I've Got a Sneaking Suspicion...

What We've Learned on the Road - Fraternity Version

2011-12-08T18:17:00.000-08:00

Following the Sorority version of this post, it only seems appropriate to include the fraternity consultant experience. Here is some insight from five of my fellow road warriors:

Alex Carrick (Phi Delta Theta – University of Michigan)

Lessons:

1. The phone is still useful. Far too often, I find myself texting and anxiously awaiting a response that may never come. That anxiety could easily be alleviated with a simple 15 second phone call.

2. A fair number of people have no concept of what a fraternity is or what they do. One of the biggest challenges has been educating students/parents on what fraternities are and what benefits they serve. Do you think you’re a good recruiter? Try explaining the benefits of your organization to a foreign exchange student.

3. Schedule personal time! It’s easy to get overworked and stressed out in this position, especially if consultants don’t take the time to take care of themselves both physically and mentally.

4. Fail forward. Failure is an unavoidable reality in this position. Not every officer is going to “get it,” not every alumnus is going to support their national organization and not every potential new member is going to return your phone calls. The important aspect is learning from those experiences, and improving in the future.

5. Have something to look forward to. It’s easy to get lost in the mountain of work as a consultant. By having a light at the end of the tunnel, it improves focus and overall motivation.

Harrison Leibow (Sigma Alpha Mu – University of Illinois)

When I was little, I used to play Super Mario Bros all day long. I'd get so into the game that my body would tense up with each jump that mustached plumber took. The only thing that would relieve me from this anxiety of virtually getting eaten by an overgrown mushroom was the off switch. Once I flipped that switch, the game disappeared. The screen faded to black and all I would remember about the game was that I hadn't beaten it yet. Consulting doesn't have an off switch, but it definitely needs it.

When you stay at a fraternity house, you're "working" at all times. Even if you're not leading a meeting, finishing up reports or scheduling travel, you are working. The reason for that is you represent the fraternity. Every brother that you meet is going to judge the standing of the fraternity's office staff solely based on their interactions with you. It is because, let's be honest, you're the only face they'll see from the office (probably ever). They'll make up their mind about the office based on everything you do. If you run effective meetings, they think the office is professional. If you yell at someone for playing music too loud at 3AM, they think the office is no fun and rude. Even if you listen to Miley Cyrus on repeat, they're going to connect it to the fraternity office in their mind. So, turn it off.

Turn it off by doing things like going for a meal by yourself, working out, or just sitting at the library for an hour. You'll be able to sort your thoughts, relax and just represent yourself. It can be anything; just make sure you get out of the house and away from the brothers for a little bit. Just a few hours alone can really reset your mood. So, on the road, when your body gets tense from talking to all the brothers, just take a step back and flip the off switch.

Stepheno Zollos (Theta Chi – Old Dominion University)

Even in the short period of time I have been on the road, I have had numerous experiences, both memorable and distasteful. I have had the unique opportunity to work as both a consultant, and an expansion coordinator in the Southeast. One of the biggest challenges I have faced while traveling has been dealing with internal divisions within chapters. The forming of “clicks” is a natural occurrence; whether it’s by who you live with, constant interaction, common interests, or similar personalities, there are going to be people you naturally gravitate towards and get along with better than others. I know I had to deal with my fair share of these challenges in my own chapter as an undergraduate. As a consultant and unbiased observer, crushing these internal divisions has been some of the hardest but most rewarding work and has left a more unified chapter behind.

Every chapter that faces this issue is going to need a different approach: primarily because every chapter has a different background/unique structure, but also because the internal divisions are never exactly the same. More often than not, they are based in some social issue: drinkers vs. non-drinkers; smokers vs. non-smokers; nerds vs. jocks; and even night-life preferences (thank you Florida). These are just a few that I have seen and heard of. All of these divisions lead to various issues within the chapter and its external image.

The solution I have found to work best is to help close-minded and short-sited undergraduates to see the big picture. First and foremost, in any mediation, your biggest responsibility is to not take sides. Show them the damage their productivity is taking because of the lack of unity. More often than not, the rift is being caused by some trivial matter that only an undergraduate could blow out of proportion to something seemingly of life or death importance. Remind them of the foundational values of their fraternity. These values can help to remind them of the unifying purpose that they have committed to support. It can help them put minor squabbles aside to better serve the chapter and the true needs of its members. Interestingly enough, once you have gotten them to this point you have really brought them back to the real purpose of fraternity.

Derek Taylor (Chi Psi – North Carolina State University)

The Road I’m Home

There is a quote that has been inspirational to me since taking this job in 2009 and I think something that can help other consultants as well. In this quote, Rolf Potts talks about the “rituals, routines and possessions that give our lives meaning at home” and their importance. Likewise, it is important for us to develop these ritual and routines on the road, as we must make the road our home.

Live Small. In my job I mostly sleep on couches in undergrad rooms. I got into a routine of trying to take up as little space as possible. My goal was to not be a hindrance to the brother who was allowing me to live in his room all week. I would always fold every article of clothing after wearing it, and then place it back in my suitcase – if it was dirty I would put it in a garbage bag, which would then go in my suitcase. My suitcase stood straight up, my shoes went on top, and my suit coat rested on the handle. This allowed me to feel self-sufficient, like I was taking care of myself, instead of always being taking care of.

Exercise. Even if you do not normally do it, I encourage you to exercise on the road. Whether you are eating at the chapter house or at the airport; you will rarely have the healthiest options in front of you. Exercising on the road is tough to do; it presents many challenges. First, find the time: no matter how busy you get, or what deadline you have to meet, you cannot perform to your best if you are not taking proper care of yourself. Secondly, find the resources: gym memberships aren’t mobile and neither are a set of dumbbells. Something I always made space for in my suitcase was a pair of running shoes. I hate running; however, I found solace in it. I used it as a release, some much needed me time. Recently I ran my first half-marathon – 13.1 miles.

