Kappa Alpha Theta Lorie Land posted in The Update The Update | August 30, 2022 Industry Update Provided by NPC This week Higher Ed Dive and Times Higher Education report that at least eight University of Southern California (USC) fraternity chapters have disaffiliated from the institution, creating their own coalition called the University Park Interfraternity Council, or UPIFC. The disaffiliated chapters cite recent rule changes, which the university says were intended to improve safety at fraternity parties, as the primary reason for the break. Coverage notes that USC is among many universities that have battled allegations of sexual assault and alcohol abuse within their fraternity systems. Asked about unaffiliated sorority chapters, the National Panhellenic Conference (NPC) told Higher Ed Dive that unaffiliated Panhellenic communities (where they exist) are expected to abide by the same Panhellenic policies and procedures. Amid the backdrop of #BamaRush and the experience of TikTok user Grant Sikes, who identifies as transgender and participated in recruitment at Alabama, Inside Higher Ed explored LGBTQ+ inclusion within the fraternity and sorority community. In an interview with Inside Higher Ed, NPC CEO Dani Weatherford highlighted the work of NPC’s gender identity study group and noted that “all 26 of our organizations have moved to becoming trans-inclusive.” Last week According to CNN, two Ohio fraternity members have been sentenced in the hazing death of Bowling Green State University student Stone Foltz. Jacob Krinn and Troy Henricksen were sentenced to 42 days in jail, followed by 28 days of house arrest, and placed on two years of probation with conditions, according to a release from Wood County Prosecuting Attorney Paul Dobson. Foltz, 20, died in March 2021 from alcohol intoxication that prosecutors alleged stemmed from a hazing incident for the Pi Kappa Alpha International Fraternity's Delta Beta Chapter at Bowling Green. Variety reports that a documentary about sorority recruitment week at the University of Alabama is being created by “Introducing, Selma Blair” director, Rachel Fleit, in Tuscaloosa. “This film is a thoughtful and compassionate portrayal of young women in 2022 as they rush the sorority system at the University of Alabama,” Fleit said in a statement via Vice. Despite rumors of secretive “hidden microphones,” Vice Studios said that no concealed recording devices were involved in the production. The documentary is reportedly being made to premiere on HBO Max. According to the Los Angeles Times, eight fraternities at the University of Southern California (USC) that welcomed first-year students to their recruitment event last Friday all disaffiliated from the university last week. The fraternities decided that, for better or worse, they would rather disaffiliate and be free from what they said are unfair university policies and chart their own course. In 2017, USC banned fall fraternity recruitment for first-year students after multiple reports of hazing and pledging rituals at fraternity houses. NPC allows sororities to interact with disaffiliated fraternities as long as the fraternities left the university while still in good standing. “Without more information, we can’t speak to the details of the situation at USC,” said Dani Weatherford, CEO of NPC. “However, we have long understood that organizations choose to disaffiliate from universities for a variety of legitimate reasons, because in some cases Panhellenic organizations have done so as well.” Labor Day Closing The Fraternity, Theta Foundation, and Fraternity Housing Corporation (FHC) offices will be closed Monday, Sept. 5, in recognition of Labor/Labour Day. Theta Is Hiring Theta headquarters is hiring for a social media and college chapter marketing support manager; check out the job posting and application instructions. If you know anyone who is qualified and may be interested, please encourage them to apply! Workforce Opportunity The DEI Advisor (formerly Director of DEI) position is open. This workforce-level volunteer advises the Fraternity president and Grand Council, providing DEI expertise, and illuminating opportunities to strengthen Grand Council's strategic direction-setting and decision-making through the lens of DEI. If you are interested in this role, complete a Workforce Volunteer Interest Indicator, found under Forms on Theta Portal’s home page. Email CEO Jenni Schmaltz with any questions. Away From Theta Desk DEI Committee Chairman Lisa Delacruz Combs will be away from her Theta desk from Aug.. 29 – Sept. 30. Please contact Melissa Shaub, director of education and leadership, with any DEI needs in Lisa's absence. Theta for Good has Officially Launched! Theta Foundation's first formal college chapter giving program, Theta for Good, has launched! Theta for Good provides college chapters the opportunity to support local nonprofits while also supporting Theta Foundation. Chapters can donate all proceeds from their fundraising events directly to Kappa Alpha Theta through Billhighway. Chapters designate at least 25% to Theta Foundation and the remaining 75% can be directed to one of the following organizations: The National CASA/GAL Association for Children; A local chapter of CASA/GAL; or Organizations that support children who have experienced abuse or neglect, or otherwise support the health and welfare of children. When college chapters raise money through Theta for Good, the chapter receives Theta Foundation giving recognition for all dollars raised. The chapter also gains access to one-on-one fundraising advice from Theta Foundation staff. We are so excited for this program to take place this fall for all college chapters. If you have any questions or want to learn more about Theta for Good, please contact Kassie O’Malley, assistant director of advancement. You can also learn more about the program on the Theta website. Recruitment Reporting All recruitment release figure methodology (RFM) reports from the 2021-2022 academic year can be found in the Files section of Igloo by college district. A new folder has been started for the 2022-2023 academic year. Reports will be added as they are received. Theta Blogs FGRC Hill Visit: A Collegian's Experience Learning About Leadership at Theta's Emerging Leaders Institute Our Summer 2022 Issue Helpful Links ThetaConnect Workforce Contact Information Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion New Volunteers Previous Updates View Post You can reply to this email to add a comment to this post. You received this because you are subscribed to instant notifications. Manage Subscriptions