News and Information
Emory University
Atlanta, GA 30322

Release date: Nov. 4, 1997
Contact: Nancy Seideman, Director

EMORY UNIVERSITY LAUNCHES NEW FRATERNITY MANAGEMENT PROGRAM TO ADDRESS COMMON ISSUES FACING GREEK LIFE ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES

The recent deaths of fraternity members as a result of excessive alcohol consumption has focused increased attention on the future of the Greek Life system of fraternities and sororities on many university campuses. This past May, Emory University implemented a new fraternity management program, the Phoenix Plan, designed to help university administrators and Greek Life members work together to resolve maintenance, behavioral and other issues facing Greek Life. The Emory program includes the following requirements for the approximately 300 fraternity members living under the plan:

· Eight of Emory's 12 fraternities have a live-in residential director employed by the university (four of the fraternities do not have a house, or have low membership).

· All fraternities have custodial/maintenance service provided by the university's residential services department, with the exception of two independent fraternities that contract separately for such service, but must meet university standards. Specific custodial/maintenance staff and supervisors are assigned to "fraternity row" in order to assist in the physical upkeep of the houses and to ensure safe, clean, attractive-looking and well-maintained facilities. Residential services decides, in conjunction with the fraternities, what capital improvements will occur annually and oversees the improvements.

· Members of the Phoenix Plan are part of the university's billing system. In addition, Emory establishes the fraternity's annual operating budget, the number of occupants that will reside in the house, and the room rent.

· Revitalizing chapter management is a major goal of the plan, with programs to help members address issues including behavioral concerns, alcohol consumption, leadership development, recruitment, and community and alumni relations. This process has begun with increased education -- particularly peer education -- on preventing problems with alcohol, led by a new health educator, and by fraternity officers confronting and dealing with members who exhibit unacceptable behavior.

The emphasis is on re-establishing and building chapter standards and values, says Emory's Bridget Guernsey Riordan, who is assistant to the vice president of Campus Life and oversees Greek Life. About 1,600 Emory students, or 30 percent of the study body, are members of Greek Life.

Although some may question the university's commitment to rebuilding and fostering a Greek Life system, Riordan sees a great deal of value in the network. "Fraternities provide a living and learning environment that is unique on campus," says Riordan. "The problems in the fraternities also are, unfortunately, occurring throughout the college community. In fraternities, however, there are strong opportunities to affect change through peer influence and alumni assistance because of the fraternal allegiance. By stressing fraternal values, we can help the students get back to their founding ideals of cooperation, honor, service, leadership and scholarship," she says.

Emory began development of the Phoenix Plan in 1994 when the administration became concerned about the unsafe, unsanitary and unattractive conditions of many of the fraternity houses. Emory's efforts at implementing an effective management system were spurred on by incidents such as last year's fatal fire in a fraternity house at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. A team of Emory administrators and students visited Washington and Lee University to learn first-hand about its fraternity facilities management program, and the University of Maryland also was consulted regarding its programming for students. Now other universities are requesting Emory's plan to use as a model.

Todd Schill, director of Emory residential services, who has been a leader in implementing the plan, says that Emory is way ahead of other universities in addressing the physical aspects and conditions of fraternities. "We must change the way we do business now and in the future if the Greek Life system is to survive on university campuses," says Schill. "Rebuilding fraternity chapters and improving their physical properties will help reinstill a sense of pride among fraternity members in their living environment, enabling them to focus on other programmatic areas."

Rob Whitmire, an Emory senior and president of the Interfraternity Council, agrees with Schill's assessment. "The facilities improvements have gone very well, but the tough part now is how to get fraternity men to trust the university administration in dealing with behavioral issues, especially regarding alcohol," says Whitmire. "Fraternity men won't respond well to an authoritative approach, but they will -- and have -- to housing directors and alumni who approach them as mentors and advisers." The purpose of the Phoenix Plan, says Whitmire, is to get fraternities back to their mission of "cultivating quality leaders who can contribute to the world, as well as to the university community."