“Me” Time. Schedule in some “Me Time” every day. Take 30 minutes and do something for yourself with just yourself. Walk around campus, find a great place to sit and read a book, go for a run, go for a walk, sit in a closet, get a massage, explore the city, have a drink, go shopping, go hiking, do something with just you that has nothing to do with your job.

Get ready for planes, trains, busses and really long car rides. 80 new names to learn every 4 days and 80 new Starbucks that all look the same. Get ready for all of your meals to be served in a sack and for “hitting the sack” to mean curling up on a couch. If you have this job for an entire year you will most likely travel enough miles to loop the earth once (24,901 miles). You will visit around 15 chapters with average chapter size of 60 that’s 900 new names and faces plus alumni, Greek life staff, other consultants, etc. This job is fun, rewarding, and in my eyes, the best job in the world!!! But this job is crazy. Make the road your home and I promise things will seem less crazy.

Take care of yourselves, and I’ll see you out there!

“Thus, travel compels you to discover your spiritual side by simple elimination: Without all the rituals, routines, and possessions that give your life meaning at home, you’re forced to look for meaning within yourself…. this spiritual process is not always free of care. Indeed, if travel is a process that helps you “find yourself,” it’s because it leaves you with nothing to hide behind—it yanks you out from the realm of rehearsed responses and dull comforts, and forces you into the present. Here, in the fleeting moment, you are left to improvise, to come to terms with your raw, true self.” – Rolf Potts

Jeff Melando (Delta Chi – UNC Wilmington)

It is amazing what you can learn living on the road. We would struggle to find who really benefits more; the chapters you visit or yourself. This was not my first draft; in fact, I had written two pages and I realized I hadn’t actually said anything, which brings me to my first point…

1. Be concise and to the point.

Your members are full time students: many of them work part-time and are involved elsewhere on campus. If you are going to require an impromptu chapter meeting, make sure there is value in it for them. Collegiate and alumni members alike think their time is important, and in truth, as your customers, it is. Which brings me to my next point…

2. Your chapters are your customers.

Traveling consultants are the face of your organization to a group of people who refer to you as “nationals”. That understanding is key to customer service and maintaining credibility. This is true regardless of whether you work with expansion or on the chapter services side of things. Whether it is working with alumni or students, if it wasn’t for them, we would all be out of a job.

3. Don’t sweat the small stuff

My fellow consultants, I have an important news bulletin: shit happens. Many times people have approached a situation with certain expectations. Good or bad, we tend to become flustered when things don’t happen as we assume. So the chapter president is 15 minutes late for his meeting and you are locked out of the house? Enjoy your quiet personal time in the nice weather. Whether it is a schedule mix-up or the culture shock from visiting chapters in a different part of the country, the key to this is remaining flexible and not getting caught up in things outside your control.

4. Celebrate Small Victories

This is the dichotomy to point number three. Give yourself a break and celebrate the minor victories. Take the time and look at what parts of your day or your visit went well; if you got them to turn in paperwork on the past 3 undocumented initiations great. Most chapters that you interact with are not that bad. More than anything, they are often not “unsaveable”. Don’t expect to change to world in three days (see point five) but know that if you can make the difference in one student’s life on the road, that should be reason enough to keep going.

5. There is Still Work to be done… and that is ok.

Believe in yourself and believe in the work you are doing. Like I said, you won’t change to world in three days. Look at what can be done to take steps in the right direction. Think your chapter has a drinking problem? Don’t try and change it overnight. Focus on a smaller step towards health like not serving jungle juice at their parties. Remember that, with a few exceptions, you will not be the last person to visit that chapter. Take the chapter a step in the right direction and let the next visit take two more steps.

Now, I wanted to share a few things that I have learned in the past year and a half:

The Value of Five-Hour Energy

I’m pretty sure that Five-Hour Energy saved my life on multiple occasions. In fact, I’ve even slept in a Meijer parking lot…due to exhaustion and driving long distances. NEVER drive when tired; it’s risking too much.

The Unwritten Dress Code of Fraternity/Sorority Consultants

Whether we’d like to admit it or not, there is a lot of peer pressure to dress, “Fratty.” If you know me, you know I’m about the farthest from that and it’s been interesting to deal with.

The True Measure of Leadership

I can honestly say that I’ve learned more about being a good leader as a consultant, rather than in college.

Intramurals are my only form of Exercise

I hate running… simply put. I needed some kind of competition to keep me sane and competing with the chapter was my outlet.

The United States is Beautiful!

Without a doubt, my favorite part of traveling is getting a chance to go hiking or visit some national Park. I’ve seen Mt. Rushmore, Yellowstone, Crater Lake, Gettysburg, driven the Pacific Coast Highway, and been to numerous random sights. As a Fraternity consultant, getting paid to do these types of things is invaluable.

You Are Always Making a Difference…

…whether you know it or not. Lead by example at all times.

Thanks again to everyone for their input!

What We've Learned as Consultants - Sorority Version

2011-12-07T05:37:00.000-08:00

In the past year and a half, I've found that we all learn some amazing things on the road as traveling consultants. But I'm generally pretty boring, so here's a perspective from five amazing sorority women who have volunteered to give a little insight on what they have learned...

Lesley Feyerherm (Alpha Gamma Delta, University of Illinois)

Over my year and a half of travel I have learned A LOT. I’ve learned about myself, our beautiful country and this thing called Fraternity Life. At this point I’m pretty sure I could write a book cataloging everything I’ve learned! Through everything, however, the most important thing I’ve learned is to be THANKFUL!

Now, I know we all spend our lives being told to be thankful but over the past year and a half this idea has completely changed for me. I have learned that if I take a moment every day to think of what I am thankful for no matter how “great” or “horrible” the day has been I can feel good about it, that LIFE IS GOOD and I am doing what I am supposed to be.

Here are some things I have learned to be thankful for: Wrinkle release spray (this has changed my life), the gate agent who changes my middle seat to a window so I can lean against it to sleep, my ability to successfully complete the airport sprint, a pillow and towel, new members who can’t wait to be leaders, a Chapter President who challenges her officers, my LC team (they keep me sane), being in the same town as another consultant, Indianapolis (especially the Beav!), tough questions, laughter with everyone and anyone and the courage to get up every day to do my job! I have also realized that I am extremely thankful for the random women who handed me a flyer about Panhellenic Sorority Recruitment my freshman year of college—that woman and that flyer changed my college career and more importantly changed my life—Thanks!

