Mistakes are inevitable and you can’t make everyone happy. Now, combine all your friends under one roof and you’re bound to upset someone. So at some point in your academic career, you may find yourself, or your chapter, sitting across from the University’s Powers that Be defending your actions. You don’t have to go in unarmed…enter: Pat Daley from TheFraternityAdvisor.com, as he explains how to survive a University Hearing:
So your fraternity got in trouble. Maybe it was serious, or maybe it was just harmless college fun. Regardless, the powers that be think it warrants a university hearing. Here are five steps on how to make sure your punishment fits your crime.
1) Own up to your mistakes as soon as possible. It is much better for your national headquarters and your Greek Life Director to hear about the incident from your fraternity as opposed to campus police.
2) Get your alumni and national HQ involved for advice as soon as possible. This is where it will pay huge dividends if you have a good chapter advisor. He will be invaluable in this process.
3) Be humble and apologize if you were wrong. There is nothing worse than a cocky college kid trying to talk his way out of trouble. That never works. Everyone screws up in life. Those with character admit their mistakes and strive to become better because of the experience.
4) Apologize to any parties you offended. If the situation warrants it, write a letter of apology and deliver it in person. Be sincere in your apology.
5) Come up with a written agreement of how your fraternity will address the issue with your Greek Life office, your alumni and your national HQ. Getting their buy-in will be huge with your hearing with the university.
If you do these five things, your hearing will go as smooth as possible.
What will happen is you will go in, explain what happened.You will show how you owned up to your mistake by reporting it as soon as possible and apologizing to the offended parties.
Then you will show a plan of corrective actions that already has the buy-in of your national HQ and your school’s Greek Life Office. This will show you handled your issue as maturely as possible, and the sanctions you receive will be fair.
Finally, whatever happens, be sure your fraternity grows as a result. Every challenge is an opportunity to become better. Be sure you and your fraternity brothers grow from it.
Pat Daley is the author of The Fraternity Leader and thefraternityadvisor.com. Both are dedicated to helping you make your fraternity the best on campus.
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