In recognition of Hazing Prevention Week I wanted to repost a presentation from July’s AFA Region V conference by Dr. Adam Goldstein of Florida State University.

In 2010, Florida State University became the first campus to receive the Zeta Tau Alpha Award for Innovation in Campus Hazing Prevention & Education. The award, recognizing the campus’s community-wide hazing prevention efforts, came with $10,000 for use toward its initiatives. The award follows a five-year effort of evaluation and experimentation that dramatically changed the way Florida State University addresses hazing. This presentation will provide an overview of the community’s journey and outline its plan for use of the new resources.

MIT Tells Students to Take a Shower

UC System has nearly 11,000 wait listed

U of Penn to Cover Gender Reassignment Costs

Advocates Dismayed with Lack of Universal Instruction Design

Where Is The Line Between Personal Life & Fraternity Membership?

Make Them Show Their Work Along The Way

Social Justice: When Diversity Isn’t Enough

BONUS Link: Our Friends at The Cronk are Featured on The Chronicle of Higher Education!

Cast of ABC Family's Greek

Cappie and Casey wake up in each other’s arms this morning as we learn it is LSAT test day for Casey.  Cappie and the Kappa Taus are getting ready to celebrate every college student’s favorite holiday (outside of St. Patrick’s Day) Mardi Gras!  You know what this means: beads, cake, plastic babies, masks, and full out debauchery!

Rusty is excited about his date for the evening, Katherine, but the brothers at KT are a little less enthused about the prim and proper Panhellenic President crashing the event.  Katherine has decided that she’s done wasting time so she sets up a meeting with Rusty to let him know that she has no plans on going to Yale a virgin, so he needs to be prepared.  Rusty goes to his big brother Cappie for advice because he is worried about being someone’s “first” and if it might make things a little too serious too quickly.  Casey learns about the Mardi Gras mambo that Rusty and Katherine are planning and warns Rusty to rethink his plans.

Joel pops up again…and I’m beginning to sense a possible love triangle!  He offers Casey some advice on taking the LSAT and leaves her more motivated for the test, and us wondering what’s next for those two.  During the test she has a difficult time concentrating because she’s worried about Cappie’s commitment to a major and the annoying foot tapping of a fellow test taker.  Post test Casey and Joel share a scotch, conversation, and an almost kiss.

At the Kappa Tau Mardi Gras party we learn that Katherine’s type a personality knows no bounds as she has scheduled the evening right down to the sex.  Rusty wants to make sure that Katherine’s expectations aren’t out of his ability and he talks to her about what she’s looking for in her first time.  Katherine confesses that it may not be her ideal setting and that her initial choice was for the roguish and rugged Al Gore for her deflowering.  Rusty is starting to doubt Katherine’s plan because he doesn’t want to be labeled a “dog” by fellow students.  We also learn that Dana (Rusty’s lab assistant) is still harboring feelings for him and that’s why she decided to crash the KT party.

The time has come for Rusty and Katherine’s encounter and of course she has every single move planned according to her research which apparently includes: Cosmo Girl, 9 ½ weeks, strip tease, and white dress shirts.  Rusty is concerned that Katherine is making things a little too mechanical and that while he does like her he doesn’t want things to go down that way and he politely leaves a dejected Katherine alone in her room.

At Gentlemen’s Choice Evan has decided to make some extra cash working the bar at Cyprus’ only gay establishment.  Rebecca and Ashleigh walk into the club because they are looking to find a place where they won’t be objectified, and where they can objectify others.  As they are getting down on the floor Calvin dances around and bumps into Ashleigh and first mistakes her for a drag queen.  Rebecca works her way up to the bar oblivious to a masked Evan as she begins to make out with the one random straight guy at the gay bar…this is not going to be pretty!  Rebecca and Evan have a confrontation about the exclusivity of their relationship and Evan tells Rebecca that she is afraid of love and has no heart.  (Ouch!)

