Base Camp is a three-day overnight retreat with Greek leaders fostering authentic dialogue and placing emphasis on Collaborative Connections and Inclusive Leadership. Participants develop meaningful relationships and support networks to aid them in creating positive change to move the fraternity and sorority community forward.
At Base Camp, participants with different experiences and backgrounds engage in a variety of exercises and activities, called to play the role of both the teacher and the learner at different times throughout the weekend. Authentic conversation about the reality for our students and our fraternity and sorority community is necessary for creating positive change, and requires participants to move from their comfort zone to their learning edge throughout the experience. Base Camp is a setting which fosters such conversations, while allowing participants to develop relationships and meaningful support networks to aid them through their present and future challenges.
Some thoughts from Aisha Abdulkarimu, sister of Mu Sigma Upsilon...
Some thoughts from Aisha Abdulkarimu, sister of Mu Sigma Upsilon...
One highlight or an unexpected experience from Base Camp was realizing how big and deep a lot of the issues surrounding Greek Life is. They cannot be solved with the snap of a finger or simply one event but requires a deep analysis of social norm or even culture.
I hope after Base Camp to collaborate more with organizations within IFC and Panhel for any events, see members of IFC and Panhel more where they know my chapter sisters and me more, and as the Cultural Greek Council find a way to connect more.
Jacob Dooley, Phi Sigma Kappa and IFC Exec member shares his experience...
Going into base camp I was honestly a little skeptical at what the participation from the greek leaders and execs would look like. For many of us this was the first time interacting with each other for more than an hour a week, so to expect us to act cohesively and engage in challenging conversations I believed was a stretch. But I was wrong to think that.
The weekend was scheduled from sunrise to sunset with discussion, problem solving, and team building. All of it productive and by the end of base camp I felt energized to tackle the rest of the semester. Everyone was so supportive of each other, felt comfortable enough in the space to speak honestly, and overall it was a surprisingly enjoyable albeit chilly experience.
Moving forward I believe that we have the opportunity to enact sustainable proactive change within the greek community. I personally have an ambition to make greek life at Lehigh more inclusive which everyone in greek leadership can agree with, but beyond that I think that the councils are going to more actively look into what being a part of the Lehigh and Bethlehem community means to them and how they can give back. I am looking forward to meaningful collaboration not only within and between the councils, but also outside of greek life incorporating organizations that exist throughout the entire student body.