fraternity and sorority NUs Winter 2011, Vol. 1 Issue 3
A Quarter in Rewind Snowpocalypse! Here are some things you might have missed this quarter if you were buried in the great blizzard of 2011:
The Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life welcomed our new Graduate Assistant, James Ehrmann. IFC, PHA, and OFSL sponsored 20 students to attend the Association of Fraternal Leadership and Values/National Black Greek Leadership Conference in St. Louis, MO. The Multicultural Greek Council hosted a successful MGC Week, consisting of five programs, one from each chapter. Gamma Sigma Alpha gave out two $100 book scholarships The interest group of Pi Delta Psi Fraternity, Inc. recruited 14 men in their first quarter on campus. The Panhellenic Association hosted a successful formal winter recruitment, with 420 women matching with 12 chapters. Order of Omega initiated 11 new members, representing the top students affiliated with fraternities and sororities. Greek Eats continued its success, offering 15% at Wings Over Evanston. The business cited unprecedented demand and expressed an interest in a continued partnership! The Interfraternity Council voted in Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia as a full member. The Multicultural Greek Council (MGC) and National PanHellenic Council (NPHC) elected new executive officers. The Interfraternity Council hosted a successful winter recruitment, with more than 360 new members. Gamma Sigma Alpha hosted a successful Faculty Dinner with Professor Renee Engeln-Maddox. Rho Lambda Honorary initiated 16 new women during winter quarter. Dance Marathon raised over $1,000,000 with 17 members of their leadership team being affiliated with a fraternity or sorority. The Multicultural Greek Council was recognized at the Association of Fraternal Leadership and Values in three award categories: Council Management & Public Relations, Community Service, and Leadership & Education Development. Northwestern Greek Community was recognized nationally for having a higher All-Greek GPA than the All-Campus GPA. The Multicultural Greek Council voted in Sigma Psi Zeta Sorority, Inc. as a full member. Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. defends its title at the NU's Got Talent show to raise awareness for Special Olympics. Chi Omega and Pi Kappa Alpha lowered their energy consumption and won the Greek Green Cup. The Winter Leadership Conference was held on January 23rd, 2011 for all new members of every council in the fraternity and sorority community. 5 of 12 Wildcat Welcome Board Members (selected this winter) are affiliated with a fraternity or sorority.
Greek Leadership Retreat April 16-17, 2011 Required for all Chapter Presidents and Council Officers
Greek Leadership Retreat Each April, the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life sponsors a weekend retreat that brings together fraternity and sorority leaders from both the council and chapter levels. The retreat serves as a forum to build relationships and have open discussions about the fraternity and sorority experience at Northwestern. This year, GLR will be held on April 16-17, 2011 in Madison, WI. To register, please complete the Greek Leadership Retreat Registration Form.
Greek Build Restructures Executive Board and Pledges $20,000 to Habitat for Humanity Greek Build is an event for the entire community that includes sponsoring, fundraising and construction of a Habitat for Humanity house to be built in tandem with a deserving family and presented to the family members upon completion. The executive board was restructured this year in order to improve efficiency. Congratulations to Johnny Adair
(Chi Psi) for being elected the new President! This year’s Greek Build has pledged to fundraise $20,000 to Habitat for Humanity. For more information on how you can help Greek Build achieve its goal, contact Johnny.
Members of fraternities and sororities participate in the Greek Build kickoff event in fall quarter
Upcoming Important Dates Spring Quarter
Amin Elsaeed, 2011-2012 NPHC President
Student Spotlight – Amin Elsaeed Amin Elsaeed is a junior majoring in Communication Sciences and Disorders at Northwestern University. Amin is originally from Sudan, lived in Canada for 8 years and now resides in Chicago Ridge, IL. He is the outgoing Chapter President for Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. and is excited to serve as the incoming National Pan-Hellenic President. While not studying or spending time with his brothers, you can find Amin cheering on his Chicago Bulls, playing basketball, enjoying Japanese comics and drawing. Best of luck as NPHC President, Amin!
