WHY DID YOU JOIN YOUR FRATERNITY?

Perhaps for the social experience, sense of solidarity and belonging, or maybe even to find a group of friends to challenge each other and hold each other accountable?  These are all aspects of brotherhood that the fraternity experience offers. Redefining Brotherhood explores these concepts in depth and helps fraternity men identify ways to strengthen their chapter’s brotherhood.

Redefining Brotherhood was developed out of Gentry McCreary, Ph.D. and Joshua Schutts’ research regarding the nature of fraternal brotherhood.  During the workshop participants are first challenged to define brotherhood in their own words and complete the Fraternal Brotherhood Questionnaire (c).  This questionnaire assesses their chapter’s brotherhood and leads to a conversation on the four brotherhood schema Gentry and Josh identified through their research:

• BROTHERHOOD BASED ON SOLIDARITY

• BROTHERHOOD BASED ON SHARED SOCIAL EXPERIENCES

• BROTHERHOOD BASED ON BELONGING

• BROTHERHOOD BASED ON ACCOUNTABILITY

Whether members realize it or not, brotherhood touches nearly every aspect of the fraternal experience.  Facilitators will offer recommendations to move from a brotherhood based on solidarity and shared social experiences to one of belonging and accountability in order to address some of the common challenges associated with the fraternity experience including binge drinking and hazing.

PROGRAM LEARNING OUTCOMES

1. Students will demonstrate increased awareness of the four schema of brotherhood. 

2. Students will demonstrate gains in brotherhood based on accountability.

3. Students will demonstrate increased willingness to hold member of their chapter accountable for shared standards and expectations.

4. Students will gain knowledge and strategies related to improving levels of positive brotherhood within their organization.