This week really is about the fear of commitment.  We can see that both Rebecca and Cappie fear being tied down.  Rebecca fears being committed to one person and doesn’t want to face rejection and pain that a relationship could bring.  Cappie is unable to decide on a major out of fear for leaving CRU and deciding upon his future while he’s having so much fun in the present.  Fear really is our biggest weakness as people and while it is difficult to overcome it; to grow as people it is something that must be done.  There is no better way to overcome your fear than facing it head on and we hope that in a future episode we will see Rebecca and Cappie do just that!

Cast of ABC Family's Greek

This week opens up with Casey working on her personal statement for law school applications as Cappie ponders picking a major (finally).  Casey’s first choice is CRU which is great because Cappie has decided he should be done in three more years closing out his college career in a “speedy” seven years.  The men of Kappa Tau also welcome their new neighbors; a lovely nerdy couple has moved in right next door…just what the brothers need!

In an effort to maintain a relationship with the neighbors (one of whom is a professor) the Kappa Tau boys invite him over for a game of pool.  This turns into a game of monkey hump which apparently is a combination of pool, beer pong, and gambling.  One thing leads to another and neighbor Tom is so engrained with Kappa Tau that he is soon found passed out in the backyard of Kappa Tau.  Cappie makes Tom an honorary pledge and he is christened with the nickname, T-Bag.  The other pledges aren’t happy that someone as old as their dad is hanging around the house so they urge Rusty to do something about it so he decides to haze him.  The campus police arrive to investigate a noise complaint and a drunken T-Bag and his sixteen year old intoxicated daughter are hoisted over the fence to avoid detection and save T-Bag’s career and the Kappa Tau charter.

Beaver confesses to Cappie that he had sex with Rebecca, or at least he thinks he had sex with Rebecca but isn’t 100% convinced (due to his extreme intoxication and a supposed fling with Wonder Woman).  Cappie confronts Rebecca about the fling and gives her some advice on the ins and outs of relationships.  Rebecca goes on an endless search looking for the necklace that Evan gave her for Valentine’s Day.

Casey meets with Joel to discuss her law school applications and she finds out that Joel has been married and divorced and is a fan of the Backstreet Boys which somehow inspired him to become a lawyer (inspiration comes in many forms).  Katherine is having residual feelings for Rusty and wants to seek Casey’s advice on how to keep things going.  She volunteers to help out Casey with her statement since she has already been accepted to Yale Law School.  Ashleigh is a little jealous that Casey is relying on Katherine for help on her personal statement and begins to think that they are drifting apart.

Grant discovers that the petty cash fund is $500 short and the Omega Chi brothers start to point fingers of suspension at each other.   Calvin hatches a plan to save the day and hands out an envelope to every Omega Chi brother.  Whoever stole the money is asked to return it in the envelope by tomorrow morning and no questions will be asked.  As Evan and Calvin go through the envelopes the next morning Calvin finds the envelope with the returned money.  Calvin is disappointed because he marked the envelopes secretly and notices that the money was returned in an envelope marked “EC” for none other than his big brother, Evan.  Evan confesses to Calvin that he wanted to borrow the money so he could buy a present for Rebecca and he had every intention to return it…and another relationship will be strained as Calvin expresses his disappointment in his brother and friend.

This week we saw a number of relationships tested and the future is still unsure for many of them.  Casey and Rebecca struggled to keep their relationship strong as they mature and start to move in different directions.  They both realize the importance of their friendship and begin to acknowledge that it takes some work to maintain that relationship.  They finally understand that growing up doesn’t mean growing apart, but that their friendship will take a certain amount of work and commitment to keep it strong and nurturing.

Cast of ABC Family's Greek

This week is Valentine’s Day at Cyprus Rhodes University and we find Rusty dateless on the eve of the Kappa Tau Shot Through the Heart Valentine’s Day party.  We learn that during the first and last Valentine ’s Day that Cappie and Casey were together; Cappie purchased Casey a bottle of vodka (which he drank and then promptly returned to the porcelain gods).  Reminded of this Cappie is determined to make up for the ills of V-days past and come up with the best present ever!

