under construction...

Public Relations

Public Relations is crucial to the SCSU Fraternity & Sorority Community. Everything form how a member interacts with a professor to a t-shirt design affect public opinion. Public Relations is everything that affects the campus and communities opinion of your F/S. Most of a F/S public relations are going to depend upon individual's behaviors. At all times a member is representing their F/S and the entire SCSU Fraternity/Sorority Community —even if they are not at a F/S event. The ultimate goal of public relations is to display your F/S in the best light possible. By maintaining and developing public relations you are developing a reputation for your chapter.

Most view public relations as simply publicity for an event or a program, but it encompasses much more than that. Public relations is demonstrated through your F/S behaviors each and every day. A strong F/S will promote good public relations everyday, not just at a particular event.

Good public relations will help to build a strong F/S Community. Good relations will increase the number of students interested in membership and contribute to general chapter success on campus and within the community.

Public Relations can be divided into two categories— Image and Publicity.

SCSU’s alumni e-newsletter.

Outlook Magazine

SCSU’s semi-annual alumni publication.

SCSU Now

Daily stories from the University Communications office.

KVSC

Student-run campus radio station.

Upcoming KVSC alumni activity:
May 4 - 5, 2007
KVSC 40th Birthday Bash Events
Various alumni & member activities on Friday and Saturday.
Station tours and alumni on-air all weekend.

University Chronicle

Student-run campus newspaper.

UTVS

Student-run campus television station.

20 Tips for Developing Better Campus Relations

1. Let the Greek Life Advisor know early when there is bad news.
2. Let the Greek Life Advisor know when there is good news.
3. Have your Executive Board and your Chapter Advisor meet at least once a
semester/quarter with the Greek Life Advisor.
4. Ask for advice when you need it.
5. Utilize campus resources.
6. Turn things in the Greek Life Office on time, return calls and/or reply to emails
promptly, and attend (on time) meetings.
7. Invite Greek Life staff and other administrators to chapter events (Parents Day,
Scholarship Dinner, Awards Dinner, community service projects, etc.)
8. Invite the Greek Life Advisor to speak at a chapter meeting and/or meet with your
new members once a semester/quarter.
9. Set up appointments (at least a week in advance) when your national consultant or
regional officer going to be visiting the chapter.
10. Include the Greek Advisor on mailing lists for alumni newsletters, parents
newsletters, etc.
11. Volunteer to do community service work for the campus.
12. Have members run/apply for leadership positions within the Greek community
and on campus.
13. Follow campus policies. If you’re not sure about a policy – ask!
14. Always demonstrate honesty, integrity, and cooperation.
15. Take time to show appreciation/recognition to campus personnel.
16. Maintain your chapter house and show consideration to your neighbors.
17. Give appropriate feedback (positive or negative).
18. Get (and use) a faculty advisor.
19. Think about the messages your signs, T-shirts, web sites, and actions send to the
faculty and administrators.
20. Live by your creed.

Public Relations-IMAGE

Image is a very important component of good Public Relations. Every chapter should strive to maintain a positive image. Everything from a t-shirt design to a successful event can build your image on campus and within the community. It is important to stress to chapter members that they are always representing their greek organization, and everything they do reflects on that chapter and the greek system as a whole.

There are several things that chapters can do to improve their image and/or maintain a positive image. First, all chapters should host a Public Relations/Image workshop and implement a "code of conduct." This will help members to understand what is expected of them and how their behaviors affect the chapter. The following are some areas to consider and discuss.

T-shirts
T-shirts can be one of the most visible forms of publicity for a chapter. T-shirts often publicize events, philanthropies, recruitment, and other aspects of Greek Life. Chapters should avoid any hint of sexual or alcohol-related implications.

Most fraternity and sorority emblems- name, letters, and coat of arms - are copyrighted. Distributers who use them improperly and without permission can be subject to legal action.

If you are ever unsure whether a t-shirt design is acceptable, consider these points:
1. Is it consitent with the ideals and objectives of your fraternity or sorority? 2. Are there references to alcohol in the picture, logo, or slogan? (Hint, hint, there should be none!) 3. Would the slogan or pictures be seen as offensive to any group? 4. What would different segments of the public think of the shirt? 5. Are women and men portrayed with the proper dignity and respect?

Appearance
Image can be everything in Public Relations, and the appearance of the chapter is the key to a positive image. A good appearance can promote a positive image and positive relations with other students, administration, parents, community members, alumni, and more. Factors that can build good Public Relations include dress, attitude, and behavior.

