Industry Update Provided by NPC

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that prospective students and their families soon may be able to view reports of hazing at colleges and universities across the country, as Congress moves forward this fall on federal anti-hazing legislation crafted in response to student deaths. The END ALL Hazing Act, introduced by Rep. Glenn Thompson (R-Pa.), and Rep. Marcia Fudge (D-Ohio), mandates schools to report to law enforcement within 72 hours any hazing allegation that involved serious bodily injury or significant risk of one. A second bill, introduced this year in both chambers, defines hazing as “any intentional, knowing, or reckless act” committed as a condition of membership in a student group that causes or risks “physical injury, mental harm or degradation.” The Report and Educate About Campus Hazing Act, or REACH Act, does not require schools to put hazing data on their websites but would send parents to the campus crime database maintained by the U.S. Department of Education. (Note: The Post-Gazette piece includes comment from Dani Weatherford, CEO of the National Panhellenic Conference.)

The Chronicle of Higher Education reports 28 of 30 fraternities at Cornell University agreed to a ban on regulated Greek events for the rest of the semester, following the death of a freshman. However, the president of one of the refraining fraternities questioned whether banning registered events truly creates a safer environment, or if it encourages more off-campus or unregistered events.

In the past month, at least four young men have died in circumstances related to college fraternities. Two of those deaths have come this past week alone, prompting renewed scrutiny of hazing and related practices, according to CNN and USA Today. The North American Interfraternity Conference released a statement on Wednesday addressing the most recent deaths, saying “The NIC is monitoring the investigations and is in communication with university officials and individual fraternities. We have offered support and resources to the impacted communities. Regardless of the outcomes, these situations remind us of the importance of a safe environment for members and guests of our organizations.”

Coverage continues of the injury and death of 19-year-old freshman Dylan Hernandez at San Diego State University following his attendance at a Phi Gamma Delta Fraternity party. NBC News, ABC News, and CBS News have all reported on his death. University officials have not released the cause of Hernandez's hospitalization or death but said there is evidence that the fraternity may have been engaged in "possible misconduct.”

According to ABC News and CBS News, police are investigating Samuel Martinez’s death at the Alpha Tau Omega house at Washington State University. A preliminary investigation indicated the Martinez’s death may be alcohol-related but, at this time, investigators don't believe the incident meets the definition of hazing, police said.

Penn State said it will soon release the first national scorecard on fraternities and sororities, reports the Patriot-News. The scorecard will include data on GPAs of members, size of chapters and philanthropic hours served, but also violations such as hazing, sexual misconduct and alcohol consumption. The university reached out to nearly 400 colleges and universities, and 55 have provided data—although three asked not to be identified in the scorecard. The Piazza Center, which is overseeing the effort, was started in honor of Tim Piazza, the sophomore fraternity pledge who died in 2017 following an alcohol-saturated party where hazing occurred.

The New York Times, The Washington Post, CNN, ABC News, NBC News, and USA Today report that Syracuse University is suspending all social activities for fraternities following reports that members of Alpha Chi Rho yelled a racial slur at an African American student at a campus bus stop Saturday night. Alpha Chi Rho has been suspended. On Sunday night, the university released an eight-minute video announcing the steps it was taking to address racism on campus, such as extending the shifts of campus police officers, revising its code of student conduct and formulating plans to diversify its faculty and to provide diversity training.

Giving Tuesday

On Dec. 3, join us as we jump start Theta’s Sesquicentennial Pansy Patch—slated to be the most successful in Theta history. And, in honor of the woman who started it all—Bettie Locke Hamilton! 

This year, on a very special #GivingTuesday, Theta sisters everywhere will commemorate Bettie’s bold step out through faith, hope, and love. In her memory, every gift made on #GivingTuesday will benefit the Theta Forever Fund in celebration of Bettie’s greatest hope, realized by 150 years of Kappa Alpha Theta. Your unrestricted support of #ThetaForever helps us make certain the Theta experience lives on for future generations!

This once-in-a-lifetime opportunity will combine all gifts made on #GivingTuesday into a spectacular “Founder’s Pansy” to be displayed in Kappa Alpha Theta’s Sesquicentennial Pansy Patch at Grand Convention. Don’t miss your chance to be part of the celebration! Gifts toward the Founder’s Pansy can only be given on Dec. 3, so mark your calendar.

If you’d like to change your email signature to support Theta Foundation on Giving Tuesday, you can find the instructions here. Please keep your signature active through Dec. 3. We appreciate your support and look forward to celebrating 150 years of Theta with you on #GivingTuesday! 

Volunteer Survey Results

Kappa Alpha Theta’s annual volunteer survey was a bit different this year—a more comprehensive volunteer audit was open to workforce volunteers Sept. 25-Oct. 8. This year, we received 179 responses (a 31.3 percent return rate). Here are some priorities that were identified from the audit.

• Exit Survey: participants said that it would be helpful to learn from volunteers who are leaving roles. As a result, an exit survey will be implemented beginning this week for volunteers leaving non-elected roles to learn how the volunteer program can be improved.
• Volunteer Recruitment: a complete list of volunteer vacancies and job descriptions is not available on the website or Theta Portal. ChapterSpot is determining how to efficiently post these opportunities, including links to job descriptions.
• Onboarding: Currently, volunteers are not consistently onboarded. The education & leadership and alumnae engagement teams are working on ways to develop communication that will meet volunteers, whether novice or experienced, where they are and appropriately welcome them to their new role(s). New advisors will also be welcomed into quarterly onboarding cohorts.
• Accountability: Resources are being created to support staff and volunteers who oversee volunteers or program areas that need improvement plans.
• Volunteer Input: The need for a potential volunteer advisory committee is being explored—what this committee could potentially accomplish and what skills are needed for this board.

Thank you for your feedback; it’s extremely important to us, and we are using it immediately to guide our upcoming resources and support. Stay tuned for exciting updates in the weeks and months ahead! If you have any questions about the survey or priorities, contact volunteerengagement@kappaalphatheta.org. 

Updated Constitution & Bylaws

The Constitution & Bylaws have been updated following Grand Council’s changes amending Fraternity Bylaws, Article IV, Section 7, B & F reported last week. They are posted in Igloo, Theta Portal > Documents > Manuals, and in Theta Portal > chapter portal > HQDocs > Manuals.

Recent Theta Blogs

• 150 Years of Kappa Alpha Theta
• Our Autumn 2019 Issue

Helpful Links

• Upcoming Important Dates and Visits
• Workforce Contact Information
• New Volunteers
• Previous Updates