Fraternity & Sorority Life Parent & Family Guide 2018-2019 TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction Social Responsibility A Letter from the Sta 3 National Hazing Prevention Week 9 Oce of Fraternity and Sorority Life 4 Training for Intervention Procedure 9 Glossary 5 Community Governance Membership Engagement The Interfraternity Council (IFC) 10 Academic Excellence 6 The Intercultural Greek Council (IGC) 10 Congruence Assessment Program 6 The Panhellenic Association at Johns Hopkins (PAJH) 10 Programming Framework 6 Awards and Recognition 7 Frequently Asked Questions 11 Hazing Prevention JHU Statement on Hazing 8 The State of Maryland Hazing Law 8 Dear Parent/Family Member, A LETTER We know you and your student come to fraternity and FROM THE sorority life with a range of knowledge. Some of you may have perceptions of fraternity and sorority based on information shared in the media, while others of you may STAFF have a student who is a legacy to one or more of the groups on our campus. Either way, we want to put your mind at ease about the fraternal experience should your student choose to pursue membership in an organization at Johns Hopkins. As a sta, we are committed to the success of our students and their organizations. We know the benefits of fraternity and sorority when done right and we challenge our students every day to strive for excellence in their experience. Excellence means academic achievement, personal transformation, interpersonal development, contributing to community, and professional readiness. We understand the sensitivities parents and families sometimes have to fraternity and sorority and we want you to know, we understand. You are entrusting your student to our university and we want them to be safe, healthy, develop a personal sense of integrity, while also having fun. We are happy to support them in their scholastic, personal, and professional pursuits; and, we are confident there is fellowship in our community supportive of that, too. Whether your student becomes a member or not, we hope you know our sta is a partner in helping your student to excel at JHU. Thank you, Calvin L. Smith Jr. Tara M. Fuller Director Assistant Director 3 In the Oce of Fraternity and Sorority Life, Our sta supports this mission by encouraging THE OFFICE OF we believe in the values-centered social organiza- members to lead with integrity and conduct tions that have shaped the college experience for activities in a healthy, safe, and fun manner while over 200 years. These organizations instill in their making sound academic and personal choices. FRATERNITY & membership the importance of maintaining We do this by collaborating regularly with high moral, social, and intellectual stan- chapter advisors, faculty advisors, alumni, SORORITY LIFE dards. and most importantly, our students. The mission of the Oce of Fraternity Our community at Hopkins is made up and Sorority Life is to provide a frame- of over 1,400 students spread out work for a community of values-cen- across 25 organizations. This includes tered, social fraternal organizations, and eight North American Interfraternity their collegiate members, in the pursuit of Conference (IFC) fraternities, five Panhel- values congruence by fostering collaborative lenic Association (PAJH) sororities, ten relationships, creating meaningful opportunities culturally-based fraternities and sororities (IGC), for engagement, and inspiring excellence in one local society, and one co-educational organi- Calvin L. Smith, JR. academic and community contributions. zation. Membership is open to all full-time, Director of Fraternity & Sorority Life degree-seeking undergraduate students in good academic standing, who have earned 12 credits. Calvin L. Smith, Jr., a Norfolk, Virginia native, was initiated into the bond of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Incorporated, Nu Xi Chapter at the University of Delaware, spring 2003. Most recently, he was the Coordinator of Fraternity and Sorority Life at Towson University. While at Towson, Calvin advised over 34 chapters comprised of approximately 2600 students. He primarily focuses on the overall development and growth of nationally recognized fraterni- The Greek Alphabet ties and sororities on campus. Α Β Γ ∆ Ε Ζ Η Θ Alpha Beta Gamma Delta Epsilon Zeta Eta Theta Ι Κ Λ Μ Ν Ξ Ο Π Tara Fuller Iota Kappa Lambda Mu Nu Xi Omicron Pi Assistant Director of Fraternity & Sorority Life Tara Fuller joined the Oce of Fraternity and Sorority Life in August 2015 as the Assistant Director. Originally from Milltown, New Jersey, she attended the University of Maryland (UMD), College Park, where she earned her Ρ Σ Τ Υ Φ Χ Ψ Ω Bachelor’s degree in Individual Studies. During her time at UMD, she was initiated as a member of Alpha Delta Pi Rho Sigma Tau Upsilon Phi Chi Psi Omega sorority’s Beta Phi chapter. Tara previously worked at Rider University in Lawrenceville, NJ, where she completed a Master’s program in Organizational Leadership. Her primary role in the oce is advisement, leadership development, and educational programming. 