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Fraternity & Sorority Life Newsletter

Taylor Ritzert - Wednesday, August 23, 2023
 General   Newsletters 

This is the last monthly newsletter of the semester. I would like to thank all of you for your contributions and engagement with this publication. It has been a pleasure to celebrate and highlight the achievements and milestones of our community at CMU over the past year. Congratulations to all of the seniors that are graduating and moving on to amazing opportunities. I wish everyone an amazing summer and we will see you back here in August. 

Best regards, 

Taylor and the FSL Team

In this edition:

  1. Community Spotlight
    • Lambda Phi Epsilon tables for Be the Match
    • Alpha Sigma Phi hosts Parents Weekend
    • Tri Delta hosts an Alumni Brunch
    • Alpha Chi Omega participates in Denim Day
    • The Fraternity and Sorority Life Awards
    • Knock and Talks
  2. Coming Up at CMU
    • Don't ditch it, donate it to the Whatever Drive
    • Senior Week is almost here!
    • Participate in Tartan Voices
    • Sign up to be a Move-In Volunteer
    • Perform at Community Collage
  3. Resources
    • May is Mental Health Awareness Month
    • CMUPD R.A.D. Course
    • Closing Time: Information on Move Out

Lambda Phi Epsilon tables for Be The Match

On Tuesday, March 28th, Lambda Phi Epsilon hosted a tabling event on campus with BeTheMatch, a non-profit organization operated by National Marrow Donor Program. BeTheMatch maintains the most diverse marrow registry in the world and helps patients with life-threatening blood cancer by matching patients with donors. The brothers raised awareness about the cause and added 40 new donors to the registry!

Alpha Sigma Phi hosts Parents Weekend

The brothers of Alpha Sigma Phi hosted a successful parents weekend on April 1, 2023, that featured a barbecue with yard games and old-school entertainment at Pins Mechanical Company. The warm weather added to the relaxing atmosphere, making it a fun and enjoyable experience for all involved. The event was a great opportunity for parents to spend time with their sons and connect with the fraternity community!

Tri Delta's Carnival Alumni Brunch


Over CMU's Spring Carnival, Tri Delta’s Alpha Tau chapter welcomed around 40 alumni to the house for a reunion brunch. The active sisters had an amazing time learning about our chapter’s history, traditions, and fun anecdotes our alumni shared with us. The chapter looks forward to hosting the alumni again next year!

Alpha Chi Omega participates in Denim Day

On April 26, Alpha Chi Omega participated in Denim Day by painting the CMU Fence and hosting a social media campaign for individuals to share their denim on Instagram. Denim Day, observed on the last Wednesday in April, aims to raise awareness about victim blaming and consent during Sexual Assault Awareness Month since 1999. 

Fraternity and Sorority Life Awards

On April 26, 2023, the Fraternity and Sorority Life Governing Councils hosted the FSL Awards. Over 100 students, staff, administrators, and advisors from across the university gathered to celebrate the FSL community. The FSL Awards aim to honor both individual and organization achievements throughout the 2022 calendar year.

The FSL team would like to thank council officers Bilal Chaudhry (IFC), Pranathi Birapuneni (PHC), and Suzy Xu (MGC) for their work to plan and host these awards. 

Congratulations to the following award winners!

Individual Awards:

Interfraternity Council Member of the Year: Len Huang, Sigma Phi Epsilon
Multicultural Greek Council Member of the Year: Mandy Yang, Kappa Phi Lambda
Panhellenic Council Member of the Year: Marissa Montadas, Delta Gamma
Emerging Leader: Linda Carlson, Delta Gamma
Outstanding Community Service and Philanthropy: Nisha Fernandes, Delta Delta Delta
Outstanding Recruitment Counselor: Karen Sabol, Delta Delta Delta
President of the Year: Mia Ritter, Delta Delta Delta
 
Chapter Awards:
Chapter of the Year: Delta Gamma
Membership Development: Delta Delta Delta
Recruitment Programming: Delta Gamma    
Campus Presence: Delta Delta Delta
Chapter Initiative: Delta Gamma
Service & Philanthropy: Delta Delta Delta    
Chapter Unity: Delta Delta Delta    
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: Delta Delta Delta    
Alumni Engagement: Kappa Phi Lambda
 

The winners of the FSL awards were nominated by their peers. During the March Fraternity and Sorority Life Leader Gathering, each chapter representative reviewed the nomination without any identifying information like name and chapter. The leader gathering meeting is a once-a-month meeting with chapter presidents and council leaders. Each chapter representative was able to vote and those votes were tallied to determine The FSL Award winner. 