Casey is still trying to make up the Gamma Psi fire from Katherine and decides that she will fix things by getting her a date for Valentine’s Day.  She asks Ashleigh to help her come up with a man for Katherine and the only person that she can think of is none other than Rusty!  Katherine being the massive control freak that she is decides that she needs a pre-date at Dobbler’s.  The pre-date is of course filled with awkward pauses and inappropriate meanderings and blank stares… it looks like a match made in heaven.  A heaven where awkward turtles go to die, but it’s a heaven nonetheless.  Katherine is of course enthralled with Rusty and is ready and willing for the Kappa Tau date party.

Calvin is worried that his relationship with Grant is all too quickly entering the settled in phase and longs to spice things up.  He doesn’t want to turn into one of those gay couples that hosts dinner parties and watches bravo all night.

Katherine shows up to go to the KT party in a knock out red dress that has Spitter’s eyes bugging out of his head.  Rusty learns that Katherine is more than she seems and starts to understand her better and begins to enjoy her company.  They both discover that they are the other’s first Valentine’s date.  Katherine confides in Rusty that she wants to be someone other than the geeky smart girl and is worried that she has to fit in four years of college life into one semester.  Rusty puts his foot in his mouth and offends Katherine and as she turns to leave the party she is impaled by an arrow and a trip to the emergency room soon follows.  Rusty walks Katherine home safely and despite being hopped up on pain medication they share a sentimental moment and an awkward hug goodnight.

Rebecca being frightened by commitment and Evan’s generous gift runs off to the KT house to find the first KT brother she can to hook up with as Evan searchers for her.   She and Beaver retreat off-screen for what may or may not be a huge mistake!

Cappie drives Casey to the spot where he first fell in love with her…which ends up being a convenience store.  He tells of the night when he knew that she was the person for him and they share a moment that each of them will remember forever.

This week Rusty and Katherine bring us the lesson.  While they shared their awkward pre-date Rusty points out to a goal driven Katherine that, “Goals are great.”  This is true but as we learn more about each of them we learn that goals are great but living is a must.  Each of them has sacrificed different things in their life to achieve their goals.  Katherine confides to Rusty that she feels like she has missed a lot of things during her college experience because of her goal driven personality.  A lot of times when you are motivated to achieve the goals you can sometimes forget about the day to day things.  While you work to achieve your goals it is important to live in the moment.  The cliché is correct, “college is the best time of your life” so why don’t you take some time to slow down and enjoy it!

Cast of ABC Family's Greek

This week Casey ponders her future and what her life will be like without the sorority and after graduation.  She is reminiscing about her recent stint in Washington and feeling a bit nostalgic.  Rusty is hard at work at his newly improved research lab since winning the Gary Wyatt Grant and Dale is feeling a little left out.  Because of his new found notoriety the Dean wants to meet Rusty, CRU’s new “wunderkind.”  During the faculty mixer Rusty bumbles on something about balls, or holding the balls of his fraternity brothers before finally relaying his inspiration to his research sponsor.  Back in the lab Rusty’s new assistant has arrived, and it is none other than spurned love interest, Dana.

Casey goes to Rebecca seeking advice on how to break into politics and begins working on a student voter registration drive.  She struggles at first getting students motivated to register, until Rebecca shows her the way of voter manipulation.  She delivers the registrations to campaign headquarters and comes up with a plan for increasing turnout that involves nothing other than a party at Dobbler’s.

Dale is hired on as the new hasher at ZBZ since the former hasher was left as a pile of ash after his failed relationship with Ashleigh.   His religiosity starts to overflow onto the sisters of ZBZ and they approach Ashleigh to get a “hotter” hasher that they can hook up with.  When Dale learns about Ashleigh’s relationship with the previous hasher he misinterprets her intentions and resigns from his position because he “can’t be her new hasher/boy toy.”  Dale’s replacement doesn’t seem to do the job and he starts to creep out the sisters because even though he’s “smoking hot” he seems kind of “pervy.”  So despite the fact that Dale is weird and judge-y they want him back.

