News from the Industry

Several outlets including The Harvard Crimson, Associated Press, and The Washington Post have reported that Harvard University is officially upholding its policy that will bar members of single-gender final clubs, sororities, and fraternities from obtaining leadership positions in recognized student organizations and sports teams (among other benefits). The sanctions will be in effect starting with the class of 2021. The response on campus has been highly controversial; twelve faculty members drafted a motion in May 2016 sighting the sanction as discriminatory against students. This move is the latest announcement from the university since the policy was first announced in May of 2016.

US News and World Report published an extensive article detailing a series of recent incidents with fraternal organizations on campus, including documenting the recent suspensions of chapter activity on campuses ranging from Ohio State University to Florida State and Indiana University. The piece includes comments from the North-American Interfraternity Conference (NIC); the reporter also spoke to the National Panhellenic Conference (NPC) for background information and the piece includes a reference to the number of campuses that have invited new sorority chapters (or started new sorority communities) in recent years.

According to Central Michigan Life, Sigma Alpha Epsilon headquarters has temporarily suspended social events involving alcohol at all chapters effective Dec. 4, 2017, to Feb. 28, 2018. SAE announced their suspension on their official site. The temporary ban was issued in order for the organization to conduct research that focuses on creating a better environment and culture.

National CASA/GAL Conference Opportunity for Sophomores and Juniors

Theta Foundation invites current sophomore and junior college members of the Fraternity to apply to represent Kappa Alpha Theta at the 2018 National CASA/GAL Conference. The conference will be held March 10-13, 2018, in Boston. Applications are due at 9:00 p.m. EST on Sunday, Jan. 7, 2018. Learn more by visiting the application page. Please contact Theta Foundation’s Director of Programs Gaylena Merritt with any questions.

Archives Exhibit at DePauw

An article about the current exhibit at DePauw University’s Roy O. West Library that celebrates 150 years of women at DePauw was featured on page 5 of the Fall 2017 issue of the Society of Indiana Archivists’ newsletter. Created by staff archivist Noraleen Young and two collegians from Alpha Chapter, the exhibit focuses on the first four women to graduate from DePauw and what it was like to be a female student during those early years.

Recent Theta Blog

Heritage What’s New: December 2017

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