FraternityFraternity andand SororitySorority LifeLife NewsletterNewsletter Ramapo College of New Jersey ISSUE 1 SEPTEMBER 2012 This Issue Fraternity & Sorority Life 101 pg.2 Registered Organizations pg.3 WELCOME BACK Council Highlights pg.4 The Fraternity and Sorority Life community would like to welcome those Upcoming Founders Day pg.5 returning for the Fall 2012 semester and the new students to Ramapo College of New What’s New pg.5 Jersey. We wish you the best this semester and hope you are ready for a fun-filled year because we are here to bring it to you. Going Greek can be the most exciting 2012 Greek Awards pg.6 thing you do this semester; you get to meet new people and form amazing bonds. Chapter Excellence pg.7 There is a Sorority or Fraternity out there for you and they’re waiting to meet you. This semester we will be hosting different programs that are available to the Ramapo Greeks Excel pg.8 College Campus. This semester will be the start of transformative years to come. Some things you can expect from the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life this se- Upcoming Events pg. 9 mester are more programs like carnivals, comedians, how-to classes and, most im- portantly, Community Service opportunities. There will be a plethora of opportunities to learn about the different Greek organizations that are available on campus. To attain some quick facts about organi- zations you might be interested in, you can pick up a brochure about any organiza- tion from the Greek Life boards which are located diagonally across from the Bookstore in the Student Center. Also, you will find upcoming events from each or- ganization and sub-council. If you would like learn more, feel free to contact us via email at [email protected] or stop by the office located in the Student Center SC- 214. Have a great semester and we hope to see you at Meet the Greeks. Stay tuned for updates! Scholarship/Academics Academics are an essential aspect of fraternity and sorority life, one which members take very serious- ly. In assuring the academic prosperity of its members, all fraternities and sororities have a scholarship chairperson who keeps track of the academic standing of all members. In addition, I.G.S. now has a Schol- arship Chair, who keeps track of the academic standing of all chapter members and requires attendance at academic sessions for all members with a cumulative GPA below a 2.3. Additionally, all new members must attend these educational seminars as part of their new member orientation process. Leadership The Ramapo College fraternity and sorority community is dedicated to building future leaders by provid- ing a wealth of leadership opportunities for individual men and women. Members of fraternities and so- rorities have opportunities to excel in social, academic, and business leadership situations. One of the greatest and easiest opportunities to develop these leadership skills and to apply them in practical applica- tions is by joining a fraternity or sorority. Membership in a fraternity/sorority gives members the means of discovering and refining their leadership potential. Within each chapter, members have the chance to assume a wide spectrum of leadership roles. Leadership is developed simply by participation in one of these leadership roles. Each chapter is self-governed and offers it members the opportunity to learn and to improve leadership skills by inspiring chapter participation as well as campus involvement. Every member has an active role in leading the chapter. Community Service One of the most gratifying aspects of fraternity/sorority life is the sense of satisfaction and pride that comes with the involvement in community service. Members recognize the need and concern throughout the year to raise money and donate time to special philanthropies and community service projects. Statis- tics show that members of fraternities and sororities tend to perform more community service activities than non-Greeks on college campuses throughout the United States. Social Experiences Fraternities and sororities provide a wide range of social programs and activities for affiliated mem- bers. Organized social programs include formals, cotillions, large and small events, mixers, late nights, Greek Week, Chapter Dinners, etc. Networking A fraternity or sorority is more than a collection of men and women. Fraternity and sorority life at Rama- po College of New Jersey offers the chance to meet others, broaden an individual's frame of reference, and develop meaningful friendships that will last beyond college. Members also share the fraternity or sorority experience with thousands of other men and women across the country who are members of other under- graduate National Greek organizations. This National brotherhood or sisterhood provides affiliated stu- dents with contacts across the nation, and exposure to career opportunities, in addition to encouraging personal growth and community outreach. These interactions serve as a benefit both now and in the fu- ture. FRATERNITIES