RARE RECRUITMENT, ACCEPTANCE, RETENTION AND EDUCATION ENDING PLEDGING AS WE KNOW IT Cornell...

RARE

RECRUITMENT, ACCEPTANCE, RETENTION

AND EDUCATIONENDING PLEDGING AS WE KNOW ITCornell Livestreaming Event: April 27, 2012

4/27/2012

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DRAFT ONLY - NOT APPROVED

Fraternity & Sorority Life @Cornell4/27/2012

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Top Five, Strong, Well Regarded, and Historically Significant


4,2534,253

Members

1,7781,778Housing Capacity

19,72019,720

Service & Advocacy Hours

30%30%Undergrads that

are Greek

1,2481,248

New Members

$176K$176K

Funds for Charity

6666Chapters

4747Houses

Fraternity & Sorority Life @Cornell

2008 - Current Initiatives•Call 2 Action

•Recognition Policy

•Four Quarter System

•Dartmouth Collaborative = NCHIP

•Recruitment, Acceptance, Retention and Education (RARE)

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Disclaimers

RARERecruitment, 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!

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Our Agenda

Fraternity & Sorority Life @Cornell

President Skorton’s Challenge

RARE Task Force

RARE’s Mandate

Definition of Hazing

Cornell’s History

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Hazing Research

Pledging vs Hazing

Changing Greek Culture

A Comprehensive Approach

DRAFT Recommendations

RARE Phases One to Four


President Skorton’s Challenge

National callEliminate hazing

Hazing defined as…. “End pledging as we know it….”

Create a better Greek systemNot providing all the answers

Challenge to Students, Alumni, University

National callEliminate hazing

Hazing defined as…. “End pledging as we know it….”

Create a better Greek systemNot providing all the answers

Challenge to Students, Alumni, University

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President Skorton’s Challenge - Initial Reactions

The question is “What Should Greek

Life Look Like at Cornell?”

The question is “What Should Greek

Life Look Like at Cornell?”

Why focus on Greeks? Sports

teams…even the Band hazes new

members.

Why focus on Greeks? Sports

teams…even the Band hazes new

members.

He’s not a Greek…eliminating

pledging will destroy tradition and create “paper

members”

He’s not a Greek…eliminating

pledging will destroy tradition and create “paper

members”

Take the right step - eliminate

the Greek system altogether.

Take the right step - eliminate

the Greek system altogether.

Students will drink and hazing will

continue – as they have for decades.

Students will drink and hazing will

continue – as they have for decades.

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Pledging and hazing are not

the same thing!!


RARE Task Force

• Launched in Fall 2011

• 24 members – a cross section of the community

• 13 of 24 members are undergraduates

• Two year effort to eliminate hazing

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RARE’s Mandate

Name Recruitment, Acceptance, Retention and Education (RARE)

Purpose To deliver a unified response to President David Skorton’s challenge to the Cornell Greek system to eliminate hazing and “end pledging as we know it.”

Customer Undergraduate and alumni members of the Cornell Greek system

Key Objectives • Develop alternatives that welcome new members free of degradation, humiliation and all other forms of hazing

• Enable and provide resources to chapters to create their own unique, safe, and effective new member processes


Definition of Hazing

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, 8.29.2011Hazing 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


Cornell’s History4/27/2012

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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 History4/27/2012

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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”

18741874

19821982

19041904

19811981


Research

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?


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Research – Why People Haze

No Single Theory, But Many Elements Explain Hazing Behavior

Evolutionary psychology

Shared copingIdentification with

aggressor

Lack of external constraints

Cycles of abuse Need for esteem

Conformity and obedience to authority

Masculinity beliefs

Symbolic interactionism

Cognitive dissonance Rites of passage Need for intimacy

Groupthink (Janis) Sociopathy Misperceived norms

Expression of powerPerceived lack of alternatives

Desire for solidarity

Excerpts from hazing.cornell.edu/hazing/issues/research.cfm

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Pledging vs Hazing

Why address the pledge period?

• Platform for hazing

• Alignment with values & mission

• Maintain relevance

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Changing Greek Culture

• 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

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A Comprehensive Approach4/27/2012DRAFT ONLY - NOT APPROVED

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• 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

Draft RARE Recommendations - Community

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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

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

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

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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

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

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


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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

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

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


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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

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

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


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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

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

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


RARE Phases One to Four23 4/27/2012DRAFT ONLY - NOT APPROVED

Phase Three

• 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

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Phase Three and Four

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.

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What Will Be Different

Today Future

Individuals join chapters Individuals join the Cornell Greek Community, then join chapters

Live-in advisors in sororities and small number of fraternities

Live-in advisors also in new and “at risk” chapters

Hazing prevention undertaken by existing staff

University-wide hazing specialist hired to benefit all organizations

Membership intake periods Are shorter

Education ends with pledging Four year education model to encourage participation and retention


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Disclaimers

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.


Our thanks to all of the members,

contributors and supporters of RARE!

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