Alpha Delta Pi announces with regret the closure of the Omicron chapter at Duke University, effective immediately, and the Theta Epsilon chapter at Methodist University, effective by the end of the fall 2021 semester.

Alpha Delta Pi announces with regret the closure of the Omicron chapter at Duke University, effective immediately, and the Theta Epsilon chapter at Methodist University, effective by the end of the fall 2021 semester. While closing a chapter is never an easy decision, Grand Council considered the short- and long-term viability of the chapters and determined the potential for a positive membership experience was lacking on both campuses.

Omicron chapter was founded at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina, in 1911. With thousands of accomplished Alpha Delta Pi alumnae – including the sorority’s sixth Grand President, Irma Tapp, and award-winning journalist and anchor Judy Woodruff – Omicron boasts 110 years of rich history. As “Abolish Greek Life” movements took hold on a handful of campuses across the United States in 2020, the Omicron collegiate chapter members voted to relinquish their charter. After a year of unsuccessful efforts to rebuild the chapter using alternative recruiting methods focused on eliminating barriers to entry, Grand Council voted to officially close the chapter and redirect volunteer and staff resources.

Theta Epsilon chapter was established at Methodist University in Fayetteville, North Carolina, in 2008. The college Panhellenic has seen declining interest in sorority membership in recent years with only seven women participating in the fall 2021 primary recruitment period. In September 2021, the University suspended the chapter until August 2022 following the racially offensive actions of an individual at a chapter event. Upon completion of our internal investigation and consideration of the membership experience outlook for Theta Epsilon’s members, Grand Council voted to officially close the chapter.

Members of Grand Council, the Central District Team, and the chapters’ advisors will plan and conduct official closing ceremonies and celebrations of sisterhood and chapter achievements in the coming weeks.

Alpha Delta Pi is pleased to announce a new program to provide targeted, multi-faceted education and training for diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.

Alpha Delta Pi is pleased to announce a three-year partnership with Campus Prevention Network (CPN) (formerly part of EverFi, now with Vector Solutions) to provide a targeted, multi-faceted education and training program for diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB). In 2017 Grand Council created a Diversity and Inclusion Committee and in 2020 named Diversity and Inclusion as a strategic priority for the organization. Since then, Alpha Delta Pi has launched the Talk About It Tuesdays education series and discussion group, created a Director of Inclusion officer role for collegiate chapters, developed member and chapter resources, provided chapter and member support through the Diversity and Inclusion Committee and district-aligned liaisons, implemented identity-based social media affinity groups, and added representatives from the Diversity and Inclusion Committee to special committees and task forces.

“We are excited for the next step in our commitment to creating a culture of belonging by offering foundational, targeted, and actionable learning opportunities to all members,” noted International President Emily Erkel. The sorority chose to work with Campus Prevention Network after comprehensive research into professional education modules utilized by peer fraternal organizations to inform their memberships on key DEIB topics. Key factors in evaluating this platform included:

• Use of evidence-based e-learning strategies in courses.
• Ability to view consolidated data and trends through a dashboard in real time.
• Externally developed professional materials and resources that can be supplemented by Alpha Delta Pi as needed. The self-paced modules include interactive polls, short videos, and other learning methods proven in higher education.
• Feedback from fraternal peers on their successful implementation and member engagement.

Campus Prevention Network’s programming is utilized by many college campuses – in addition to fraternal organizations – to educate college students on diversity and inclusion, alcohol awareness, sexual assault awareness, and hazing prevention. Their team of professional curriculum designers updates materials annually as they research and learn more on these ever-changing topics and their learners. The DEIB course purpose is to introduce university and college students to key concepts within the diversity and inclusion space. Taking a social justice approach, the courses discuss concepts such as inclusion, power, privilege, identities, and communication as well as strategies related to ally behavior, self-care, and creating inclusive spaces. By building competencies around emotional intelligence via interactive scenarios and case studies, the courses will communicate to all learners the expectations of being an engaged member of a diverse and inclusive community while providing important tools to meet said expectations. Alpha Delta Pi’s Director of Education and Programs Andrea Kleekamp said, “These courses offer strategies, tools and resources to help members understand the role they have in creating an organizational culture of belonging. Partnering with CPN allows us to deliver foundational content in an interactive and engaging way. With these foundations, learning and growth will continue with additional planned educational opportunities and resources.”

