A few days ago I was going through some old papers of mine with the idea of getting rid of things no longer of value. I happened to read one card I used as my notes to give a talk to a sorority group on the Weber State University campus. I thought that I would share some of my experiences. I started out by saying that there are three things that are difficult for me to do:
- Climb a brick wall when it is leaning toward me.
- Kiss my wife when she is leaning away from me.
- To give a talk when I don’t feel like I know what I’m talking about.
I have never been an adviser to a sorority. However, I have been an adviser to a fraternity. The organizations have some similarities but more importantly there are some very distinctive differences in the shape and form of the members. I was asked to be the adviser to Alpha Rho Omega in 1967; during that time they decided to go national, and they applied for Pi Kappa Alpha. They were accepted and I served as their adviser for nine years. It was an interesting experience for them and I am glad they asked me to be their adviser. The young men formed friendships at the university and in some cases nationally, that may last all of their lives. There were some very definite values that members experience in social organizations.
- In many cases, fraternities and sororities are the lifeblood of the campus. They plan and organize social events for themselves as well as for many others. What happens on a campus, of a social nature, happens through the social organizations. They most likely planned it, organized the actual event, as well as attended it.
- Social organizations also have as their goals the promotion of education and scholarship.
- They not only promote and encourage leadership but they also provide opportunities to exercise those skills.
- Social organizations often plan community service projects.
I used to tell the Pi Kaps that one of the primary purposes a student might join a social organization is to be exposed to the brotherhood of the fraternity, of being a part of a group that has as their charter his betterment. The same for sororities, if they do not have as their values a plan to promote the sisterhood and betterment of each member, they are a failed organization.
The following are things that a sorority should be providing its members as they encourage their members to be better students: to be honest in their dealings, that they accept each member as a valued human being, encouraging humanitarian, developing social and leadership skills. If the organization is not teaching the value of providing service to others, then discontinue the relationship with that social organization. If the sorority’s only value is an organized place to meet people for daily laughs and a place to kick back, then it is an empty shell and nothing more. The older sisters in the organization should be mentors to the younger sisters by providing acceptance, approval and encouragement to be all that they can be. Social activities should be planned to promote and develop social skills but service and scholarly activities should be equally important. As a University Administrator I appreciate sororities and fraternities and believe they have a significant potential to develop young people into good, strong adult contributors to our society. The above information given at the university, to both sororities and fraternities, at different times, is probably good advice for any social organization who would like to be successful, including church.