To the Editor:
On Monday Posy Evans '99 was quoted as saying she had heard fraternities' New Member Education series was "a joke" ["SAGE focuses on gender interaction," The Dartmouth, July 17, 1997]. She never justified this remark. Evans also said she would like to see a coed discussion on the issue. I was at the discussion in the fall, moderated by Gabrielle Lucke, Director of Health Resources for the College, and I can tell you that it was no joke. As the Interfraternity Council Rush Chair for the coming fall, I can also tell you about what we have planned, which will be even better.
The NME for this year will be a series of three presentations about issues relevant to Greek life. For our first session, we are inviting Judge Mitch Crane, who spoke last year, to speak on hazing. Crane was well-received and he addresses a topic that is significant to new fraternity brothers, especially during the early stages of pledge period.
Last fall, Nonnie Cameron, a fraternity house mother at Purdue University, spoke about self-esteem and personal growth within the Greek system. While most people liked her, we decided to change the focus of the second presentation and invite Matt Supple, the Fraternity Advisor at the University of Maryland, to speak on leadership.
The third session will be a coed discussion on gender-related issues, similar to last year's. I have been working closely on this year's program with both Gabrielle Lucke and Shannon Kelley '99, who is planning the New Member Education for Panhell.
Evans suggested showing the video about date rape titled "Playing the Game" shown to new sorority members last year. We considered showing it, but based on last year's feedback and the goals of the session, we decided not to. Instead, we have scheduled the producer, Robin Sawyer, also from the University of Maryland, to speak and lead a discussion. We will coordinate smaller group discussions in individual houses before meetings the following Wednesday.
This type of series is new to Dartmouth Greek life and is evolving each year. Pete Hasenkamp '98, last year's IFC Rush Chair who planned last fall's programs, said he thinks that series turned out better than the previous year's. I expect to say the same once we are done. We are putting a lot of time and a fair share of the IFC budget into planning this and, even if it does not meet our expectations, I doubt it will come off as a joke.
