Conduct Update: Chi Psi Fraternity

Update: 11/30/2015

The Beta Delta Chapter of Chi Psi Fraternity was placed on interim suspension on November 23, 2015.  This suspension has now been lifted and chapter activities may resume.  

This action was originally taken because of alleged University policy violations by the chapter and its members across three separate incidents.  Allegations included trespassing and assault motivated by retaliation; engaging in harassment and discrimination; and endangering the health and safety of students.

The Office of Student Conduct and Community Expectations completed investigations into two of the above-mentioned incidents and the chapter faces no charges in either incident.  The third incident is still under investigation; however, there is not a current threat warranting that the suspension remain in place.  

The alumni leadership and national officers will be contacted.  If you have further questions, please contact the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs at (610) 758-4157.

Conduct Update: Chi Psi Fraternity

Effective immediately all activities of the Alpha Beta Delta Chapter of Chi Psi Fraternity at Lehigh University have been temporarily suspended.  This action is being taken because of alleged University policy violations by the chapter and its members across three separate incidents.  Allegations include trespassing and assault motivated by retaliation; engaging in harassment and discrimination; and endangering the health and safety of students.

This interim suspension mandates that no chapter activities of any kind may occur, either on Lehigh University's campus or off-campus for Chi Psi Fraternity. 

The Office of Student Conduct & Community Expectations will begin an investigation and this interim suspension will remain in effect until the formal resolution of these allegations is concluded.   Failure to comply with the terms of interim suspension will result in additional charges.

Additionally, the Lehigh University Code of Conduct requires that students and student organizations not only know and adhere to the Code of Conduct but cooperate with the University when investigating violations.

The alumni leadership and national officers will be contacted.  If you have further questions, please contact the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs at (610) 758-4157.

#Oneless

Please see below for a message from the President of the Peer Health Advisers. 

Hello Faculty, Staff, and Students! 

My name is Rachel Sholder and I am President of the Peer Health Advisers and a student worker in the Office of Health Advancement & Prevention Strategies.

This Thursday, November 12th, the Lehigh University Peer Health Advisers are planning a #OneLess Campaign (started by Bentley University)--in collaboration with our six co-sponsors: Panhel, IFC, RHA, EMS, Senate, and the Student Athlete Council. 

This campaign is purposely timed to be the week before Lehigh-Lafayette week, a week that is associated with high-risk drinking for Lehigh University students.

We want to see behavior change. On November 12th, students will be encouraged to make personalized pledges.

Reasons to pledge #OneLess:

• Save money
• Improve your grades
• Empty calories
• Hangovers/blackouts

Examples of #OneLess pledges:

• I choose #OneLess drink next time I go out
• I choose #OneLess night out next week
• I choose #OneLess morning I feel too sick to go to class
• I choose #OneLess drinking game

With this shift in focus, we will be tabling in the UC, Rauch, and Steps from 11 AM to 1 PM. Here, students will be able to make their pledges. At 6 PM to 7 PM in UC408, we will have a Happy Hour presentation where students can "get the optimal buzz" on the basics from the Red Watch Band program. Then, from 9 PM to 12 AM, Peer Health will be co-sponsoring a Lehigh After Dark: De-Stress After Dark event in Williams.

Our overall hope is that #OneLess becomes a Lehigh initiative, not just a Peer Health initiative. Our campaign will mainly take place on Thursday, November 12th, but we hope organizations campus-wide continue on with this mission from that day forward.

On behalf of the Peer Health Advisers, we look forward to having you as a part of this important and impactful campaign. Any questions or comments can be emailed to me at ros316@lehigh.edu. 

Thank you for your help in making this program a success!

Sincerely,    

Rachel Sholder 

Rachel Sholder
ros316@lehigh.edu
Lehigh University, Class of 2016
Mathematics (with Probability, Statistics, & Actuarial Science)
President, Peer Health Advisers
Grader, Department of Mathematics
Intern, Office of Health Advancement & Prevention Strategies
Intern, Office of the Dean of Students - Student Affairs
View My Profile on LinkedIn

Message from GAC President

Please see below for a message from the Greek Alumni President to greek alumni. 

Hello Greek Alumni,

Seeing as we are well into the fall semester, I wanted to provide an update as to the status of the GAC and plans for the upcoming spring semester. As you may have noticed, the GAC did not hold a fall meeting this year, and is instead planning on holding a robust and informative meeting in the spring. The date is not yet planned for the spring meeting, but we are working with the Alumni Association, OFSA, and the President's office to set a date in the coming weeks. 

