Special Feature: Adopt-a-Family

Adopt a Family is an annual event hosted by Lehigh Athletics. Lehigh Athletics invites Greek life fraternities and sororities to take part in this great event with them. Each organization "adopts" a family by Christmas gift shopping for the children.

This year marked the 20th Annual Adopt-A-Family program, which began innocently enough in 1998 and has grown to include fraternities, sororities and other departments around campus.

Check out the video below to see this year's event!

Message from University Leadership

The following message was sent to the Lehigh University community on December 12th

Dear Members of the Campus Community,

In advance of winter break, we are writing to inform all students, faculty, and staff of important legislation and campus action intended to help ensure the safety and welfare of our students.  As many of you are already aware, the recent enactment of Pennsylvania’s Timothy J. Piazza Antihazing Law addresses prevention, enforcement, and transparency around hazing activities on college campuses.  The law applies to student organizations of all types, including fraternities and sororities, athletic teams, and student clubs. 

Lehigh makes every effort to investigate and address reported allegations of hazing.  In the interest of greater public awareness, an important provision of the Piazza Law is the requirement that all colleges and universities in our state will now post hazing incidents on a publicly accessible website.  Various offices are currently at work on creating our website, which will be operational by the required deadline of January 15, 2019.  Additional requirements and provisions include new or more clearly defined policies and provisions.  An overview of the law (introduced as Senate Bill 1090) can be found here.

As a timely reminder that Lehigh is not immune from such potentially dangerous activities, we have recently been made aware of alleged hazing by an on-campus fraternity.  The allegations will be thoroughly investigated by our Office of Student Conduct & Community Expectations and if a specific chapter or group of individuals is/are identified, the investigation will be followed by an on-campus hearing as outlined in the Code of Conduct.  It is important to note that athletic teams, clubs, and other organizations would be subject to similar investigation, adjudication, and if found responsible, university sanctions.  

As this particular case alleges hazing of prospective members of an Interfraternity Council (IFC) member organization, IFC leadership has been informed of the coming investigation.  Additionally, because a specific chapter was not named in the report, all IFC organizations have been informed that spring 2019 IFC recruitment activities will be suspended until this matter is fully investigated and/or adjudicated.  Consistent with our previous practice, the outcome of the case will be posted via the Lehigh Greek Community Blog.

Often lost in the national and even local dialogue on hazing are the overall positive accomplishments and contributions of fraternities and sororities.  Greek life has a strong history at Lehigh and remains an important part of our future.  We are confident that our students – including fraternity brothers/sorority sisters, club members, teammates, and friends - are concerned for the well-being of others within our community and will remain vigilant as we work together to end hazing.    

In the meantime, we will continue to take seriously, and appropriately address, any activity that subjects members of our campus groups, organizations, or athletic teams to harmful, degrading, and dangerous activities as a condition of membership or inclusion.  Hazing is not at all in line with Lehigh University’s values or ideals, and has no place in our community as we work together towards an even brighter future. 

Sincerely,

John D. Simon
President

Patrick V. Farrell
Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs

Ricardo Hall
Vice Provost of Student Affairs

Feature Friday: Maggie Bristol

Check out Alpha Gamma Delta's Maggie Bristol discuss her involvement in the CSO, OFYE and AGD!

I have had such amazing experiences on this campus in the past three years and they are mostly thanks to three things: the Community Service Office, the Office of First Year Experience, and Alpha Gamma Delta. I have learned so much in my time as an Orientation Leader this past year as well as a student coordinator at the CSO for three years. The skills that I have learned can directly translate to contributing to a Greek chapter here at Lehigh.

Before classes even started my freshman year, I was involved in the CSO programming through PreLUsion. It then led to me getting my job as a student coordinator. I have learned so much about leadership and communication through this role, as my job is to recruit volunteers and run my own programs. Through the CSO I was also given the opportunity to welcome new students to campus as a PreLUsion leader my sophomore year. My passion for community, service, and philanthropy led me to become my chapter’s philanthropy chair my sophomore year. The skills I learned and the passion I had gained from my time at the CSO drove me to bring that same passion to the new programs that I created for my chapter’s new philanthropic goals.

Being an Orientation Leader was something I always wanted to do with my time here at Lehigh, and it did not disappoint! I met so many incredible people during Orientation, and the community that is created by the OFYE is without a doubt one of the most amazing parts of this campus. We all learned to welcome the first year students to campus with open arms, and absurd amounts of knowledge about resources at Lehigh. I learned to really lead through the OFYE. The best thing that I brought back to my chapter after being an Orientation leader was probably the new found friendships and all of the different activities that I discovered on campus because of them. There are Orientation Leaders all over our campus, and in many greek chapters, that are willing to kindly welcome new members to any club, organization, or activity! Out of everything I have done here at Lehigh, applying to be on the OFYE Staff was one of the best decisions I ever made!

