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April 9, 2024
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The Update | April 9, 2024
Kappa Alpha Theta Files Suit Against the University of Maryland
On Thursday, April 4, 2024, six current students and Gamma Mu Chapter of Kappa Alpha Theta initiated legal action against University of Maryland administrators.
On March 1, the university’s administration suspended all new member activities and social events for campus Interfraternity Council (IFC) and Panhellenic Association member organizations following undocumented and vague allegations of misconduct and concerns for student safety. There was also a No Contact Order issued, which banned IFC and Panhellenic members from having any contact with any new member or potential new member (PNM). Following this decision, National Panhellenic Conference (NPC) leadership attempted to partner with university officials to understand the situation, but the administration failed to provide answers.
After a stressful 15 days of so many unknowns, the administration shared that “no single or specific incident led to the decision” to suspend social activities and new member recruitment activities. As one can imagine, it has been a stressful time for the Panhellenic community and our beloved Gamma Mu Chapter members. Kappa Alpha Theta is proud to be the one of the 16 groups on Maryland’s campus bringing forward this litigation on behalf of Gamma Mu Chapter and this strong, committed membership. Just like the way Theta was founded in 1870, this organization will always stand for fairness, equity, and respect. Gamma Mu Chapter is an essential piece of Theta’s story, and the full, unwavering support of Theta sisterhood is behind it.
Read more information from our blog shared last week, and you can stay up to date with our action against the University of Maryland on the NPC website.
Government Relations
Tomorrow, Wednesday, April 10, the Fraternal Government Relations Coalition (FGRC) will host the 2024 Capitol Hill Visits with members of Congress. The goals of the visits are to both provide a premier student development experience and advance the legislative agendas developed by the National Panhellenic Conference (NPC) and North American Interfraternity Conference (NIC).
The FGRC advocates for issues directly impacting our fraternal rights and our college members. This includes asking members to support H.R. 7683, Respecting the First Amendment on Campus Act, 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. Read more in our blog.
Tomorrow evening, the Fraternity and Sorority Political Action Committee (FSPAC) will host their annual Congressional Dinner honoring members of Congress and celebrating the interfraternal experience. Meghan Quinn, Beta Phi/Penn State, will be the student speaker at the dinner. Meghan is Theta’s representative to the FSPAC’s Student Advisory Board and attended the Fraternity and Sorority Action Fund’s Freedom of Association Institute in February.
Collegians representing Kappa Alpha Theta:
- Dao Doti, Gamma Mu/Maryland
- Nicole Garduno, Beta Mu/Nevada
- Christina Mueller, Omega/UC Berkeley
- Meghan Quinn, Beta Phi/Penn State
- Katie-Rose Slade, Theta Nu/Georgia Tech
- Evie Wigdale, Beta Xi/UCLA
Alumnae representing Kappa Alpha Theta:
- Laura Ware Doerre, Delta Xi/North Carolina
- Michelle Mouton Geiger, Delta Kappa/LSU
- Alicia Lee, Zeta Omicron/Wake Forest
- Rainey Sewell, Alpha Omicron/Oklahoma
- Cindy Heine Stellhorn, Beta/Indiana
Thank you to Laura Ware Doerre, Delta Xi/North Carolina; Caitlin Kovalkoski, Epsilon Lambda/Dickinson; and Alicia Lee, Zeta Omicron/Wake Forest, for serving on the selection committee to choose Theta's college representatives.
If you have any questions about the FGRC, FSPAC, Fraternity and Sorority Action Fund, or the 2024 Hill visits, please contact Director of Government Relations Alicia Lee.
Workforce Update
College District Director (CDD) Savannah Smith has stepped down from her role in College District XIV. Tamika Franklin, CDD in College District XI, is taking on the role. This leaves a vacancy in College District XI. If you are interested in the CDD role or know of someone who would be a good fit, please submit or encourage them to submit the Workforce Volunteer Interest Indicator, found under Forms on Theta Portal’s home page. Questions about the role and responsibilities can be forwarded to College Committee Chair Mandy Womack or Director of Collegiate Services Katharine Murphy.
ThetaConnect
ThetaConnect had 182 new users join the platform in the month of March!
The Bulletin
The April issue (last for the 2023-2024 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.
Theta Blogs
- Respecting the First Amendment on Campus Act: An Update
- Kappa Alpha Theta Files Suit Against the University of Maryland
Helpful Links
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