SORORITIES Alpha Chi Rho Alpha Kappa Alpha lpha Epsilon Pi Alpha Omicron Pi Alpha Phi Delta ΒΚΣ - Beta Kappa Sigma Kappa Sigma Delta Phi Epsilon Lambda Theta Phi Lambda Tau Omega Phi Kappa Sigma Lambda Theta Alpha Pi Kappa Alpha Mu Sigma Upsilon Psi Sigma Phi Omega Phi Beta Tau Delta Phi Omega Phi Chi Tau Kappa Epsilon Sigma Delta Tau Zeta Beta Tau Sigma Sigma Sigma Theta Nu Xi Theta Phi Alpha *Suspended Recruitment Information Alpha Omicron Pi, Delta Phi Epsilon, Sigma Delta Tau, Sigma Sigma Sigma, Theta Phi Alpha College Panhellenic is an amazing opportunity for the Greek women of Ramapo College to become more united and accom- plish more. In addition to the already four strong sororities on campus, there is a new organization, Alpha Omicron Pi, which was readily accepted and assisted by CPH. Last year CPH had a Field Day where each organization made decorative shirts and attended fun events such as tug of war, water balloon toss, and flag football. CPH has worked on fully supporting other organ- izations’ fundraisers and events and preparing to move even more forward towards a productive spring. We are excited about the upcoming semester and all it has to offer! Alpha Chi Rho, Alpha Epsilon Pi, Alpha Phi Delta, Kappa Sigma, Phi Kappa Sigma, Pi Kappa Alpha, Tau Delta Phi, Tau Kappa Epsilon, Zeta Beta Tau This year, with the assistance of Tamika Quick and Alex- ander Olbrecht, the IFC has focused primarily on the structural integrity of the Council. This has been a col- laborative effort put forth by all Greek fraternities on Ramapo's Campus and has produced the most produc- tive and most unified Council in semesters. The IFC maintains a productive and beneficial relationship with Ramapo College, and also furthers campus involvement throughout every semester. Within the first week of the Spring semester, the IFC hosted a spring annual Rota- tion night for Greek life, as well as another Casino night and various talent shows throughout the semester. Alpha Kappa Alpha, Beta Kappa Sigma, Lambda Tau Omega, Lambda Theta Alpha, Lambda Theta Phi, Mu Sigma Upsilon, Omega Phi Beta, Omega Phi Chi, Psi Sigma Phi, Theta Nu Xi The United Cultural Greek Council is a representative body for histori- cally Black, Latino, and Multicultural Greek Organizations, and estab- lished interest groups of previously recognized organizations or those seeking recognition at Ramapo College of New Jersey. It is a sub- division of the Inter-Greek Senate. The main objectives of this council are to serve as a support group for the organizations, to represent the collective interests and concerns of member groups, to advocate to ap- propriate bodies to ensure that those interests are upheld and concerns are addressed, to educate the campus community about such organiza- tions, to strengthen organizations within the committee, and to pro- mote unity and support amongst member organizations. Currently, there are 13 Greek Letter organizations within the United Cultural Greek Council at Ramapo College. Upcoming Founders Day What's new? The following organizations will celebrate their founders day during the Fall 2012 semester: Fraternity and Sorority Life will be October 1 – Lambda Tau Omega introducing new initiatives for the fall 2012 semester November 7 –Alpha Epsilon Pi including: November 9 – Omega Phi Chi November –21 Mu Sigma Epsilon Greek Alumni Council December 1– Lambda Theta Alpha December 1-Lambda Theta Phi The purposes of this organization December 10-Kappa Sigma shall be: to promote an ongoing/ December 12– Psi Sigma Phi open relationship between Alum- December 29-Zeta Beta Tau nae Corporation, undergraduate chapters, and Ramapo College ad- Fraternity and Sorority Life ministration; and to promote the best interest of the fraternal com- Welcomes a new Graduate Assistant munity at Ramapo College; and to promote the life-long benefits of fraternal membership. Professional Fraternity Council The purpose of the Professional Fraternity Council shall be to devel- op and maintain professional frater- nity life and interchapter relations through collaboration, shared events, and professional develop- ment. The Professional Fraternity Council shall serve as the govern- Shakor Jukes is a recent graduate of Fairleigh Dickin- ing body of member fraternities as son, and will be pursuing an MBA at Montclair State. defined in the PFC Constitution. Shakor will be the Graduate Assistant for Fraternity/ Sorority Life and Commuter Affairs. He is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. The following organizations were recognized for their outstanding contributions to the Greek community Outstanding Community Service Program Most Improved Chapter Award “Pink & Greek Rescue Party” – Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Zeta Beta Tau Fraternity Inc. Most Improved Chapter Award Outstanding Educational Program Phi Kappa Sigma Fraternity “The Revolutionary 99” – Lambda Theta Phi Fraternity, Inc. Outstanding Chapter President Outstanding Philanthropic Program Jorge Ruiz - Lambda Theta Phi Fraternity, Inc.