News from the Industry

West Virginia University (WVU) placed a moratorium on all social and recruiting activities of the 16 fraternities on campus. WVU is enacting a plan to review and strengthen oversight in the wake of concern over continued behavioral issues. To conduct the review, the Office of Fraternity & Sorority Life will establish a working group of students, alumni, and national headquarters partners that will be charged with creating a strategic plan of future Fraternity & Sorority Life at WVU beginning in the fall 2018 semester. The moratorium and reform efforts have been covered in the Dominion Post, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, WDTV and more.

A new autopsy report has been released for the Texas State University fraternity pledge who was found dead in November at an off-campus apartment following a fraternity event. Matthew McKinley Ellis, who was pledging Texas State’s Phi Kappa Psi fraternity, had a blood alcohol content of 0.38. Ellis was the second Texas State student to die in a little more than a year after attending an off-campus Greek event. The Dallas Morning News, Statesman, and Rare Houston have all covered the story.

Harvard News Points

• The College Fix: Harvard sorority recruitment plummets after college vows to punish members of single-sex groups
• South Coast Today: Does Harvard’s fraternity/sorority ban violate student rights?
• Tri-City Herald: Pro-Con: Does Harvard’s ban on fraternities and sororities violate students’ rights?

Theta Foundation

National CASA/GAL Conference

Kappa Alpha Theta is pleased to introduce the four collegians who will attend the 2018 National CASA/GAL Conference March 10–13 in Boston with support from Theta Foundation.

• Franchesca Alexander, Beta Zeta/Oklahoma State
• Veena McCoole, Epsilon Tau/Yale
• Emily Ratcliffe, Beta Chi/Alberta
• Moira Shea, Alpha Nu/Montana

You can follow their experience on Theta’s Snapchat on Sunday, March 11. Please contact Foundation Director of Programs Gaylena Merritt with questions.

Scholarship Application Deadline Reminder

Spread the word: The deadline for Theta Foundation’s 2018 Scholarship Application is coming up soon! All applications and recommendation forms are due by 6:00 p.m. EST on Wednesday, March 7. Review our Apply Now page or contact Foundation Programs Manager Mary Kate Kronzer for more information.

Check Out Our Newest Volunteers 

Beginning with this issue of The Update, a link to a list of all new volunteers from the previous week will be posted in the bottom of the issue, in the Helpful Links area. This list will not include workforce-level roles, as these are included in the Workforce Updates area, or women serving as “placeholders” (district directors, staff members, or advisory board chairmen [ABCs] temporarily serving in a role). This is an opportunity for you to check out the new faces in your geographic/program area and perhaps send them a friendly welcome! If you have any questions or suggestions for this new feature (or if you see any errors), please contact Assistant Director of Alumnae Engagement Laura Stelsel.

New Volunteer Opportunity

We are currently seeking interested volunteers to serve on a small committee to assist the education & leadership department with reviewing chapter fundraising pages on CrowdChange. Interested alumnae members should fill out a volunteer interest indicator. Please pass along to anyone you know who has an interest in Theta’s philanthropic priorities, as well experience with fundraising/development and/or event planning.

Recent Theta Blogs

• February 2018 Volunteer Spotlight, Mary Bocek Comstock
• Winter 2018 Theta Magazine
• Tried and True: Theta Foundation Scholarship Application Advice from Past Recipients

Helpful Links

• Upcoming Important Dates and Visits
• Workforce Contact Information
• New Volunteers (NEW!)
• Previous Updates