• March 28 – Spring Quarter begins • April 6 – MGC/NPHC Advisors Meeting • April 12 – Greek Emerging Leaders 1 • April 13 – Greek Emerging Leaders 2 • April 16-17 – Greek Leadership Retreat • May 2 – Panhellenic Grand Chapter • May 8 – Greek Scene • May 17 – Greek Awards • May 19 – May Sing • May 24 – Gamma Sigma Alpha Initiation • May 25 – Safe Space Training • May 28 – Dillo Day • June 13-17 – Finals Week • June 17 – Commencement • TBD – MGC/NPHC Spring BBQ
Want to see more students spotlighted? Visit the Potential Members section on our web site!
Fraternity and Sorority Safe Space Training – Registration now open! The Safe Space Program is the LGBT Resource Center’s initiative to educate allies who support LGBTQ individuals in our campus community. Each year, Northwestern Greek Allies and the LGBT Resource Center collaborate to host a Safe Space Training that is specific to fraternity and sorority students. This year’s training will occur on th Wednesday, May 25 from 6:00pm-9:00pm in Norris. Registration is open to everyone and limited to two people per chapter. Unlike more visible under-represented groups, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) persons cannot be readily identified. Likewise, there is not an easy method of identifying persons supportive of LGBT people. As one component of the LGBTQA Campus Advisory Network, the Safe Space Program strives to provide a way for supportive persons within the University community to prominently identify themselves. The program advances Northwestern University’s goal of creating a campus community in which everyone is treated with respect and dignity.
The “It Gets Better” Project at Northwestern University The ―It Gets Better‖ Project was created to show young LGBT people the levels of happiness, potential, and positivity their lives will reach -- if they can just get through their teen years. The ―It Gets Better‖ Project wants to remind teenagers in the LGBT community that they are not alone — and it WILL get better. The Northwestern University fraternity and sorority community shared its story in order to provide a safe space for any student who faces challenges because of who they are - as brotherhood/sisterhood is a fundamental value of fraternity and sorority life. Our video does not only focus on LGBT issues, but rather an array of identities as bullying can affect everyone. To hear our story, please watch our video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nMTtIqswWvI.
Greek Emerging Leaders Greek Emerging Leaders is a six week, non-credit course which meets once a week creating conversation on topics such as leadership, communication, values, and issues our chapters. The class is facilitated by an OFSL staff members and a student who is a graduate of the program. This year’s student facilitators are Kate Butler (Chi Omega) and Thomas Greaves (Beta Theta Pi). The winter 2011 Greek Emerging Leaders course will offer a section on Tuesday and Wednesday each from 6:00pm-7:30pm in the Scott Hall Conference Room. Participating students can choose which section they prefer, however, the course will start the week th beginning April 11 . Recommended qualities of the Greek Emerging Leaders participants include: Committed to assuming both positional and nonpositional leadership opportunities Newly initiated member of your chapter (Within the last 12 months. Either Freshmen [IFC/Panhellenic NPHC/MGC] or Sophomores for [NPHC/MGC groups])
Greek Scene Greek Scene, the annual NPHC step show will occur on th May 8 , 2011 at 6:00pm in Ryan Auditorium of the Technological Institute. Tickets are available at the Norris Box Office and a limited quantity of tickets will be sold dayof if the show is not sold out. Stepping is a dance tradition that is a complex performance involving synchronized percussive movement, singing, speaking, chanting, and drama. It can be traced to the peoples and cultural dance traditions of Africa, specifically, the "Gumboot Dance". With a focus on precise foot movements and hand-clapping, gumboots used dance as a means to communicate.
REGISTER FOR THE UNDERGRADUATE INTERFRATERNITY INSTITUTE
The Undergraduate Interfraternity Institute is a fiveday institute that brings together fraternity men and sorority women from across North America to create opportunities to explore, define, and enhance their leadership skills, personal awareness, commitment to their fraternity or sorority, and grow to expect values based action from themselves and those they lead. At UIFI, you will be given the skills to improve your own leadership abilities and positively affect your chapter, council, and community.
Step shows became the format of choice to display pride in one’s organization and is now produced in many African-American churches, schools, community groups, fraternities, and sororities, as well as Latino, Asian-American, and multicultural Greek-letter organizations.
May Sing ―May Sing Hits Shuffle‖ May Sing is a lip-sync, song and dance variety show in which chapters from all four councils form teams and compete.
