Fraternity Hazing

www.stophazing.org  is a great website, that works to educate readers to stop hazing, not just in fraternities, but in all realms of life. Below is a blurb from their landing page. We encourage all collegians and alumnae to check out the website, and sign the petition to stop hazing!!!

When most people hear the term "hazing" it conjures up images of fraternities. In reality however, hazing occurs in many arenas including fraternities and sororities, the military, athletic teams and student organizations (like marching bands) at both the high school and collegiate levels. Many believe that hazing in fraternities and in general is nothing more than silly antics and harmless pranks like those remembered from the 1980s hit comedy Animal House. The realities of hazing are dramatically different than the humorous images many people associate with the term. Hazing is an abuse of power that can have debilitating and life-threatening consequences. According to the research presented by Hank Nuwer (1990), journalist and author of several books related to hazing, hazing has been associated with more than 50 deaths in college fraternities and countless more physical injuries including paralysis, not to mention the devastating emotional effects that can result for so many young men and women.

More Information: Links Directory on Fraternity Hazing.

Eileen Stevens, a mother (and now grandmother) from New York lost her eldest son Chuck Stenzel in 1978 when he was a victim of hazing at Klan Alpine, a fraternity at Alfred University. One evening, the older fraternity brothers came to the dorms to pick up pledges (including Chuck who was a strong athletic young man) and bring them back to the fraternity house for a party. That night, Chuck died and the coroner told Ms. Stevens that the cause was alcohol poisoning. The fraternity and the university refused to accept responsibility or provide a thorough investigation. Incredulous, Eileen set out to investigate on her own. Over the next few weeks and months, Stevens refused to give up her quest to find out the truth. While she was stonewalled at nearly every turn by the institution and the fraternity, witnesses eventually came forward to share details of the night's events. Eventually, Eileen had a much clearer picture of what had happened to her son that fateful night. As it turned out, Chuck and two other pledges were locked in the trunk of a car and were allegedly given a pint of Jack Daniels, a 6-pack of beer and a quart of wine and was told to consume it all by the time the car stopped. Later, the pledges were coerced to drink even more at the fraternity house until many passed out. 

When Chuck passed out, he was carried upstairs and left on a mattress where he ceased breathing soon afterward (Adapted from Broken Pledges, Nuwer 1990).
Eileen Steven's story is not the only one of such tragic proportions. Far too many parents have been awakened in the night to receive the devastating news of the loss of their child to hazing. For example, many are familiar with the devastating death of Scott Krueger a promising young freshman who died of alcohol poisoning while pledging a fraternity at MIT in the Fall of 1997. That same year, Binaya Oja died of alcohol poisoning while pledging a fraternity at Clarkson University and in 1992 Jonathan McNamara was killed after falling from a cliff while participating in a pledge outing. Tragically, these are not the only incidents of this kind. The most up-to-date and comprehensive account of such tragedies is summarized in Wrongs of Passage (1999).

The story of Eileen Stevens and her son Chuck is familiar to some as it was detailed in the book and subsequent television movie Broken Pledges. The story describes Eileen's courageous battle to uncover the true cause of her son's death and to educate others about the realities of hazing. Stevens' tenacity in the face of such tragedy--her refusal to accept the notion that the fraternity had no responsibility for her son's death--resulted in a host of controversy and public attention to the issue. Her efforts to educate and eliminate such dangerous traditions eventually led to the passage of an anti-hazing law in the state of NY. Eileen's anger and grief were channeled, at least in part, to her amazing public awareness campaign that began in the state of NY and eventually spanned the country. Eileen's compassion influenced thousands of lives as she told her story to student groups, university staff, faculty and administrators at hundreds of campuses as well as national meetings of fraternities and sororities over a 20-year period.

One of the most commonly asked questions about hazing in fraternities is why do young men and women participate in such horrific and life-threatening activities just to belong to a group? This seems like a reasonable question--but it reveals the lack of understanding about the dynamics of the hazing process. For example, many states that have passed legislation to prohibit hazing have recognized that the intensity of the peer pressure prevents hazing victims from providing true consent to participate in the activities in question. Additionally, many prospective members don't realize and are not informed of what the pledging process and hazing will entail because this information is shrouded in secrecy by the brotherhood. This, combined with the increasing severity of the hazing over the weeks and months of the pledging process places the pledge in a very vulnerable position and hence, more susceptible to victimization. Compounding these dynamics in fraternities and other male groups is the desire for the pledge or prospective member to "be tough," "stick it out" etc. and prove his masculinity rather than risk being identified as a wimp or sissy.

What Can Communities do to Prevent Domestic Violence?

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• Expand education and awareness efforts to increase positive attitudes toward nonviolence and encourage individuals to report family violence.
• Form or task forces to assess the problem, develop an action plan, and monitor progress.
• Mandate training in domestic violence for all social services and criminal justice professionals.
• Advocate laws and judicial procedures at the state and local levels that support and protect battered women.
• Establish centers where visits between batterers and their children may be supervised, for the children's safety.
• Fund shelters adequately.
• Recruit and train volunteers to staff hotlines, accompany victims to court, and provide administrative support to shelters and victim services.
• Improve collection of child support.
• Establish medical protocols to help physicians and other health care personnel identify and help victims of domestic abuse.
• Provide legal representation for victims of domestic violence.
• Advocate for the accessibility of services for all population groups, especially underserved populations which include immigrants and refugees, gays and lesbians, racial and ethnic minorities and the disabled.

Adapted from: "Preventing Violence Against Women: Not Just A Women's Issue," the National Crime Prevention Council, 1995. 

information found here

Teasing, Bulling and Hazing.. and educational video

What is a Safety Plan?