Carnival Knock and Talks

 

The FSL team joined CMU PD and Athletics to spread awareness and resources for alcohol safety during Carnival. The group walked Beeler Street to hand out candy and share the CMU Amnesty policy and other safety information. We are happy to continue these partnerships to promote student safety on and off campus!

Whatever Drive

Each year during move-out, the CMU community is responsible for the disposal of a large amount of personal belongings that students cannot or do not want to bring home with them. These goods are often in working order, and can be reused within the Pittsburgh community to minimize waste and our impact on the environment. This year, students will have different Whatever Drive options to choose from, based on the types of items they would like to donate. 

This year's Whatever Drive will run from Monday, May 1 through Friday, May 12. Items can be dropped off at the Nexus of Civic Engagement from 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Monday - Friday during the drive. The Nexus of Civic Engagement is located on the first floor of the Cohon University Center. Please read the rest of this webpage for more information about this program. Please direct questions about the Whatever Drive to SLICE@andrew.cmu.edu.

Accepted Items and Where to Donate
Please use good judgment when selecting items to donate to the Whatever Drive.. All donated items must be in good condition and ready to be donated to our community partners. If you wouldn’t give it to a friend, please do not donate it. 

Small Donations: Here is a list of items that will be collected at the Nexus of Civic Engagement from Monday, May 1 - Friday, May 12: 

  • Clothing, shoes
  • Household items
  • Books
  • Electronics, cords, batteries
  • Unopened non-perishable food that is not expired
  • Small kitchen appliances (blenders, rice cookers, microwaves, toasters)
  • Kitchenware (pots and pans, plates, utensils, can openers)
  • Hygiene products, and cleaning supplies
  • School Supplies

Bulk Item Donations: Large items or any items listed above can be directly donated to St. Vincent de Paul. They will have a box truck on campus at various times throughout the Whatever Drive to facilitate large-item donations. 

  • Here is a list of large items St. Vincent de Paul can accept:
    • Furniture
    • Mini-fridges
    • Household items
    • Small appliances
  • Here are the dates, times, and locations when the St. Vincent de Paul truck will be available. 
    • Fifth Ave Community, Clyde Parking Lot: Wednesday, May 3, 12:00 pm - 3:00 pm
    • Morewood Community, Morewood Parking Lot: Monday, May 8, 10:00 am - 1:00 pm
    • Margaret Morrison Community, CFA Parking Lot: Wednesday, May 10, 9:00 am- 12:00 pm

Items that CANNOT Be Donated

  • Opened or expired food items, hygiene products, or cleaning supplies
  • Items in bad shape (worn out, broken, damaged, stained, dirty, etc)
  • Trash
  • Illegal items, weapons, hazardous chemicals
  • Mattresses, box springs, futons, sleeper couches

Community Partners

We are proud to sponsor our various community and campus partners. Learn more about their impactful work: 
  • St. Vincent de Paul
  • CMU Food Pantry
  • Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank
  • Pittsburgh Prison Book Project
  • The Thrifty Mellon

Senior Week is almost here!

Senior Week is almost here! May 8th - May 12th
Spend some time before Commencement exploring Pittsburgh, trying new things, and connecting with other members of the 2023 graduating class. 

Activity details and information about tickets will be available soon on the SLICE website: Senior Engagement

Tartan Voices 

Tartan VOICES 2023: Our Community, Our Experience, Our Voice.
 
The Tartan VOICES 2023 survey is designed to help leadership better understand student experiences related to individual sense of belonging as well as the diversity and inclusion of the campus environment.

This survey will take approximately 10-15 minutes to complete. For the best survey experience, complete the survey in one sitting using a tablet, laptop, or desktop.
 
This study includes several demographic items that are required to appropriately interpret your experiences. Neither your name nor any other identifying information will be shared in the assessment reporting process.  
 
Twenty randomly selected undergraduate and graduate students from the first 50% of responders will receive a CMU sweatshirt or joggers from the CMU university store.
 
