Minutes of AIGC meeting 10/15/2005

Attendees and Missing

Chapter / FirstName / LastName / Email / Phone
Acacia / Art / Deporan /
Alpha Chi Rho / Gabe / Chomic / / 518-209-6332
Alpha Epsilon Pi
Alpha Omega Epsilon
Alpha Phi / Michele / Budrow / / 518-489-4218
Alpha Phi Alpha / Charles / Day /
Alpha Gamma Delta / Tara / Waters / / couldn't attend, info OK
Alpha Sigma Phi
Chi Phi / Kent / Worden / / 603-472-8656
Delta Phi / Roger / Mike / / 518-383-2590
Delta Phi / Bob / Miller /
Delta Tau Delta / Matt / Bryer / / 732-330-7208
Phi Gamma Delta / Michael / Kalb / / 845-323-4121
Phi Iota Alpha / Norris / Pearson /
Phi Kappa Tau
Phi Kappa Theta / Erwin / Schweigardt / / 518-482-0487
Phi Mu Delta
Phi Sigma Kappa / Michael / Wolf / / 518-441-0628
Lambda Chi Alpha / Butch / Bornt /
Lambda Upsilon Lambda
Pi Beta Phi / Shannon / Kelly /
Pi Beta Phi / Ann / Dodson / / 518-527-0767
Pi Delta Psi
Pi Kappa Alpha
Pi Kappa Phi
Pi Lambda Phi / Karl / Oestreich /
Pi Lambda Phi / Pat / DiCaprie /
Psi Upsilon / Miles / Lyon /
RSE / Mark / Anderson /
Sigma Alpha Epsilon / Jonathan / Witter / / 518-421-8200
Sigma Chi
Sigma Delta
Sigma Phi Epsilon / Eddie / Chin /
Tau Epsilon Phi / Aren / Paster /
Theta Chi / Greg / Willmott /
Theta Chi / Scott / Campbell / / 518-720-3100 x104
Theta Xi / Chris / Baldauf /
Zeta Beta Tau
Zeta Psi / Tony / Bourassa / none / 518-899-5415
Zeta Psi / Jay / Webb /

There were 25 chapters represented at the meeting – one of the highest turnouts in recent history. It probably helped that it was family weekend and an opportunity to meet the new Greek Dean. No DOSO personnel were present for this portion of the meeting, which kind of worked nicely for candid conversations.

Reports:

No IFC Report per se:

Kappa Alpha Psi has petitioned for recognition. In 1994 had formed and dissolved after trying to get organized. Now are better positioned to make a comeback

At this time 3 groups under investigation after a nice calm school year last year.

Panhel Report was emailed to Mark Anderson and read

Alpha Omega Epsilon was approved for probationary period on ways to recognition. There are some process and status differences since not a part of National Panhellenic Council. They are a social fraternity, but with specific professional majors accepted for membership. They are well organized and initially rush those not matched before. Are working on the Panhel rules for recognition and rush. A kind of like a local group but with multi-campus presence.

Recruitment has some issues. Start with 110 showing interest and ended with 33 to match. Are doing a rush survey to see what is going one. Very formal process may turn off some candidates.

AIGC from Mark Anderson

Search for new dean was better than last time. 7-8 to start with, 4-5 finalist for phone interviews with a better slate of qualified people. 2 were brought for campus interviews. AIGC helped to lead the interview teams. A reminder that typically Greek Dean is a entry level position that often turns to a stepping position for elsewhere in DOSO or on campus after 2-5 years. Jessica was best coming through the process. Comes from Adelphia College.

Had an engaged discussion on undergraduate chapters and acceptance of responsibilities. It is more a part of Greek life these days. May stem from undergrads not wanting to make decisions and then stick with them and accept the good and bad of those actions. A feeling that some have a fear of the decision making process. They wait for adults to tell them or advise them – including parents. Therefore may need more alumni involvement as big brothers and surrogate parents. But can’t tell them need to convince them and gain a sense of their own ownership. Being a member of a chapter and an office means you are running a business (even if they don’t know it or like it).

Discussion migrated to alcohol issues. The advisors need to talk to chapters about what can be done without alcohol or de-emphasized use of alcohol. What are the daily interactions that occur without alcohol and highlight those attributes of chapter life. “What do/did you do with your own families?” big parties versus little parties have pros and cons. As number of parties shrank, they became bigger. The guests come and they don’t really care about the house (esp if independents) as they don’t live there. Even the out of house members may take on that attitude as well. Some felt the undergrads can’t handle the alcohol and so rules need to be tightened or the system is in jeopardy. An idea to get the alcohol out of the houses could help – but others argued that that would only shift the location of drinking to less controlled environments. It was also felt by some that it seemed that attitude of some undergrads is that it is OK to damage the house, its OK for things to be a mess if it’s a fraternity. Again it comes back to acceptance of responsibilities and self-governance and internal enforcement for improper behavior. The no alcohol during rush events needs to universal and again internally enforced. What does dry mean: socially dry? No, but in chapters, Yes. Need to learn from the Panhel advisors as they had to live through the sororities going dry years ago. It was 4-6 years of hell and constant reinforcement of idea and rules, but once worked through the classes graduating, things became more of the norm that none knew otherwise. Plan for moving it out and the longer haul road. Need to have alternatives and ideas. One sorority advisor though was concerned as her group came to her with discussion of how to do a 3rd party vendor and with a fraternity as a mixer. This came about partly due to the Panhel rules about co-sponsorship at a house that is not dry but the desire to still have a co-event which is allowed if offsite.

