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Item Modeling a Values-Based-Congruence Framework to Predict Organization Constructs in Fraternties and Sororities(2014-03-01) Schutts, Joshua; Shelley, Kyna; University of West Florida; University of Southern MississippiFraternities and sororities are challenged by members who demonstrate unethical behavior with the intent to benefit the organization. This poses serious challenges for practitioners in the field of fraternity/sorority advising. This study examines member’s values congruence with their fraternity/ sorority and its relationship to organizational commitment, identification, and unethical proorganizational behavior. Results from a robust path analysis (MLMV) indicate subjective values congruence can predict identification and commitment directly, while commitment directly predicts unethical pro-organizational behavior. Findings of the study provide several implications for fraternity/sorority practitioners.Item Does Gender Matter in Black Greek-Lettered Organizations?(2014-03-01) Mitchell, Donald; Grand Valley State UniversityThis article explores the salience of gender for African Americans in Black Greek-lettered organizations at a predominantly White institution. An emphasis was placed on the social capital that may be gained through historically Black fraternities and sororities as a result of their single-gender structures. A constructivist phenomenological approach guided the study. The study revealed that the women found gender to be important in establishing relationships in sororities, whereas men de-emphasized the role of gender in their fraternity experiences. The article closes with a discussion and implications of the findings and recommendations for future research.Item White Clauses in Two Historically White Fraternities: Documenting the Past & Exploring Future Implications(2014-03-01) Barone, Ryan P.; University of DenverThis study offers a critical analysis of the appearance and subsequent removal of white clauses in historically white fraternities (HWFs) using the theoretical framework of Critical Race Theory. Archival records are examined to document the first men of color in two HWFs. Data are then presented using phenomenological research methods from interviews with men who were members of these HWFs at the time of racial integration. Themes of colorblindness and internal and external influence on integration are presented followed by implications for fraternity/sorority communities, campus based professionals, and inter/national organization staff.Item Collaboration Between Fraternal Organizations and Colleges and Universities in Addressing Student Conduct Issues(2013-03-01) Paterson, Brent G.; Illinois State UniversityIn fall 2011, Kim Novak, a risk management consultant and Larry Wiese, then president of the Fraternity Executives Association (FEA) and Executive Director of Kappa Alpha Order approached the author about writing a White Paper that examined collaboration between staff from inter/national fraternity headquarters, chapter alumni leadership and administrators at colleges and universities in addressing student conduct by members of a chapter. The White Paper was presented at the FEA annual meeting in July 2012. The content of this article remains largely unchanged from the original White Paper and is published with permission from FEA.Item Front Matter & Table of Contents(2014-03-01)Item Moving Beyond an Exclusive Past Toward an Inclusive Future(2014-03-01) Martin, Georgianna L.; Loyola UniversityItem First to Go to College and First to “Go Greek:” Engagement in Academically Oriented Activities by Senior Year First Generation Students Who Are Fraternity/Sorority Members(2014-03-01) Aren, Chad; Bureau, Dan; Ryan, Helen Grace; Torres, Vasti; Rhodes College; University of Memphis; Bellarmine University; University of South Florida in TampaUsing National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) data, this study examined levels of engagement in academically oriented activities by college seniors who experience college as both first-generation students and fraternity/sorority members. On four of five NSSE scales, first-generation college students who are members reported higher levels of engagement than those who are not members, and members and non-members who are not first-generation. Because engagement in academically oriented activities positively influences student success, knowing students’ self-reported participation has implications for practitioners.Item Weight Matters: African American Sorority Women Speak up About Body Image(2013-03-01) Selzer, Robin Arnsperger; University of CincinnatiSeidman’s (1998) Three-Interview Series was conducted with eight African American sorority women to explore history, details, and meaning of their body image. These themes were identified: Weight Trumps Everything Else, Family Criticism and Comparison, How I Look in Clothes, Intra-cultural Understanding of Black Women’s Bodies, Health Awareness, Media Responsibility, and Age. Participants made connections between sorority stereotypes and body image. Participants questioned motivation (self versus society) behind their feelings and behaviors. Participants wanted to help others achieve body image acceptance. Findings challenge the notion that African American women are “culturally protected” from body image dissatisfaction. Implications for practice are discussed.Item Attitudes and Beliefs of Heterosexual Sorority Women Toward Lesbian and Bisexual Chapter Members(2013-03-01) Neumann, Daniel C.; Kretovics, Mark A.; Roccoforte, Elisabeth C.; University of Maine; Kent State University; Case Western Reserve UniversityThe authors explored the attitudes and beliefs of heterosexual sorority women toward lesbian and bisexual members at an urban, mid-western, private research university. The authors used a researcher-developed tool consisting of fifty-four Likert scale questions reduced to eight factors to provide evidence of measurement validity. A key finding of this study was that sorority women viewed themselves as very accepting of lesbian and bisexual members and held the belief that same-sex attraction in women is not immoral or inconsistent with their sorority values.Item Sorority Members’ Views of Negative Stereotypes(2013-03-01) Wilson, Beate; Tollini, Craig; Western Illinois University; Western Illinois UniversityThe purpose of this study was to have sorority members identify the negative stereotypes they believed other members of the university community had of them and the extent to which they believed these stereotypes were both accurate for and damaging to their chapters. To gather these perspectives, four focus groups were conducted with thirty-six women from four National Panhellenic Conference (NPC) member sororities at a medium-sized, midwestern, public university. In addition to the findings, implications and recommendations are also provided.Item Introducing the Research Report(2013-03-01) Biddix, J. Patrick; Valdosta State UniversityItem An Assessment of Panhellenic