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As an adviser, I completely agree with KDDani. This experience you are having is happening across campuses all over the U.S. -well maybe with the exception of the coke ring (although, that happens more than you think as well).
While I hate to post long messages, let me just share with you a recent post to the Assoc. of Fraternity Advisers listserv. This message details what's on the minds of Greek Life Advisers across the nation.
Change is not something that is going to happen over night. It is not something that the Greek Advisers can do by themselves or dictate (unless you force us into that position). We rely on student leaders to step up to the plate and help make a difference. It's when apathy such as yours takes over that the system fails. Be a leader. Help make the difference. There are indeed people to help support you. Just reach out. Even if it is to GC.
Here's the post. I encourage all GC's to read this and take it to heart. Please keep in mind that these are just the opinion of two Greek Life Advisers. This is what in their opinions are trends facing our field. I am especially referring to the paragraph begging "Kellogg report"
____________________________________
Although not new, some of the issues about which our organizations and AFA
have to be more knowledgeable include student suicide and self-inflicted
injury, general mental health issues, and the on-going impact of changing
demographics. At the past NASPA conference, presenter Peter Lake indicated
that student suicide and self-inflicted injuries are on the rise, and he
further predicted that this issue will become more problematic for us than
alcohol. At the FEA summer meeting Charles Schroeder indicated that entering
students are more psychologically precarious than those of previous
generations.
Others have predicted that membership selection will continue to come
under scrutiny from external sources. Meanwhile the shift in whom is
matriculating should create conversations within national organizations on
how those shifts impact not only recruitment but also the retention of
members. State budget cuts, students desire/need to work, accessibility of
student credit, the increase in student debt, and a sense of increased
academic disengagement will continue to challenge our organizations.
As parental involvement continues to rise and legal responsibilities
governing student life shift, not only is a new university-national
organization relationship required, we also need a new relationship with
parents. Organizations and campuses need to create opportunities to
encourage, rather than resist, parental involvement. We need to redefine our
relationship with parents while continuing to focus on the developmental
needs of our students.
The Kellogg Commission Report, “Returning to Our Roots: The Student
Experience,” stated: “The biggest educational challenge we face revolves
around developing character, conscience, citizenship, tolerance, civility,
and individual and social responsibility in our students. We dare not ignore
this obligation in a society that sometimes gives the impression that values
such as these are discretionary.” Personally, I can think of no other
organization better positioned to fulfill these challenges than fraternities
and sororities.
All of these scenarios indicate a need for leadership. It will take courage
and clarity, risk and resolve. As we continue on this challenging journey, I
stop and notice the depth of heart in our profession, and I am renewed with
hope and energy that we will succeed.
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Rick Barnes Response:
Unfortunately I anticipate we will continue to deal with many of the same
issues. I do think, however, that the typical topics (alcohol misuse,
hazing, etc) will continue to bring a negative focus on fraternities and
sororities. We will need to get even more strict with rules and
regulations, etc. However, whether it is considered fortunate or not, I
also think we will continue to recognize that these issues aren't just a
topic for fraternity and sorority affairs. These issues are becoming more
and more campuswide, both in reality as well as in recognition.Personally,
I think people are becoming more and more educated about hazing so more is
being reported,
and less is being tolerated, at the high school and college level. So,
while some of the
"same old issues" may appear to be out there, I do think we will have to
respond to them in different ways as we progress into the future.
Likewise, I think fraternities and sororities can expect to receive even
greater expectations from all directions. Host institutions will become
less and less tolerable with regard to bad behavior. General liability
will become an even greater concern as the cost of insurance continues to
rise
and the old days of "boys will be boys" will finally be forgotten. A new
generation of university administrators will reach decision-making levels
and their decisions concerning behavior will be more strict than we have
experienced in the past. Parents are expecting more and more
protection of their children. The general public is expecting that
colleges and universities are "safe havens." All of this will have an
impact on
higher education and the various groups that relate to them, including
fraternities and sororities.
A new generation will begin to be elected to fraternity and sorority
national boards and within the paid leadership of the organizations. This
new generation of leaders will no longer be satisfied with issues of time
and a slow reaction to problems within the organization. This is the
technology generation -- everything is fast and they are quick to respond.
Their expectations for chapters will also increase. This generation of
leaders
will have a new expectation for the fraternity/sorority experience.
Higher education will continue to experience a changed demographic on
college campuses, particularly with regard to race. If fraternities and
sororities want
to survive this change, they too will have to open their doors a little
wider with regard
to acceptance of those who do not look exactly like the "traditional"
member reflected in
the composites of yesteryear.
The current economic issues within our society will have an eventual
effect on fraternity and sorority affairs. Tighter university budgets with
regard to programming, travel, and professional development will have an
effect
on those in administrative levels.Tighter family budgets will result in
mom's and dad's who are no longer able to pay for "extra" things such as
fraternity and sorority dues and therefore more and more students will
have to work to continue to pay for these added expenses. Higher education
and
fraternities and sororities will have to provide this flexibility to their
students/members. Federal and state support for higher education will
certainly take a
hit as more and more requests for funding are being brought to the table
and politicians
have to make hard decisions about taxpayer money.
Finally, a growing trend on college campuses relates to mental health
issues with regard to students. These issues include all aspects of mental
health and while higher education struggles with our best response to these
issues, so will fraternities and sororities.
Higher Education and Fraternity/Sorority Affairs have an opporutunity to
work
cooperatively in order to survive the necessary changes into the
future. Fortunately, the two have had an opportunity throughout the years
to work for the betterment of the students we all serve. Our continued
cooperation will certainly assist this process as we all move with further
progress and development into the future.
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