Discussion moved on to other AIGC and advisor issues

Advisor Resources: Several new advisors were present and one expressed the need for resources for them. The manual was pointed out, and it is in the process of being revised.

Communications: Many expressed the need for more and earlier communications for DOSO and AIGC. Talked that it appeared the AIGC would have to retake ownership for their own contact list. The experiment of using the DOSO set and email list has not worked that well and reliance on them for the information and routing of communications can take too long. Plus the set up is such that no alumni recipients can email back out to the group. Jerry Witter will look into using the RAA or RPI listserver to generate a group and hopefully have that running by the next AIGC meeting.

Relationship Statement: It was finally presented to Dr Jackson and she signed off on it. The voting ballots to undergrads and alumni will go out in the coming week (Editor note: they did go out and had a 11/30 deadline for signatures). As all the things were fixed back in April 2004 that were the stumbling blocks, the groups are encouraged to adopt, but can vote as they wish – but please vote. If don’t have signature ballots back by early Dec, AIGC and DOSO will followup. (Editor note – it is Dec 12, 2005 and have received no notice of status of votes nor solicitation of helping to get the votes in)

Greek Life 101 for Pledges: The timing and notification was tough. Because were working on some of the details didn’t advertised well. It had been noted back in April though that this would occur in Oct. A disconnect between DOSO and IFC contributed to the lateness. The weekend was the best for most and in future years will attempt to better notify so groups can plan their alumni weekends around it. Some felt the program was too long. Some felt it was better to have the period all together and build a sense of community for the day. The programming was meant to be helpful for their period in the chapters and to show the size and unity of the Greek community to the newest members. Wanted to have some positive programming that non-Greeks wouldn’t get. Working out the kinks for this first year is paramount for its future success.

AIGC Standard meeting dates: Due to the scheduling conflict and late notices it was decided to set a standard date so in case notices don’t’ go out, most know that the date is that date. It was decided that family weekend actually works pretty well for alumni since many come back to participate with pledge/new member lunches and dinners with their chapters. So each fall the meeting will be family weekend. Each spring is already set with the Rensselaer Awards of Excellence, usually third weekend in April. Having a meeting early Sept is tough due to rush, alumni family commitments, etc but it was felt that DOSO/AIGC should get a communication out for the calendar of events for the fall before school starts. Another standard meeting opportunity for the advisors is the weekend of the Greek Leaders Retreat in January (and possibly presidents meeting in Sept.)

After the AIGC meeting a brief meeting with the new Dean for Greek Life Jessica Wickiewicz was held.

Jessica presented the following information:

·  Introduction

·  Judicial update: Sigma Chi suspension, Phi Sigma Kappa – ongoing investigation – emergency suspension, Zeta Psi probation, Delta Tau Delta new investigation as of Oct 14, 2005. A mandatory meeting was held with the undergraduate leadership on alcohol incidents and issues. She said was little time to inform the advisors of said meeting (ed note – I had heard about the meeting from the IFC president and my chapter president 3 days before it and had hoped DOSO would have sent at least an email to the advisors to let them know – we got notice 2 weeks after the meeting)

·  Greek 101 – Ray Lutzky will help facilitate the history of RPI Greeks, will have 4 rotating sessions,

·  Relationship Statement – will have a letter for the voting go out this week, information sessions are offered for those who want it. Ballot will go out with voting deadline for 11/30.

·  Live-in Advisors – she intends to post the job description and the DOSO website and is working to better define the roles and work with the advisors for their responsibilities. Currently Theta Chi, Phi Kappa Theta, Pi Kappa Alpha, and Alpha Epsilon Pi have one and the current trend is for those on suspension to require one as part of their re-recognition plan.

·  Communications with Chapters

o  Programming and philanthropy – Jessics will attend anything she is invited to if has enough notice

o  Come to the DOSO office – wants to get to know – need the ability to fight the stereotypes

o  Keep updated on changes in officers, advisors, executive directors, etc. – can’t communicate unless knows the right people – wants to get the Greek Gazette going better and wider circulation

o  Will meet with Jerry Witter to see how can improve – like letting Jessica know what we are looking for as advisors.

o  IFC and DOSO having a hard time getting the bids/pledges information from the chapters – they just don’t report back to IFC or DOSO.

·  Advisor Manual – Revising from the work done by Roger Mike, Shannon Kelly, and Jerry Witter – will circulate once finished

·  Model of Excellence – once again stated by Eddie Knowles VP for Student Life and though no budget support for it, at least is in the Student Life Strategic Plan. Will use the Jan. Greek leaders Retreat and focus groups to define and enact.