Citizenship is brotherhood to me.
I like to describe the feeling of brotherhood to be the one like the first OSU game of the season. You have been gone for a summer away from your friends and school traditions. You come back for the first game and see everyone you know. You are so excited to see everyone because you don't expect it. You instantly feel known, feel valued, and lose the feeling of being a number. Essentially you feel connected to something larger than yourself.
SigEp is a large fraternity and it is tough to feel connected at first. But once you go to chapters go through the rituals you feel connected. SigEp becomes something more than just an organization you are apart of, it becomes an organization that you are. You live your letters. If you see a brother in a class or across the street and you feel connected. SigEp becomes who you are.
This video describes how I feel about my brotherhood and citizenship. I was raised a SigEp in college and when I graduate I'll remember what I learned. And no matter how far or long I am separated from Ohio Gamma I will still feel connected like I did when I was in undergrad.
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Last Week's Panel
It was great to see support from leaders within the greek community to come out and give us all some helpful tips to continue to elevate our community.
The most important piece I took away wasn't about the greek community but simply a leadership technique.
The questions was asked "How do you encourage involvement within your chapter and how do you deal with only a few guys showing up to events."
The panelist answered: "You can't blame the whole chapter. To say only 8 guys came out to our event and the rest of you should be ashamed of yourself isn't productive. If you make the 8 guys who did come stand up in front of the chapter and honor and praise them that is more likely to encourage more to come out next time, so they can be like that rather than criticism."
I think this simple leadership perspective can go a long way in all of our chapters. This is an issue we all deal with in whatever we do. To improve it is easy to look at what is going wrong and try to fix it, but it is probably more effective to focus on what is going right to improve what is wrong.
I consider myself a good fraternity man. I don't rage, commit to my academics, lead outside of the classroom, and represent my letters well. I don't want to be made to feel guilty about attendance or behavior when I am doing well because that makes me feel that I am not doing well. Praising the good in public and dealing with the bad in private makes things much more productive and is helpful to an organization as a whole.
Now for some funny clips from the office to end the class on a high note!
The most important piece I took away wasn't about the greek community but simply a leadership technique.
The questions was asked "How do you encourage involvement within your chapter and how do you deal with only a few guys showing up to events."
The panelist answered: "You can't blame the whole chapter. To say only 8 guys came out to our event and the rest of you should be ashamed of yourself isn't productive. If you make the 8 guys who did come stand up in front of the chapter and honor and praise them that is more likely to encourage more to come out next time, so they can be like that rather than criticism."
I think this simple leadership perspective can go a long way in all of our chapters. This is an issue we all deal with in whatever we do. To improve it is easy to look at what is going wrong and try to fix it, but it is probably more effective to focus on what is going right to improve what is wrong.
I consider myself a good fraternity man. I don't rage, commit to my academics, lead outside of the classroom, and represent my letters well. I don't want to be made to feel guilty about attendance or behavior when I am doing well because that makes me feel that I am not doing well. Praising the good in public and dealing with the bad in private makes things much more productive and is helpful to an organization as a whole.
Now for some funny clips from the office to end the class on a high note!
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Oath
An oath is a pledge, a promise. That's what an oath is, but carrying out an oath is a different thing.
Watch this video about an ethics oath for MBA students.
Now this was a funny video, but I think it brings up a good point. Why were these students concerned about signing the oath? Integrity and not being able to live up to that standard. Maybe this is the type of thought process we need to have in our fraternities.
So many times an oath becomes a procedure and requirement rather than a thoughtful consideration of future actions and implications. Could we be in our fraternities and other organizations without excepting an oath? No. So when we want to get in we just say yes no matter what it is.
I like what the students in this video have done. They know that they will not be able to hold their oath so they didn't take it. Does it sound shady of them considering the context of the story, yes. But taken out of context it is actually how things should be done.
If you can't live up to the standard of an oath you shouldn't take it. You also shouldn't be able to a position associated with the oath. I guess what I am getting at is there is no accountability for our oaths and a majority of the ones that we take. That fact that the students looked at the consequences before not signing shows that they are giving thoughtful consideration to their future actions and what that means for their integrity.
This is exactly what needs to happen within our fraternities. A more thoughtful consideration of what an oath means, if you can carry it out for a lifetime, and accountability if you can't.
Watch this video about an ethics oath for MBA students.
| The Daily Show With Jon Stewart | Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c | |||
| MBA Ethics Oath | ||||
| ||||
Now this was a funny video, but I think it brings up a good point. Why were these students concerned about signing the oath? Integrity and not being able to live up to that standard. Maybe this is the type of thought process we need to have in our fraternities.
