woman of the Year: Lauren Harte, Alpha Omciron Pi
Mary Ann Mikitka Award: Jess Diehl, Greek Life Leadership Coordinator

Multicultural Greek Council
Apollo Award: Mario Paredes, Lambda Sigma Upsilon
Humanitarian Award: Kelvin Castillo, Lambda Sigma Upsilon
Savant Award: Gregory Oshode, Lambda Sigma Upsilon
Distinguished Service Award: Greg Anderson, Kappa Alpha Psi

2009/2010 MGC Wrap-Up

2010-04-26T13:46:00.002-04:00

By Greg Anderson, MGC President

The Multicultural Greek Council has finished its first year at Lehigh University! In order to promote unity amongst its members, the MGC hosted a leadership retreat at the ropes course before the start of the fall semester. This was a time to begin forging new relationships, develop an understanding for one another, and establish the specific goals that the council hoped to accomplish by the end of the year.

One of the initial goals of the council was to not only build a foundation for itself on the campus, but also make their name known to the entire Lehigh community. With this objective in mind, the council hosted one of its first events in the fall: Meet the Greeks. This event focused on informing students about the traditions and history of each of the organizations comprising the council. It also served as a time to highlight each fraternity and sorority’s accomplishments and goals for the upcoming year.

Weekly meetings ensured that all council members were aware of not only events that individual MGC organizations were hosting, but of programs being held throughout the entire campus. By utilizing the meetings, members were able to voice their opinions and promote activities that further bonded the council while also serving as positive events for students and faculty. Each organization hosted workshops and presentations to inform those interested of exciting concepts and topics that may not have been discussed otherwise, including programs dealing with sexuality, violence against women in the form of the event “Walk A Mile In Her Shoes”, and a presentation on different rites of passage used in cultures all across the globe.

One of the biggest accomplishments for the MGC was their role in Dancefest. Members from the council served as instructors and were able to teach different steps and strolls to students comprising both the IFC and Panhel. They were also given an opportunity to perform at Dancefest and represent their organizations with pride. This event served as a way to strengthen the Greek community as a whole, and showed that great things can happen when various groups work together.

The MGC has accomplished its goal of establishing its name on campus. It was not always an easy task, but every member upheld the ideals of the council in the highest regard and worked towards promoting a stronger Greek community. With their continued work and dedication, there is nothing that this council could not accomplish with the next upcoming year.

2009/2010 IFC Wrap-Up

2010-04-20T14:07:00.004-04:00

By Derek Lutchko, Interfraternity Council President

This year the IFC set its sights on one primary goal: building a stronger sense of community among Greek chapters at Lehigh. As leaders, our executive board officers know the underestimated value of close personal relationships and looked to help develop those relationships in hopes of that effect trickling down.

From the get-go, we planned several things including: a chapter presidents vs. delegates football game (in the rain), an all-Greek "Hill Opening" pig roast with Greek performers, and icebreakers at every IFC meeting.

Each of these small, intentional undertakings played a big role in cultivating new relationships. To further develop these relationships, monthly "presidents club meetings" allowed for a relaxed setting to chat about stresses and take a break from the job.

In other larger community building moves, we reached out both to assist and ask for help. We helped kick off Panhel's wildly successful Pink Week by covering Lehigh's campus and off-campus community with pink balloons and a schedule of events. We also provided the handsome models for their first annual Pink Week Bra Show.

While we supported the brand-new Multicultural Greek Council throughout the year, our fondest memory is DanceFest, when we received guidance from MGC members. We reached out to the brothers of Kappa Alpha Psi to help us, the IFC Dance Team, to choreograph a crowd-pleasing dance. While the dance was great, the time leading up to it, learning the dance and sharing ideas with Karl, Greg, and our interfraternal team was most rewarding.

Our year-long efforts culminated with "Beat It for Charity". This philanthropy-focused week saw numerous chapters cultivate new partnerships ans raise a ton of dough for various charities, including the American Diabetes Association, Children's Miracle Network, and the American Cancer Society.

While we could go on about our programs and progress, the above-mentioned times represent the best successes of our year. In working together, we became closer as a Council and were able to take down some of the barriers that separate fraternities from each other and divide the Greek community.

2009/2010 Panhellenic Wrap-Up

2010-04-19T15:28:00.003-04:00

By Lauren Harte, Panhellenic Council President

This year the Panhellenic Council made great contributions to both Greek life and the greater Lehigh community. We started off the year setting goals during our council retreat at an apple picking farm. We had a number of successful recruitment events during the fall semester, including a bagel brunch and "Meet the Greeks". In October we organized the 5th annual "Panhellenic Pink Week" and introduced a new event, the "Real Men Wear Pink" fashion show. We raised $3,000 for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. In November we introduced a new initiative with the intent of strengthening our bond as a sorority community. The "Progressive Dinner Series" was a way for all sororities to host members from each chapter for dinner and a presentation on philanthropy.

Formal recruitment in January was extremely successful. We had 237 students sign bids! In March the Panhellenic executive board along with the sorority chapter presidents were honored to host a dinner with Lehigh's President Gast. We talked about goal setting for the future and the accomplishments of our council. This year the Panhellenic Council also created a new website, a "Lehigh Greeks" Facebook page, and an online blog. All throughout the year the council sponsored and participated in numerous philanthropic activities, attended campus speakers, and partnered with different campus organizations. As a testament to all of our hard work this year, the Panhellenic Council received two awards at the 2010 Northeast Greek Leadership Association conference.

Congratulations to the 2009/2010 Panhellenic Council on an outstanding year!