With graduation looming Casey decides to approach Cappie about the future and what that means for their relationship.  Evan warns Cappie that if he doesn’t watch it he’ll be the only one left at CRU…just him and his turtles.  Despite his love for the university Cappie lets Casey know that he can’t be anywhere that doesn’t have her, and urges her to go after her dreams.

This week we learn from our brothers and sisters at Cyprus Rhodes University about potential.   We all have an immense amount of potential, but sometimes lack the drive to succeed.  There are times in each person’s life were we seem a little lost and without direction.  What is important is that we each follow a path that is true to us and that we continually challenge ourselves to live up to our potential.  Sometimes that path is slow and steady (like the tortoise) and sometimes it is fast and furious (like the rabbit).  There will be both times of triumph and failure but with each new experience you are one step closer to your potential.  You are one step closer to your dreams…it just takes that first step!

ABC Family's Greek

This week in episode three we learn that even fictional fraternity houses can smell of “stale beer, pepperoni, and feet” as Ashleigh confronts Casey about her “second hand smell” from all the shacking up she’s been doing at the KT house.  In an effort to curb her odoriferous smell she attempts a thorough sanitizing of Cappie’s room at the house.

Calvin attempts spending time with Rusty and suggests a night out with his brother/boyfriend Grant and Rusty as they head down to Dobbler’s for a refreshing beverage.  There is a little tension between Rusty and Grant as Rusty can’t get over the fact that Grant was one of the Omega Chi brothers who duct taped him to a wall last semester.  Evan has a date with Rebecca and Ashleigh works up the courage to face the batting cage and Beaver on a double date with Cappie and Casey.

The Omega Chi’s show up for a friendly serenade while Cappie dines on poached eggs for brunch at the ZBZ house.  After their rousing rendition of “Take Me Out to The Ball Game” Cappie fires a muffin at Evan’s head and touts his softball pitching prowess.  Despite the fact that the KTs asked ZBZ first to pair up for the softball game the sisters take a vote and decide Omega Chi would be a better choice.  Rebecca believes that Omega Chi has asked the ZBZ for their pairing because the sorority is moving up from “four-ish” to number one.

In a retaliatory move Gamma Psi approaches KT to pair up for the softball tournament.  The tournament gets underway as the ZBZ/Omega Chi team takes on KT/Gamma Psi.  Rusty is first up to bat and hits a single while the KT pledges make no attempt of showing their team spirit.  Beaver hits Rusty home as he slides into home base and puts the first one on the board for KT.  There is a bit of a skirmish at first base as Grant (Calvin’s boyfriend) is acting as pitcher and thinks Rusty was out.  The players all run to home base and argue over the call.  One of the Omega Chi brothers says that the call was “gay” prompting an argument from Grant as to what “he meant by that.”

While Casey is up to bat and has two strikes under her belt (while Cappie is pitching) she calls a time out to chat with Rusty.  She wants to know if she should throw the game so that the KTs (and Cappie) will win or make a hit so ZBZ will win.  Rusty reminds her that she is playing for ZBZ and while he understands putting a personal relationship above house feuds she is there to win.  Casey hits the ball knocking it back to the scoreboard, breaking the clock and winning the game for Omega Chi and Zeta Beta Zeta.  As Casey is hoisted to the shoulders of her teammates Cappie walks off the field.

Everyone nurses their bruises and egos at Dobbler’s as Casey and Cappie discuss their competitive nature and share cutesy banter.  Rusty and Calvin chat a little more and Rusty tells Calvin that Grant was right to stand up to the “gay” comment.  Grant comes over to the table and thanks Rusty for the backup during the earlier argument.  While Calvin says he doesn’t want everything to be a political statement because things have changed; Grant believes that is important to stand up to prejudice and be proud of who he is…that’s why he waited so long to come out.