So many times an oath becomes a procedure and requirement rather than a thoughtful consideration of future actions and implications. Could we be in our fraternities and other organizations without excepting an oath? No. So when we want to get in we just say yes no matter what it is.
I like what the students in this video have done. They know that they will not be able to hold their oath so they didn't take it. Does it sound shady of them considering the context of the story, yes. But taken out of context it is actually how things should be done.
If you can't live up to the standard of an oath you shouldn't take it. You also shouldn't be able to a position associated with the oath. I guess what I am getting at is there is no accountability for our oaths and a majority of the ones that we take. That fact that the students looked at the consequences before not signing shows that they are giving thoughtful consideration to their future actions and what that means for their integrity.
This is exactly what needs to happen within our fraternities. A more thoughtful consideration of what an oath means, if you can carry it out for a lifetime, and accountability if you can't.
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Incongruencies
Is greek life incongruent on with many of the values we set for ourselves? Is the atomic weight of cobalt 58.9?
The answer is yes. Greek life is extremely incongruent. From our TGs, Date Parties, and recruitment we are incongruent, but why?
I personally believe why they exist is because of American Culture. We grow up watching MTV spring break in 5th grade thinking that's what you do when you get to that age. It is reinforced all the way up through high school and once you get to college you see it for your own eyes.
School and life are popularity contests. High school is the most dramatic, but when you get to a college like Ohio State you have to find your own fit. For many people who grew up idealizing the media and TV portrayal of college students they think that joining a "frat" is the cool thing to do. By joining a "frat" they get to continue what their expectation of it coming in for the next four years.
Am I making a sweeping generalization? Yes. But I feel there is some truth to what I am saying.
How many of us have been apart of a recruitment committee and you find a promising guy and he says "I am not a Frat guy" "I know a fraternity is not for me." Why does he say that? Because of what he has seen on tv and what he has heard about other fraternities from friends.
Now are the people who are willing to join a fraternity and don't make those excuses more accepting of the stereotypical things that happen in a fraternity? Most likely yes.
The point that I am trying to make is that if people are ok with it coming in, they are going to accept and enable the behavior as members. Those members become apart of the leadership team and the negative traditions are carried on. The people who classify themselves as "not frat material" are the people we need in our organizations to make a positive change.
I am not saying that only those types of people can make changes. It ultimately starts with the current leaders within the group. Change doesn't happen over night. SigEp used to be the "fratiest" fraternity on campus until we got kicked off. It wasn't until our re-chartering that we got our act together and decided to stand for something better than just partying. Do we still have flaws? Yes! But I think we successfully don't resemble the stereotypical "frat" on tv like we used to.
As a guy who said "I am not Frat material" I am happy with my choice to join SigEp and be apart of the greek community. Once I joined I realized that I wasn't "frat" material, I was Fraternity Material.
And now the defensive line for the University of Michigan
The answer is yes. Greek life is extremely incongruent. From our TGs, Date Parties, and recruitment we are incongruent, but why?
I personally believe why they exist is because of American Culture. We grow up watching MTV spring break in 5th grade thinking that's what you do when you get to that age. It is reinforced all the way up through high school and once you get to college you see it for your own eyes.
School and life are popularity contests. High school is the most dramatic, but when you get to a college like Ohio State you have to find your own fit. For many people who grew up idealizing the media and TV portrayal of college students they think that joining a "frat" is the cool thing to do. By joining a "frat" they get to continue what their expectation of it coming in for the next four years.
Am I making a sweeping generalization? Yes. But I feel there is some truth to what I am saying.
How many of us have been apart of a recruitment committee and you find a promising guy and he says "I am not a Frat guy" "I know a fraternity is not for me." Why does he say that? Because of what he has seen on tv and what he has heard about other fraternities from friends.
Now are the people who are willing to join a fraternity and don't make those excuses more accepting of the stereotypical things that happen in a fraternity? Most likely yes.
The point that I am trying to make is that if people are ok with it coming in, they are going to accept and enable the behavior as members. Those members become apart of the leadership team and the negative traditions are carried on. The people who classify themselves as "not frat material" are the people we need in our organizations to make a positive change.
I am not saying that only those types of people can make changes. It ultimately starts with the current leaders within the group. Change doesn't happen over night. SigEp used to be the "fratiest" fraternity on campus until we got kicked off. It wasn't until our re-chartering that we got our act together and decided to stand for something better than just partying. Do we still have flaws? Yes! But I think we successfully don't resemble the stereotypical "frat" on tv like we used to.