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Every individual in an abusive relationship needs a safety plan. Shelters and crisis counselors have been urging safety plans for years, and police departments, victim services, hospitals, and courts have adopted this strategy. Safety plans should be individualized -- for example, taking account of age, marital status, whether children are involved, geographic location, and resources available -- but still contain common elements.

When creating a safety plan:

• Think about all possible escape routes. Doors, first-floor windows, basement exits, elevators, stairwells. Rehearse if possible.
• Choose a place to go. To the home of a friend or relative who will offer unconditional support, or a motel or hotel, or a shelter - most importantly somewhere you will feel safe.
• Pack a survival kit. Money for cab fare, a change of clothes, extra house and car keys, birth certificates, passports, medications and copies of prescriptions, insurance information, checkbook, credit cards, legal documents such as separation agreements and protection orders, address books, and valuable jewelry, and papers that show jointly owned assets. Conceal it in the home or leave it with a trusted neighbor, friend, or relative. Important papers can also be left in a bank deposit box.
• Try to start an individual savings account. Have statements sent to a trusted relative or friend.
• Avoid arguments with the abuser in areas with potential weapons. Kitchen, garage, or in small spaces without access to an outside door.
• Know the telephone number of the domestic violence hotline. Contact it for information on resources and legal rights.
• Review the safety plan monthly.

Adapted from: "Preventing Domestic Violence" by Laura Crites in Prevention Communique, March 1992, Crime Prevention Division, Department of the Attorney General, Hawaii.

information found here

a little Beta Eta Holiday love....

 The new member class of 2010, and soon to be alumnae initiate and two time Beta Eta mom, Mrs. Corso, decorate the house for the holidays! The house director provided cider, and Christmas music for the occasion!

Beta Eta Sister Urgently Needs Our Help

Dear Beta Eta Sisters,

We have a sister from pledge class '97 in dire need of our help. Due to her extreme circumstances she would like to remain anonymous, but she lives in a northern state that gets a lot of snow, and she is without the funds or resources to supply herself with some of the very basic necessities including winter clothing, toiletries, and money for medical needs. She recently had some truly horrifying things happen including a car accident that has resulted in her becoming a Traumatic Brain Injury Survivor also suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

Initially she was very hesitant to share her situation with me, but I reassured her that we have sisters out there who would be willing to do whatever they could to assist. She agreed to let this be shared with you, knowing that we would not reveal anything she was uncomfortable sharing. Believe me, I cried when I read her emails and cannot for the life of me understand how one woman can endure so much in such a short period of time and still remain so optimistic, but she is certainly a Real. Strong. Woman. - and I admire her now more than ever.

So, before your gift-giving money runs out please consider our sister in need. I cannot think of anything more in the spirit of the season than helping one of our own. Even the smallest gesture makes a huge difference.

Here's how you can help:

Donate funds via PayPal and we will send that money directly to her.

Thank you so much, ladies. Your assistance in any way is tremendous and greatly appreciated.

LITB,
Jessica Harwood Bouwsma
President, Xi Omega Xi Virtual Alumnae Chapter for Beta Etas

Myths About Family Violence

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• Myth:Family violence is rare...
  
  • Although statistics on family violence are not precise, it's clear that millions of children, women and even men are abused physically by family members and other intimates.
  • Myth:Family violence is confined to the lower classes...
  • Reports from police records, victim services, and academic studies show domestic violence exists equally in every socioeconomic group, regardless of race or culture.
  • Myth:Alcohol and drug abuse are the real causes of violence in the home...
  • Because many male batterers also abuse alcohol and other drugs, it's easy to conclude that these substances may cause domestic violence. They apparently do increase the lethality of the violence, but they also offer the batterer another excuse to evade responsibility for his behavior. The abusive man -- and men are the abusers in the overwhelming majority of domestic violence incidents -- typically controls his actions, even when drunk or high, by choosing a time and place for the assaults to take place in private and go undetected. In addition, successful completion of a drug treatment program does not guarantee an end to battering. Domestic violence and substance abuse are two different problems that should be treated separately.
  • Myth:Battered wives like being hit, otherwise they would leave...
  • The most common response to battering-- "Why doesn't she just leave?"-- ignores economic and social realities facing many women. Shelters are often full, and family, friends, and the workplace are frequently less than fully supportive. Faced with rent and utility deposits, day care, health insurance, and other basic expenses, the woman may feel that she cannot support herself and her children. Moreover, in some instances, the woman may be increasing the chance of physical harm or even death if she leaves an abusive spouse.

Adapted from:: "Preventing Violence Against Women, Not Just a Women's Issue," National Crime Prevention Council, 1995.

 information from here

Who Are the Victims?

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• Women were attacked about six times more often by offenders with whom they had an intimate relationship than were male violence victims.
• Nearly 30 percent of all female homicide victims were known to have been killed by their husbands, former husbands or boyfriends.
• In contrast, just over 3 percent of male homicide victims were known to have been killed by their wives, former wives or girlfriends.
• Husbands, former husbands, boyfriends and ex-boyfriends committed more than one million violent acts against women.
• Family members or other people they knew committed more than 2.7 million violent crimes against women.
• Husbands, former husbands, boyfriends and ex-boyfriends committed 26 percent of rapes and sexual assaults.
• Forty-five percent of all violent attacks against female victims 12 years old and older by multiple offenders involve offenders they know.
• The rate of intimate-offender attacks on women separated from their husbands was about three times higher than that of divorced women and about 25 times higher than that of married women.
• Women of all races were equally vulnerable to attacks by intimates.
• Female victims of violence were more likely to be injured when attacked by someone they knew than female victims of violence who were attacked by strangers.

information found here

The Positive Side of Joining a Sorority or Fraternity

article from associatedcontent.com

by: Amanda Sposato, Jan 24, 2007 

Based on the portrayal of sororities and fraternities in movies such as "Animal House" and television shows such as MTV's "Sorority Life", it wouldn't be a surprise that a parent sending

their child off to college for the first time may send them with a big anti-Greek message: Don't join up with one of those organizations. Based on the media, you can't blame parents for being worried.