LSU Receives National Recognition

2010-04-13T09:29:00.007-04:00

Congratulations to the Uman chapter of Lambda Sigma Upsilon Fraternity, Inc. for taking home several awards at their National Convention this past weekend.

Chapter of the Year - This award honors an undergraduate chapter that embodies the goals that the Founding Fathers established for LSU. The recipient of this award is selected by the National Executive Board and is based on the final results of the Chapter Rankings.

Highest Chapter GPA Award - This award is presented to the chapter with the highest cumulative GPA within the National Fraternity.

Alberto Rivera Award - This award is dedicated to Founding Father Alberto Rivera and honors a brother who has made great contributions to LSU that reflect the fraternity's goals and mission. The recipient of the award does not only make a difference within LSU, but also to his family, friends, and community. Congratulations to Lehigh LSU brother, Greg Oshode!

Walk A Mile

2010-04-12T10:09:00.005-04:00

On Sunday, April 11, the ladies of Lambda Theta Alpha Latin Sorority, Inc. sponsored the inaugural "Walk A Mile in Her Shoes" in conjunction with the Women's Center, P.A.C., and Kappa Alpha Theta. Over 60 men turned out to "walk a mile" in high heels and speak out against sexual assault, rape, and gender violence.

All the Walk A Mile participants & sponsors

Director of Fraternity & Sorority Affairs, Tim Wilkinson and Director of Residential Services, Ozzie Breiner

DanceFest 2010

2010-04-09T13:38:00.002-04:00

DanceFest 2010 participants

The Lehigh Greek community sponsored three teams in the inaugural DanceFest event this past Thursday, April 8. The Multicultural Greek Council, the Interfraternity Council, and the Panhellenic Council each had a dance team that featured hip hop, stepping, strolling, and much more!

Accreditation Presentations

2010-04-08T09:07:00.002-04:00

Each spring every Lehigh fraternity and sorority submits a report and conducts a presentation outlining their accomplishments over the past academic year in the areas of Scholarship, Leadership, Citizenship, Partnership, and Stewardship. The Accreditation panel, comprised of five rotating faculty, staff, students, and alumni, deliberate and designate each chapter as either Gold, Silver, Bronze, Poor, or Unacceptable.

Presentations last approximately 40 minutes followed by 20 minutes of Q&A from the Accreditation panel and are open to the community.

Friday, April 9 - UC 308
8:30 AM Theta Chi
10:30 AM Delta Tau Delta
1:30 PM Alpha Tau Omega
3:30 PM Alpha Gamma Delta

Saturday, April 10 - UC 308
8:30 AM Lambda Theta Alpha
10:30 AM Phi Sigma Kappa
1:30 PM Delta Phi

Monday, April 12 - Lamberton Great Room
8:30 AM Theta Xi
1:30 PM Kappa Alpha Theta
3:30 PM Kappa Alpha Psi

Friday, April 16 - UC 303
8:30 AM Phi Gamma Delta
10:30 AM Delta Upsilon
1:30 PM Alpha Phi
3:30 PM Sigma Phi Epsilon

Saturday, April 17 - UC 308
8:30 AM Kappa Sigma
10:30 AM Sigma Chi
1:30 PM Kappa Alpha
3:30 PM Phi Kappa Theta

Monday, April 19 - UC 308
8:30 AM Chi Psi
10:30 AM Pi Beta Phi
1:30 PM Alpha Chi Omega
3:30 PM Gamma Phi Beta

Friday, April 23 - UC 303
10:30 AM Delta Chi
1:30 PM Delta Gamma
3:30 PM Alpha Omicron Pi

Saturday, April 24 - UC 303
8:30 AM Psi Upsilon
10:30 AM Lambda Chi Alpha
1:30 PM Lambda Sigma Upsilon
3:30 PM Pi Kappa Alpha

Panhellenic Elections

2010-04-05T12:57:00.003-04:00

Congratulations to the 2010/2011 Panhellenic Council Executive Board!

President: Lauren Koenig, Alpha Phi
VP Administration: Andi Lucas, Alpha Omicron Pi
VP Programming: Chloe Mullins, Gamma Phi Beta
VP Recruitment: Meaghan Phipps, Alpha Gamma Delta
VP Judicial: Sam Bello, Delta Gamma
VP Finance: Elizabeth Upton, Alpha Omicron Pi
VP Marketing: Kimberly Boone, Alpha Chi Omega
VP Communications: Hilary LaBar, Pi Beta Phi
Campus Relations Chair: Carolyn Ferreira, Kappa Alpha Theta
Community Service Chair: Jenna Andreu, Alpha Omicron Pi

MGC Elections

2010-03-31T17:17:00.002-04:00

Congratulations to the 2010/2011 Multicultural Greek Council Executive Board!

President: Mario Paredes, Lambda Sigma Upsilon Fraternity, Inc.
Vice President: Kelvin Castillo, Lambda Sigma Upsilon Fraternity, Inc.
Treasurer: Tennyson Hinds, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.

IFC Elections

2010-03-22T17:35:00.003-04:00

Congratulations to the newly elected 2010/2011 Interfraternity Council executive board!

President: Brian Casey, Kappa Sigma
Vice President of Administrative Affairs: Zac Jaindl, Alpha Tau Omega
Vice President of Judicial Affairs: Stuart Harwood, Pi Kappa Alpha
Secretary: Kevin Abel, Phi Sigma Kappa
Treasurer: Andrew Woodward, Phi Gamma Delta
Recruitment Chairman: Jim McSweeney, Lambda Chi Alpha
Communications Chairman: Chris Cassidy, Sigma Phi Epsilon

The new officers will be installed on Monday, April 19 and will run their first official meeting on Monday, April 26.

Congratulations!