Fraternities work to become allies in fighting sexual violence
(February 20, 2015) -- “You can create change on your campus through leading by example.” That was the message RAINN gave to more than 70 fraternity and sorority members at the Association of Fraternal Leadership and Values Conference in Indianapolis, IN last month.
Chelsea Bowers, Director of Development for RAINN, co-facilitated a workshop with Jason Hinson-Nolen and Kyle Martin from the North American Interfraternity Conference (NIC), an organization that provides resources and enrichment opportunities. The workshop provided fraternity men with tangible things that they could do as individuals, chapters and as a community to affect change. Topics discussed included personal accountability, understanding consent, bystander intervention techniques, ways to help a survivor and how to hold schools accountable for addressing sexual violence on campus.
“Men must encourage other men to take a stand against sexual violence, and to help create an atmosphere of support on their college campuses. RAINN is honored to have been invited by NIC to provide concrete ways that fraternity men can take action, and we’re grateful for the honest and valuable ideas shared by the audience,” said Bowers.
Bystander intervention is the focus of It’s On Us, a campaign to address sexual assault on college campuses. RAINN, an official partner of the campaign, released a toolkit for the National Week of Action in November, 2014. It’s On Us also released a special announcement from President Barack Obama at the Grammy Awards earlier this month, and featured Brooke Axtell, a survivor of domestic violence.
Last month’s workshop is just one of the ways RAINN is working with Greek life organizations across the country to educate students. RAINN has also been selected as a national philanthropic partner by Alpha Sigma Phi, America’s 10th oldest collegiate fraternity. The organization, founded in 1845 at Yale University, has 91 active chapters and 29 colonies (probationary chapters awaiting official recognition). Chapters and colonies partner with RAINN to educate students about preventing sexual violence, and raise funds to support RAINN's programs and services.
To learn more about incorporating RAINN into your Greek organization’s chapter, email membership@rainn.org.
Learn how you can get involved with It’s On Us, a campaign to address sexual assault on college campuses.
About North American Interfraternity Conference (NIC)
Founded in 1909, the North-American Interfraternity Conference (NIC) is the trade association representing 74 International and National Men's Fraternities. Through advocacy, collaboration, and education, the NIC works to ensure that fraternities operate in an environment conducive to their success. Visit their website at www.nicindy.org.