When I started college, I swore I would never join a sorority. I'd fallen into the trap of believing everything I'd heard, from hazing horror stories to the high cost of being part of these groups. Besides, I wasn't sorority material. I'd never been the popular girl, nor was I even the pretty one. Yes, I went to college with a great many judgments, but sorority and fraternity life had never been portrayed to me as anything but a big party that only those higher up on the social ladder were a part of.

In my first year of college, I found out that I wasn't completely right about the whole thing. As a founding member of my own sorority, I was given the chance to mingle with other Greek organizations on my small college campus as well as sororities from other colleges in the state. What I found was quite surprising to me. Fraternities and sororities weren't all bad. Granted, there were a few stereotypes that were met quite well. They did throw some good parties after all. But my predetermined impression was all but shattered and I spent my college career reaping the benefits of being in a sorority.

To any parent worried about their student joining a fraternity or a sorority, or to any college student unsure if a Greek organization is for them, the following is a list of the positive benefits of joining. You won't see these on a movie or a reality show, but they are just as real and can make for a great college experience.

Shedding a voice on Domestic Violence..

Watch Christina Aguilera's video for her song "Oh Mother," a tribute to her mother's courage as a survivor of domestic violence.

BH all "dressed up" & decorated for the holidays

The house is beginning to look a lot like Christmas, and Hanukkah. The new member class of 2010 joined together to decorate the house for the holiday season.  The house director, Marie provided Holiday Music, warm cider, and snacks... Photos from outside the house will be posted soon!

Alpha Chi elected to VP Public Relations on FSU Panhellenic

Beta Eta's own Whitney Payne was elected and installed as the 2011 Panhellenic Vice President of Public Relations for Florida State Universities Panhellenic!  The chapter could not be more proud.

You can send her a congratulations card at
Alpha Chi Omega
518 West Park Avenue
Tallahassee, Fl 32301
attn: Whitney Payne

GO NOLES!!!!

In lieu of a DVA post.. today I encourage all Beta Eta's to turn on their TV's and cheer on our beloved Noles vs University of Florida...

National Coalition Against Domestic Violence.. -protecting your identity

Check out their site here 

They offer a great deal of information.. We found the protecting your identity helpful.. and it offers great tips we can all use...

Identity theft is rampant in the United States.  Survivors of domestic violence must take extra precautions to proect themselves from abusers who use identity as a means of power and control.  Abusers may use survivors' credit cards without their permission, open fradulent new credit cards in survivors' names (ultimately ruining their credit) or open credit cards in children's names.  Misuse of survivors' social security numbers is also common in the context of domestic violence.  Abusers may fradulently use survivors' social security numbers to stalk, harass or threaten survivors.  Read more to learn how to protect yourself if you are experiencing this type of abuse.

Survivors experiencing abuse should contact their local domestic violence program for immediate support.  Check your local yellow pages or call the National Domestic Violence Hotline (operated by the Texas Council on Family Violence) at 1-800-799-SAFE to be connected to the program in your area.

Steps to Take to Protect Your Identity

¨     Relocate.  Moving across town, across the state or across the country puts physical distance between you and the abuser.  Be sure to obtain an unlisted phone number and be aware of the Full Faith and Credit provisions in your restraining order, which make the order valid when you travel to another state or tribal jurisdiction.
¨     Apply to the address confidentiality program in your state.  These types of programs allow individuals who have experienced domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking or other types of crime to receive mail at a confidential address, while keeping their actual address undisclosed.  Rules and eligibility vary from state to state.  Click here to see a list of address confidentiality programs in states across the country.

¨     Open a post office box to receive mail.  Abusers may be able to open fraudulent credit cards by responding to credit card offers received in the mail.  A post office box may prevent this if only you have access to it.  Be wary of the confidentiality policies of non-government post office box centers such as Mail Boxes, Etc…and the fact that it may not be possible to remain anonymous in rural towns while accessing the post office.

¨     Protect your incoming and outgoing mail.  Shred all credit card offers that come in the mail along with other documents that have your name, address and/or social security number on them.  Mail bills and other sensitive documents directly from the post office instead of from the mailbox on your porch or at the end of your driveway.  Call 1-800-5OPT-OUT to stop receiving credit card offers in the mail.

¨     Guard your social security number.  Do not use your social security number as a general ID, PIN or password.  Request to have your social security number removed from documents you receive in the mail and ID cards for health insurance, driving, work, etc…  Click here to read about changing your social security number.

¨     Check your credit report.  The best way to determine if someone has committed fraud against you is to check your credit report with all three credit bureaus at least once per year.  Visit www.annualcreditreport.com to obtain a free yearly credit report.  You can also make a request to have a fraud alert placed on your credit report.  Click here to find out how to contact the credit bureaus.

¨     Report suspected fraud.  Contact local law enforcement if you know of or suspect fraud and ask to file a report.  Check and/or close accounts you believe have been tampered.  File a report with the Federal Trade Commission at 1-877-ID-THEFT and the Social Security Administration Fraud Hotline at 1-800-269-0271.  File copies of police reports with credit bureaus. 

¨     Protect information you give out.  Never give any identifying information over the phone or through email or the internet unless you initiated the call or have verification that the website or email communication is secure.