The rollout for this foundational learning through four distinct, self-paced sessions will begin in November 2021 with the availability of the student module for all collegiate members and chapter-supporting alumnae volunteers (advisors, International Officers, and house corporation officers) and staff and the professional module for all staff. Sessions will continue in the start of 2022 with the availability of the bias module for collegiate chapter officers, advisors, International Officers, house corporation officers, and staff and then into the spring with the leader module for advisors, International Officers, house corporation officers, alumnae association officers, Foundation Trustees, and standing and special committee members. Plans for fiscal year 2022-2023 include the option for all alumnae to have the opportunity to participate in the professional module. The CPN modules will be supplemented by additional educational content, webinars for discussion, and targeted resources developed in collaboration with Alpha Delta Pi’s Diversity and Inclusion Committee.

Alpha Delta Pi’s initial three-year commitment with Campus Prevention Network includes annual updates to the materials and continued participation by all stakeholders. “At a base level, all members will have a better foundational understanding of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging and how these concepts are interwoven into everyday life,” said Executive Director Amanda Sloan. She continued, “Chapter officers, advisors, international officers, and staff will develop the skills necessary to thinking critically and working with others to ensure all members of Alpha Delta Pi feel included and that they belong. Collegiate members will have a greater understanding of these topics as organizational priorities, and the CPN modules will enhance their respect for the role each member plays in building a more inclusive and welcoming culture for all members.”

Alpha Delta Pi suspended the Theta Epsilon chapter at Methodist University on September 16, 2021, upon learning of racist and bystander behavior during a chapter sisterhood event. The member responsible for the racist comments has also been suspended, and the process for evaluating her continued membership has begun; a full chapter investigation is also underway. The university followed with their suspension of the chapter on September 21, 2021. Sorority staff and volunteers are working directly with chapter members to learn more and provide support to those who have been harmed, and we are grateful for Methodist University’s professional resources available to students. We are also working closely with university administration to ensure the safety of our members given recent threats, while we ascertain the best education, restorative justice practices, and next steps required to ensure that if Alpha Delta Pi will exist on a campus, it will be a sisterhood of inclusion and belonging.

The members of Theta Epsilon prepared a statement to share with their community but did not post it at the request of the university. The chapter wanted to immediately apologize, take responsibility, and begin to make amends for their painful decisions, and we wish they had been allowed to do so, as so much needed to be said. They are not permitted by the university at this time to post on their chapter accounts, so we have given them our platforms to speak.

STATEMENT FROM THETA EPSILON CHAPTER AT METHODIST UNIVERSITY

We extend our sincerest apologies to the Methodist football team, the student body, the sisters of color in our chapter, university faculty and staff, and university alumni regarding racist comments that took place at our event on September 14, 2021. We failed you, we failed the oath we made to Alpha Delta Pi, and we failed ourselves.

We first failed when one of our members made racist comments. It’s deeply disturbing to realize we have not created the kind of chapter culture where racial jokes wouldn’t be welcome. Then we failed our values and community by not speaking up to stop it. This is bystander behavior, and we’re deeply embarrassed that despite knowing better, we didn’t do better.

We deserve the suspension of our chapter, and our members will use this time to reflect on our behavior and to do whatever will help heal our community. We express our deepest apologies to everyone we’ve hurt and commit to implementing professional diversity, equity, and inclusion training to educate all members and ensure that racism, microaggressions, and discrimination are eradicated from our sisterhood. We are at Methodist to learn, grow, and develop to our fullest potential. It’s clear from our behavior we have a long way to go on all fronts, but we will work tirelessly to do better.

Alpha Delta Pi’s third annual Week of Service begins on October 23rd and runs through October 30th! In celebration of our 42nd anniversary partnership with Ronald McDonald House Charities, we ask all members to choose one day throughout this week to give back. Whether you give to RMHC or volunteer for another organization within your community, please consider participating! Alumnae, collegians, and friends of ADPi are all invited to join. How will you give back?

Contact: Danielle Averill (daverill@alphadeltapi.com)

Convention held by the Texas State Alumnae Association in Waco, TX.