As a guy who said "I am not Frat material" I am happy with my choice to join SigEp and be apart of the greek community. Once I joined I realized that I wasn't "frat" material, I was Fraternity Material.
And now the defensive line for the University of Michigan
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Mission Statement Conngruent or incongruent?
Building Balanced Men.
That is SigEp's mission statement. How are we congruent or incongruent with that?
Congruent:
Balanced Man program
Social Events
That is SigEp's mission statement. How are we congruent or incongruent with that?
Congruent:
Balanced Man program
- The program's objective is to instill 'a universal respect for self and other'" This is accomplished by replacing the traditional pledge process with four distinct "Challenges"
- Last year we won chapter of the year as well as other programing and individual awards.
Social Events
- Like all fraternities we have social events. Including TGs Date Parties ect. At these events some of our men become far from balanced.
- SigEp recruits men who are involved on campus and are dedicated to their academics, but there is less room for understanding when it comes to missing a chapter for a different piece of involvement.
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Values in Corportations
I chose the Apple Corporation as one that shows their values. Now I don't have an Apple computer, but this is even more of a reason why I picked this company; because their values stick out to non-users as well.
Take a look at these commercials for each of their products.
To me from these three product commercials it is very evident to see their values. Apple likes Creativity Each one of these ads are extremely creative and appeals to a younger generation.
Apple is also very simplistic and organized. Each product simulation showed how simple and easy the product was to use.
They also value quality and design with each product and all these ads show that.
This was an easy blog prompt, but I think it was easy because I know what makes a good organization to me. What appeals to me for a good organization is just that, organization. Any organization that has visible and reasonable organization will be successful. People thrive on structure, they also thrive on opportunity. An organization with a solid structure for leadership opens up opportunity which then innovates the organization making it solid. To me this is what Apple has done and is part of the reason they have become so successful this past decade.
Take a look at these commercials for each of their products.
To me from these three product commercials it is very evident to see their values. Apple likes Creativity Each one of these ads are extremely creative and appeals to a younger generation.
Apple is also very simplistic and organized. Each product simulation showed how simple and easy the product was to use.
They also value quality and design with each product and all these ads show that.
This was an easy blog prompt, but I think it was easy because I know what makes a good organization to me. What appeals to me for a good organization is just that, organization. Any organization that has visible and reasonable organization will be successful. People thrive on structure, they also thrive on opportunity. An organization with a solid structure for leadership opens up opportunity which then innovates the organization making it solid. To me this is what Apple has done and is part of the reason they have become so successful this past decade.
Sunday, October 10, 2010
What are my values and what do they mean to me
What are my values? This is a question that is hard to answer. There are so many and each have a different meaning in a different situation.
Values in terms of my leadership are very concrete. I appreciate performance, creativity, quality, and achievement. These are my values for myself. I don't always meet all of them, or sometimes any of them, but they are what ground me. They give me purpose in what I am doing. What is something if it's not quality? How can I lead others if I am not performing and setting the standard? What is the drive to innovate and improve with our creativity? Are we successful and consider our work to be an achievement?
Now if we spin the wheel a little bit we can switch gears to my life; what are my values in my life. Well I would have to say integrity is a big one. I like to think when people think of me or see me they know that what they see is what they get. I am a very upfront person. I don't like to butter up things to make them sound better, I tell it like it is. I hope that my previous work and actions show that. Integrity is being grounded and knowing yourself. Letting that show to others throughout your life. Being consistent with all of your values all the time. This is my number one value. All the rest fall in place.
Values in terms of my leadership are very concrete. I appreciate performance, creativity, quality, and achievement. These are my values for myself. I don't always meet all of them, or sometimes any of them, but they are what ground me. They give me purpose in what I am doing. What is something if it's not quality? How can I lead others if I am not performing and setting the standard? What is the drive to innovate and improve with our creativity? Are we successful and consider our work to be an achievement?
Now if we spin the wheel a little bit we can switch gears to my life; what are my values in my life. Well I would have to say integrity is a big one. I like to think when people think of me or see me they know that what they see is what they get. I am a very upfront person. I don't like to butter up things to make them sound better, I tell it like it is. I hope that my previous work and actions show that. Integrity is being grounded and knowing yourself. Letting that show to others throughout your life. Being consistent with all of your values all the time. This is my number one value. All the rest fall in place.
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