My advice to you: Be Thankful. Be thankful for anything and everything, take a moment each day to think of what you are thankful for and if you ever find you can’t think of anything change things up!

Alexandra Roark (Pi Beta Phi, University of New Mexico)

The smallest things can make your day when you’re on the road. Things like on-time arrivals, a phone call from home, Starbucks, or free laundry.
Just one “ah-ha” moment can make up for any number of tough chapter visits. There is nothing like the feeling of knowing you helped a member or a chapter understand the values and meaning of your organization.
Patience. Patience to let an officer find the answer on her own. Patience with a chapter who’s sincerely trying to improve. Patience to respectfully answer the questions like “Sooo, are you a Pi Phi?!” as you’re sitting in chapter meeting…saying the ritual…and wearing the badge.
Unless they themselves have done it, no one really understands what you do as a consultant.
I was told before I started that, “Being a consultant is the hardest job you’ll ever love.” I’ve finally learned how true it is!

Becky Wilbanks (Alpha Xi Delta, Auburn University)

Of the many things I’ve learned while traveling as a consultant, one of the most important is to not be a workaholic. Every consultant when beginning their travels is eager to work with their assigned chapters and do everything in their power to better the Greek experience of those members they meet. The nature of the job makes it easy for any consultant to get sucked into working non-stop. On the road, personal space and time do not exist. If you don’t step up and take the time you need to be physically, emotionally, and mentally healthy, then you aren’t doing yourself or your chapters any favors.

I’ve found it important to include “me” time on my schedule before I even arrive on campus. Also important is to utilize the relationships formed with other consultants on the road to maintain sanity and have an outlet away from the collegiate women. A consultant’s job can be emotionally and mentally draining if you never take the time to step away and gain some perspective and much needed personal time. Taking the time to meet up with other consultants when at the same campus made a huge difference last year! Consultants understand what you’re going through on the road and will easily relate to any stress you may need to discuss, and many of the consultants I have met this year will also be friends that I keep in touch with beyond this job.

In short, I’ve learned to value the relationships made with other consultants who can relate to the job and take time for yourself to make sure that you’re able to perform your job at an optimal level, because each chapter you visit will benefit from the knowledge and experience you have to offer.

Lauren Kelley (Sigma Kappa, University of Georgia)

"Live and learn. Discomfort means we're growing. Growing means we're learning. Learning means we're living.”

An alumna asked our team to help her with an article about the consultant experience, and this piece continues to stick with me:

Sigma Kappa alumna: What is the most valuable thing you have learned thus far?

It’s hard to pick the most valuable lesson I’ve learned; this is a learning experience like no other. I’m constantly learning (and sometimes I don’t even realize it until after the fact). Which, I think might lead me to realizing the most valuable lesson – we’re always learning.

No matter what, time heals all, life goes on, and we learn from any and every experience (again, whether we realize it or not). Life does not have a dress rehearsal and we never know where a new experience may lead us. So, I try to jump in with a smile on my face and remind myself that each experience before this moment has led me to where am I am right now, which even if I do say so myself, is a pretty amazing place to be.

Justine Rosenberg (Kappa Alpha Theta, UC-Irvine)

I learned to find home.

In life, we think that home is the first place we always know how to find. From the market, from work, from vacation - most people can manage to find their way home. Ironically, in all of my travels, home is the one place that I truly "found." Contrary to popular belief, it is not always in the same place, or even the same state, and there is no one route used to get there. In fact, home is not a place at all, but a feeling: that sense of peace that comes over you as you fly into an airport where you know someone is waiting for you, or hear the voice of a far-away friend on the other end of a phone. Home can be a cozy bed, your own bathroom, or bumping into another consultant in the airport. And most of all, I have learned that traveling so much only brings you closer to home because you find places and people along the way that become "home" to you, no matter where you really are.

Thank you all for your contributions! Keep on the lookout for the Fraternity version in the coming week…

What Facebook Developers Teach us about Change...

2011-09-21T16:56:00.000-07:00

Attention world: all hell has broken loose!! What's the issue, you ask?!
Was there an earthquake or another natural disaster? Not quite
How about a political disaster? Far from the problem...

Young people everywhere are panicking because of one thing:
Once again, Facebook has changed their profile setup!

This isn't the first time that the Facebook team has done this; nor will it be the last. Yet, just as the last time that Facebook updated the profile layout (back in February of 2010; almost a year and a half ago), the entire Facebook membership went into a panic frenzy. If anyone remembers that update, it was much more substantial in aesthetic and functional changes (see the introduction of 'Top News'). Yet, we all slowly got over the changes and eventually, it made navigating the website much easier and much more efficient. If you took a random poll of Facebook users (including myself), I can almost guarantee you that most of the people couldn't tell you the general profile layout of the previous version(s) of Facebook. This could be due to a number of reasons, but most likely they were less functional and the new changes provided an upgrade in user experience.

I think there is a valuable lesson to be recognized here: Facebook changes their "identity" every couple years and initially, there's always backlash from the users. But almost always, people find the changes to be beneficial in nature after the initial "shock."
...Isn't this how we approach most of the changes in our organizations?

For instance, when we are told that our new member education practices are not up-to-par, we tend to fight the changes because they are new to us and uncomfortable in nature. Regardless if it's very, very clear that the changes are beneficial, we always tend to fight them (naturally). I'd be willing to bet that if you adopted controversial/modern new member education changes in your chapter, at first it will be very different/awkward, but in a couple years, not many will remember or even know what it was like before (just like Facebook layouts). Plus, this doesn't end with NME: it could involve drastic changes in recruitment theory, committee involvement, general expectations/accountability or other organizational initiatives.

For many different reasons, people will always speak out about changes. Yet, Facebook developers have taught us a valuable lesson: no matter the change; over time, people tend to forget about earlier traditions/standards if the new changes are more functional to the individual and especially constructive to the group!

