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Dean of Residential Life Martin Redman's response to the Greek Life Steering Committee

January 22, 2002

To: Robert Binswange, Chair, Ad Hoc Working Group on Greek Life Action Plans
From: Martin W. Redman, Dean of Residential Life

Dear Robert,

Thank you for the excellent report that you submitted on behalf of the Working Group on Greek Life Action Plans. I appreciate the outstanding energy that you and your colleagues dedicated to this effort; your good work will certainly enable us to make significant progress in this area. After consultation with Dean of the College Jim Larimore, I have determined that we will proceed as outlined below.

The following items are to be integrated into Coed, Fraternity and Sorority (CFS) Action Plans to be developed this academic year:

  1. CFS organizations will provide some form of study spaces as well as access to technology (as per your recommendation).
  2. While socializing in a responsible fashion with brothers and sisters is certainly appropriate, a business meeting is not the appropriate time for such interaction. Therefore, Coed, Fraternity, and Sorority Organizations will conduct business in an alcohol free environment. Examples of meetings that should be alcohol free include: executive officer meetings, chapter meetings on Wednesday evenings, committee meetings and so on (as per your recommendation).
  3. The Working Group, when considering the concept of CFS organizations offering informational programs to alumni during high times of alumni involvement, stated that while the principle was commendable, such periods would not be conducive to productive discussions. While that may be true for some organizations at some times, experience has shown that a great many alumni returning to campus have questions regarding CFS organizations and the system as a whole. In light of the specific needs of various CFS organizations to communicate their goals, values, ambitions and action plans with alumni, we are expecting CFS organizations to describe the ways in which these items will be communicated to alumni as part of the annual action plan.
  4. The Working Group stated that using a value-based recruitment strategy as a means to cultivate interest among the broadest spectrum of potential members would be difficult to accomplish as a CFS community effort. When all organizations employ the same strategies, the term "values-based recruitment" could be "too vague, too all encompassing and subject to misunderstanding with chaotic results." I believe that pursuing this recommendation is in the best interest of CFS organizations because communicating organizational values is critical to recruiting members who would like to perpetuate those values. Therefore, I am expecting each CFS organization to include details regarding how it will communicate and share its values with potential new members during recruitment as well as with the rest of the Dartmouth community. An organization's values-based recruitment strategy will be a component of its annual action plans.

The following items direct the Greek Leadership Council or the various sub-councils to implement these items in a coordinated effort with the Office of Residential Life:

  1. Parliamentary procedure, such as Roberts Rules of Order, or some variation, will be used at all council meetings. (as per your recommendation).
  2. CFS organizations will work with the Office of Residential Life to establish a pilot program for live-in student staff members, trained and supervised by the Office of Residential Life. Your Working Group recommended that this program should be an option; however, the SLI directives from the Board of Trustees clearly indicate a mandate to provide support services in Greek residences through a program similar to the undergraduate advisors. I am amenable to pursuing this change in phases, if presented with a clear and compelling plan. The implementation of a pilot program for live-in staff members will commence during the 2003-2004 academic year starting with the fall term.
  3. The Office of Residential Life will partner with the CFS leadership in working with the Dean of the Faculty Office to develop a pool of interested faculty to begin the development of a Faculty Mentor Program within the CFS community (as per your recommendation).

Finally, I ask that you and the members of your Working Group reconvene to provide me with the information requested below February 28, 2002:

  1. The Working Group noted that they did not support using a collaborative recruitment strategy in order to ensure that all interested students receive an invitation to join one of the CFS organizations, stating as rationale their understanding that many organizations on campus have competitive processes for selection. While that is true, these other organizations generally employ objective measures in their selection processes that are directly related to the primary activities of the organization. We believe the all Greek organizations will benefit from a collaborative recruitment strategy that encourages all students to make informed choices regarding membership decisions. In an ideal world, a place within the CFS organizations would be made available to any student desiring to affiliate. As a result, we are requesting that your group develop a collaborative recruitment strategy that will serve as a reference for the Greek Leadership Sub-Councils. We would like your group to draft a sample plan that demonstrates collaboration of the various sub-councils and that provides prospective members with accurate information regarding Greek life so that they make better informed choices throughout the recruitment process.

Once again, I extend my appreciation to you and the members of the Working Group for the work you have done and the additional work that I am asking you to do. As you proceed, please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions. As you will note, I am sending copies of your report and this letter to those listed below. I look forward to the significant improvement that your work will bring to the Dartmouth campus in the very near future.

Sincerely,

Martin Redman Dean of Residential Life

Cc: Working Group Members: Brandon Lucas, Nina Markey, Stuart Lord, Judith Csatari, Lonnie Threatte, Cassie Barnhardt, Deborah Carney
Jim Larimore, Dean of the College
CFS Presidents & Advisors
GLC Officers

Last updated: 3/19/04