PROTECTING A STUDENT’S RIGHT TO GATHER

All-men’s and all-women’s organizations, like fraternities and sororities, create a unique community of support on college campuses—a strong network unlike anything else available today. They are the one place, where through a shared experience, young men or women can enjoy a sense of belonging, confidence and personal development.

WHAT IS THE PROBLEM?

A student’s First Amendment right to freely associate with single-sex organizations has recently come under threat. It is becoming increasingly common for higher education institutions to propose policies aimed at forcing these organizations to become coed or to impose other membership policies that would violate a student’s right to freely associate with organizations of their choice. We are asking Congress to include language in the Higher Education Act that would protect college students’ Freedom of Association rights to join a single-sex organization.

A 2018 POLL OF PUBLIC OPINION INDICATES STRONG SUPPORT:

77 percent of adults think students should have the right to gather in the student organization of their choice, on campus or off campus

60 percent of adults think Congress should pass legislation that allows students to join any campus organization at the time of their choosing

THE IMPORTANCE OF MEN’S AND WOMEN’S ORGANIZATIONS

These groups are more important than ever as we seek to build men of character and empowered women! This issue matters greatly to the more than 1 million college students and millions of alumni, who are members of fraternities and sororities and value this unique experience. Across the nation, students who join fraternities find valuable leadership, friendship, academic and personal growth opportunities through brotherhood and the fellowship of men. Fraternities:

• Have been proven to prompt greater retention to graduation
• Are linked to higher wellbeing
• Provide a sense of community and connection, at a time where research shows college men are experience higher levels of loneliness

We know the sorority experience provides a space that allows women to support, encourage and advocate for each other, and sorority membership is a proven launch pad for women leaders. In fact, when compared to their non-affiliated peers, sorority women experience:

• Higher graduation rates
• Gains in science, writing and thinking skills
• Better emotional support
• Increased engagement levels in college
• Higher levels of community service

ADVOCATING FOR LEGISLATION IMPACTING FRATERNITIES & SORORITIES

A solid government relations strategy is SO central to the success of fraternities, it is one of the core five priorities (above) of the NIC 2.0 reform. Such advocacy has been critical in our past and it will be in our future.

The very existence of fraternities as men’s organizations is enabled by an exemption to Title IX, legislation that NIC Executive Vice President Jack Anson and his interfraternal colleagues lobbied President Gerald Ford for in the mid-1970s. This hallmark example of legislative involvement might seem historical, yet, the value of single-gender organizations is still questioned today. The NIC employs a government relations strategy because advocating for the fraternal experience and the rights and benefits of its members is critical.

Let’s dive deeper into the NIC 2.0 priority establishing a government relations program.

EFFECTIVE ADVOCACY PROGRAMS

The North American Interfraternity Conference has developed a government relations strategy around three key questions:

1. What are we trying to achieve?
2. How can we foster ownership of the effort?
3. How can we align all constituents around the strategy?

The NIC’s answer includes coordination and collaboration within three distinct areas:

• RELATIONSHIPS
• LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES
• EDUCATION

STRENGTHENING PARTNERSHIPS

The NIC is dedicated to building strong relationships with interfraternal and higher education partners based on transparency, inclusion and respect. Moving forward, the government relations effort will take all partners furthering and supporting the effort—united, when possible and respectful of different views when presented.

Primary partners include:

• National Panhellenic Conference (NPC)
• Fraternity and Sorority Political Action Committee (FSPAC)
• Fraternal Government Relations Coalition (FGRC)

GOVERNMENT AND LEGAL AFFAIRS

With focused legislative priorities and deliberate education opportunities, NIC’s government relations efforts will build grassroots programs for students, local alumni and state officials. The participation of these constituents will transform the way thousands of people involve themselves in the NIC’s legislative priorities.

LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES

SINGLE-SEX EXPERIENCE*: Ensuring all students have self-determination rights to belong to a single-sex organization.

FREEDOM OF ASSOCIATION: Ensuring students have self-determination rights to decide when and how it is best for them to join a student organization.

DUE PROCESS PROTECTIONS: Ensuring students and our organizations are afforded basic due-process rights in campus disciplinary hearings. For example, we will always be supportive of accountability for not meeting shared expectations, but we oppose blanket actions that impact students and organizations who are following the rules.

TAX-DEDUCTIBLE GIFTS FOR CHAPTER HOUSES (CHIA): Ensuring college affordability and safe living environments by allowing alumni to donate tax-deductible gifts to house corporations just like they can for campus residence halls.

IMPROPER REPORTING REQUIREMENTS: Ensuring students continue to feel comfortable having personal conversations with chapter volunteers and peer leaders. The designation of our members and volunteers as Campus Security Authorities by some higher education administrations is having a chilling effect on recruiting and retaining leaders who serve on the frontline of defense for student safety. While the intention of increasing transparency is commendable, the unintended consequence of less adult and peer mentoring offsets potential gain from this improper application of the Clery Reporting Act.

ANTI-HAZING LEGISLATION: Ensuring comprehensive hazing prevention measures — proactive education, transparency and accountability around standards — are addressed through federal legislation, in complement to additional organizational and university efforts.

*The NIC understands that sex is the classification as male or female assigned at birth and gender identity is a person’s internal sense of gender. The term is used because Title IX uses “sex” when referring to social fraternities, yet societal understanding has moved toward “gender identity.”

EDUCATION

Develop a grassroots program for campus, local and state involvement.

Continue to host visits to Capitol Hill to lobby for legislative priorities.

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

Supporting the efforts of the NIC’s government relations program takes action. Dedication to these efforts—by both individuals and groups—will make a difference. Consider this:

Contact your members of Congress (House of Representatives and Senate) and ask that they sponsor the Collegiate Housing and Infrastructure Act (CHIA) and encourage its inclusion into comprehensive tax reform legislation.

Stay informed. Mobilize as a community.

Vote. Everyone’s involvement is vital to our voice being heard and our message being taken seriously by Congress. The future of this experience is in question. By our action we will help to impact the future of fraternities.

PAST AND PRESENT INTERFRATERNAL LEADERS IN GOVERNMENT

Fraternities and sororities teach leadership and service, two tenants key to civic engagement, so it should come as no surprise that many men and women involved in political service at its highest levels are also members of fraternal organizations.

Additionally, there are a significant number of fraternity men who have served as President of the United States of America with approximately 44 percent of U.S. Presidents having held fraternity membership. The tables below identify the men and women currently serving in a political office and their affiliation, as well as former Presidents, Vice Presidents and other notable political figures.

Click the name of the table to toggle it open or closed.