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Leader-Ships Abounding
By David S. Anderson, Ph.D.
Director, Center for the Advancement of Public Health George Mason UniversityCenturies ago, the Good Ship Vasa set sail from the harbor in Stockholm, Sweden, gloriously outfitted with heavy armor and weaponry on its deck, with proud sailors also topside. As the gentle wind blew, the ship flipped over and sank. This tender ship just could not stay afloat, as it was top-heavy. What is the lesson from this? Avoid having a tender ship. What is the relevance of this for Greek leadership? Avoid having a tender ship. All members of the Greek community have an opportunity - and the obligation - to be leaders on issues important for their chapters, the council, the campus and their national organizations.
A central issue for Greek leadership, heard very often, is addressing alcohol abuse and related problems. Virtually all college campuses are incorporating alcohol abuse prevention strategies, with many identifying ways specific for the Greek community. In an article written for Campus Commentary last September, I identified several approaches that chapters and councils are doing as part of a comprehensive campus-wide program. Emerging from the Promising Practices: Campus Alcohol Strategies initiative, co-led by Dr. Gail Gleason Milgram of Rutgers University and funded by The Century Council, the article highlighted several quality campus-based efforts with good results.
My current message is that each individual, each chapter, and each council has leadership opportunities and obligations regarding alcohol issues. I strongly believe that virtually all campus alcohol problems are preventable - it simply requires concerted, thoughtful action to help this occur. It requires a commitment. And, in the context of the ship Vasa, it requires a grounded approach from each of us; it requires grass-roots efforts, not a top-down strategy.
Specifically, what can individuals do? Primarily, chapter members must be thoughtful about their actions and inactions. They should think through their behavior prior to action - whether to drink, and if so, when and where and how much. Members, particularly older ones, should think of themselves as role models for others. They should mentor as appropriate, offer guidance and suggestions, and promote open and honest conversation on alcohol and related issues. They should take responsibility to intervene with others as needed. Finally, each person should speak up and speak out when possible, whether with other members, friends, others on campus or in chapter meetings.
What can the chapter do? First and foremost, the chapter must monitor its own policies, activities, and standards regarding alcohol. It should be clear about what its priorities are, and review itself objectively to ensure these are being met. The chapter should be organized in its efforts to promote responsibility and reduce problems. It should take advantage of existing resources (such as the Promising Practices: Campus Alcohol Strategies project Task Force Planner, using the "Student Groups" row as a guide) and identify ways it can be proactive. The chapter can take the initiative to do an event or strategy cited in this planner or in the Sourcebook. It can facilitate a campus-wide change process by calling the organizing meeting. The chapter should make sure some of its members are seeking election to the council as well as other campus leadership roles. Frankly, there is a lot the chapter can do. And, whatever is done, make sure the chapter gets credit (on campus, in the community, and with the national office) for this leadership; only in this way will some of the negative images associated with the chapter and Greek organizations be changed.
How about the council? Many of the leadership opportunities for the campus-based council parallel those for the chapter and individuals. Since leadership is based on action, it is critical that council members exemplify the individual behaviors cited above; similarly, the council as an organization must typify what is encouraged for the chapter. In addition, the council should utilize the influence that it has by its very existence. It should specify its own stance for the campus, and determine what it believes should be the standard norms for the chapters. It should develop a specific plan of action for itself, perhaps considering a leadership role for organizing a campuswide task force or event. Most important, it should use its power of convening, so that honest discussions on this topic can occur. Only with this thought can meaningful action occur. And the opportunity for open dialog helps promote thoughtful consideration.
In sum, leadership means action. It means action based on thoughtful foundations. It means that each individual, chapter, and council should re-visit their actions, attitudes, and perspectives to ensure that they honor this responsibility. Leadership is an opportunity waiting to be harnessed. With this leadership, reputation follows. Without leadership, a different (and less desirable!) reputation follows. And like the Good Ship Vasa, the best voyage will be with a grounded, grass-roots, thoughtful approach, and not a top-heavy tender ship which just looks good to the passerby!
David S. Anderson, Ph.D. is an Associate Professor at George Mason University's Center for the Advancement of Public Health. Promising Practices: Campus Alcohol Strategies is based at George Mason University in Fairfax, VA. Project Co-Directors are GMU's Dr. Anderson and Gail Gleason Milgram, Ed.D. of the Center of Alcohol Studies, Rutgers University. Funded by a grant from The Century Council, Promising Practices: Campus Alcohol Strategies hosts a web site at http://www.promprac.gmu.edu; project staff can be contacted at 703-993-3697 or caph@gmu.edu.
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