A Public Outcry: A Turning Point for our Organizations?

2011-08-31T12:19:00.000-07:00

With all of the recent articles bringing poor/less than ideal PR to fraternity/sorority life, including...

-Cornell University's President eliminating new member education because of a death last year: http://bit.ly/nm0QYH
-The tragic death of a freshman member of a sorority at UCF: http://abcn.ws/niiFPI
-The hazing lawsuit at 'Bama, after a member of a fraternity was treated very poorly by his "brothers": http://bit.ly/oBYOXH
-Princeton putting restrictions forth on freshmen joining Greek organizations due to their capacity for increasing health risks: http://bit.ly/nzwL2J
-The University of South Carolina completely shutting down fall recruitment due to alcohol violations across the board: http://bit.ly/oJ0OSl

Although there are some positive things seen about our organizations, the majority of articles/announcements results in a negative image that makes me less than excited to proudly sport my letters in public. As Greeks, what does it tell us when someone in public sees our letters and immediately looks at us in a negative fashion? What descriptors do you think they use? Leaders? Role Models? Or... alcoholics? Disrespectful? Dangerous? Shall I go on...

There needs to be a day when we can walk through our communities with letters on and be seen without the "Frat boy" mentality and be proud to be Greek! It's more important than ever for each one of us to change the Greek stereotype and each one of us (alumni and undergraduates) has a role in that transformation. Thousands of men and women work every day towards improving our image through the modern "Greek Movement," but it isn't enough. If you want these experiences to be taken seriously; if you want the public, your family and your friends to respect your decision to join a fraternity or sorority, we need to make a significant transition to a culture of respect, integrity, honor and improvement.

Let me make this clear: this isn't a new idea and therefore, the solutions to our problems are right in front of us. But in the light of so much bad PR for our organizations, simply take some time to get to know what your organization stands for and embrace the challenge of living up to your organization's purpose/values. Trust me, we'll all be better off for it and one day, we may be able to wear our letters in public without facing scrutiny!

Anthropology as a Network of Philosophies: No Lifestyle is "Better" than Another!

2011-08-30T12:30:00.000-07:00

"Whether that genius is placed into technological wizardry (which has been the great achievement of the West) or by contrast, in unraveling the complex threads of memory, inherent in a myth, it is simply a matter of choice and cultural orientation. There is no progression of affairs in human experience; there's no trajectory of progress; there's no pyramid that conveniently places Victorian England at the apex and descends down the flanks to the so-called "primitives" of the world. All people's are simply, cultural options; different visions of life itself." -Wade Davis

To the people in our modern-day society who believe that our way of life is the peak of human progress; to the people who feel that cultures, whom do not have the same technologies as us or live in conditions/locales that would seem unreasonable for a modern individual, are somehow inferior, you may have a severely jaded view of reality. Each and every person in this fine network of humanity finds their own individual beauty within the realm of life around them. What is beautiful to one, may not be very beautiful to another, and that is the immeasurable value of human experience. Our iPads, GPS systems, and other luxuries which make everyday life so easy to navigate, although amazing technological advancements, (for the sake of an anthropological argument) they are not "important" and are not a necessity to live life productively and live it with significant individual/cultural purpose.

Our societies have complex systems of etiquette, incredibly varied social norms about fashion, luxury, social interactions and many other institutions that seem to dictate the "right" way to go about a human life. But... do those things make us any better than the inuit tribe in Northern Greenland who have different variations of each of those descriptors? Naivety may tell you yes... but Anthropology tells us that we all exist in the same portal of existence with simple differences of interpretation. The study of anthropology has unlocked some of the most amazing achievements of our ancestor's past, in cultures that would seem, on the surface, incapable of such academic innovations. Furthermore, there are many ways to survive successfully on this planet, although contemporary society may not agree with certain methods. For an example of what I'm speaking about, check out the un-contacted tribes on the border of Brazil and Peru, one of the last uncontacted tribes left in the known-world, proving that life can sustain itself without a Blackberry or a Starbucks and simply the bare necessities: http://www.uncontactedtribes.org/

Every culture has a distinct view of the reality of life and it's unavoidable end. Some reflect seemingly complicated stories of myth, religious belief, and time-honored traditions, while others simply choose to rely upon the stars and other celestial beings for guidance . We may not all agree with certain interpretations and I can definitely speak that sentiment to some of the beliefs in our modern religious philosophies, such as Christianity, Islam, and Judaism. The inconsistencies and illogical beliefs that bring about doubt to age-old or isolated religions and philosophical systems, are found in similar forms consistently through popularly-held modern religious philosophies. Therefore, we cannot allow our modern thirst for knowledge of human origins and fundamental existence to fall into the realm of a superiority complex, under-valuing the thoughts of yesterday's people; but rather, we must allow it to help us to understand the complexities and depth of human perception, within a microcosm of culture, diversity, and time.

At the core of the complexity of culture, language, religion, myth, and spirituality, it is well-documented that humans can survive in many different capacities and no way of life is a higher achievement than another. The sooner we all realize that, the better off we are and the more harmonious our world will ultimately be.

"These myriad voices of humanity are not failed attempts at being you; not failed attempts at being modern; they're unique facets of the human imagination; they're unique answers to a fundamental question: what does it mean to be human and alive?"

Wade Davis - On the worldwide web of belief and ritual

Preparing for a Second Lap...

2011-07-27T06:58:00.000-07:00

I want to take a few minutes to give everyone a bird's eye view of what this summer has brought to the consultant program of Phi Kappa Psi:

-We have three new consultants on Staff: Warren Hicks (Indiana Delta, Purdue '05), Mark Rigby (Iowa Alpha, Iowa '08), and Andrew Wallentine (Indiana Delta, Purdue '07). We are still in the pursuit of a fifth consultant to join us and we should have a great idea of where we are headed this fall in the next week or so. At the least, we know that we are working at least three expansions this upcoming school year: Vanderbilt, Ball State, and Akron.

