Greek Life Diversity and Inclusiveness Education Initiative
Overview
The Lehigh University fraternity and sorority community
is one of rich identities, diverse backgrounds, and numerous talents,
all of which enhance our community culture. However, part of bringing
so many different people together is the charge of helping those
individuals develop the knowledge, skills, and awareness to learn from
and understand one another while also working together to achieve
common goals. Given the ever-changing demographic of the Lehigh
University student population and the fraternity and sorority
community, consisting up more than 40% of this population, it is
imperative that the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs take the
lead in working with chapters represented on campus to ensure they are
cultivating an accepting and inclusive atmosphere for everyone at the
University.
History of Lehigh’s Inclusivity and Diversity Initiatives
In 2004, the Strengthening Greek Life Initiative proposed a number of action steps in order to work towards the advancement of a more diverse fraternity and sorority community, to develop and implement opportunities for chapters and councils to understand and appreciate differences, and to foster a more inclusive environment by seeking opportunities for programming partnership and education. From this stemmed the following results, among others:
- Panel discussions on inclusivity and culturally-based chapters
- Co-sponsored events between the Office of Multicultural Affairs and the Interfraternity and Panhellenic councils
- Conversations on Race program
- Creation of the Campus Relations Chair for both the Interfraternity and Panhellenic councils
- Included diversity initiative in the partnership section in Lehigh’s accreditation process
Furthering the Vision
In 2008 and 2009, the initiatives of Inclusivity and Diversity were readdressed with the following completed action steps:
- The System Wide Assessment Committee’s asserted their commitment
to growing the culturally-based chapter community. Expansion of the
culturally-based chapter community included two new culturally-based
chapters with additional expansion efforts currently in progress.
- The Creation of the Multicultural Greek Council (MGC) was
completed, consisting of four existing culturally-based chapters.
The MGC is the newest governing council within the Lehigh community
and it serves the needs of culturally-based chapters.
- Incorporation of personal responsibility and the importance of community into various educational programs offered by the OFSA.
Student Resources, Optional Involvement and Educational Opportunities:
- Culturally-based chapters
- Kappa Alpha Psi – historically African American fraternity
- Lambda Sigma Upsilon – historically Latino fraternity
- Lambda Theta Alpha – historically Latina sorority
- Omega Psi Phi - historically African American fraternity
- Mu Sigma Alpha - multicultural sorority
- Alpha Phi Alpha (interest group) - historically African American fraternity
- Greek Allies
- The goal of the Greek Allies program is to provide a communicative outlet for current Greeks who struggle with LGBTQIA (Lesbian, Gay, Bi-sexual, Transgender, Queer, Questioning, Intersex, and Ally) issues, to support students who identify as LGBTQIA who are interested in Greek Life at Lehigh, and to offer educational programs and panels for students who want to learn more about what it means to be Out and Greek.
- Programming offered by OFSA staff:
- Intake strategies for culturally-based chapters
- History of Greek Life (with or without special emphasis on culturally-based chapters)
- Greek Life and the LGBTQIA community
- Spirituality in Fraternity and Sorority Life
- Courageous Conversations series
- Social Justice topics
- Customizable topics of choice
- Unity Programming between the Interfraternity, Panhellenic and Multicultural Greek councils
- The IFC, Panhel, and MGC executive board members are always looking for opportunities to co-sponsor activities that support community, inclusion, and understanding within the fraternity and sorority community
For more information about diversity and inclusion programming, please contact Ashley Baudouin at amb512@lehigh.edu
