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RARE RECRUITMENT, ACCEPTANCE, RETENTION AND EDUCATION. ENDING PLEDGING AS WE KNOW IT Cornell Livestreaming Event: April 27, 2012. Top Five, Strong, Well Regarded, and Historically Significant. 66. 4,253. 30%. 1,248. Chapters. Members. Undergrads that are Greek. New Members. 47.
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RARERECRUITMENT, ACCEPTANCE, RETENTION AND EDUCATION ENDING PLEDGING AS WE KNOW IT Cornell Livestreaming Event: April 27, 2012 DRAFT ONLY - NOT APPROVED
Top Five, Strong, Well Regarded, and Historically Significant 66 4,253 30% 1,248 Chapters Members Undergrads that are Greek New Members 47 1,778 19,720 $176K Fraternity & Sorority Life @Cornell Houses Housing Capacity Service & Advocacy Hours Funds for Charity DRAFT ONLY - NOT APPROVED
2008 - Current Initiatives • Call 2 Action • Recognition Policy • Four Quarter System • Dartmouth Collaborative = NCHIP • Recruitment, Acceptance, Retention and Education (RARE) Fraternity & Sorority Life @Cornell DRAFT ONLY - NOT APPROVED
RARE Recruitment, Acceptance, Retention and Education • Primary focus is hazing prevention • WORKING DOCUMENT – DRAFT ONLY • Cornell has not approved these recommendations • No decisions made – now engaging the community • Final approvals are expected in October Thank you for participating! Disclaimers DRAFT ONLY - NOT APPROVED
Hazing Research Pledging vs Hazing Changing Greek Culture A Comprehensive Approach DRAFT Recommendations RARE Phases One to Four Fraternity & Sorority Life @Cornell President Skorton’s Challenge RARE Task Force RARE’s Mandate Definition of Hazing Cornell’s History Our Agenda DRAFT ONLY - NOT APPROVED
National call Eliminate hazing Hazing defined as…. “End pledging as we know it….” Create a better Greek system Not providing all the answers Challenge to Students, Alumni, University President Skorton’s Challenge DRAFT ONLY - NOT APPROVED
He’s not a Greek…eliminating pledging will destroy tradition and create “paper members” Pledging and hazing are not the same thing!! The question is “What Should Greek Life Look Like at Cornell?” Why focus on Greeks? Sports teams…even the Band hazes new members. Take the right step - eliminate the Greek system altogether. Students will drink and hazing will continue – as they have for decades. President Skorton’s Challenge - Initial Reactions DRAFT ONLY - NOT APPROVED
Launched in Fall 2011 • 24 members – a cross section of the community • 13 of 24 members are undergraduates • Two year effort to eliminate hazing RARE Task Force DRAFT ONLY - NOT APPROVED
RARE’s Mandate DRAFT ONLY - NOT APPROVED
Cornell Campus Code of Conduct (Article II.A.1.f) “To haze another person, regardless of the person’s consent to participate. …endangering the physical health of an individual or causing mental distress… President Skorton’s “A Call to Lead”, CDS, 8.29.2011 Hazing is any act that, as a condition for group membership, humiliates, intimidates, abuses or endangers any person — regardless of the person’s consent to participate. New York State Law §120.16 and §120.17 A person is guilty of hazing if…in the course of initiation or affiliation with any organization…creates a substantial risk of physical injury Definition of Hazing DRAFT ONLY - NOT APPROVED
When were these statements on hazing made? “Hazing goes against all the ideals of fraternities: cooperation, trust and brotherhood. Let‟s work together to eliminate it.” “We have strict rules against hazing.” “Hazing is the one offense in Cornell University for which students are expelled, sent away never to return or to go to any other college.” “Hazing is an immature, dangerous act that serves no useful purpose…. Remember: hazing can kill” Cornell’s History DRAFT ONLY - NOT APPROVED
When were these statements on hazing made? “Hazing goes against all the ideals of fraternities: cooperation, trust and brotherhood. Let‟s work together to eliminate it.” 1982 1874 “We have strict rules against hazing.” “Hazing is the one offense in Cornell University for which students are expelled, sent away never to return or to go to any other college.” 1904 “Hazing is an immature, dangerous act that serves no useful purpose…. Remember: hazing can kill” 1981 Cornell’s History DRAFT ONLY - NOT APPROVED
What available research tells us: • Hazing begins early in life, well before college • More than half of participants experience hazing • Almost all hazing goes unreported • About three-quarters of Greeks experience hazing • Many believe it creates bonds and is an important rite of passage • Eighty percent of all hazing deaths involve alcohol What available research does not tell us: • Is hazing getting worse? • Are hazing prevention strategies effective? • Is this generation different? Research DRAFT ONLY - NOT APPROVED
Research – Why People Haze DRAFT ONLY - NOT APPROVED
Why address the pledge period? • Platform for hazing • Alignment with values & mission • Maintain relevance Pledging vs Hazing DRAFT ONLY - NOT APPROVED
Hazing integral to many rituals and traditions – a rite of passage • Change must occur at the individual, interactional, and organizational levels • Hazing must be rejected as incompatible with the values of Greek life • Fraternity and sorority members must: • refrain from hazing; • ensure peers do not haze; • report hazing incidents; and, • discipline hazers and silent bystanders. • The bandwidth of solutions must be broad and engage all stakeholders Changing Greek Culture DRAFT ONLY - NOT APPROVED
