Different Diterents

[Pi Kapp 142]

What are some other options for people in your org who need to be punished for violating rules, but maybe not suspended for the whole semester? Like maybe if their GPA falls below the required min, then they have to go to X amount of hours of study time wth the Scholarship chair before they can go to socials and events that are not philanthropy oriented.

[Kevin]

The favorite thing I used to do when I was Lieutenant Commander (VP) of my chapter -- I ran exec council meetings.. Was to put any officer that was late or absent on bathroom detail for the week

We do fines now occasionally for serious stuff. The rest of it you do it because you WANT to do it.

[KEPike]

Implement brother probation for those either on more serious Academic or Social Probation. Of course, it would not work, but people may get their act together in a hurry if it was the case.

[Kevin]

Social probation is a tough one to do... Especially in small chapters. It can be detrimental otherwise also.

The reason is you have to give guys reasons to stay active and involved. If you take away all the fun stuff they'll have no reason to hang around and be active in other areas.

Grades need to be something that is actively pushed on your pledges. I've found that once you have a good semester and good habits they die hard.

[James]

Would you ground your child for a year? Even for bad grades? A semester is like a year for a college student. That is not a healthy way to do it.

When you talk about negative feedback or punishment it needs to be specific and immediate to work. That is why spanking works, but its not PC. And spanking your chapter members would start the most peculiar rumours about your chapter . . . especially a sorority.

Anyway, chapter attention is the biggest thing (shame) . When things are not announced publicly (even if most people privately know) the problem can be ignored. So putting someone on the spot at a meeting is the best bet.

However, shame needs to be used intellegently, not in anger, and with a consistant process.

So a process would be to define the problems and their consequences in advance to the whole chapter. Preferably in the beginning of the year.

Then you would have people tracking the major issues such as academics or whatever.

Then when a situation comes to your attention you write a Letter of Suggestion. A positive letter of suggestion outlines a few clear and simple steps that the chapter will help with to improve the situation.

These type of things should be written in advance so they are ready, but then tailored to the individual brother. Nothing is worse than getting a purely form letter from your own chapter . . . I mean how silly is that? Even for dues.

You follow this up with a meeting to schedule these things . . . you give him a counselor to help him (and follow his progress).

And then if you are still not getting anywhere, and the situation is one that should be addressed you use chapter shame . . but again the steps should be so logical he (and everyone else) knows its coming.

Make sure there are some humanity checks in there! If a brother is under unusual circumstances you might want to cut him some slack.

Also, some stuff works well with some informal meetings, a suggested plan, and follow-up. But you need to document a synopsis of it in case a situation ever needs to go to the judicial board.