The Update | April 11, 2023

The Update

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April 11, 2023

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Published

April 11, 2023

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Lorie Land

Industry Update Provided by NPC

This week

Several members of the University of Wyoming (UW)’s Kappa Kappa Gamma Sorority have filed a lawsuit against the sorority’s parent organization, its president, its housing company, and a transgender individual. The plaintiffs’ suit comes after almost six months after Kappa Kappa Gamma was the first sorority at UW to accept an open-transgender student for membership, reports NBC News, FOX News, AP News and Casper Star Tribune. The suit includes numerous allegations including that Kappa Kappa Gamma’s leadership did not have the authority to expand the organization’s membership to include transwomen and that the chapter did not follow approved procedures for membership selection.

In response, Kappa Kappa Gamma has released the following statement: “We are aware of the litigation filed in this case and intend to address it through the legal process. While we cannot comment in detail on this pending litigation, it contains numerous false allegations. Kappa Kappa Gamma values diversity and does not discriminate based on race, national origin, religion, disability, age, gender identity, sexual orientation or other class protected by state, local or federal law.”

Additionally, UW President Ed Seidel has referenced the hostility of the issue while maintaining the university’s commitment to members of the LGBTQ+ community saying, “UW has not escaped this type of bigotry, and we must take an unequivocal stand against it—while at the same time expressing and demonstrating support for all members of our university community.”

NOTE: Kappa Kappa Gamma and NPC leadership have been in communication several times regarding the lawsuit and potential impacts it may have on our local and national communities. NPC will continue to support and serve Kappa Kappa Gamma in the ways that are most helpful.

Last week

Florida House Bill 999, a Republican bill introduced in late February, will not ban Black fraternities and sororities from Florida institutions, according to First Coast News and CBS News 19. The original writing of the bill states that universities and colleges would not be able to use funds that promote, support, or maintain any programs or campus activities that violate the Florida Educational Equity Act or that espouse diversity, equity, and inclusion, or critical race theory rhetoric.

During a legislative meeting with the House Postsecondary Education and Workforce committee on March 13, a Democrat representative whose district includes the University of Florida asked Rep. Alex Andrade—who authored the bill—how HB 999 would impact Black sororities and fraternities and their ability to host social justice events and voter registration events on university campuses. Andrade replied, “It does not. It does not affect them at all.”

The bill was rewritten to reflect that it would not affect NHPC organizations and now reads "... student fees to support student-led organizations are permitted notwithstanding any speech or expressive activity by such organizations that would otherwise violate this subsection ..."

Travel and Reimbursement Policy

Theta's travel and reimbursement policy has been updated to reflect a few editorial changes, clarifications, and updates. It is posted in Igloo > Files > Resources > Volunteer Resources > Traveling for Theta. Questions should be directed to your staff partner or Chief Administration Officer (CAO) Mindy Marshall.

The Workforce Volunteer Handbook has also been updated and is available in Igloo > Files > Resources > Volunteer Resources.

The Bulletin

The April issue (last for the 2022-2023 school year) of The Bulletin has been emailed to all college and alumnae chapter officers, advisors, and facility corporation board officers and posted in Theta Portal > Chapter Portal > Chapter Resources > HQ Communications Resources > The Bulletin. Workforce members always have access to The Bulletin via Igloo > Files > The Bulletin. The Update is Theta’s main communication source for the workforce, and The Bulletin is Theta’s main communication source for college chapter officers and advisors and alumnae chapter officers.

New Mentoring Program

The Thetas in Mental Health Mentoring Program enables collegians and alumnae to meet and network with alumnae already established in the field with profiles marked as “Willing to Help” or “Willing to Mentor.” This program is a great way to not only make Theta connections but also to learn from others who want to share more about the mental health field and guide younger members.

This mentoring program will begin on Monday, May 1, 2023, and end on Sunday, Aug. 18, 2023, giving mentors and mentees plenty of time to complete these milestones:

Meet & Greet
Interview and Résumé Prep
Exploring Careers in Mental Health
Work-Life Balance Tips
Your Choice! (Whatever the pairing would like to discuss.)
Program Survey

Signups will take place April 3 – 25, 2023.

To register or learn more about the program, visit the Thetas in Mental Health Mentoring Program Registration event in ThetaConnect's Event Board.

Government Relations – Capitol Hill Visits

Next week, on Wednesday, April 18, the Fraternal Government Relations Coalition (FGRC) will host the 2023 Capitol Hill Visits with members of U.S. Congress. The goals of the visits are to both provide a premier student development experience and advance the legislative agendas developed by NPC and the North American Interfraternity Conference (NIC). This year’s event returns to Washington, D.C., the first in-person visits since 2020 and the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The FGRC advocates for issues directly impacting our fraternal rights and our college members. This includes legislation to protect students’ freedom of association rights by ensuring they can join women’s-only and men’s-only student organizations like fraternities and sororities; seeking passage of anti-hazing legislation to provide additional transparency and education about hazing on college campuses; and advocating for the passage of the Collegiate Housing and Infrastructure Act (CHIA), which would update the tax code to provide more access to funding for infrastructure improvements to fraternity/sorority housing.

The members representing Kappa Alpha Theta are collegians Sarah Tata, Eta Psi/Tufts, and Gabi Vela, Epsilon Epsilon/Baylor, and alumnae members Laura Ware Doerre, Delta Xi/ North Carolina, and Jenni Broughton Schmaltz, Gamma/Butler.

If you have any questions about the FGRC or the 2023 Hill visits, please contact Director of Government Relations Alicia Lee.

ThetaConnect Updates

ThetaConnect, our members-only app, had a great month in March!

ThetaConnect acquired more than 400 new users for a total of more than 9,200 users!
Four chapters have more than 200 members in ThetaConnect (Alpha Mu, Beta Delta, Delta Theta, and Delta Kappa).
More than 400 jobs were posted to the Job Board.
The ThetaConnect giveaway was a success with more than 600 profile edits made (2.66 times greater than February).

Please contact Digital Marketing Coordinator Madi Leger or Digital Engagement and Alumnae Marketing Manager Lisa Thibault regarding general ThetaConnect questions or how you can use ThetaConnect for member programming.