Fall 2002

RISE Programs Seeks To Build Greek Community

An effort to build the spirit of community among fraternities and sororities on campus reached a new level this fall with the RISE program. RISE is an acronym for Relationship, Integrity, Service and Enlightenment.

RISE was presented in a special one-day workshop to Greek organization presidents this fall. The goal was to show how much each group has in common with other fraternities and how they can live better lives by following the values held by each group.

"RISE is part of a recent emphasis we have had on campus to build on an already strong Greek community," said Tom Miller, associate dean of students. "This is not a reaction to a ‘we have a problem’ scenario. We have taken time for the Greek organizations to refocus on their original values and how they relate to other groups on campus."

"Through RISE, we hope to teach concepts of ethics, friendships, fellowship and business," Miller said. Now that the Greek executive officers have gone through the training, they are expected to carry the concept back to their chapters.

The RISE program included a presentation by President Samuel Hulbert, and it was followed by a program where fraternities and sororities worked "sprucing up" their houses prior to Homecoming.

At many colleges, Greek organizations have come under fire for alcohol abuse and hazing incidents. Some fraternities have closed because of such problems. "Rose-Hulman doesn’t want to be a part of that, and our students have taken great strides to stay focused on the original values that were part of their founding," Miller said.

"We are ahead of other colleges in the strength of our Greek community, and bringing everybody together will help continue that process," said Mike Novotney, president of Triangle fraternity and student coordinator of the RISE program.

"We hope this begins a running dialogue between communities and break down stereotypes that one house might hold against another," Novtoney said. "We want to make sure everybody realizes we are one community."

"Each organization is individual and different, but we all have similar and shared values," Miller stated.