2015 Setting the Standard

Setting the Standard

Matthew GreerAlumni Advisor, Assistant Alumni Advisor, Graduate

Intern for Fraternity and Sorority Affairs Office

Xi-Rho, 2011

The “Hero Journey” motif*

UnderworldThreshold of Adventure

Call to adventure

Threshold crossing

DeathDismemberme

ntCrucifixionKidnapping

Night sea journey

AbductionDragon battleWhale’s belly

Wonder journey

Helper

Teachers

Tests

Nadir: the lowest point

Character and competence Father atonement Sacred marriageElixir theftSecret knowledge

ReturnResurrectionRebirthReconstitution Threshold struggleFlight/

escape

Reintegration with secret knowledge as the guardian of the culture’s deepest values

* Joseph Campbell, The Hero with a Thousand Faces. New York: MJF Books, 1949

The hero is often orphaned or exiled.

Summer

Autumn Spring

Winter

Copyright 2014, Michael EvansNot to be used without permission

Threshold of AdventureUnderworld

Threshold of AdventureUnderworld

Threshold of AdventureUnderworld

Threshold of AdventureUnderworld

Threshold of Adventure

Separation

Initiation

What are values?• Values are the expression of those things as a

culture that we hold most dear. • They are what we hold in common as members

of Kappa Sigma and, according to our Ritual, with the best of our fellow men.

• They define who we are, what we believe, and guide our actions: what we will or will not do.

• They are encapsulated in our Ritual and summarized in the Star & Crescent.

• We know our values!

“The Star and Crescent shall not be worn by every man, but only by him who is

worthy to wear it. He must be a gentleman … a man of honor and courage … a man of zeal,

yet humble … an intelligent man … a man of truth … one who

tempers action with wisdom and, above all else, one who walks

in the light of God.”

The Star & Crescent

What do we mean?

• Are honour and courage (integrity?) the same thing as loyalty?

• To what or whom is your loyalty owed?• How do you decide? • What is zealousness? Humility? How are they

reconciled?• What does it mean to temper action with

wisdom?• What is “the light of God?”

Integrity and credibility• Integrity at its core is when you “do what you say

you would do”• Our credibility is damaged when we do not live our

values• When we live by our Ritual and the Star &

Crescent, we bring credit to ourselves and our families, and honour to our college and Fraternity.

• When we don’t, as individuals or as a Chapter, we lose credibility and damage the Fraternity.

• These are questions of character.

Men of character …

Men of intellect are admired;Men of wealth are envied;Men of power are feared;Only men of character are trusted.

Leadership cannot exist without trust.

Kappa Sigma is the leader among Greek fraternal organizations.

Our actions, which are the outwarddemonstrations of our character,

must align with our values

Social licence is essential

Host institutionRecruitment pool

Active chapter: “Manyhands make light work”

Executive CommitteeLeadership and

execution

Accountability

Public-at-large“Social licence”

Authority

Authority is derived from …

Accountability is to …

SEC“Fraternal licence”

Authority and accountability are manifest

values and the result of trust

We are losing trust

Do these headlines reflect our values?

Chapter Closed after Hazing Incident

Fraternity Accused of Violent Hazing

Paralyzed Student Sues Fraternity After Hazing

Pledge Sodomized by Stripper, Among Charges Against Fraternity

After Drinking Ritual Death, Evidence surfaces that Fraternity Charged Pledges $200 for “Social Fund”

Colony Closed due to Hazing, Alcohol

Former Frat Alumni React to Hazing Allegations

Student Dies, Hazing Blamed

Greek Camaraderie Turns Toxic

Alleged Hazing Leads to Students Expulsion

Student Injured, Hospitalized, in Hazing Incident

Fraternity Placed on Temporarily Deferred Suspension

Due to Violations

Greek Organizations Nationwide in Trouble over Hazing

Restoring trust• People who complain that fraternities are

“elitist” miss the point.• Democracy at its best is a meritocratic system

that rewards excellence. • “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that

all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

• We should be elitist; but what defines “elite”?

The Code of Conduct

• Some of you think the Code is only about protecting SEC and volunteers.

• It does that – but that’s only part of its purpose.

• It’s more about protecting you, your families and our very existence.

• If you follow the rules, we will protect you if an accident happens; if not, you’re on your own.

The Code of Conduct

• What is the Code of Conduct?• To whom does it apply?• What areas does it address?

Kappa Sigma does not haze

Matthew Carrington, deceased

“I did what I did out of a misguided sense of building brotherhood, and instead I lost a brother. I will live with the consequences of hazing for the rest of my life.

“My actions killed a good person.

Copyright 2014, Michael EvansNot to be used without permission

“Hazing isn't funny, it's not cute. It's stupid, dangerous. It’s not about brotherhood, it’s about power and control.”

- Gabriel Maestretti, 22, altar boy, high school homecoming king, volunteer coach, Chi Tau fraternity upper classman, “tormentor,” “mean drunk,” convicted killer.