Undergraduate Student Survey: cmu.is/undergrad-voices-2023
Graduate Student Survey: cmu.is/grad-voices-2023
 
Undergraduate Survey QR Code Graduate Survey QR Code

Move-In Volunteers



Fraternity and sorority life members have been long-standing volunteers for First-Year Move-In. This is a great opportunity to welcome the newest class of Tartans and introduce them to fraternity and sorority life. Volunteers are encouraged to wear chapter merch during move-in. Move-in is scheduled for Saturday, August 19 from 8:00 am to 3:00 pm. Volunteers who will be living in on-campus housing for the 23-24 academic year, can move in early on Friday, August 18. Volunteers should sign up by July 12. 

There are fraternity and sorority life community recruitment events in the works to be held during orientation. It would be great to have representatives from each chapter at those events to show how vibrant our community is. Your governing council will be providing more information about these recruitment events. 
 

Community Collage

Community Collage is a hallmark experience during First Year Orientation that aims to reprsent some of the unique, diverse identities and communities within our Carnegie Mellon Community. Through music, dance, performances, and narratives, we're currently looking to showcase students' stories and how they help to cultivate a sense of belongingness as a campus community. The 2023 Orientation Staff and Center for Student Diversity & Inclusion are seeking individuals or groups to perform.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month

1 in 3 (30.6%) young adults between the ages of 18 and 25 experienced a mental, behavioral, or emotional health issue in the past year (SAMHSA, 2021). Among college students, 29.1% have been diagnosed with anxiety and 23.6% have been diagnosed with depression (NCHA, 2021). 

So you may ask, what can I do?
Check out these resources shared by the JED Foundation:

  1. Learn why connection is one of the most powerful forms of self-care and get inspired by teens and young adults who take care of themselves by connecting with others. Then join JED x PINK for weekly self-care practices that will help you tap into your playful side, embrace joy, and create meaningful connection.
    • Online: Atlantic senior editor Lenika Cruz takes us into K-pop fandom to share how this unique community offers connection, inclusion, validation, and joy to teens and young adults around the world. Discover how online fandoms offer teens and young adults ways to find connection.
    • In the LGBTQIA+ community: If you are a part of the LGBTQIA+ community, connecting with others who love you unconditionally and because of your queerness is one of the best ways to nurture your mental health. Learn and share how LGBTQIA+ teens and young adults can find their people no matter where they live, and share this helpful guide to getting connected.
  2. Join JED for MTV’s Mental Health Day of Action on May 18. Exciting announcements to come! For more information about Mental Health Day of Action, visit mentalhealthaction.network.
  3. Finally, check out our article Taking Care of Your Mental Health Through Activism and discover how activism can be healing in hard times
The Jed Foundation (JED) is a nonprofit that protects emotional health and prevents suicide for our nation’s teens and young adults, giving them the skills and support they need to thrive today…and tomorrow.

CMUPD R.A.D. Course

Rape Aggression Defense (R.A.D.) is a 12-hour women’s self-defense course designed to increase women’s awareness of potential sexual assault and to provide physical techniques to respond to such an act.
 
R.A.D. is intended for women only because the presence of males in class (other than instructors or other authorized persons) may alter women’s emotional and physical responses to class material, hindering their ability to reach course objectives. It is of the utmost importance that women maximize their opportunity to learn in the company of like-minded peers.

The core of the course is based upon the Rape Aggression Defense (R.A.D.) System principles conceived and developed by Larry N. Nadeau. His goal in developing R.A.D. is its motto: “To develop and enhance the options of self-defense, so they may become viable considerations to the woman who is attacked.”

This course is composed of three sections: 
Risk reduction principles – Include a thorough review of personal self-awareness and the environment, whether in the home, neighborhood or unfamiliar community.
Physical defense techniques – Include introducing bodily strikes using hands and feet and defenses against grabs and holds.
Simulation – The activity that incorporates physical demonstration of all emotional and physical techniques taught through the acting out of scenarios involving instructors (padded/protected) as attackers and students (padded/protected) responding to the assault.
​​​
Register for R.A.D. as a course, offered through the Department of Athletics and Physical Education under course number 69-129.
Email the police department R.A.D. team at cmurad@andrew.cmu.edu to schedule a community class that works for you. Please have a group of 5-15 women and the flexibility to accommodate 12 hours of instruction.

Closing Time: Information on Move-Out

All residential buildings on campus, including chapter houses, will close on May 10, 2023, at noon. Please refer to this link for information about the move-out process: https://www.cmu.edu/housing/move-out/index.html