This week we learn that despite our differences, competitions, and occasional disagreements inter-fraternal relationships are important.  Rusty and Calvin have a strong relationship that has withstood so many obstacles over the course of the last few years, but their bond is as strong as ever.  While your loyalty to your organization is important your loyalty to your friends is essential.  We also learn that is extremely important to be proud of who you are.  We see that as Grant struggles with his coming out process and as the new KT pledges figure out being what a Kappa Tau is all about.  We also get a glimpse of the importance of values, ritual, and the symbols of our organizations.  Spitter said it best, “Respect the symbols of your organization.  It is your responsibility to be proud of who you are.  That pin is a symbol of pride and tradition, and the second you stop respecting that: then someone else does.  Then someone else does, and then it means nothing anymore.”

ABC Family's Greek

Episode two of ABC Family’s Greek opens as Rusty has become a pseudo celebrity (for nerds) after winning the $40,000 Gary White Grant.  While his popularity is soaring his sister, Casey, agrees to take a position with Panhellenic as the Vice President of Judicial.  Her first assignment: get to the bottom of the Gamma Psi fire.  She is of course handed her very own clipboard, the sign of authority and power in the Greek world.

The sisters of Zeta Beta Zeta are still jumpy after starting the fire at their rival’s house.  Rebecca seems to be the only one in the chapter who is in complete denial.  Ashleigh learns of Casey’s appointment to Panhellenic and urges her to lead the investigation away from the ZBZs.  While Casey struggles with a way to fake an investigation Ashleigh decides to do what Greeks do best when they are feeling guilty: host a philanthropy.  Rusty and Dale provide inspiration and it is decided that the ZBZs will host a Nerd Auction.

Evan and Cappie have a bit of a flare up over the fact that the Omega Chi’s left Kappa Tau holding the bag for the prank which resulted in the expulsion of three KTs.  The Amphora Society gets a glimpse of what life will be like if Evan and Cappie don’t resolve their issues (again)…and secretly moves their underground club house leaving both Evan and Cappie out in the cold.

Ashleigh gives Rusty a nerd-chic makeover in order to attract the hottie from their marketing class.  Casey leans on Evan for advice about how to get over guilt.  She worries that she will have to confess because the guilt is too much for her to bear.  Evan warns her against her confession but Casey is determined to bring the truth to light…and relinquish the guilt she feels.  She visits Natalie the President of Gamma Psi and purges her secret.  Natalie handles the confession with grace; and proceeds to blackmail Casey for the ZBZ house.

Evan urges Casey to fight fire with fire (pun intended I’m sure) and get to the bottom of why Natalie is trying to work outside the system to resolve this issue.

The Nerd Auction gets underway at everyone’s favorite watering spot Dobbler’s.  Erica from Tri Pi buys Rusty for the bargain price of $50 as Ashleigh laments, “How sweet.  Don’t be fooled as soon as he gets the chance Rusty will cheat on you.  Just like every other guy in the history of the planet.”  Dana the fellow engineering major and self proclaimed nerd looses out despite her apparent crush.

Casey goes to the theater to get to the bottom of why the songfest judge gave ZBZ a score of zero during the competition.  She learns through their conversation that Ryan gave a goose egg to ZBZ not because of an ongoing relationship with Natalie but just because, “they made love.”  This is apparently a common form of currency in the theater world.

Casey brings together Katherine (Panhellenic President) and Natalie (Gamma Psi President) and confesses about the fire.  Natalie tells Casey that she has no proof because the score sheets were burnt in the fire, at which point Casey delivers the score sheets stolen from the Gamma Psi house.  Casey decides that all will be forgotten and Gamma Psi’s reputation will remain intact if all is forgiven.  Casey resigns from her position as the Vice President Judicial as Katherine discusses how much she misses her clipboard and the actual NPC crest makes a cameo.

