Lambda Chi Alpha - University of Illinois

Fall 2014 Newsletter

Chi Zeta of Lambda Chi Alpha at the University of Illinois

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5 Chi Zetagram Dear Alumni Brothers, We, the undergraduate officers of Chi Zeta, appreciate the opportunity to address our alumni directly regarding the events over the past 13 months. is is an apology and an explanation, yet we are most keen to impart to you the same hope and excitement that we now feel. Even before returning to school this semester, plans were underway for positive change and growth. Chapter leadership began maximum anti-drug enforcement, to which we are all now personally committed. Foremost of these efforts was a very intense and full membership review organized by the Alumni Association Board of Directors. e review successfully removed individuals who had diverged from or would not commit to respect the core values of Lambda Chi Alpha. ough very difficult, this process has given our chapter a new life and focus. ose who remain are fully committed to a drug-free chapter, and every current member of Chi Zeta has signed a written statement and pledge to this effect. Additionally, all members have written personal statements of reflection describing what they have learned from these incidents and what commitments they are making for personal change. e point that we wish to impress on you is that every last undergraduate brother has acknowledged past failings and learned from our mistakes, and is behind the sweeping changes we are making. Under our chapter president's leadership, we also created the Committee of Second Degree. is committee is charged with defining and pushing positive, sweeping change to ensure that we stay focused on the right values moving forward. e chapter appointed Michael Nora X2020, former chapter president, to assist in ensuring full compliance, and we have asked the alumni board to work with us as well. e committee also draed the Out-of-House Rental Property Policy, which has since been adopted by the Executive Committee. is policy bans any Lambda Chi Alpha events that would take place at any and all out-of-house rental properties. Furthermore, the committee has called for mandatory leadership and drug education programming. Moving forward, all chapter officers will be required to attend full-day leadership education seminars, and the entire chapter will attend drug education programs. ese are not shallow commitments; rather, the committee has seen nothing but full support from the active chapter. We have redoubled our efforts in 100% values- based recruitment, which has been one of our priorities. It is important to note that not a single one of the members that joined our chapter in the spring of this year, under our True Brother values-based recruitment system, was involved in the drug incidents that plagued our chapter. We have an excellent group of new members already and are excited for recruitment next semester to continue this growth. Our chapter has an important story to tell on this campus — we learned first-hand how the use of drugs can destroy a student career, bring shame and heartache to families, and lead to addiction and long-standing personal challenges for individuals who once had such bright futures. is is a narrative we are now sharing with the rest of the Greek community. A task force of brothers, organized by the Committee of Second Degree, gave a candid, personalized presentation on our recent experience and lessons learned before a gathering of all IFC chapter presidents. Following, we were invited to give our presentation to the complete membership of another fraternity on campus. We will continue to share the knowledge we have gained with those who are interested or need help — knowledge we wish we had gained earlier and in different ways. Our membership, chapter leadership, and alumni leadership are fully committed to building an even stronger chapter at Chi Zeta moving forward. We take full responsibility for all our shortcomings and the consequences of our individual and collective inactions. We resolve to hold ourselves and all our brothers fully accountable for their actions. We will never again fail to confront members we may suspect of violating any laws, regulations of the University or standards of the Fraternity and need our help as brothers. Our chapter, together and individually, makes a total commitment to our core values and will continue to practice exclusively values-based recruitment. We are grateful for the indispensable help and support from our High Pi and Alumni Association Board of Directors. ese men embody the personal and leadership qualities that we undergraduates aspire to. eir guidance, along with our current membership's desire for change, has brought our chapter into a new era, and we are excited to be part of it. Brothers, we have rid ourselves of those who forsake our Bond, and we embrace those who will strengthen it. Our failings have turned to strength, and our future is bright. Believe in us — we will not fail you. Sincerely in ZAX, Officers of the Executive Committee Chi Zeta of Lambda Chi Alpha University of Illinois Believe in Us—We Will Not Fail You A Letter from the Officers of Chi Zeta Chapter President Named Fraternity Man of the Month C hapter President Sam Sagan '12 X2044 was recently elected Fraternity Man of the Month by the Interfraternity Council. Sam joined Lambda Chi Alpha in the fall of 2012 and is studying electrical engineering and computer science. Over the summer Sam completed an internship as a soware engineer for Intel. Sam said, "Lambda Chi Alpha has been a huge part of my professional development and has given me more than enough experience to also be a leader elsewhere on campus." In addition to his role as president, Sam serves as president of the New Revels Players student-theater troupe. Congratulations, Sam!

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