Other Helpful Websites:

Privacy Rights Clearinghouse: Nonprofit Consumer Information and Advocacy Organization: www.privacyrights.org

Identity Theft Resource Center: www.idtheftcenter.org

Federal Trade Commission: www.consumer.gov/idtheft/

The National Center for Victims of Crime: www.ncvc.org

US Department of Justice: www.usdoj.gov/criminal/fraud/idtheft.html       

The Silent Secret

Carolyn Cox spoke at the Foundation Luncheon during Alpha Chi Omega's 2008 Convention.
She has since launced her website, Carolyn, the Silent Secret. Click here to visit.  She has a video on you tube, which can be viewed below. It is truly an amazing story.. 

Alumnae Spotlight: Joanna Quraishi

Joanna was initiated into Beta Eta in the fall of 2003 . During her time as a Beta Eta, she served as Philanthropy Chair, VP Membership Development, participated in Dance Marathon, and wrote the skit for Alpha Chi Omega's recruitment with AXO sister Sarah Howell. She was also a member of the Honors college and Order of Omega. Joanna graduated Magna Cum Laude in 2007 with a BA in English (Creative Writing) and a minor in Psychology. Joanna is one of several Beta Etas in her family. Her stepmom, Lisa Brock, was a Beta Eta in the late 70s, and her younger sister, Cheyenne Overby, was a new member in the fall of 2006.

After graduation, Joanna moved to Los Angeles, where she'd interned the previous summer for Jimmy Kimmel Live (and lived with sorority sister and friend Erin Price, NM 01). She took a job on The Ellen DeGeneres Show in June 2007 and worked there for three years as a writers' assistant until the summer of 2010 when she left to pursue a career in scripted television. She can be seen in reruns of the Ellen DeGeneres Show doing various silly things from demonstrating the Shake Weight to giving George Lopez a massage. Joanna currently lives in Los Angeles with sorority sister (NM '04) Brittany Canasi.

Most recently, Joanna entered a contest to win a job as a vitamin company's Good Mood Blogger. She's remained consistently in the Top 20, and if chosen, will be Nature-Made Sam-E Complete's Good Mood Blogger for 6 months. The competition is vote-based, and today is the final day to vote for round 1. Please support a fellow Beta Eta by clicking this link and voting for Joanna: click here

Collegiate Homecoming Update

Last week was a CRAZY busy week for the collegiate chapter, full of homecoming festivities... The week began with WarChant, the Chilli Cook off (the chapter placed 3rd) and a concert by Ludacris. On Monday, members participated in a blood drive, and Spear-it night. Tuesday, the chapter participated in skit night with their pairing Phi Delta Theta. Wednesday was the Seminole Festival and Garnet and Gold Gala (attended by some members). Thursday, members participated in Renegade recess. Friday, members enjoyed a half day of classes, the homecoming parade and Pow-Wow.

Pictures will be added soon... so be sure to check back

Saturday, the chapter attended the tailgate with their pairing Phi Delta Theta, and of course the Football game.

Sunday, the chapter welcomed alumnae home for a brunch and then enjoyed some downtime before Chapter, and slating for elections!!!

The Right Questions of Relevance

Below article, as published in the Association of Fraternity and Sorority Advisors Essentials E-Newsletter. Essentials is a monthly educational e-newsletter provided to AFA members to learn about a variety of topics. The Essentials Editorial Board plays an important role in the Association’s Strategic Plan and ongoing efforts to provide excellent resources and services to members. If you like the article below, you should consider subscribing to Essentials for $45 per year.

by:John Shertzer, Leadership Ventures
August 2009

Questioning the relevance of fraternities and sororities is a powerful approach for catalyzing change. We, as members and advocates for fraternal organizations, should always be concerned with relevance. However, exploring this topic is not without its dangers.

When examining fraternal relevance we need to add the question, “Relevant to what?” A thing cannot just be relevant on its own. Fraternal organizations can ask if they are relevant to any of the following: their members, their future members, and the growth of society. Our relevancy to institutions of higher education should also be considered, but this is far less important than the others.

Take first, the question of whether or not we are relevant to our current members (both undergraduates and alumni). We do not exist without our members, and they will only stay invested if they find their organizations to still be relevant to their lives.  Are we contributing something to their lives that would not otherwise exist? Are we making our members better? Are we instilling transformational values?  Are we developing their leadership capacity? Are we providing them with a band of brothers/sisters that pushes them to be more than they otherwise would be? The ideal fraternal experience should grow an individual in all of these areas – but that assumes all men/women start their journey at the same developmental place. Of course, this is not the case. To borrow a baseball analogy, if our goal is to help young men/women reach home plate, we should remember that some start on third base, while others are only in the batter’s box. In addition, many will not reach home plate until they are alumni. Regardless, the relevant fraternity can demonstrate that the individuals who took the oath of membership were changed in a positive and substantial way.

What about future members? We are membership-based organizations, and thus, the greatest determinant of our sustainability is our relevancy to future generations. Colleges and universities could tell us to go away tomorrow, yet we could survive if unaffiliated men and women still saw us as relevant. Is this not how many NPHC organizations are able to grow their rosters significantly outside of the walls of higher education? To determine our relevance to future members, fraternities and sororities need to ask the following question: Do we offer a choice to men and women that is so compelling and so unique, that they feel something will be missing from their lives without it? A fraternal organization that can answer this question in the affirmative can then build a confident recruitment plan. 

If we can achieve relevance to our members and future members, is that enough? Not quite. We do exist within a larger entity, and thus, we must ask ourselves if we are meeting the needs of that entity. You may be thinking this entity is higher education. I would look beyond higher education and see our “host” as society at large.

