Alumni Newsletter
Fall 2006
Chapter Websites...A Primary Risk For Fraternities
By Todd Mattox, Education Consultant, HRH/Kirklin & Co., LLC and initiate of Beta Theta Pi Fraternity
You only know what you know, or as Will Rogers once said, "all I know is what I read in the papers." Simply stated, what chapters and alumni groups post on websites for public view is often all that a visitor may know about the members and organization. The key question is what is displayed on and how will it be interpreted by those outside the organization?
The purpose of chapter websites is to assist in the promotion and communication of fraternal values upon which the organization was founded. As fraternal societies we subscribe to sound objectives and oaths. Be it in public or private ceremonies, these declarations of personal commitment maintain application within the organization and well beyond throughout our lives. It is important that our deeds and conduct, as well as websites and other forms of external communication, are used to display our core values in a consistent manner with the mission, vision, and goals of our organizations, right? A positive website can be a tremendous tool utilized in the development of alumni relations, communication within the undergraduate chapter, and for the overall promotion of the organization to prospective members, parents, and the community.
Echoing the website of the college or university, the chapter should provide content and information which states the underling objectives and vision of the organization, promotes membership, and is representative of both undergraduate and alumni members. Yet, these simple methods of outreach can quickly become negated by content and material counter to the intentions of the organization.
General guidelines for inappropriate website content to avoid are the following:
- Pictures, graphics, or content wording with the inclusion of any illegal activities or behavior inconsistent with the policies, values, or ethics of the organization
- Reference to our encouragement of alcohol, drugs, controlled substances or other paraphernalia, including graphics, photos or content wording of any kind
- Links to or from facebook.com and/or other personal sites of members, advisors or other agents of the organization
- Distasteful or offensive downloaded/ uploaded files, graphics, audio, video, or other animated presentations and links
- Explicit or vulgar content wording, photos, or graphics found within a website or on an external linked site
Fraternal organizations continue to fight a public image problem reminiscent of "Animal House," which quite frankly is perpetuated on numerous chapter and personal websites throughout North America. They depict that the Greek community lacks proper values, seeks little commitment or value to academic expectation; and alcohol consumption dominates our existence.
A primary reason for the emphasis of appropriate website content is the understanding that fraternal organizations have faced litigation and subsequently high settlement costs from claims in which the chapter and/or member website served as key evidence of negligence. These judgments have revealed the inability to properly monitor, educate, and discipline members relative to the organization risk management policy and alcohol use guidelines; simply through the audit of chapter website content. Clearly, a concerning point for fraternity members and the subsequent entities which support its operation as the onset of the technology age continues to develop and influence websites such as facebook.com, myspace.com and webshots.com which quickly inundate college campuses and fraternal members.
Now more than ever, organizations are aware of the risks and liability incurred when preventative measures are not taken regarding the publication of websites and other communications of chapters. Leadership of the chapter is responsible to assure information and content of the website is portrayed in a manner keeping with the values of the organization. Certainly, the development of the chapter website may be managed in an appropriate manner. It is quite feasible for an undergraduate wishing to pursue a career in website design to produce a professional, interactive and classy website; an aspect which can be highlighted when searching for post graduate careers.
As identified above, fraternal organizations must again respond to the increasingly litigious society clearly present within the operations of the college/university community and subscribe to the values and principles upon which they were founded.
Further information and resources concerning proper website content and material which should be avoided can be found online with HRH/Kirklin & Co., LLC
This article was developed and derived from the external memorandum to fraternityleadership from Ray Galbreth, ExecutiveDirector of Delta Chi Fraternity, in February of 2004.
Past Articles from the Alumni Newsletter
- The Three Deadly Nights
- Reduce Your Organization Risk with Transportation
- Smoking Policies
- The Benefits of Using A Professional Property Manager
- The Seven Habits of Highly Successful House Corporations
- The State of the Fraternal Insurance Market
WPI Greek Life Programs Mission Statement
"To provide advisement,services and programs that ensure all chapter members, alumni and parents of Greek Life have a positive fraternal experience. Greek Life Programs reinforces the founding principles of fraternities; leadership, scholarship, community service, brotherhood/sisterhood in all aspects of the program. Greek Life Programs strives to provide a high quality, co-curricular experience for all Greek constituencies."
Last modified: July 20, 2007 13:15:41