-Currently, we are in the sixth week of the summer consultant training program. As we approach a few weeks of extensive training in expansion and chapter operations, we have covered topics such as: meetings with undergraduates, prepping for a visit, proper facilitation, public speaking, fraternity systems (Patriot, Phi Psi Connect), Ritual training, writing reports, and professionalism, just to name a few topics.

-We've also had the opportunity to read Dale Carnegie's, "How to Win Friends and Influence People" periodically throughout the summer and coordinate subsequent facilitated conversations on the text. We did this primarily to help us understand how to best connect with undergraduates, alumni and other professionals and make the best impact that we can possible. Alongside that reading, we've watched a TEDTalks video every week to provide a different way to learn about being successful on the road and appeal to the visual and audio learners. Here's an example of a video that we've watched:

-We've had the opportunity to give breakout session presentations at our Woodrow Wilson Leadership School and spend individual time with undergraduates as a small group facilitator, which were incredibly helpful for our training program. Also, we recently attended the FEA Field Staff conference in Indianapolis with 175 other fraternity and sorority consultants and among various other topics, discussed strategies for making an impact on the road. At the least, it was a great opportunity to connect with other first and second year consultants who will be sharing many of the same experiences with us.

-Perhaps the best part about this past summer (and the job, in general) has been the consultant connections within the Indianapolis Greek community. As a second year consultant, I made it a point to connect our new consultants with the other fraternity/sorority consultants in the area and it has made for a wonderful summer. For example, we've had semi-formal dinners with the consultants of Theta Chi, Kappa Alpha Theta, Alpha Chi Omega, Delta Upsilon, Phi Sigma Kappa and Alpha Xi Delta at some point this summer. We got a chance to tour 13 different fraternity/sorority headquarters in the local Indianapolis area, which gave us a good view of what is contemporary in the current Greek community. We play basketball with the consultants of Delta Sigma Phi, Zeta Beta Tau and some former Theta Chi consultants every week and had consultants of Kappa Delta Rho and Chi Psi stay at Laurel Hall for a night. Every Wednesday, we enjoy karaoke with a great number of interfraternal friends and that is always a blast. Plus, we have organized our annual consultant fantasy football league, which should be very entertaining (to say the least). I can confidently say that the consultant class of 2011 is a very connected, friendly group who will ultimately lean on each other to develop meaningful friendships to last beyond their current positions.

Dave Stollman of Campuspeak states one important concept very clearly: "Buy in or Get out!" As a fraternity or sorority consultant, if you do not invest yourself 100% into the position, you are likely to hate it and burn out very quickly. I absolutely enjoyed my first year as a consultant for Phi Kappa Psi because it provided so much value to me in developing as a professional and as a more well-rounded fraternity man. Because of this, I am extremely anxious to work with the chapters that I've already visited and looking to develop new relationships with others in the next year. At the least, the members of Phi Kappa Psi can fully expect that I've honed in on my craft as a consultant and my interactions will only improve in effectiveness for our undergraduate chapters.

2011 Final NFL Mock Draft

2011-04-26T16:44:00.000-07:00

This is my final 2011 NFL mock draft. With the draft 2 days away, it will be interesting to see what happens with the potential picks.

1) Carolina Panthers: Cam Newton - QB (Auburn)

2) Denver Broncos: Marcell Dareus - DT (Alabama)

3) Buffalo Bills: Von Miller - OLB (Texas A&M)

4) Cincinnati Bengals: A.J. Green - WR (Georgia)

5) Arizona Cardinals: Patrick Peterson - CB (LSU)

6) Cleveland Browns: Julio Jones - WR (Alabama)

7) San Francisco 49ers: Blaine Gabbert - QB (Mizzou)

8) Tennessee Titans: Nick Fairley - DT (Auburn)
*This seems like a place where Tennessee may trade down. The Eagles may move up to this spot so they can grab Amukamara (trading Kolb will probably have to be the bait).

9) Dallas Cowboys: Tyron Smith - OT (USC)

10) Washington Redskins: Robert Quinn - DE (UNC)

11) Houston Texans: Aldon Smith - DE/OLB (Mizzou)

12) Minnesota Vikings: Prince Amukamara - CB (Nebraska)

13) Detroit Lions: Ryan Kerrigan - DE (Purdue)
*I see this pick because Schwartz and company love high-motor/high-character players (see KVB) and he's one of the best still on the board.

14) St. Louis Rams: Corey Liuget - DT (Illinois)

15) Miami Dolphins: Mark Ingram - RB (Alabama)

16) Jacksonville Jaguars: Cameron Jordan - DE (California)

17) New England Patriots: Anthony Castonzo - OT (Boston College)

18) San Diego Chargers: Gabe Carimi - OT (Wisconsin)

19) New York Giants: Mike Pouncey - C/G (Florida)

20) Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Adrian Clayborn - DE (Iowa)

21) Kansas City Chiefs: Marvin Austin - DT (UNC)

22) Indianapolis Colts: Nate Solder - OT (Colorado)

23) Philadelphia Eagles: Jimmy Smith - CB (Colorado)

24) New Orleans Saints: J.J. Watt - DE (Wisconsin)

25) Seattle Seahawks: Muhammad Wilkerson - DT (Temple)

26) Baltimore Ravens: Da'Quan Bowers - DE (Clemson)

27) Atlanta Falcons: Kyle Rudolph - TE (Notre Dame)

28) New England Patriots: Cameron Heyward - DE (Ohio State)

29) Chicago Bears: Derek Sherrod - OT (Miss. St.)

30) New York Jets: Phil Taylor - NT (Baylor)

31) Pittsburgh Steelers: Aaron Williams - CB (Texas)

32) Green Bay Packers: Akeem Ayers - OLB (UCLA)

Let me know your thoughts!! Debate it out.

Ego-Mania: The Intellectual and Moral Development of the Fraternity Experience

2011-04-18T13:12:00.000-07:00

The blog post that will follow is a direct result of a Brother intervention and helping to address constructive criticism regarding my leadership style. One of my fellow Brothers, who I have come to respect more than just about any other person I know, helped me become a better professional and a person by helping me to understand my strengths and weaknesses to a full extent. Let this be a portrayal of the developing maturity of a traveling consultant.