We have been connected to colleges and universities since our founding, and it would be foolish to ignore that relationship. However, I think it is fair to wonder if we would have come about even if colleges and universities never existed. If our values are timeless, our lessons are transcendent, and our fellowships are lifelong, I believe society would have found a way for us to exist regardless. Our connection to colleges and universities brought about the Greek letters that give many of our organizations identity and has always provided us with the opportunity for more academic discourse. We are stronger organizations because of the resources provided to us by colleges and universities. In addition, since we draw almost exclusively from college student populations, we would not be fulfilling our relevancy to our members if we did not help them achieve their scholarly goals. 

In our earliest beginnings – starting with Phi Beta Kappa at William and Mary – we were founded to add something that was not available elsewhere. The men who started this movement, which eventually would lead to the Union Triad and Miami Triad, did not ask permission from their institutions to exist (Anson & Marchesani, 1991). Neither did the women who bravely followed suit some years later. The idea of fraternity was such a powerful idea that, like the inalienable rights for which our nation’s revolutionaries fought, this idea deserved a right to exist. I wonder if we have forgotten this and have fallen victim to the idea that we have to continuously justify our existence. Our right to exist is defined by whether we are still relevant to our members and the larger society. With all due respect to colleges and universities, who give us so much, it cannot be truly up to them to decide. They can make it far more difficult for us to exist, which is why we nurture the relationship.

Ask yourself if you believe a fraternity or sorority to be just a part of a college or university, or if you believe a fraternity or sorority to have its own place in the world? Belief in the former is a belief that we go wherever colleges and universities wish to take us. Belief in the latter is a belief that we go wherever our purpose allows. Our organizations are one of the greatest social inventions in human history, deserve to exist at no one’s behest but our own, and will persevere as long as our purpose, our members, and society want us to exist. 

The tension between fraternities and their “host institutions” has always been present (as demonstrated by the Great Snowball Rebellion of 1847) (Anson & Marchesani, 1991). This tension, if managed and balanced, actually helps both sides. In some ways, fraternal organizations provide colleges with a “voice of the people” and colleges challenge fraternities to raise their standards. This tension is becoming increasingly imbalanced in favor of higher education. Much of this started with the work of the Franklin Square Group, in which fraternities and sororities gave far too much away to college/university presidents. Ever since then, umbrella organizations have been reacting to the demands of presidents, all the while asking for very little in return. By allowing that group to affect so much, and to take the reigns on the discourse, we may have betrayed our founders by implicitly asking for permission to exist.

Simply by asking the question of whether or not we are relevant to our host institutions, we are positing the possibility that we are not. We are falsely expressing that we might not matter. We do matter – now more than ever.

I do not propose that we fight against institutions of higher education whenever we can. We should do everything we can to build a bridge, since that will ultimately benefit our members and make us stronger. However, we should be careful to tie our relevance (and thus our destiny) to institutions that did not really want us to exist in the first place. What can we give our members? What can we give our future members? What can we give our society? Those are the questions of relevancy we were meant to answer.

References
Anson, J., & Marchesani, R. (Eds.). (1991). Baird’s manual of American college fraternities. Indianapolis, IN; Baird’s Manual Foundation, Inc.

Light the Night!

The Beta Eta Collegians will walk with their team in Light the Night on Veteran's Day.

As a fundraiser, they will be wearing banana suits, sundae suits and serving ice cream (and taking tips) on THURSDAY, November 4th, at the Brusters on 1709 W Tharpe St, Tallahassee

PLEASE, stop by between 7:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. to buy some ice cream and help support Light the Night.

Yummmm: Bruster's Flavors!

http://www.brusters.com/flavors.asp

Domestic Violence Awareness ..

Countdown to the 1st Annual Lucky Stars Reunion Weekend!

Countdown to the 1st Annual Lucky Stars Reunion Weekend!

1st Annual Lucky Stars Reunion Weekend

FRIDAY

* Potbellys- $20
• Meet anytime after 11:00AM on the patio at Potbellys.
• Parade begins at 2:00pm.

* Talk n Tours- FREE! 3:00-5:00pm at the Beta Eta House
• Come for house tours and to learn more about Xi Omega Xi.
• Be entered into a raffle for a free membership (or renewal) for stopping in!
• If you wanted to add any XOX weekend event, you may register here.

* Decade Waltz- $25
• Meet at 9:00pm at Bullwinkles and then we will be visiting Ken’s, Red Rocks (the old Big Daddys), Tomahawk Sports Bar, Lower Lounge, and end again at Bullwinkles.

SATURDAY

* Tailgate- $20
• Final location to be published. Starting at 12:00pm.
• Wear XOX shirts!
• Bring your own chair, warpaint, and games to share!
• $20 payment includes beer, snacks, and XOX cup.

* Football Game
• Game starts at 3:30pm.
• Tickets purchased with the XOX block may be picked up at the tailgate.

SUNDAY

* Brunch- FREE!
• Come to the house 10:00am-12:00pm for brunch, reconnect with sisters, and to learn more about Xi Omega Xi.
• Be entered into a raffle for a free membership (or renewal) for stopping in!

All weekend we will be selling raffle tickets for a Faith Hope Love necklace. All proceeds will benefit the Beta Eta Love & Loyalty Fund. $1 for one ticket; $5 for 6 tickets; or $10 for 15 tickets.



Weather Report: Be sure to check www.weather.com for the most up-to-date weather information for Tallahassee! Looks like it’s going to be chilly!

We are so excited and cannot wait to see you!!

The latest? Shirts are at the printers!!