4 Glossary Active Disassociate New Member A member who has been initiated into lifelong fraternity When a member temporarily removes his or her associa- A member of a fraternity or sorority who has not been or sorority membership and is active at the collegiate tion from his or her chapter. initiated. Some organizations refer to new members as level. pledges, but the Oce of Fraternity and Sorority Life at Formal Membership Recruitment (NPC/PAJH) JHU exclusively uses ‘new member.’ Alumni/Alumnae The process of mutual selection between potential new Initiated fraternity (alumni) and sorority (alumnae) members and PAJH chapters. New Member Program members who have graduated from college. The singular The process, endorsed by the fraternity or sorority is alumnus (fraternity) and alumna (sorority). Fraternity headquarters, to teach the history, ideals, and values of The name that applies to all Greek letter organizations fraternity and sorority life. Badge characterized by a ritual, pin/badge, and strong ties to The pin worn by initiated members indicating member- friendship and moral principles. Women’s fraternities are Philanthropy ship in the fraternity or sorority. often called sororities. The term often used for informally to describe a charitable fundraising event sponsored by a fraternity or Bid Greek sorority benefitting an organization they identify as a A formal invitation to join a particular fraternity or Any member of a Greek-letter social or community philanthropic partner. sorority. service organization (fraternity or sorority). Potential New Member Big Brother or Big Sister Hazing A college woman who is participating in, or is eligible to An active member of a fraternity or sorority who serves Any action taken or situation created, intentionally, participate in, Panhellenic Formal Membership Recruit- as a mentor to a new member, guiding them through whether on or o fraternity premises, to produce mental or ment. their new member program and initiation. physical discomfort, embarrassment, harassment or ridicule (taken from the Fraternity Executives Association Recommendation Brother statements of position). A personal letter of reference provided by an alumnus/a A term used by fraternity members to refer to one of a fraternity or sorority to the local chapter. Letters of another. Headquarters recommendation do not guarantee an invitation to The central inter/national organization of a particular membership. Chapter fraternity or sorority. A local group of a larger inter/national organization, Recruitment Guide designated by a specific Greek name. Initiation A NPC woman who agrees to disaliate herself from her The formal ceremony endorsed by the fraternity or sorority to assist Potential New Members in navigating Chapter Advisor sorority headquarters that marks the beginning of active the Formal Membership Recruitment process. These An alumnus/alumna of a fraternity or sorority who membership. Each organization has a dierent set of women are charged with providing impartial assistance establishes and maintains a close advisory relationship requirements in order to be initiated. to PNMs in making choices about selecting membership with a chapter and assists members and ocers in all in PAJH chapters. areas of chapter operations. This role is fulfilled on a Initiated Member/Initiate voluntary basis. Any member, alumnus/a or undergraduate, who has Ritual completed the new member process and has participated Secret ceremonies performed by organizations, Charter through the initiation ceremony. prescribed and endorsed by their headquarters, that are The document issued from a headquarters to a chapter an outward depiction of the organization’s stated values, indicating the group is a fully recognized collegiate Intake aims, and principles. chapterof the inter/national organization. The process some culturally-based fraternal organiza- tions engage in to recruit, interview, and select new Signing Colony members. A hand gesture used by National Pan-Hellenic Council A group of students seeking a charter from a national or group (historically black Greek-letter organizations) and international fraternity or sorority. Legacy many culturally-based organizations’ members to signify The brother or sister, son or daughter, grandson or their membership in the organization. Depledge granddaughter of a fraternity or sorority member. Each To terminate one’s fraternity or sorority membership organization has their own definition of who is consid- Sister before initiation.