For our spring meeting we plan on providing updates regarding the overall Greek Community, as well as hosting President John Simon and updating alumni on the current Residential Environment at Lehigh. We had previously discussed the Committee on Residential Environment (CORE), which published its report in June (see the report here). We will take some time to discuss these recommendations, but I would like to emphasize that the CORE report is not a strategic plan or initiative, only a culmination of months of work and suggested recommendations to the University. We will also take this time to address questions and concerns from alumni.

I would like to also point out recent changes to the OFSA staff. Tim Wilkinson, the former Director of OFSA, has taken on a new position at Wake Forest and is no longer with Lehigh University. Acting in his place is Ashley Baudouin, who was also promoted to Associate Director. The community is also supported by Assistant Directors Elizabeth Shayler and Carter Gilbert alongside Zach Brown as Assistant Director of Greek Leadership Development. Within the past few months, we have also seen the departures of Jen Tedeschi to Gettysburg University, and Stefanie Burke to Assistant Dean & Director of First Year Experience. I would also like to welcome Brigette Gardner, last summer's OFSA intern, into a full time position as Assistant Director beginning this summer. We wish the best of luck to those in new positions, are are eager to bring in new faces to join the staff.

In addition, extensive support to our chapters and councils has also been provided by Allison Gulati, Brooke Clayton, Chris Mulvihil, Jess Manno, Matt Kitchie, and Christine Gravelle.

I encourage everyone to regularly check for updates on the Lehigh Office of Fraternity & Sorority Affairs website, as well the Lehigh Greeks Blog. More information on the above staffing changes can also be found on these sites. And of course, please feel free to reach out to me directly with any questions. 

Warms regards,

Robert Sobieski

GAC President

rob.sobieski@gmail.com

Conduct Update: Phi Kappa Theta

UPDATE: 11/05/2015

Phi Kappa Theta was involved in an incident on October 23, 2015, in which your behavior violated the Lehigh University Code of Conduct. 

CHARGES:
Respect for Self A1 (Unauthorized Consumption, Distribution, or Possession)
The unauthorized or illegal consumption, distribution, or possession of alcohol.

Respect for Community L1 (Failure to Report / Being in the Presence of a violation)
Failure to report and/or knowingly being in the presence of violations of the Lehigh University Code of Conduct or other University Policies.

Respect for Community G1 (Incomplete Sanctions)
Failure to complete any sanctions imposed by Lehigh University.

Respect for Community I1 (Posted Rules and Regulations)
Violating any Lehigh University policies, rules, or regulations, including but not limited to, residential living policies (General Provisions for Occupancy) and policies related to the use of the university computer network.

INCIDENT SUMMARY:
LUPD witnessed a group of men carrying a woman out of an off campus residence into a parked car. LUPD stopped the car and found that the woman was incoherent, unable to hold her head up, and unaware of where she was and clearly needed medical assistance

Phi Kappa Theta took responsibility for the following charges, any other listed charges were dropped. 

Respect for Community L1 (Failure to Report / Being in the Presence of a violation) and Respect for Community I1 (Posted Rules and Regulations)

As a result of this behavior the following sanction(s) will be imposed:
The organization is placed on Disciplinary Deferred Dissolution from November 4, 2015 through the end of new member education, spring 2016 (specific date TBD). During this period of time, the organization is on notice that any further violations of the Code of Conduct will result in the dissolution of the organization immediately without further review. 

The organization will be alcohol free on and off campus effective November 4, 2015 through the end of new member education, spring 2016 (specific date TBD). The chapter cannot host any events in the house or off campus with alcohol and individual members are not permitted to have alcohol in their rooms. The chapter can host non-alcoholic events during the probationary period.

The following educational sanction is being imposed. Addition of bystander intervention training in the Phi Kappa Theta new member education plan and for the entire chapter during the spring 2016 semester.

Lehigh v. Lafayette Parking/Traffic Procedures

We're pumped for Lehigh v. Lafayette!!  With the rivaly week quickly approaching, we wanted to share with you a number of parking/traffic policies and procedures in place along Sayre Park drives (the Hill) during the weekend of November 20th-22nd. 