Building a Positive Image
There are several things that both individual members and the chapter can do to build a good image and increase their Public Relations. The following is a list of some of the things and people who your chapter can involve.

Chapter Members
1. Develop an awards program. Make presentations at a formal banquet or chapter dinner. 2. Develop a chapter phone tree and use it to keep chapter members informed. 3. Develop a chapter newsletter- it keeps members informed and can be used as a back-up to meetings. 4. Host a chapter Retreat. 5. Have guest speakers on various topics that can benefit the chapter. Examples include: study skills, dress for success, interview tips, or etiquette. Utilize local resources like faculty and community leaders.

New Members
1. DO NOT EVER HAZE! 2. Have New members serve on committees or shadow officers. Get them involved early and keep them involved. 3. Help them with their studies and adjusting to both college and greek life. Make sure they do not get overwhelmed!

Alumni
1. Distribute an Alumni newsletter 2. Make connections with your local alumni chapter. Keep them informed and invite them to your events. 3. Alumni big brother/big sister program- contact area alumni to spend one day a month with collegiate members. This will help build connections and develop brotherhood/sisterhood.

Parents
1. Parent's Day- Plan activities that will interest parents. This might include a meal, tour of campus, attend an athletic events, etc. 2. Write letters to the parents of every new member. Inform them about the chapter-benefits, costs, and any information that will help them be supportive of their child's decision to join. 3. Parent's Newsletter: Keep them informed about your activities and accomplishments.

Non-Greek Students/Prospective Members
1. Get your name and logo on information that goes out to the general student population. Examples include: calendars, maps, bookcovers, or bookmarks. Also, co-sponsor with other organizations on campus for events or free giveaways. 2. Utilize the campus press. Advertise in the campus newspaper and submit Press Releases to local newspapers. 3. Sponsor programs for non-Greeks. 4. Have a "Guest Night" at your house and invite students to come and visit. 5. Positive visibility. Participate in other organization's events, help students move into the Residence Hall, be involved in various activities and clubs.

Other Greeks on Campus
1. Support other Greeks! 2. Be involved on IFC, Panhellenic, and National Pan-hellenic Council. 3. Sponsor functions with other chapters. 4. Send other chapters cards- congratulations, welcome back, etc. 5. Don't steal/vandalize other houses- even if you think it is a harmless prank.

Faculty and Staff/Administration
1. Watch your conduct within the classroom and at school sponsored events. 2. Have a faculty and staff open house. 3. Sponsor a "faculty appreciation" dinner. It is good to combine this with a scholarship banquet so faculty can see the emphasis that Greeks put on grades. 4. Send copies of your newsletter to faculty and staff. 5. Attend regularly scheduled meetings with the Greek Advisor.

Public Relations-PUBLICITY

An important component of Public Reltations is Publicity. Each Greek chapter must publicize their chapter and make the chapter visible to the campus and community. There are several ways a chapter can publicize itself and one of the best forms is Philanthropies.

Why do you host philanthropies?
1. to fulfill requirements 2. to help people 3. to improve your image
By combining these three motivations, we may better carry out our own goals.

What goals can publicity help to achieve?
The Four Benefits
1. Brothers-recruit new members 2. Believers-cultivate your community 3. Bling Bling-raise additional funds 4. Benevolence-support worthy causes By publicizing, we may build bridges to achieve the four benefits.

How do the media work?
1. Radio- college, talk, and music. 2.Television- Local news and other broadcasts 3. Print media- School newspapers, local newspapers, metropolitan newspapers, and national organization newsletters. By understanding how the different media work, we may better focus our efforts.

What are the best methods of contacting and convincing the various media?
1. Press Release - General news releases and news or feature stories that you can submit via fax, email, or the web. 2. Phone calls- follow-ups and cold calling. 3. Contacts
By tailoring our message appropriately, we may engage media more effectively.

What types of stories are likely to receive publicity? 1. Profile of an individual member 2. Profile a philanthropic partnership (remember, this is about them!) 3. Report national recognition 4. Profile an alumnus/alumna 5. Highlight a media-friendly event- An event that partnerships with another organization, inlcudes children, host the event at an easily accessible and otherwise good location, or use an event to put a spin on a negative stereotype. 6. Letters to the editor or op/ed submissions By choosing the best and most appropriate means of communicating our message, we may ensure a higher quantity and quality of publicity.

How can we better control our publicity? 1. Website 2. Newsletter 3. Individual and collective responsibility By controlling our own publicity, we may insulate our message more effectively.

St. Cloud State University

Student Organizations

Search

Announcements

Fraternity & Sorority Community Relatoins & Community Development Resources