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Parents
May 1, 2008
Dear Clarion University Students & Parents,
Welcome to the Clarion University family! The mission of Clarion University of Pennsylvania states that the University, “seeks to excel in all that it does and challenges students to develop their talents, extend their intellectual capacities and interests, expand their creative abilities, and to develop a respect and enthusiasm for learning that will extend throughout their lives. The university acknowledges that learning requires a partnership demanding hard work by students, faculty, and staff, and that learning extends beyond the classroom…” Because the University recognizes that students learn from both their in class and out of classroom experiences, Clarion offers a wide variety of co-curricular and extra-curricular involvement opportunities for its students. One such opportunity, which a significant number of Clarion University students choose to become involved with, are fraternities/sororities.
At Clarion University, we believe that membership in a fraternity or sorority can be an extremely positive experience that aids in a student’s personal growth and development both while enrolled at the University and long after they graduate. In an effort to help ensure that the Greek experience at Clarion University is a safe and positive one for our students, the University employs staff members within the Office of Campus Life who work with the governing councils and individual chapters. Additionally, as part of The Greek Plan: A Clarion Call for Congruence, the University has developed expectations for conduct and behavior to which all recognized fraternities and sororities must adhere, along with a Chapter Assessment Program (CAP) that reviews their operations on an annual basis. Currently, the following fraternities and sororities are recognized by Clarion University:
Fraternities Kappa Alpha Psi (KAY) Omega Psi Phi (WYF) Phi Beta Sigma (FBS) Phi Delta Theta (FDQ)v Phi Mu Alpha (FMA)v Tau Kappa Epsilon (TKE)v
Sororities Alpha Sigma Tau (AST)● Delta Phi Epsilon (DFE)« Delta Zeta (DZ)« Phi Sigma Sigma (FSS)v Sigma Sigma Sigma (SSS) Zeta Phi Beta (ZFB)v Zeta Tau Alpha (ZTA)«
Because your student may choose to join a fraternity or sorority, we would like to provide you with information pertaining to 2 former fraternities who have lost their university recognition: Phi Sigma Kappa and Kappa Delta Rho. It has been determined through the University Conduct Board process and/or national organization action that these groups failed to live up to the University’s expectations that their operations comply with all federal, state and local law, as well as university, governing council and organizational policy and therefore interfered with the academic mission of the institution. We are taking steps to discourage affiliation by students with these groups. Students who choose to join one of these organizations may subject themselves to university disciplinary procedures as these groups operate outside of university policy. These organizations are not affiliated with the University and therefore their operations relating to pledging, alcohol, drugs, etc. are not monitored by the University.
Phi Sigma Kappa () fraternity lost university recognition in the fall of 2005, following a University Conduct Board hearing that found the chapter responsible for violations of FIPG Risk Management Policy, relating specifically to the presence of firearms and drugs/drug paraphernalia in the fraternity house. In the fall of 2007, the Phi Sigma Kappa Grand Council revoked the chapter’s charter. Phi Sigma Kappa can be identified by the colors silver & red and their most recent residence was286 S. 5th Ave.
Kappa Delta Rho () was closed by the national organization in the summer of 2007 for a “pattern or behavior which indicates a flagrant disregard for Fraternity values, principles and policies including multiple violations of Fraternity risk management policies.” Kappa Delta Rho can be identified by the colors orange & blue and their last known residence was 110 N. 1st Ave.
There is also an unrecognized group, claiming to be a National Service Organization, which has many similarities to National Pan-Hellenic Council sororities (NPHC) and claims to be affiliated with an NPHC fraternity. Krimson Kourts, Inc., is not recognized by Clarion University nor does it have any affiliation with the Mu Phi chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.
Finally, we are pleased to announce that Sigma Phi Epsilon () fraternity is currently recolonizing its chapter at Clarion University. SigEp is the nation’s largest fraternity in terms of undergraduate membership and is widely recognized as a pioneer in leadership development due to the organization’s award winning educational and leadership programming. SigEp is a non pledging fraternity guided by a commitment to offering continuous personal and professional development for every member of our organization. The Fraternity’s Balanced Man Program and Leadership Continuum are two of the most comprehensive development programs offered by any national fraternity. Scholarships are available to incoming freshmen males through SigEp and interested students can get more information by visiting: www.sigep.org/clarion.
Clarion University’s fraternity and sorority community began more than 70 years ago and has grown to include 13 organizations, nearly 300 students and thousands of alumni. Fraternities and sororities strive to promote the principles of Friendship, Scholarship, Leadership, and Service. These are the principles upon which these values-driven organizations were founded. We are proud of those groups that adhere to these high standards of behavior and support your son or daughter if they choose to join a fraternity or sorority in good standing. We would also like to note that our entire Greek community was recently recognized for its academic performance at the Northeast Greek Leadership Association’s annual meeting and our Sorority community was recognized for their academic performance, as well as excellence in recruitment and community service. I strongly encourage you to discuss Greek life with your student in order to help them clarify their intentions to join a fraternity or sorority and decide which one is right for them. If you have any questions or concerns about any of this information, please feel free to contact me at 814-393-2714.
Sincerely,
Shawn M. Hoke Assistant Director Office of Campus Life |