This week’s episode is full of educational moments.  As Beaver put it best, “Sometimes you have to let your friends make their own mistakes.”  Everyone struggles this week with doing the right thing, giving advice, and knowing when to keep their mouth shut.  While it is important to be a supportive and caring friend it is also imperative that you let your friends make their own mistakes; it really is what will help them grow and learn.  You just need to be there and provide whatever support is needed when things fall apart as they sometimes tend to do.  The Marketing Professor has another gem for us this week as she informs her students that, “You can market anything in the right package.”  In today’s society this is all too true.  One of the most frustrating things about being a fraternity/sorority professional is that the marketing plan is really already laid out for you.  The problem is that often times our product (Brotherhood/Sisterhood, Friendship, Scholarship, Service, Philanthropy, and Leadership) is not always what one gets when they sign on the line.  All too often it is buyer beware as groups struggle to provide the products we profess to offer.  We will continue to fail at this endeavor if we do not realize that you truly can “market anything in the right package” but inside that package sometimes it’s just a pile of junk.

A Texas Christian University Fraternity, Kappa Sigma, is under investigation for an alleged incident that occurred in early January. A fraternity brother had agreed to let fraternity members and guests brand him, but after he passed out the shenanigans continued.

While the student was asleep they continued to complete the brand and add three additional large designs. The student woke up in the morning in excruciating pain and you can see why in then enclosed video. He will need major plastic surgery to repair the damage that he received as a result of the second and third degree burns.

Cast of ABC Family's Greek

I admit it.  I have been a fraternity and sorority advising professional for over 10 years and I have a secret.  After spending long days advising fraternities and sororities there is nothing more that I love to do on a Monday night than go home, sit down in front of the television….and watch ABC Family’s Greek.  I know that there are millions of others who share this secret but it’s like bringing my work home with me.  Only all the problems, issues, and buffoonery are neatly packaged and concluded at the end of an hour…and I don’t have to clean up the mess!

The next chapter and a new season began and it has our heroines at the Zeta Beta Zeta sorority (Zetas) in flux regarding their involvement in the arson of a rival sorority’s house.  While the fire was ruled an accident by the fire marshal, the guilt felt by the sisters of ZBZ continues to heavily way on their consciences.

Everyone’s favorite underdogs, Kappa Tau Gamma, are reeling in the fact that three of their brothers were expelled from college due to an unfortunate incident involving the hurling of a campus security vehicle off the top of a parking garage.   Since one of the expelled members was the pledge educator, this leaves Rusty (Spitter) at the helm of a new class of KT’s.  While the new members want to spend their time acting fratty Rusty does his best to instill the history, importance, and his love of Kappa Tau Gamma.  Oh yeah, and Rusty mistakenly severs the toe of a new member.

Calvin is struggling with the coming out process of his boyfriend Grant (a fellow Omega Chi brother) and when it is revealed that he is unable to come out to the rest of their brothers Calvin ends their relationship.

All chapters unite to attend a benefit ball for the Gamma Psi Sorority to raise funds for a new chapter house.  Grant (dressed as Prince Charming) shows up to surprise Calvin.  He has decided that he’s ready to take that big step…or rather a two step and asks Calvin to dance.  The two take the stage at the ball and dance together as their brothers look on and eventually join them on the floor with their dates.  Casey confesses to Cappie that she started the fire at the Gamma Psi house and the two share a dance.

There are a few teachable moments in this episode (and that’s why I LOVE this show) there are always great clips you can utilize as student affairs professional.  First, it’s essential to recognize each person’s accomplishments in a group so that they know they are appreciated.  The KT’s spend most of the episode lamenting the loss of their three expelled brothers but fail to recognize the talent that is still in their brotherhood.  Second, truth is an essential part of all relationships.  As difficult as it may be to tell our loved ones (or brothers/sisters) the truth it is a fundamental element of relationship building and integrity.   Without truth things can disintegrate.  Finally, as a new member educator one should absolutely, never, ever, carry a meat clever with them (or any sharp instruments for that matter).  A quick look at your organization’s risk management policy will help keep all members (and their appendages) safe!