Growing up in a very isolated atmosphere, I was always raised to watch my own tail and then worry about others. Joining a fraternity/larger group (by-association), with larger initiatives and agendas has challenged me to compromise some of my personal initiatives from the goals of the group (I once abandoned my Detroit Tigers in the 163rd game of the season for a fraternity homecoming event...which was tough). In the general world (without fraternity, sorority or any other group mentality), self-preservation becomes the general rule for success and failure. I grew up with very little in terms of possessions and money and because of this, I have grown to treasure the possessions and people that I have in my life. I've seen life from a less than privileged perspective and it prevents me from EVER taking something for granted. Success in life (it seems) comes from hard work, drive, passion and a relenting attitude; if you have ever met me, although I do not want this to be self-promoting in any way whatsoever, anything I put my mind to, I put in at least 100% and I exhibit definite passion. At some times, I'm solely focused upon the higher goal (whatever that may be), which sometimes forces me to skip the intermediate steps in social interaction and organizational structure.

I'm always looking to find ways to understand my personal weaknesses and professional weaknesses. In the realm of human interaction and especially fraternity and sorority interaction, I see the larger goal and tend to focus less upon individual feelings, interactions, and mechanics of a group. As alluded to in the first line of the blog post, a Brother of mine has compared my drive to an entrepreneurial attitude: I see the ideal situation and relentlessly pursue that, allowing others to do the micro-managing. I cannot thank this person enough because he has clued me in on some of the personal and professional weaknesses that I have been carrying, which have not formally been addressed by anyone around me. Without this constructive criticism and a growing sense of humility, I could not grow from this experience and continue to portray the name of my family, my fraternity, and my institution in a positively maximized manner.

I want to make it very clear to everyone who may read this that I do not and have never claimed to be perfect; my actions and motivations as Kyle Hickman and as a professional consultant haven't always been 100% justifiable. This experience has taught me so much about myself and specifically, how I interact with others and the general way I push ideas. It may seem that in some cases, I force certain objectives; which can come off as intruding or self-serving, but I want everyone to know that it spawns from my passion. If this Brother had never come to me as a comrade and respectfully educated me on some of the whispers concerning my conduct, then it would have continued to persist and fail to be solved. I've learned SO much from this consultant experience and as a returning second-year consultant, I take every chapter experience and personal interaction as a stepping stone for becoming the best version of myself next year. I want people to see my general sense of humility and that I sincerely apologize if I ever over-stepped my bounds into someone's personal realm or across organizational standards!

But all that anyone can ask for is a sincere, constructive conversation between two people, which addresses growing issues before they become larger problems. In the realm of Fraternity and Sorority, isn't that why we are BROTHERS or SISTERS in the first place? Isn't it our obligation to help each other to understand personal weaknesses and continue to work towards being a better person? The power of confrontation is that if conducted properly, mistakes and inconsistencies can be identified and can subsequently, be avoided in the future!

The maturity process that has occurred just in the last few days is drastic and needed more than ever. From here, I know I need to work on:
1) Being a better listener/facilitator
2) Selecting more strategically where to exhibit my passions
3) Accommodating other interests into my life/trying new things
4) Strengthening the barriers of personal professionalism

For any membership-based organization (club, Greek life, sports team, etc), the strength of the organization relies upon each individual member and their contributions to the overall effort. If someone that you care about is exemplifying conduct that is detrimental to your image or to the organization, you have an obligation to address the issue with that person in a constructive manner. If you allow that issue to resonate underneath the radar without confrontation, insecurities arise and a truly beneficial atmosphere is not facilitated.

I challenge you all to show humility and accept your past mistakes when confronting issues; accepting those mistakes and growing from them is the value of fraternity and sorority in the first place. Everyone has different individual values and motivations... if you can harness the positive aspects of each member and manage the weaknesses, there's no limit to how great you can become. At the least, if someone you care about is not living up to their expectations, PLEASE confront them constructively and help them to understand how to be a better person/professional!

A Higher Power and Fraternity: Contradiction or Harmony?

2011-03-30T22:51:00.000-07:00

In the world of fraternities and sororities, there are a large number of Greek mottos, Latin mottos, tenets and ideals which dictate the direction and motivations of an organization. Ranging from the oldest known fraternal organizations to some of the newest groups, each individual fraternity or sorority is built upon a different set of similar, yet exclusively individual, values or principles which form a specific "brand." Whether a member of that organization can be identified by that brand, that's a whole other topic altogether... but what I'm primarily concerned with is the symbolism behind some of our rituals and whether they are inherently exclusive in nature to certain individuals.

As I've stated in previous blog posts, I wouldn't consider myself the spiritual or the religious type. To sum up my entire outlook on the existence of humans and everything around us: since I cannot prove without a reasonable doubt that scientific means is the best way to view the world (despite my greatest academic efforts) and henceforth cannot disprove its antithesis, by necessity and according to scientific integrity, I would consider myself a strong agnostic (not an atheist). Whether you find that term to be bogus or not, it is not of my concern. What I am concerned with though, is a fundamental question that has dug at me ever since I joined the Phi Kappa Psi Fraternity at Lycoming College in Spring 2007:

Does my non-belief in a "God" (and more specifically, the Christian God) prevent me from being the most worthy Brother that I can possibly be, according to what is expressed in our Creed and our Ritual???

When I read the Creed of Phi Kappa Psi, it clearly states, "to be ever mindful that loyalty to my fraternity should not weaken loyalty to my college, but rather increase devotion to it, to my country, and to my God;

Going through my new member process and having to memorize the Creed, I consciously avoided ever repeating the phrase, "and to my God." In fact, I would cringe at even writing down on a quiz. Over time, it became very apparent to the Brothers that I was avoiding that sort of conviction, due to my individual beliefs. Because I had a clearly different stance on the topic and I took it so seriously, many questions would arise in my mind about my dedication and my ability to be a great Brother in the future:

-What if I didn't fulfill this seemingly simple religious obligation?
-Is the Creed an absolute obligation?
-Are my beliefs and values contradictory to its message?
-Am I a hypocrite for advocating on the behalf of an organization that is clearly heavily divulged in religious symbolism?

