The InterFraternity Council passed its Ten Point Membership Education Program late last month, according to IFC President Josh Gottheimer, an Alpha Epsilon Pi brother. IFC Judicial Manager and Sigma Alpha Mu brother Dave Lewis explained that the plan is the "first in a series of reforms under the 21st Century Plan for an Ivy League Greek System." The plan addresses issues raised in University reports regarding the fraternal mentoring system, and outlines specific goals and policies for the IFC's pledging program, Lewis said. The plan also calls for a change in one of the IFC executive board positions -- the vice president of rush will now assume the title and responsibilities of vice president of rush and membership education. According to Lewis, the new membership education program emphasizes community and University service, minority and inter-gender relations, time management and drug and alcohol awareness. Pledges must attend mandatory Career Planning and Placement Service, Drug and Alcohol Resource Team, Program for Awareness in Cultural Education and Students Together Against Acquaintance Rape or Facilitating Learning about Sexual Harassment workshops. All pledge classes must also organize and conduct one community service project during the 10-week pledging period. All IFC chapters must also hold eight hours of study hall for pledges each week. And pledge educators must attend two mandatory membership education workshops directed by the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs. IFC executive board members developed the plan early this year and redrafted it after receiving input from fraternity presidents, according to Lewis. The board members and presidents then voted to adopt the plan prior to the start of this year's pledging period. Associate Vice Provost for University Life Larry Moneta said he believes the program fits the long-range plans for the University. "I'm really pleased with the action that the IFC is taking," he said. "I think [the IFC executive board members] are very strong -- they certainly are at least equal to if not the strongest group of leaders that I've worked with." In order to monitor both the enforcement and effects of the program, membership educators from each fraternity must submit a form to the IFC on a bimonthly basis, informing the council of each house's implementation of the plan, Gottheimer explained. "This is the first time guidelines have been set for all freshmen pledging a fraternity," the College junior said. "Our main purpose here is not to develop a program that can't be followed -- this plan is hardly unreasonable." Wharton senior Ed McBride, outgoing president of the Alpha Tau Omega fraternity, said he supports the program fully. "We just want the rest of the Penn community to see the measures we're taking to take care of ourselves," he said. "It has just enough education to make sure the pledges are responsible members of the Penn community, but it doesn't go overboard in taking up too much of their time."
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