Sorority Member Meal Consumption Patterns(2012-09-01) Mize, Blair; Valliant, Melinda; University of Mississippi; University of MississippiThe purpose of study was to determine sorority members’ frequency of meal consumption versus meals offered in sorority houses at a flagship university in the south and to compare the Body Mass Indices (BMIs) of sorority members who consumed less than six (<6) meals to those who consumed six or more (≥6) meals/week at their sorority houses. Another object of this study was to note the relationship between frequency of sorority meal consumption and adequacy of sorority members’ diets in relation to MyPyramid. The sample consisted of 72 Panhellenic sorority members ages 18-22 year sold at the time of participation. All members completed a “Questionnaire of Eating Behaviors” and a 24-hour dietary recall. Weight, height, and number of servings consumed of each MyPyramid food group were recorded. Members consuming ≥6 meals/week at their sorority houses had greater mean intake of each food group and lower mean BMIs than those consuming <6 meals. According to the results of this study, structured meals and meal times may help sorority members maintain a healthier weight.Item A Multivariate Analysis of the Relationship Between Undergraduate Fraternity/Sorority Involvement and Academic Performance(2012-09-01) Long, Larry D.; Michigan State UniversityThis study explored the relationship between potential time commitments of fraternity and sorority members and academic performance. A secondary analysis of data collected using the Fraternity/Sorority Experience Survey revealed statistically significant relationships between cumulative grade point average and chapter involvement, engagement in academic activities, part-time work, and alcohol use. Chapter involvement, engagement in academic activities, and part-time work were positively associated with academic performance. Alcohol use was negatively related to academic performance. Implications for practice include establishing a culture of academic achievement in fraternal organizations, minimizing the use of alcohol, identifying and approaching academically at-risk members, and establishing initiatives to support the academic achievement of fraternity members.Item Front Matter & Table of Contents(2013-03-01)Item A Values-Based Learning Model to Impact Maturational Change: The College Fraternity as Developmental Crucible(2012-09-01) Reuter, Tim; Baker, Elgan; Hernandez, Michael V.; Bureau, Dan; Indiana University School of Medicine; University of Miami (FL); University of MemphisThe period of late adolescence and early adulthood is a critical time during which individual identity is developed. One fraternity recently implemented a developmental process that facilitated identity maturation within its members by emphasizing self-awareness and reflection. Utilizing a learning model as the core component of all aspects of its programming, the fraternity conducted research to determine the impact of its learning model on the development of self-awareness. This article provides data from three years of implementation that documents significant increases in this critical developmental competency.Item Front Matter & Table of Contents(2012-09-01)Item Asian American Women’s Perspectives on Historically White Sorority Life: A Critical Race Theory and Cultural Capital Analysis(2012-09-01) Park, Julie J.; University of Maryland, College ParkThis study examined 18 Asian American women’s attitudes towards sororities at a predominantly White institution in the south. I use cultural capital and critical race theory frameworks to explain how immigrant identity and social class intersect with race to perpetuate racial divisions in historically White sorority life (HWSL). Participants identified two primary reasons for the lack of racial diversity in HWSL, the role of immigrant families and social class, both of which can be viewed as race-neutral explanations for why HWSL “coincidentally” remains divided by race. However, I demonstrate how race intersects with both immigration and social class to perpetuate social divisions in HWSL, resulting in complex insights for why such groups remain predominantly White in composition.Item The Necessity for Research on Fraternity/Sorority Culture(2012-09-01) Biddix, J. Patrick; Valdosta State UniversityItem Examining the Link Between Pledging, Hazing, and Organizational Commitment Among Members of a Black Greek Fraternity(2012-03-01) Rogers, Sean; Rogers, Carmen; Anderson, Treshawn; Rutgers University; University of Arkansas; Purdue University CollegeBlack Greek-Letter Organization (BGLO) members hold strong opinions about the purposes and efficacy of pledging and hazing as a means of member initiation. Those who argue in favor of the pledge process claim it is needed to help remove those not genuinely interested in membership, develop appreciation for and pride in the organization, and generate longterm organizational commitment and sustained participation. Those who call for an end to pledging argue that whatever benefit might be gained from such bonding experiences is overshadowed by the mortal, legal, reputational, emotional, and financial risks posed for both the associations and the individuals involved. Despite decades of conjectural debate on the efficacy of pledging and hazing, to the authors’ knowledge, no empirical study has examined its impact on BGLO alumni-level membership continuance. To address this deficiency, the researchers conducted a logistic regression analysis of survey responses from alumni members of a BGLO fraternity (n = 285). Results revealed no statistically significant relationship between participation in a pledge process and alumni level membership. The implication of these findings for BGLOs and their members and leaders are discussed.Item “Ever After Strictly and Rigidly Obeyed— With Some Exceptions”: Administrative Responses to Hazing in the 1870s(2012-03-01) Barber, James P.; William & MaryThis article explores college hazing as a part of student culture in the 1870s using historical documents from Cornell University and the University of Michigan. These sources illustrate the conflict between students and the institutional administration over student autonomy and the role of faculty in student life, and characterize hazing as an event to test new students’ loyalties to their peers over the faculty. However, as the student body grew larger, and diversified in terms of gender and ethnicity, hazing shifted to smaller exclusive organizations, rather than a demonstration of class solidarity and rebellion against faculty. This article explores the administrative responses at Cornell and Michigan in the late 19th century by documenting reaction to a student hazing death at Cornell in 1873, and detailing an 1874 hazing incident at Michigan, after which 87 men were suspended from the institution following a confrontation involving the freshman and sophomore classes. Connections are drawn to administrative responses to hazing in the early 21st century.