The different activities that you are involved in on campus can have huge influences on how you contribute to your Greek chapter. I would definitely recommend getting involved in activities through the CSO or the OFYE because they can develop valuable skills that you can bring back to your chapter to make it a better place!

Feature Friday: Gordon Gorab, Chi Phi

This week, Gryphon Gordon Gorab of Chi Phi gives us insight into his Lehigh experience...


For me, Lehigh has always been about the people. Each person I meet, from professors to friendly passersby, has contributed something to my experience. I have had the fortune to grow and develop my connections at Lehigh through many avenues. Two avenues that have been particularly impactful are my involvement in Chi Phi as well as The Gryphon Society.

Gryphons are everywhere. They are club presidents, TRAC fellows, athletes, and more than you may imagine, members of Greek organizations! Gryphons mentor and lead students while advocating for their best interests and helping facilitate community building.

Being both a member of a Greek organization and a gryphon has opened me up to people and perspectives on campus to which I may have otherwise never been exposed. The Office of Residence Life staff is incredibly diverse in terms of backgrounds, interests, and outlooks on our campus community. Nearly two weeks of training on everything from crisis response to bLUeprint foundations, with much time for small group discussion, has allowed me to connect with individuals whose slants on student life varied from my own. They’re great friends, co-workers, and friendly faces.

The gryphon role has instilled in me both skills and viewpoints that are transferable to Chi Phi and the Greek community as a whole. Aspects of inclusive leadership and identity development, in particular, are embedded deep into a gryphon’s role. These values are pivotal to greek life as well as campus unity, to improve chapter function as well as the integration of fraternities and sororities into the broader Lehigh community.

Identity at Lehigh is too often defined by Greek affiliation or lack thereof. My transition from life in Greek housing to the CHOICE community may seem drastic, but it has shown me that the many pockets of our community are more similar than they are different. From what I have seen, Lehigh students want nothing more than to make the most of their time here and see personal and communal success. It is my hope that as Greek-affiliated students, we can leverage our diverse “Lehigh experience” around campus to improve campus climate, the wellbeing of our chapters, and expand our definition of “communal success” to include the entire Lehigh community.

I would strongly recommend anyone interested in the gryphon position consider applying. The application is live on LINC through 11/18/18!

Staffing Announcement: Ashley Baudouin

I’m writing to share bittersweet news. I am stepping away from my role as the Assistant Dean and Director of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs to pursue new adventures in Greenville, South Carolina, and my last day at Lehigh will be Thursday, November 15, 2018.

I’ve been asked several times over by others to share my proudest moments and greatest achievements, and I’ve balked at the questions. Nothing we accomplish is singular, and no one ever got anything extraordinary done alone. My greatest achievements are the triumphs of those I have had the opportunity to serve (read: you) across my 6.5 year tenure at Lehigh. I am overcome with gratitude to have had worked with you all.

I’ll leave you with one final message, one I have shared many, many times over. Now more than ever, fraternal organizations need radical vision, leadership, and courage to further realign the experience we all value so deeply. There exists boundless potential for fraternal organizations, yours included, to promote a culture of excellence, advocate for social change, champion inclusion and equity, engage in controversy with civility, and develop globally-minded and conscientious leaders. Continue to challenge the process, think critically and limitlessly, idea and innovate, and employ sound judgement so that you might bring to fruition new ideas and opportunities to revolutionize the fraternity and sorority experience at Lehigh and beyond.

I believe (as I always have) that this community is up for the challenge. This community has a long-standing and proud history at Lehigh, and I look to you all to continue to lead the way forward and carry out your legacy in doing so.

Know that there are others at Lehigh who are as equally invested in supporting the fraternity and sorority community as I have been, and they’ll continue to support you in cultivating a meaningful fraternity and sorority experience. The OFSA staff, among many others, are strong advocates for you. Utilize them as a resource, and be open to their ideas.

-Ash
_______________________

Ashley came to Lehigh in July of 2012 as an Assistant Director in OFSA and was subsequently promoted to the role of Director in July 2015. During her time here she built very strong rapport with chapter members, alumni, parents, key campus partners and national offices in the furtherance of Lehigh’s goal to have a strong, values focused fraternity and sorority experience for our students. She has also been instrumental in maintaining a positive community after difficult chapter closures, and always putting students first in the goals of the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs. During her tenure as the director, the cutting edge accreditation program for chapters has been re-envisioned and improved and Lehigh University has been at the forefront of transparent communication concerning our Greek Community.