Hazing behavior is complex • Diverse collection of individuals, chapters and councils • Requires a comprehensive approach, which is supported by proven models of cultural change • We cannot transforms an entire culture, but we can transform certain parts of the culture • Build on shared values to change the norms surrounding hazing • Changes at every level - individual, chapter, council, alumni, university, and community – are required • Real and lasting results, leading to a new national standard, will take time and resources A Comprehensive Approach DRAFT ONLY - NOT APPROVED
Building One Cornell Greek Community • Intensive character building, education and social programs built around values common to the Cornell Greek community • Welcomes new members into one community, prior to chapters • Be a strong advocate for the vast majority who are individuals of character • Modifications to Existing New Member Process • Eliminate the words “pledge”, “pledging”, and other derogatory terms meant to separate new and active members • Reduce new member intake process duration • Written plan for new member process must be approved annually by national and alumni reps Draft RARE Recommendations - Community DRAFT ONLY - NOT APPROVED
Focus on Academic Excellence • New and existing members, and chapters, to maintain min. GPA • Prospective members below minimum are deferred • Greek “suspension” process for members or chapters below GPA • Greek mentorship program to encourage members to excel • Chapter Defined Four Year Education Models • New member education program for each chapter based on national requirements • Chapter-focused education for sophomores and juniors • Professional and career development education for juniors and seniors Draft RARE Recommendations - Community DRAFT ONLY - NOT APPROVED
Live-In Advisors for New and “At Risk” Chapters • “At risk” chapters – low tier ratings, failure to address audit findings or other recommendations • Minimum four year period for advisors • Not required for high performing chapters • Expand Self-Governance Concept to Include Alumni • Minimum of 3 active advisors per chapter • Participate in risk management audits of chapters • Serve on alumni advisory groups - AIFC, APAC & AMGLC • Participate in interviews of new leaders and exit interviews Draft RARE Recommendations - Community DRAFT ONLY - NOT APPROVED
Hire Hazing Specialist for All Campus Organizations & Teams • Promote National Hazing Hotline and national legislation • Develop “Real Life, Real Hazing” film of Cornellians • Create programs like a “Bystanders Group” – individual members to train all chapter members to identify and intervene in hazing • Create a Risk Management Council (RMC) • Alumni, Council Leaders, Chapter Leaders & OFSIL Reps (9) • Review performance tier ratings, judicial reports, police reports, housing and safety reports, financial status and recruitment • Engage in honest, challenging conversations with at-risk chapters and alumni advisors, before serious incidents occur Draft RARE Recommendations - Community DRAFT ONLY - NOT APPROVED
University Standards Set for Greek Chapters • Expand EOY ratings to four tiers based on shared values • Quarterly reviews undertaken by chapter officers, alumni advisors and council officers, and reported to OFSIL annually • Underperforming chapters subjected to alumni advisor and RMC audits • Provide Funding Necessary for Transformation • Motivation can come from programs, resources, rewards/awards Alternatives to hazing in new member processes requires program development and funding – must be a priority • Funding to be generated from university, alumni and current members in a shared manner Draft RARE Recommendations - Community DRAFT ONLY - NOT APPROVED
RARE Phases One to Four DRAFT ONLY - NOT APPROVED
Engaging Key Stakeholders and Experts in Process • Undergraduate Greek Members and Leaders • Parents • Non-Greek Cornell community • Key Partners - DOS, OFSIL, Gannett, CUPD, COE, Residential Programs • Inter/national organizations • Alumni and alumni associations • Subject matter experts Phase Three DRAFT ONLY - NOT APPROVED
Academic Year 2012-2013 • Our focus changes from developing recommendations to outreach and implementation • Move from 2 co-chairs to a Steering Group, with representatives from each of the tri-councils and an alum • Assemble an Advisory Group with expertise relevant for Year 2 (in addition to experts continuing from Year 1) • In addition to replacing seniors, we may need more members on specific initiatives. Phase Three and Four DRAFT ONLY - NOT APPROVED
What Will Be Different DRAFT ONLY - NOT APPROVED
AS A REMINDER…. • DRAFT RECOMMENDATIONS ONLY • Cornell has not approved these recommendations. • RARE’s dialogue with key stakeholders, to review and refine these recommendations, will continue until final approvals are received in October. • Thank you for participating in today’s event. Disclaimers DRAFT ONLY - NOT APPROVED
Our thanks to all of the members, contributors and supporters of RARE! DRAFT ONLY - NOT APPROVED