UNT CFSL Community Statement

The message we come to you with today seems to be one of many needed as we continually navigate the challenging times that are occurring right before our eyes. In light of the recent events that have transpired via social media, the Center for Fraternity and Sorority Life (CFSL) would like to acknowledge and address the hurt and frustration that our community is currently experiencing.

It is no secret that UNT Fraternity and Sorority Life is unique, in that we are one of the most diverse Greek-lettered communities in the nation. You, as our leaders and the purpose of our work, are engaged and active voices for the communities you serve. In that regard, it is our responsibility to support those voices, and to listen and act when situations that cause discourse within us arise.

Over the last 24 hours, the staff has collaborated with UNT colleagues, as well as with partners from fraternity/sorority headquarters, to assemble our plan of action and provide the steps that we as a department will implement regarding education and development for our members around diversity, equity, inclusion, and how our speech and actions affect one another:

• In collaboration with the Office of Orientation and Transition Programs, extend participation in the recently-contracted course, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for Students, to all members of Fraternity and Sorority Life, not just new students entering UNT this fall.
• In collaboration with the Multicultural Center, establish a dialogue series specifically for Fraternity and Sorority Life where students from across the community can assemble and learn from one another around concepts of diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• Establish and train members of the CFSL community to pilot a Greek Bias Intervention Team, which will be a group of students who work alongside staff within CFSL and other key departments to address bias incidents from a peer-accountability perspective through a restorative justice lens.
• Provide resources for chapters to address discrimination within their organizations when situations arise.

While not an exhaustive list, we hope that it is the beginning of actionable steps that we are taking to unify ourselves during these times, and the days to come.

As we move forward in healing as a collective body, we understand that emotions are high and feelings of anger, confusion, and disappointment are real, causing individuals to approach one another in ways that are counterproductive to our desire to work on unifying ourselves. Personal attacks against one another will not help us progress as a

community, as they will only further divide us and distract us from our overall mission and goal of repairing the harm that has been done.

If any member of the fraternity/sorority community has experienced discrimination or harassment of any kind by a fellow UNT student, please notify the Dean of Students office at https://deanofstudents.unt.edu/report.

We desire to continue to have an open, productive dialogue on ways in which we can improve the experience for all of the members in our community. As this conversation coincides with those that are occurring at a large scale at our institution with leadership in upper administration, we encourage members of Fraternity and Sorority Life to voice their thoughts with staff, as we work to determine ways to address and resolve those concerns.

Sincerely,

The Center for Fraternity and Sorority Life