SASC

This report is a summary of recommendations made by the Student Affairs and Services Committee (SASC) to President Durden. SASC has spent the past five months evaluating the Greek Life Action Report that was created during the 1999-2000 academic year by a committee of fraternity and sorority students and alumni. Our goal is to help create a healthy Greek community at Dickinson College.

I. Affirming the Purpose of Greek Life at Dickinson

The SASC agrees that Greek organizations have an important role to play on campus and that it is in the best interests of the College that the history and tradition of Greek life at Dickinson should not be allowed to lapse. Greek Life is one component of an active, engaged, and healthy student life. Some aspects of Greek Life at the college (as well as nationally) have been problematic - and challenge the College and the Greek organizations to reform the system in salutary ways. The first step in this process is to affirm the purpose of Greek life at Dickinson.

A. Statement of Purpose: Adopt the following "Statement of Purpose for Greek Life at Dickinson College."

In support of the College's Mission Statement and its Strategic Plan, the purpose of Greek letter organizations at Dickinson College shall be:

       -to foster opportunities for the personal growth and development of members
       -to foster the development of relationships and friendships
       -to create an environment that promotes and encourages academic achievement and intellectual                       development
       -to provide a laboratory for the development of leadership, management, and group skills
       -to contribute to the life of the campus through participation in and support of programs and activities
       -to create a forum for philanthropic and civic engagement
       -to provide the oppurtunity for life-long career and professional networking
       -to engage alumni in constructive and meaningful advising, mentoring, and communication networks

II. Creating a new-member program that supports the purpose of Greek life at Dickinson

The SASC understands that there are many aspects of the current system of new-member recruitment ("rush") and new-member education ("pledging") which need to be addressed in order to support the purpose of Greek life at Dickinson and to better align these activities with the academic mission of the College.

A. Hazing: Annually re-distribute the Dickinson College and Pennsylvania hazing policies to the Greek community, as well as to all students involved in the fraternity/sorority rush process. The Office of Greek life, with the Inter-Fraternity Council and the Panhellic Council should also require all current fraternity and sorority members to attend a hazing educations class where policies will be explained. This should occur before rush begins. The Discipline System and Office of Greek Life will deal with any violations of the hazing policy on a case-by-case basis.

B. Formal Rush for Men: Work with the Office of Greek Life and IFC to create a more formal rush system for men that ensures that all men interested in the fraternity system can visit each chapter. The system would include a more public recruitment for fraternity, including "rush" and "bidding". This supports the idea of a more inclusive system of rush for men that maximizes the chances that individuals and groups are matched effectively.

C. New-Member Recruitment and Education: The SASC recommends that new member recruitment, pledging and initiation begin in the Spring semester of a student's first year at Dickinson. Before the finals period begins in the Fall semester, each chapter much submit a detailed pledge program to the Office of Greek Life which the Director of Greek Life must approve. To ensure a more manageable recruitment process, we believe the following schedule should be followed (schedule dates based upon the Spring 2001 semester):

Greek Information Period: Begins the third Sunday in February (mid Feb.)

This time at the beginning of the spring semester is designed to provide education for students who are interested in becoming a part of the rush process. All students who are interested in rush/pledging MUST attend a session of Greek Life 101. These programs should be run in conjunction with the Greek Life Office and with Inter-Fraternity Council and Panhel. Greek Life 101 should provide general info about Greek Life, rush, pledging, and individual chapter histories.

IFC, Panhel, and the Office of Greek Life should hold officer-specific Greek Life 2001 during fall and spring semesters. Greek Life 201 is a mandatory training program for all Greek officers, that will help equip them with the necessary information and skills to better assume their responsibilities as leaders of Greek organizations. In addition, this traning will emphasize the officers' collective role as leaders on campus and help build trust and promote interaction among Greek leaders.

Sorority/Fraternity Rush: Begins two weeks after the start of Greek Information Period (Late Feb.)

Sorority/Fraternity Bidding: Completed by Thursday before Spring Break (mid-March). Bids will be accepted after Spring Break.

Pledging: Begins the Monday after Spring Break (late March)

Initiation: Must be completed five (5) weeks after the beginning of pledging period (end of April)
         1. Initation should occur at approximately the same time every year.
         2. No initiation ceremony may occur after classes have ended.
         3. No chapter should be allowed to extend the pledging period.

(Classes End/Finals begin: 1st week of May

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