Since I did not have these in-depth conversations during my new member process, these questions have lingered in the back of my mind, still to this day. I understand the value of religion in our ceremonies and the dedication to a higher power for a more concrete oath to the fraternity (just as many other organizations in the Greek world), but when a member like myself clearly does not align with a fundamental aspect that is so deeply ingrained within, is that hypocrisy? Without the religious basis, how do I base my fundamental dedication to a system of ideals? As a messenger and spokesperson for my organization, am I diverting from "our brand?"

First off, these are questions that absolutely need to be addressed in any new member education program. I've always said: memorizing a Creed or a Motto is wonderful, but it's just NOT ENOUGH; understanding and comprehension is what defines the quality of a member. You need to have the conversations between each member, breaking down the Creed, sentence by sentence, and examining how those words affect them and their actions from there on. Maybe Brother's Sheehan, Deckard and Lane are right: the Creed may be a way to strengthen those already existing individual values and ideals; rather than replacing them with a set organizational values. But in our day and age of moral confusion, it's more important than ever to have a structured moral basis to lean upon...and that is EXACTLY what our Creed gives us.

So maybe the right answer lies somewhere in the middle; maybe no one really knows the answer! Yet, one thing that we can decipher with the utmost of certainty is that no matter our organization; no matter our Creed or Motto to live by; we have dedicated ourselves to a cause higher than our own, which endows with a special set of privileges and responsibilities. It becomes incredibly important to note that individual selfishness NEEDS to be replaced with a sense of giving of self, time, and services for the betterment of the greater responsibility of "association."

At the end of the day, I know one thing resonates clearly...
Those who choose to go Greek: you ARE our brand! Whatever you choose your path to be, every day, try diligently to be "The Best Version of YOU!" No one is perfect and no one is asking you to be such... but regardless of race, religion, or Creed, being a better person every day, according to personal values and those of your organization, is fundamental to the reason fraternities and sororities exist in the first place!

Conjugati Amicitia, Vindicat Honore, Et Ducti Vero, Vivemus et Vigemus...
United by Friendship, Sustained by Honor, and Led by Truth, We Live and We Flourish!

2011 NFL Mock Draft: 1st Edition

2011-03-04T13:39:00.000-08:00

This is my first attempt at a 2011 mock draft. Of course, the picks aren't set in stone but according to the most recent moves, everything that is being said throughout the NFL channels, and my personal take, this is what I've currently compiled. Leave your feedback as to what changes you would recommend (I don't claim to be an expert).

Carolina Panthers – DE Da’Quan Bowers (Clemson)

Even though it’s tempting to think the Panthers could take Gabbert or Newton, with Jimmy Claussen a year removed, I believe they will replace Julius Peppers with a guy who dominated his senior year with 15 sacks.

Denver Broncos – DT Nick Fairley (Auburn)

If the Broncos hadn’t resigned Champ Bailey, Peterson would have been an easy guess here. I really considered Robert Quinn, but John Fox seems to like Robert Ayers on the other side of Dumervil. Following the release of two defensive linemen, John Fox recently claimed that the team was looking to get bigger, stronger, and faster on defense… wouldn’t this be a good fit?

Buffalo Bills – QB Blaine Gabbert (Mizzou)

Although Ryan Fitzpatrick has played well at times and Cam Newton seems to be the popular pick, the Bills may be leaning this way. Gabbert may be a little raw, but he has tested better than Newton so far this offseason and their 40 times aren’t a whole lot different. At this point, Gabbert’s accuracy is more polished, while both feature exceptionally strong arms. I recognize the amount of help needed on either line, but a quarterback like Gabbert will give the Bills a new rejuvenation.

Cincinnati Bengals – QB Cam Newton (Auburn)

Some of the analysts are optimistic about Carson Palmer’s chances of coming back around to the franchise, but he’s threatening retirement (lol). At this point, I just don’t see that happening. In that case, they better get a franchise QB and Newton is a prospect with some risk, but a high ceiling.

Arizona Cardinals – OLB Von Miller (Texas A&M)

In an ideal world, the Cardinals would love to see one of the top two quarterbacks available at this point. Since it would be far too much of a reach to take a guy like Ryan Mallett or Jake Locker at this point, they may look to trade down. If they stay in this spot, I don’t know how they would pass on Miller, who dominated at the senior bowl.

Cleveland Browns – WR A.J. Green (UGA)

The Browns desperately need a playmaking WR for Colt McCoy. Even though Julio Jones stepped up in a big way at the combine, at the end of the day, Green’s college performance should preserve him as the first wide receiver taken.

San Francisco 49ers – CB Patrick Peterson (LSU)

With the top two quarterbacks off the board, Peterson will likely be the pick in this scenario. It is far too much of a reach to take Jack Locker here (they might be better off with Alex Smith) and Peterson helps them out in an area of need.

Tennessee Titans – DT Marcell Dareus (Bama)

There were whispers this off-season that the team was looking into bringing Albert Haynesworth back. Although that hunch subsided, they still haven’t filled that hole in the middle of the defense. Dareus looks very promising as the second defensive tackle taken.

Dallas Cowboys – OT Tyron Smith (USC)

Everyone and their mother are picking Prince Amukamara in this spot. Considering the relative age of the Cowboy defensive line, I’m not so sure it’s a guarantee. Smith’s workouts have been pretty impressive (37 reps on the benchpress) and he’s rising up draft boards.

Washington Redskins – WR Julio Jones (Bama)

Looking at the Redskins receiving corps and considering that Anthony Armstrong is about the best that they have, it’s probably best to upgrade now. Especially with a playmaker like Jones, running a 4.37 on a broken foot, it might be appropriate to look past Robert Quinn.