Alcohol use and social events• The Code has very clear rules about alcohol

use and social events.• Why?• What are the risks?

Illegal substances• The Code has very clear rules about illegal

substances.• Why?• What are the risks?

Social media• Does your social media presence

reflect the Star & Crescent or …?• Mistakes often involve stereotypes,

sexism, cultural appropriation and racism.

• The poster does not consider the harm implied; he focuses almost exclusively on his intended audience

• The inability to recognize harm points to issues with empathy and critical-thinking.

• Stupidity is no excuse!

Stereotypes

Sexism - 1

• What is sexism?• Why is it a problem?

Sexism - 2

Sexism - 3

Sexism - 4

Cultural appropriation - 1

• What is cultural appropriation?• Why is it a problem?

Cultural appropriation - 2

Cultural appropriation - 3

Racism - 1

• What is racism?• Why is it a problem?

Racism - 2

Racism - 3

Some people may say that fraternities are facing an identity crisis, but that underplays how resilient and adaptive they have always been. They’ve existed since the time of the American Revolution, appeared in modern form in the early 1880s, survived the Civil War, and rode the waves of social upheaval in the 1960s and ’70s. They thrived in the 1980s, nearly collapsed under the weight of lawsuits in the 1990s, and returned, corporatized and professionalized, in the 2000s.

Social media - 2

• Once again, are we getting this right?

• Just because you can do it, does not mean it is wise to do so.

Code of Conduct violations

Recent research into moral psychology suggests we are hardwired for five essential elements:

1. Harm/care2. Fairness/cheating3. Loyalty/betrayal4. Authority/subversion5. Sanctity/degradation

So, what is the right thing to do?

First of all, know you will fail if you do not prepare.

When undergrads fail• There are four possibilities to explain a performance

failure: to deliver a plan, follow the rules, uphold an oath, execute a promise, etc.

1. Lack of understanding2. Lack of capability (aptitude and training/skills)3. Lack of opportunity/resources4. Lack of will/desire

• The first three are the responsibility of leadership; only the last is in the control of the individual. Don’t start at 4: start at 1!

Copyright 2014, Michael EvansNot to be used without permission

Start with “why?”

Visit: http://www.ted.com/speakers/simon_sinek

“People don’t buy what you do; people buy why you do it.”

WHY

HOW

WHAT

WHY

HOW

WHAT

Copyright 2014, Michael EvansNot to be used without permission

Chapters closed in 2013-15• Gamma-Phi (West Virginia), 1883• Chi-Omega (South Carolina), 1890• Beta-Xi (California-Berkeley), 1901• Delta-Omega (Wake Forest), 1937• Epsilon-Eta (Bowling Green State), 1947• Epsilon-Xi (Texas-El Paso), 1949• Epsilon-Psi (Lambuth), 1958• Beta-Phi (California-Davis), 1951• Epsilon-Phi (Texas Tech), 1953

Chapters closed in 2013-15• Theta-Eta (Arkansas-Little Rock), 1963• Theta-Iota (San Jose State), 1965• Theta-Pi (East Carolina), 1966• Xi-Sigma (Western Carolina), 2001• Omicron-Beta (Long Island-CW Post), 2005• Pi-Beta (Loyola Marymount), 2007• Pi-Omicron (Colorado-Colorado Springs),

2009

Discipline 2014-15

• 493 expulsions• 650 suspensions• 258 resignations

• 1,401 Brothers removed from the Fraternity’s roll or who remain suspended.

Your autonomy is yours to keep or loseThe Code of Conduct:• builds accountability;• teaches responsibility;• reinforces our values;• enables self-governance; and• makes Chapters and their members powerful.

Accountability

Compliance rests with every Brother and every Chapter

“The day-to-day responsibility of the enforcement of the Code of Conduct and these Standards rests

with individual members and Chapters.”

Not for a day, or an hour …

“If I accept you as you are, I make you worse; if, however, I treat you as if you were already that which you are capable of becoming, I help you to become that.”

      – Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

When accountability is refused• Charges submitted IN WRITING and signed

by one or more members.• Charges filed with the Grand Procurator with

IHQ.• Charges must be read aloud at one meeting;

trial scheduled for the next meeting.• 75% of the Chapter MUST attend the trial.• A majority vote suspends; 80% vote expels.

Appeals

• Must be filed IN WRITING to IHQ.• By the Brother(s) FILING charges within 30

days after the chapter vote.• By the accused within 30 days after receiving

notice from the WGS of the Chapter’s decision.

No bystanders

• There are no bystanders in a heroic narrative.

• That applies to Brothers’ sexual conduct, use of drugs and alcohol, application to their studies, etc.

Threshold of AdventureUnderworld

Copyright 2014, Michael EvansNot to be used without permission

You do not need any kind of permission or authority to do the

right thing…