Best Fraternities For Future CEOs

Davide Dukcevich, 01.31.03, 12:00 PM ET
article originally posted on forbes.com 

NEW YORK - Don't be surprised if you see your company directors exchanging secret handshakes at the next board meeting. After all, about a quarter of all chief executives on the Forbes Super 500 list of America's largest corporations were members of college fraternities.

Despite what movies such as Animal House suggest, fraternities and sororities are more than just freshman rush and beer busts. The social skills that help students gain admittance into the Greek system are the same aptitudes that can later give them a leg-up in corporate climbing. Plus, once they've graduated, they can tap into the network of past fraternity brothers or sisters who litter all tiers of corporate America.

Big Companies, Old School Ties
These are the ten-largest American companies with fraternity members at the helm. Click on the CEO names for their profiles.

Forbes 500 Rank Company CEO Fraternity
1 Citigroup (nyse: C - news - people ) Sanford Weill Alpha Epsilon Pi
4 American International Group (nyse: AIG - news - people ) Maurice Greenberg Sigma Alpha Mu
12 J.P. Morgan Chase (nyse: JPM - news - people ) William B. Harrison Jr. Zeta Psi
19 Goldman Sachs (nyse: GS - news - people ) Henry Paulson Sigma Alpha Epsilon
21 Procter & Gamble (nyse: PG - news - people ) Alan Lafley Psi Upsilon
24 Wachovia (nyse: WB - news - people ) G. Kennedy Thompson Beta Theta Pi
25 Berkshire Hathaway (nyse: BRKa - news - people ) Warren Buffett Alpha Sigma Phi
27 Home Depot (nyse: HD - news - people ) Robert Nardelli Tau Kappa Epsilon
28 BellSouth (nyse: BLS - news - people ) F. Duane Ackerman Lambda Chi Alpha
29 General Motors (nyse: GM - news - people ) G. Richard Wagoner Delta Tau Delta
Data from The North-American Interfraternity Conference and Forbes
The numbers certainly seem to back this theory up. A mere 8.5% of full-time university undergraduates are members of either a fraternity or a sorority. Not only have fraternities been the breeding ground of those 120 Forbes 500s chief executive officers, they also have spawned 48% of all U.S. presidents, 42% of U.S. senators, 30% of U.S. congressmen, and 40% of U.S. Supreme Court justices, according to data from The North-American Interfraternity Conference.

Best Fraternities For Future CEOs
Fraternity Members Who Are Forbes 500s CEOs
Beta Theta Pi 11
Sigma Alpha Epsilon 9
Sigma Chi 9
Lambda Chi Alpha 8
Alpha Tau Omega 7

Wachovia CEO G. Kennedy Thompson said that Beta Theta Pi, which he joined while an undergrad at the University of North Carolina, gave him "the opportunity to meet people from different backgrounds and places, and the connections have continued beyond my university years to my business life."

He is also a member of the fraternity that produced the most CEOs among the biggest 500 companies in the country. Beta Theta Pi can boast of 11 such CEOs, Sigma Alpha Epsilon and Sigma Chi are tied in second at nine, Lamba Chi Alpha has eight, and Alpha Tau Omega seven.

Commit to Help End Domestic Violence

Domestic Violence Awareness Month is almost over but our commitment continues.

Domestic violence and relationship abuse are serious social problems. Join our national Alpha Chi Omega effort and take a stance against these issues by signing the pledge. Together we can bring hope to many around the world by revealing what’s broken…and showing what’s Real.


Your Commitment

I have the right to be treated with respect.

To know me will be to experience a voice that is respectful.

I recognize that relationship abuse is a problem and commit to stand strong in the courage of my convictions. I will not be silent.

I pledge to educate myself and others about the causes and forms of domestic violence.

I will talk with my friends, family and loved ones about healthy relationships.

I will lead by example and teach that strength, confidence, and worth come from within. On the one hand, I will inspire. In turn, I will be inspired.

I commit to helping build a community that does not tolerate violence.

I acknowledge that all people deserve to live in a safe and loving environment.

I accept the challenge to become part of the solution. Ending domestic violence starts with me.

Alumnae Spotlight: YOU!

We’ve all been there. We all lived it. And we still love it! Beta Eta lives in our hearts, memories, and lives and we’ve created this cup as an expression of that commitment to Beta Eta through Xi Omega Xi. This cup will have its debut at the Homecoming weekend event at the Parade Viewing Party at Potbellys on Friday and again at the XOX Tailgate on Saturday.

Check out the "Homecoming 2010" tab above for the link to the registration form for the 1st Annual Lucky Stars Reunion November 5-7 to order shirts, coozies, or participate in our events. Please fill it out and return to axofloridastate@gmail.com. Spouses, friends, and guests are welcome to join in the fun too.

If you’d like to purchase additional cups, they will be available at the Homecoming events and all future XOX events. Look for future posts on how to purchase outside of events and have these goodies shipped right to your door.

Fall Formal... (french inspired)

This past weekend the chapter celebrated their fall formal, at the local Chez Pierre Restaurant and bar. The event was french themed complete with favors. The ladies took a bus from the chapter house to the venue, where they enjoyed live music/DJ, drinks and food. The event promises to me memorable for all those who attended

Did you go to Florida State in the “Glory Days”?

According to the following article, “Florida State Moving Back Toward Glory Days -- Will Bigger Crowds Follow?” Don’t miss your opportunity to be at the Homecoming game of the season that Florida State is moving back up the polls to gain their seat on the top.

