The College’s Working Group on Greek Life and Campus Community submitted its report to the Board of Trustees May 20 following an 18-month study. Formed to examine how fraternities and sororities can best contribute to Lafayette’s future in the context of the College’s strategic plan, the panel was chaired by Barbara Levy ’77, chair of the Trustee Committee on Student Life, and Ashley Juavinett ’11. Its objective was to understand more clearly the benefits of fraternity and sorority membership and develop insight on avenues for preserving and enhancing these benefits while mitigating problems the chapters face.
The report includes 31 recommendations in five categories, improving relationships between the College and the Greek community; the Greek community as a center for academic excellence and innovation; supporting a diverse, inclusive, and welcoming Greek community; promoting personal integrity, responsibility, and well-being in the Greek community; and the College’s recognition and assessment of Greek organizations.
In a move to strengthen support of the Greek community in light of the report, the College has created the new position of director of fraternity and sorority life, and a search is under way to fill it. Reporting to John McKnight, associate dean of students and director of intercultural development, the director will devote all of his/her time to the advising and support of fraternity and sorority chapters. The new position replaces the position of assistant director of residence life and adviser to fraternities and sororities.
The Board and administration are reviewing the Working Group’s report. An executive summary of the report is available in PDF format on the Working Group’s web site.
In June, the Kappa Delta Rho House Corporation, in conjunction with alumni of the fraternity and the national office, decided to close the Lafayette Rho chapter in advance of a Student Conduct Committee hearing scheduled to address violations of fraternity and College policy. The fraternity retains the right to apply to the Board of Trustees to consider allowing the chapter to re-colonize at Lafayette in the future.
The Rho chapter of Chi Phi has submitted an application to the Board of Trustees to consider allowing the chapter to re-colonize. The Board plans to review the application and render a decision after it also has reviewed and considered the findings and recommendations of the Working Group on Greek Life and Campus Community. Chi Phi closed the chapter in 2005 in advance of a disciplinary hearing scheduled to address violations of fraternity and College policy.