Please review the memo listed below and share with your members and alumni. Chapter presidents will be allowed to pick up parking passes beginning Monday, November 9th. 

Best, 

OFSA Staff 

TO:         Chapter Leadership and Alumni                     

FR:          Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs       

DT:         November 3, 2015

RE:          Parking/Traffic for Lehigh Lafayette Weekend

               

This letter contains important information regarding parking and traffic for the upcoming annual Lehigh/Lafayette weekend.  The following procedures have been discussed and agreed upon by members of the Dean of Students staff, the Interfraternity Council leadership, the Panhellenic Council leadership, Parking Services, and University Police.  Please take the time to review this letter and discuss its contents with your members at your next scheduled chapter meeting. 

*Every chapter will be issued parking passes for their alumni equivalent to the number of parking spaces they are assigned at the start of the academic year.  It is recommended that a minimum of ten (10) spaces per chapter will be reserved for alumni.  Chapters have the option to make all of the parking spaces at the house available to alumni.

*Parking passes will be available to chapter presidents for distribution beginning Monday, November 9th in the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs.  Lost Lehigh/Lafayette parking passes will not be replaced.

*Students with valid parking permits that wish to move their vehicles to create space for alumni must do so by Friday, November 20^th at 5PM.  Vehicles can be parked on Mountaintop Campus or in any other University lot available for student parking.  Vehicles parked in non-student designated spots or parked in non-parking areas (e.g. on the grass or in the fire lanes) risk being ticketed and/or towed.

*Students with valid parking permits may move their vehicles from their fraternity/sorority lots to the student commuter parking lot located on the Mountaintop campus and in unreserved faculty/staff spaces.  Vehicles may not be parked in other residential parking lots as those residents will have nowhere to park their own vehicles.

*Only vehicles with a Lehigh/Lafayette hill pass will be admitted to Sayre Park roads (the Hill) between 5PM Friday, November 20^th through Sunday, November 22^nd at 5AM.  Your regularly assigned parking permit will not grant you access.

*As in years past, the University Police have the authority to restrict access to Sayre Park roads (the Hill) during Lehigh/Lafayette weekend if it is deemed that an unsafe or hazardous environment exists.  Vehicles parked in the fire lanes or along the roadside will be towed at the owner’s expense.  Please monitor these illegal parking areas and keep alumni from parking in these spots as well.

*Shuttles will be available both on lower campus and on the Hill from 4-8PM on the day of Lehigh/Lafayette game on Saturday, November 21^st.

*We suggest you inform alumni in advance receiving Lehigh/Lafayette parking passes so they have time to request them and you have time to send them in advance of the game.  We also encourage that you post this memo on your chapter’s website; share it with your alumni advisors; and distribute it to your alumni accordingly. 

*We also suggest that you inform your alumni of any plans for social events around the Lehigh/Lafayette game.  Many alumni are not familiar with current social policies. 

*Please contact the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs regarding requests for mailing lists for your alumni.  If you have any questions or concerns please contact the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs at 610-758-4157.

Mr. Burgundy and Grey Philanthropic Event

Please see below for a message from Lambda Theta Alpha. 

In less than a week, the sisters of Lambda Theta Alpha will be hosting our largest event of the semester!

The Mr. Burgundy & Grey Philanthropic Event is on 
Friday, November 6th at 8pm in Lamberton Hall. 

Food will be provided and there will be a special performance by LU's Finest! The purpose of the event is to raise money for our national philanthropy St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. This past summer, a member had the opportunity to visit the hospital and was completely blown away from it. 

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital is TRULY one of a kind and was built with the needs of the children in mind.Families NEVER receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing, and food because all a family should worry about is their child.

(At St. Jude they have a wall dedicated to the ABC's of cancer. Patients use the letters of the alphabet to share their thoughts and feelings about fighting cancer. Some are happy and some are sad. This is an example of one the many programs St. Jude provides for their patients)

We will be tabling in Upper on Tuesday (Nov. 3), Thursday (Nov. 5), and Friday(Nov. 6) from 11:30AM-1PM. Cash, goldplus, and venmo are accepted. Tickets are being sold for the event $2 pre-sale and $3 at the door. All the proceeds raised will be going to support the hospital in it's efforts to combat childhood cancer. In the words of the founder of St. Jude, Danny Thomas,
"No child should die in the dawn of life."

Please forward this to your members and I hope to see you all there!