Click on this link for the registration form for the 1st Annual Lucky Stars Reunion to order shirts, coozies, or participate in our events. Please fill it out and return to axofloridastate@gmail.com. Register today to let us know you'll be in town and we'd love to see you on Friday at Potbelly's for the Homecoming Parade or in the evening for the "Decades Waltz" at various local venues including Bullwinkles. Saturday includes the XOX Tailgate at the intramural fields and Seminole football game. Brunch will be hosted at the Beta Eta house on Sunday. Don't miss one or all of these events. Register Today!! Spouses, friends, and guests are welcome to join in the fun too.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Originally posted on October 16. 2010 on http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Good times have returned to Florida State, and it appears the Seminoles' fans have started to return, too.

For the first time in six home games dating back to last season, FSU eclipsed the 70,000 mark at Doak Campbell Stadium for Saturday's exciting 24-19 victory over Boston College.

A fashionably late-arriving crowd of 75,301 filed into the stadium for the sun-drenched noon kickoff. The crowd wasn't as big at kickoff (pictured above) but it arrived in time to watch the Seminoles finish with their fifth consecutive victory to become bowl eligible and take another step toward an Atlantic Coast Conference championship.

Fannies in the seats have plenty of other reasons to cheer.

No. 16 FSU is the highest-ranked team in the Sunshine State for the first time in five years, and the lone ACC representative in the Associated Press Top 25. The Seminoles are 4-0 at home for the first time since 2005, when they last won an ACC title. They improved to 6-1 on the season and 4-0 in the ACC, equaling their best league start since 2003 when they clinched their 10th league title in 11 years.

Happy trails are here again? Well, let's just say the Seminoles are at least on the right trail.

The heavily favored Seminoles couldn't shake the pesky Eagles, however. They overcame four turnovers by battered and bruised quarterback Christian Ponder, who suffered a ruptured bursa sac in his right throwing elbow and showed for post-game interviews with his arm in a sling, and needed Bert Reed's 42-yard touchdown run on a reverse in the fourth quarter to snap their two-game losing streak against the conference's northern-most member.

"Like I've said before, we have not arrived. We have a long way to go as a football team and we have a lot of mistakes we have to get ironed out," FSU head coach Jimbo Fisher said.

"But I did see a football team that would compete, it stayed together, it didn't panic, that made enough plays to win a game. Sometimes great seasons are made on games that you can scratch, crawl, fight and find a way to pull one out. But we have a long way to go."

Fisher and the Seminoles, however, are appreciative that their fans finally appear to be along for the ride.

The decline in FSU's home attendance can be traced to 2008, when the program saw a dip in both season tickets and average home attendance. As recently of 2004, every home game for the Seminoles drew 80,000 or more fans. The single-game record is 84,347 for the 2005 game against Miami.

"Sometimes great seasons are made on games that you can scratch, crawl, fight and find a way to pull one out. But we have a long way to go."
-- FSU coach Jimbo Fisher

A number of factors have been pinpointed as culprits.

There's the poor economy. There's the hot Panhandle weather. There's the lengthy round-trip drive to Tallahassee. Even the early ho-hum home schedule -- Samford, BYU and Wake Forest -- and early game starting times have been cited.

Reality stunned the Seminoles on Sept. 25, when just 61,647 tickets were distributed for the 82,000-plus capacity stadium against Wake Forest. That was the lowest attendance for an FSU home game since 1992, when the stadium's capacity was barely more than 70,000.

"I think there was shock," FSU associate athletic director Rob Wilson told FanHouse as he watched the final seconds tick off the scoreboard on Saturday.

"I think the fans that were here were shocked. Certainly the administration was shocked and I know our players were shocked by how small the crowd was for Wake Forest. I think that probably woke everybody up, including the season ticket holders who sat home for that game and said, 'We have to get out there.' And this team in particular seems really responsive to the crowd."

Road victories at Virginia and Miami last Saturday helped build much-needed momentum for the Seminoles. While FSU's effort might be considered a disappointingly flat performance after a statement victory over the Hurricanes, there were smiles instead of frowns as the Seminoles headed toward their locker room.

Applause filled the air.

"I've seen it all," FSU senior defensive end Markus White told FanHouse.

"I've seen the total opposite of (Saturday) and I've seen sellouts. It's a big difference. When you can hear and can't hear, it's a big difference for the opponents as well. ... it's always a wonderful thing when you have somebody behind your back."

FSU needed the support.

Ponder completed just 19 of 31 passes for 170 yards and three interceptions. He also fumbled once. However, the Seminoles' trio of tailbacks -- Jermaine Thomas, Ty Jones and Chris Thompson -- combined for 104 yards on 25 carries and FSU's offense held possession for the final 8:04 of the game.

FSU's defense also managed to slow down the junior BC tailback Montel Harris when it counted, holding him to only 23 yards in the second half after he ran for 168 in the first half. The unit, which came into the game leading the nation in sacks with 26, added four more against the Eagles.

Winning makes everyone's life easier.

Off next Saturday, three of FSU's five remaining games are at home -- North Carolina, Clemson and state rival Florida. That game, for all intent and purposes, is already sold out.

"It's a blessing," defensive back Greg Reid said of the home crowd. "We just kind of want to have fun. We feel like Tallahassee needs it, and that's why we are working hard."

Florida State Attendance

Year	Avg. Attendance	Season Tickets
2000	80,831	45,927
2001	81,441	46,817
2002	81,706	47,441
2003	83,149	46,738
2004	82,841	46,647
2005	82,784	45,818
2006	80,594	46,098
2007	80,603	46,238
2008	77,968	43,606
2009	74,345	38,964

The Brees Standard

This was originally posted on Fraternal Thoughts blog.. and we just had to share.. Drew is truly a great role model on and off the field.

