Sigma Chi - University of Missouri

THE TIGER SIG Page 2 Spring 2018 a kickball tournament hosted by Alpha Delta Pi. We also took part in Rockin' Against Multiple Sclerosis, to support both the MS Institute of Mid-Missouri and Rally for Rhyan, a pediatric cancer research fundraiser. This year, Mizzou's Greek organizations raised over $50,000 for the Rally for Rhyan! Our annual Slapshot on Cancer hockey game against Beta was Saturday, March 10. While we were excited about our victory, we were more pleased to be able to raise money for the Ellis Fischel Cancer Center and Camp Kesem. Some members were privileged to attend the Alumni Hall of Fame banquet and golf outing last fall and meet some of our great alumni. We enjoyed hearing of their accomplishments and spending a day on the course. We were pleased to reconnect with several of these same alumni at the Sigma Chi installation at Saint Louis University. In December, our local Toys for Tots foundation discovered their storage unit broken into, with nearly all toys taken or destroyed. The active Chapter was devastated to learn of this news, but felt confident that we could help through a campus-wide campaign. Between our Chapter and several other fraternities and sororities on campus, we were able to donate over 250 toys and a sizable monetary donation so that the foundation could still provide gifts over the holiday season. Our Chapter was excited to compete against Beta in the Slapshot on Cancer hockey game held on Saturday, March 10. Last year's event raised over $20,000, which was divided up between the Ellis Fischel Cancer Center and Camp Kesem. We look forward to participating in Mizzou's Greek Week, when we are paired with the fine women of Delta Delta Delta, and our weeklong Derby Days, which takes place in mid- April, with proceeds benefitting the Huntsman Cancer Foundation and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Missouri. The year will conclude with our annual Sweetheart Ball, which features a live band playing on our front porch while everyone dances in formal attire under a tent in our front yard. This was a great time for Brothers to be together one last time before the summer, and a fun way to send off our graduating seniors. Xi Xi Brothers are actively involved on campus and abroad. Nathan Willett '18 is finishing his term up as MSA president and former Consul Berry Brooks '18 is on the Student Conduct Committee. Several men are studying abroad, including Sam Pottenger '19, who I'm sure is taking advantage of more leisure time following his tenure as consul. Others have taken initiative in the Chapter House, including Frankie Gallardo '21 and Nate Throne '21, who will serve as Greek Week liaisons, and Joe Pedrotti '20, who is planning his attendance at the Horizons Leadership Summit in Snowbird. The active Chapter strives to sustain Sigma Chi's tradition of producing quality leaders and men. On behalf of all the Brothers at the University of Missouri—Columbia, thank you for your continued support of the Xi Xi Chapter of Sigma Chi. On a personal note, the men of Xi Xi Chapter would like to express our condolences to the Callahan family for their unexpected loss. Our thoughts and prayers are with you. In hoc, Seth Crockett '19 Consul (573) 208.0332 | skcbz6@mail.missouri.edu Belonging to the Community (Continued from page 1) Study on Greek Needs Supports Xi Xi's Freshman Housing Practice D yad Strategies, at the request of the university, recently surveyed fraternity and sorority leaders on attitudes toward their relationships with Greek life. General, broader inputs to draw assessments on current conditions were used, as they affect operational success in the Greek system on campus. Because the conclusions covered 16 single-spaced pages, we cherry-picked those areas of greatest relevance to our Chapter. It is not surprising that a prevalent attitude toward Greek life was that disciplinary functions overshadow cooperative guidance in chapter performance (i.e., a focus on negative reaction rather than positive pro- action). The report does offer a more strategically driven plan of action for the organization. Greek life responded positively to the report, initiating a trained campus staff to serve as a third-party investigative arm that will look into reported hazing violations. An IFC Judicial Board composed of trained Greek members was also formed, with the purpose of adjudicating organizational violations. Additionally, two new staff members serve as Student Support Specialists, whose mission is to help students when emergency situations arise, such as accidents or family tragedies, and with conflict resolution. Immediate positive feedback has resulted from the initiation of this process. Seven areas of change were designated by the report, with primary consideration being that freshmen reside in student housing, not in chapters. Xi Xi is the only major Greek organization currently following this practice at MU. The international fraternity has directed an even shorter period of formal pledging, reducing it to five weeks. Our combined moves virtually eliminate all opportunities for hazing in any form. Dyad has found proof of superior scholastic performance and increased campus involvement when freshmen are separately housed. The university has espoused our practice for several years, but has met resistance from several major fraternities, which has slowed freshman movement to dorms and off-campus residency. We recognize the concern of freshmen being more removed from general Chapter life, but follow a strong program of freshmen presence at the house daily. It appears that we may see a general move by other chapters to our current practice. Change is certainly in the air. Steps to be taken to protect and improve the function of the Greek system are a work in process. Regardless of future direction, we seem to be running ahead of the pack. Other Actions Suggested by Dyad: • Invest in hazing prevention programs. • Educate house corporations on drug testing (now being done on three SEC campuses). • Revamp recruiting—done on the basis of freshmen living out of chapter houses so that it is initiated during the school year when a firmer assessment of character can be made while the number of "social joiners" can be reduced. • Eliminate Syllabus Week, which results in heavy partying because students know they don't have to study. • Bring underground fraternities—recognized by their national organizations but not by the university—back to proper campus involvement. MU currently has two such organizations. • Invest in sexual harassment training.

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