campaigns : Campaign Archive

Volume 3, Issue 1

Be "Electrifying!"

Meagan Flippin

The fourth annual Blue Raider Leadership Summit (BRLS) will be held February 2-3, 2007 in Manchester, TN; however, this year’s summit will be different than years past as it will be the first-ever student lead conference at MTSU. A newly created student group, "B.O.L.T.," has spent the past few months planning and preparing for the upcoming conference. B.O.L.T. will be officially introduced during the concluding presentation of the conference.

The BRLS is an educational opportunity for students to learn about the principles and techniques of effective leadership, as well as network with other students. This year’s theme is "Electrifying the Leader Within" and will feature such topics as the rules of respect, the content of character, the punch of humor, conflict management, how to motivate others, and much more! The author of the popular leadership book How to Zing! Your Life and Leadership: 21 Insights on How to Maximize Your Influence, Nancy Hunter Denney, will serve as the conference’s keynote speaker. Denney’s focus will be "expanding one’s ability to influence others toward a greater social good." For more information on Denney, please visit her website at http://www.zingbook.com/sample_chapter.html.

The BRLS is open to any MTSU student, and the cost is only $10 per person. The group will depart at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, February 2, and return by 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, February 3. Applications may be obtained from the Student Organizations and Community Service website at http://mtsu.edu/~camporgs/events.htm#5. All applications and registration fees are due to the Office of Student Organizations and Community Service in KUC 326-S by 4:30 p.m. on Friday, January 26. For more information, please contact (615) 898-5812.

Blue Raider Leadership Summit will be held February 2-3. Click above to find out more.

Sigma Nu Headquarters Suspends Charter of Theta Iota Chapter at MTSU

The year 2006 saw the exit of three Greek Organizations: Kappa Sigma Fraternity, Delta Zeta Sorority, and most recently, Sigma Nu Fraternity. MTSU’s largest fraternity was put on a ninety-day suspension at the end of the 2006 fall semester.

“Sigma Nu Fraternity, Inc., has revoked the charter of its Theta Iota Chapter at Middle Tennessee State University. The decision to revoke the chapter’s charter, made by the Fraternity’s High Council (Board of directors), follows confirmation of violations of the Fraternity’s laws, policies and principles primarily related to the treatment of candidate (pledged) members of the chapter…” says Executive Director of Sigma Nu Fraternity Brad Beacham.

The decision from Sigma Nu Nationals was made in mid-December 2006, despite the wishes of campus. They have been put on a ninety-day suspension, ending in March, then moving forth to the revocation of their charter. The members living in the fraternity house on Greek Row will be allowed to live in the house through May 2007, though National Headquarters and Alumni have removed most Sigma Nu markings and memorabilia from the building. House occupancy after May has yet to be decided.

“MTSU and the Student Life office have been great to work with during this difficult time. They have been helping us reverse the decision our National Headquarters has made, aiding in all possible areas,” says recently elected president, Chassen Haynes

Despite the removal of their charter, the brothers of Sigma Nu will continue to stay just as active in an array of differing areas on campus. The brothers of Sigma Nu have been working hard to retain their positive attitude on campus, staying on good standing so a 2008 return may be possible.

Greek Leadership Summit 2007

Cassie Venable

The annual Greek Leadership Summit was held this past weekend in Crossville, TN at the Clyde M. York 4-H Center. The two-day retreat included members of the National Panhellenic Council, the Inter-Fraternity Council, National Pan-Hellenic, and Greek Life Programming Board, as well as presidents from all 21 Greek organizations. The weekend proved a great opportunity for the newly elected councils, along with the chapter presidents, to meet and discuss the issues, goals, and ideas concerning Greek Life for the upcoming year. Mini sessions and team building exercises were held to form bonds, establishing a strong connection for communications between the different organizations. Greek Life Director Gentry McCreary and newly engaged Greek Life Coordinator Carrie Smith lead sessions for the councils, which included an array of topics including from “Risk Management” and “Common Ground.”

Dr. Deanna Raffo and Dr. Colette Taylor also attended the summit to speak on topics regarding the leadership diversity that lies within the councils and how those differing leadership styles can help better each Greek chapter. Many of the activities and discussions held over the weekend focused on the implementation and the understanding of goals that each organization will strive to achieve, a great way to begin the semester with the newly elected officers.

IFC’s Public Relations Director John Carter listed one of his goals for the semester as trying to establish a philanthropic event within the walls of IFC. “This is one way that all the councils can promote their desire for unity among the Greek organizations. As a whole, this weekend was successful in building new relationships across the board.”

Outgoing Letters editor, Ashley Desabetino

Greek of the Week:

Ashley DeSabetino

Josh McKenzie

This week’s Greek of the Week is the outgoing Letters editor, Ashley DeSabetino. Ashley is a junior majoring in Political Science/Pre-Law and a sister of Alpha Omicron Pi Sorority. She was raised in Murfreesboro and currently works at Hot Spot Tanning, where she has been employed since high school. Ashley is active in the Greek community, not only as a Greek Life Intern during the fall 2006 semester, but is also an active member in Greek Life Task Force and a recent inductee of Lambda Sigma.

“She is an enthusiastic person who has her foot placed in all aspects of campus,” says newly elected AOΠ President Emily Porter. “She is a great asset not only to Greek Life, but to MTSU as well.”

Ashley enjoys being involved in a myriad of campus activities as well, reaching outside of the Greek community. She has spent a great deal of time participating in Mock Trial saying, “It has been a great way to prepare myself for a future in the law field.” Ashley is serving her second year as a Liberal Arts College Senator for the Student Government Senate, a member on the Student Involvement and Leadership Student Advisory Council, and was recently selected as a Student Orientation Assistant for the summer of 2007.

“I love MTSU and I am excited to show all that we have to offer to the incoming freshmen this summer at Customs,” says Ashley. “It will be a great experience.”

Ashley has also been honored as a Legislative Intern for the 105^th General Assembly Representative John Hood. She will be working with Representative Hood in Nashville five days each week during the spring 2007 semester.

“I am thrilled about my upcoming experience. Not only will this benefit my academic career, I will also have even more time than before to become further involved with the MTSU community.”

Meet the New G.A:

Jamie Burns

Josh McKenzie

The Student Life office has a new Graduate Assistant! Jamie Burns will be working with the wide array of student organizations here at MTSU, helping Director of Student Organizations Jackie Victory. Until her December graduation date, she will be assisting in the planning of community service projects for student organizations including Alternative Spring Break, See Spot Run, and the Campus Beautification project.

Jamie graduated from MTSU in 2002 with a degree in Political Science. While an undergraduate, she became extremely involved in all areas of campus life. Panhellenic President, Student Orientation Assistant, Lightning Leadership Camp Counselor, Student Government Vice President of Administrative and Public Affairs, and sister of Alpha Delta Pi are just a few bullet points on her long list of campus activities. While in school, she also interned at the State Legislature in Nashville.

After the completion of her undergraduate degree at MTSU, she received her paralegal degree and worked at Rucker, Rucker, and Gilley in Murfreesboro. Jamie will be graduating in December of this year with a Masters in Higher Education focusing on Administration and Supervision.