In 1884, a man named Isaac Jordan addressed a convention of the fraternity he founded - Sigma Chi - and laid out his beliefs for what constitutes an acceptable member of the fraternity. The principles he shared became "the Jordan Standard" and it is still used by Sigma Chi as the measuring stick by which potential members are judged. In other words, only men who meet the standard as recruits, should be invited to join.

Drew Brees is the starting quarterback for the NFC Champion New Orleans Saints, and joined Sigma Chi 114 years later. He will lead the Saints in their first-ever Super Bowl appearance this Sunday. Many say that he saved the franchise.

NFL players, without even trying, are role models to young people. But, not every player is deserving of this. How do we know who to emulate, and who to ignore? Where do I as a father gain enough confidence in someone to share their story with my son?

What about the Jordan Standard? Brees was able to meet this standard many years ago when asked to be a member of Sigma Chi. Could we still use this standard as a way to judge him as a man today? Let's look at each of the 7 principles:

A Man of Good Character......
A man of good character can best be defined as someone that others want to emulate. Teammate Pierre Thomas talks about Brees in this way: "If Drew tells you to stay after practice, you're going to have to do it. He's our leader, but he's one of our coaches also. You strive to be just like him. Each and every day you wake up saying, 'What is Drew doing? How can I prepare myself today?' . . . He wants you to learn. He wants you to understand, to get to where the team needs you to be. We're all trying to get on his level."

A Student of Fair Ability......
Brees was one of the best college players of his era, setting Big Ten records and taking Purdue University to the Rose Bowl for the first time in over two decades. Meanwhile, he earned a degree in Industrial Management, and was honored as the 2000 Academic All-American Player of the Year. He also found time to join a fraternity. Not bad.

With Ambitious Purposes......
Brees joined the Saints in 2006, after Hurricane Katrina and a 3-13 season. There was some talk in New Orleans about the team permanently moving to another city – possibly San Antonio or Los Angeles. Brees signed up anyway. "An opportunity to come here and not only being a part of the rebuilding of the organization and getting the team back to its winning ways, but to be part of the rebuilding of the city and the region. How many people get that opportunity in their life to be a part of something like that?" he said. Wanting to carry a broken city on your back is the definition of an ambitious purpose.

A Congenial Disposition......
Brees is considered one of the nicest, most sincere, and most humble all-stars in the NFL. Consider this simple passage from a Sports Illustrated article:

The man has something important to say to Drew Brees. It is a warm afternoon early in the new year and Brees, the 28-year-old quarterback of the New Orleans Saints, is walking through Audubon Park, a 400-acre preserve not far from the century-old home that he and his wife, Brittany, bought last spring in New Orleans's Uptown. The man is walking with his wife and pushing an infant in a stroller. He extends his right hand to Brees as they pass on a walking path. "Thank you for what you've done for this city," he says. "I want you to know that we appreciate it." 

Brees squeezes the man's hand and nods. "You're welcome," he says. "And thank you." 



Now a red SUV passing on St. Charles Avenue honks its horn twice and the driver leans out the window in slow-moving traffic. "Thanks, Drew!" she shouts, waving. Brees smiles and waves back. "That happens 10 times a day, at least," he says. "And it's never 'Good game,' or 'Can I have your autograph?' It's always somebody saying thank you." He looks at the ground and shakes his head, as if again humbled by the remarkable place where he has landed.

Possessed of Good Morals......
Where a man devotes his time and his resources is generally a good indicator of who he is and what he believes. His Brees Dream Foundation has given millions to New Orleans’ causes. Brees has helped build ballfields at schools that lost them in the hurricane. He’s funded playgrounds, participated in Habitat for Humanity builds, and has spent time with kids struggling with cancer. Brees was named the NFL’s Man of the Year in 2006.

Having a High Sense of Honor......
Many NFL players don’t live in the cities they play for. If Brees had just kept his house in San Diego and spent his offseasons there, not many would have noticed or cared. But, if you are trying to help lead a damaged city back to greatness, what’s the honorable thing to do? He and his wife bought and renovated a 100-year-old house in the city limits because, as he told writer Peter King, he’ll be able to do more good if he’s in the city year-round. He's now raising his first child there as well.

and A Deep Sense of Personal Responsibility

When Brees left San Diego as a free agent, he was considering several different NFL teams. He visited the Saints, and they pressed hard to get him to sign. The Saints’ executives could have tried to hide the devastation and despair that gripped the city at the time. After all, shouldn’t you always put your best foot forward when you recruit? Instead, they drove Brees and his wife through the city, which included tours of the areas most devastated by Katrina. This strategy worked because Brees has always carried a deep sense of responsibility. He said, "At some point in the process I started to believe that maybe God put me in this position for a reason. Maybe we were supposed to come to New Orleans and do more than just play football."

He has certainly done more than just play football (although obviously he has excelled at that as well). Brees has lifted a city and has served as a shining example of fraternal values in action. If the Jordan Standard is the minimum, Brees passes with flying colors. He goes beyond the standard to actually reflect words described in the Sigma Chi creed: fairness...decency...good manners...the spirit of youth. The creed asks members to pledge: "I will endeavor to so build myself and so conduct myself that I will ever be a credit to our fraternity." Well done, Drew.

No matter who you root for on Sunday, be proud of Drew Brees - a fraternity man of impeccable character, wearing the fleur-de-lis on his helmet, and carrying the Jordan Standard in his heart.


Sources:
Drew Brees has embraced New Orleans, after being tempted by Miami three years ago by Mike Triplett
Marching In by Tim Layden
My Sportsman: Drew Brees by Peter King
Drew Brees: The New Orleans Saints' Miracle Man by Rolanda Cruz
 Posted by John Shertzer