Under Ashley’s leadership the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs has developed and executed the Advisor Academy where people involved in the Fraternity and Sorority Community come together to strengthen relationships, exchange ideas, and create synergy with alumni partners. She was also instrumental in re-visioning Base Camp to incorporate design thinking concepts and challenge students to think more innovatively and creatively about their fraternity and sorority experiences. Overall her tenure in the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs has been marked with an increase in engagement, educational programming, and individual touch points with students. This has paid off in a more values focused Fraternity and Sorority System that has more trust in the people charged with overseeing that area of campus life.

As an Assistant Director of OFSA, Baudouin was the first AD to have a dotted line to the CSO. She led the charge to develop intentional partnership between OFSA and the CSO, which led to the transformation of how service and philanthropy is embedded within our Greek community. Baudouin has advised several environmental SERVE trips, from the resort like locale of the Maine trip to some of the roughest and most rustic of all sites in the history of serve. Ashley is also an Ibis of Service Award winner, one of the most prestigious awards within the Community Service Office which honors a dedication to a lifestyle of servant leadership.

Stay tuned for additional details regarding staffing support as well as details regarding a search process to fill the Director role.

Feature Friday: Nadia Michalewski, Kappa Delta

Applying to be an Orientation Leader is easily the best decision I have made at Lehigh so far. Becoming a part of the Office of First Year Experience staff is an experience unlike any other, and I believe my previous experience in Greek Life really helped me begin to develop skills that I was able to hone by being an OL.

When I first joined Kappa Delta, I was looking to step out of my comfort zone to make new relationships with the people around me. What I did not expect was to feel welcomed from the first second I walked into the house. This amazing group of girls I call my sisters helped my quiet self to slowly open up. I had new friends to study with in the library, to make delicious nachos with, and to create new memories. I had no idea the positive impact my chapter would begin to have on my communication skills and academic ability. Through the love and support of my sisters, I knew I had what it took to be an OL.

When I finally did become an OL and started training, I had no idea how impactful it would be. I first learned how to facilitate to a large group, which meant further developing my communication skills when working with others. This then helped me improve my leadership skills as I guided first-years through a smooth transition into the Lehigh community.

It was such a rewarding experience that really meant a lot to me. I became a part of something bigger than myself while making 80 new amazing friends in the process. Each person had a great personality along with a different aspect of the Lehigh community to showcase. The energy everyone brought to each and every meeting always left me with a smile on my face and so many memories that I will always cherish. Not only that, but being able to mentor a group of first-years and help them become more comfortable and familiar with the campus, made me feel like I had really accomplished something great.

Now, I take what I have learned back not only to the Greek community, but the Lehigh community as a whole. I gained so much more confidence not only in my ability to lead and mentor, but in myself as a person. I have a whole new group of friends I call my family and know that they will always be there for me as I am always there for them. From having deep and real conversations, to breaking out into random dance parties in the middle of the day, I would never change a thing about my experience as an Orientation Leader. My experiences as a member of the OFYE staff and our Greek community shaped who I am and help define my Lehigh experience.

Keep an eye out for Orientation Leader applications and be sure to apply!!

Feature Friday: Elizabeth Tully, Alpha Phi

Another UIFI experience shared by Elizabeth Tully, Alpha Phi...

The Undergraduate Interfraternity Institute (UIFI) is a five-day fully immersive experience that welcomes hundreds of collegiate fraternity and sorority members from throughout the United States. Held at Indiana University in Bloomington, IN, participants identified practical leadership skills by exploring critical issues in thought-provoking activities. By defining the challenges that our diverse communities face today, personal leadership potential was advanced. Collaboration with peers provided a platform that inspired confidence and success. UIFI fostered a spirit of passion and commitment amongst leaders who pledged to ensure and promote a positive fraternity and sorority relationship. UIFI commenced with initial dynamic teambuilding activities that resulted in lasting trust and friendship. By examining revolutionary leadership and individual identity, values, ethics, and conduct were integrated into everyday decision-making processes and conflict management. The harsh realities of the current state of fraternity and sorority life were held up against the ideal visions that founded our chapters. Through the creation of a UIFI “Blueprint”, participants were able to detail their plans of action that will combat resistance and ignite change. We were instructed by our dedicated and enthusiastic mentors to consider the “why” and root causes of the surrounding issues that plague our entire Greek community. These deep moments of reflection inspired my love for Alpha Phi and the continued prosperity of Lehigh University’s Greek affiliates. My UIFI journey was, at times, truly overwhelming and emotional. I was forced to look in the mirror and hold myself, my chapter and the Lehigh community accountable for its triumphs and failures. UIFI was truly an eye opening and inspiring experience that has motivated me to enact authentic change in my chapter and greater Greek community. I have transformed into a confident and genuine leader that is prepared to challenge the process, lead the way and live out my and Alpha Phi's values each and every day. I am eternally grateful that the Alpha Phi Foundation sponsored my attendance and is committed to enhancing the Greek experience for all of its sisters. Every member of the Greek community should participate in this life-changing institute. It’s not just for four years. It’s for life.