For more information, visit: At the end of the Greek http://www.nicindy.org/programs/UIFI Emerging Leaders course, we hope students are able to: th This year’s event will take place on May 19 at 6:00pm Articulate a personal value and belief system in the Ryan Auditorium of Technological Institute. Act in congruence with personal values and belief system and those of both their organization and The theme for this year is ―May Sing Hits Shuffle‖. The the Northwestern fraternity and sorority community theme allows teams to mix genres and arts in a Demonstrate willingness to scrutinize and confront compilation that will entertain everyone! personal values, beliefs, and actions of their peers Understand the importance of identifying Interesting Blog Articles individuals to lead their team and assist them in moving their vision forward Click the links below for interesting blog articles on the Analyze and understand the issues facing their fraternity and sorority experience! organizations Set an example by behaving in ways that are Fraternal Thoughts consistent with shared values Greetings from the Back Row Is Vision an Overrated Leadership Skill? Phired Up Productions Leadership Conferences, Social Media, and Social Excellence The Hungry Student Leader Blog How Much Does the Bad Behavior of a Leader Hurt the Organization? Being a Highly Committed Member Isn’t Always Fair: Stop Whining Association of Fraternal Leadership and Values The Power of Social Media Living the Ritual The ―Human Knot‖ Teambuilder during Greek Emerging Leaders
Commencement
Mayfest / Dillo Day 2011
Northwestern University's 153rd Commencement will be held at 10:30 AM Friday, June 17, 2011, at Ryan Field. The ceremony will be held outdoors and is expected to last two hours. In case of severe weather, the Commencement ceremony will be held indoors at Welsh-Ryan Arena in McGaw Hall.
The contemporary armadillo day has its roots in May Day, or Mayfete. Mayfete was a time when students would celebrate the "renunciation of the May Queen of the temporal world for a spiritual one," according to a 1951 history of the event. Although little is known about the early days, May Day, was originally a celebration of the women of Northwestern. The crowning of the May Queen was the central event, and the pomp included a Maypole dance and cotillion. \Ultimately this event evolved into a month long celebration known as Mayfest which includes the event known today as "Dillo Day."
Individual school convocations with diploma distribution will follow the University Commencement on Friday, June 17 and Saturday, June 18. School convocation ticket information will be sent to graduating students by their respective schools, and questions concerning convocations should be directed to the individual school offices. Stephen Colbert, the satirist widely known for the outrageous political pundit he plays on Comedy Central’s ―The Colbert Report,‖ will speak at Northwestern University’s 153rd commencement. A Northwestern alumnus, Colbert is host and executive producer of the multiple Emmy and Peabody awardwinning ―The Colbert Report,‖ touted by The New York Times as ―one of the best television shows of the year.‖
Greek Awards Greek Awards is an annual celebration of the success of the fraternity and sorority community at Northwestern. Chapters are encouraged to apply for awards based on their performance throughout the academic year. Chapters are recognized in areas that are consistent with our core values, such as service, academics, philanthropy, recruitment and new initiatives.
Armadillo Day began in 1972 when Northwestern students from Texas held a small celebration in honor of the armadillo. More than 25 years later, "Dillo Day" is the culmination of Mayfest with an all-day Saturday event on the lakefront featuring national and locally known bands, games and vendors. Each year, the IFC and Panhellenic community sponsor a FREE pancake breakfast on the morning of Dillo Day in the courtyard in front of Kellogg and FREE pizza during the afternoon on the Lakefill. In addition, IFC and Panhellenic also sponsor care packages for their constituents, provide funding to Mayfest for performers and sponsor a fire truck in the city. Dillo Day will be held on May 28, 2011 on the Lakefill, adjacent to the Lacrosse fields. We encourage all members of our community to have a SAFE and FUN Dillo Day, while representing your chapters and its values to the greater community. *Information is from the Mayfest web site
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This year’s celebration will be on Tuesday, May 17 at 6:00pm in Hardin Hall. RSVP is required.
Fraternity and Sorority Life Professional Staff Dominic Greene, Director Danny Miller, Assistant Director Maggie Heffernan, Assistant Director Michael Anne Adriano, Program Assistant James Ehrmann, Graduate Assistant Sisters from Chi Omega participate in the inaugural Chi Omega/Omega Psi Phi Chili Bowl
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