Houston Texans – DE/OLB Aldon Smith (Mizzou)

Robert Quinn is an enticing choice here, but he’s more a defensive end than a 3-4 OLB. Smith is a better fit in the Texans' defense, versatile enough to play both positions and if you look at any of his tape, his explosiveness is quite apparent.

Minnesota Vikings – DE Robert Quinn (UNC)

The fact that Quinn falls this far is pretty surprising. Jared Allen didn’t put up the numbers on defense that he’s done in the past and the Vikings are getting old on the defensive line. The Vikings recently re-signed Brian Robison to a 14.5 million dollar contract which forced me to double take with this pick, but at the end of the day, Edwards’ departure and Allen’s age make Quinn a can’t miss talent.

Detroit Lions – CB Prince Amukamara (Nebraska)

How wonderful a scenario? A corner who runs a 4.43 forty and fills an immediate need in the defensive secondary. Even with Chris Houston testing the free agent market and uncertain whether he will be back with the team, pairing Prince with Delmas and Spievey should strengthen the back seven.

St. Louis Rams – OLB Akeem Ayers (UCLA)

From what I can gather about the Rams’ situation, they need some outside linebacker help. With Miller and Smith off the board, Ayers seems to be the next best choice at the position. Even though he’s still developing as a pass rusher, there isn’t a better coverage linebacker in the draft.

Miami Dolphins – RB Mark Ingram (Bama)

Seeing as how the Dolphins will likely address the offensive side of the ball and the top two quarterbacks are off the board, Ingram seems to be the consensus pick here. Jake Locker is an option because he offers a different style of play than Ryan Mallett, who is a carbon copy of Chad Henne. This may be a reach at this point so they may look to trade down, but in this spot, this makes the most sense (courtesy of Phil Homnick).

Jacksonville Jaguars – DE Cameron Jordan (Cal)

At this point in the first round, there is a lot of good defensive end talent still on the board. Although Ryan Kerrigan and J.J. Watt are solid candidates, Jordan has showed already this off-season that he can be dominant at the defensive end position.

New England Patriots – DE J.J. Watt (Wisconsin)

The Patriots are loaded with talent at the defensive tackle position, but there is a serious need for exceptional talent at defensive end following the departure of Richard Seymour. We all know the Pats will likely trade out of this spot, but if they stay, Watt is great value and someone who can contribute right away.

San Diego Chargers – DE Ryan Kerrigan (Purdue)

It’s no surprise that the Chargers are looking for help in the pass rush. Whether it’s at the outside linebacker position or the defensive end spot, help is needed in putting pressure on the opposing quarterback. With Watt, Jordan, and Smith off the board, Kerrigan provides good value and a high motor.

New York Giants – OT Nate Solder (Colorado)

If Eli Manning has time and he can throw from the pocket, he can be a very effective passer. Last year, he spent way too much time running from pressure and that had a lot do with the aging offensive line. Although he didn’t put up too many reps on the bench press, he was by far the most impressive offensive lineman in every other drill. It would be a delight for the G-Men to see him on the board at pick 19.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers – DE Adrian Clayborn (Iowa)

Welcome to the territory of the underachieving big ten defensive ends. Clayborn and Ohio State DE Cameron Heyward are two big ends that didn’t live up to their hype this past season. It’s no secret that the Bucs are looking for pass rushing help; this pick could easily change though with revealing pre-draft workouts.

Kansas City Chiefs – NT Phil Taylor (Baylor)

This pick could very easily be Justin Houston (Georgia). At the end of the day, with all of the top defensive ends off the board, the Chiefs’ pursuit of Shaun Rogers should indicate that they are looking for a large 3-4 NT. What do you know? Taylor fits that description pretty well at 334 pounds.

Indianapolis Colts – OT Anthony Costanzo (Boston College)

Costanzo is very versatile, able to play multiple positions on the offensive line (just as he showed at the combine). The Colts’ pass protection was a major factor in their playoff loss and without a legitimate franchise left tackle, this pick is almost as sure of a bet as any other in the first round. With Costanzo still on the board, he provides the smarts and versatility to help out right way.

Philadelphia Eagles – OT Gabe Carimi (Wisconsin)

“Assuming no moves are made and Kolb is not traded, I say guard or tackle first round. Meaning, Pouncey or Carimi, but most likely Carimi because he can rotate between tackle and guard.” –Matt ‘No Hands’ Hines.

New Orleans Saints – DE Cameron Heyward (Hell on Earth, aka OSU)

Jeff Duncan, journalist who follows the Saints feels that they seriously need to strengthen the front seven of the defense. Considering the recent signing of Shaun Rogers at DT, this pick is likely to be the top player available at the DE or LB position…which is why Heyward fits that mold. He is a guy who underachieved his senior year and recently had Tommy John surgery; but he has proved to be a force on the defensive line (for the most part).

Seattle Seahawks – QB Jake Locker (Washington)

With the Seahawks the early front runner to pursue Robert Gallery, they may not address the offensive line in the first round. Therefore, with the uncertainty of the contract talks with Matt Hasselback, the ‘Hawks are going to need a QB for the future. Considering he went to school down the road, he will be a familiar face and it isn't too much of a stretch. They may have needs in other places but this seems like one of those combos that are destined if the draft unfolds like such.

Baltimore Ravens – CB Jimmy Smith (Colorado)

Joe Flacco has never been known for his mobility and it showed last year when he was sacked 40 times. BUT, the Ravens don’t have much at the corner position in regards to elite talent. Smith is a big physical, intimidating player at the corner position with some character concerns. Having him around a guy like Ray Lewis may be the medicine to solve this “arrest” situation. At the end of the day, the Ravens are always looking to preserve the hard-nosed mentality of their defense and Smith does just that.

Atlanta Falcons – DE/OLB Justin Houston (Georgia)

Although a receiver like Torrey Smith would have been enticing here to pair up with Roddy White, the outside linebacker and defensive end positions could use upgrades considering how John Abraham isn’t getting any younger. Houston performed very well at the combine and proves to be versatile enough to play a bit of both positions. Plus, the Falcons are looking to stock-pile depth; what a perfect fit!

New England Patriots – OT Derek Sherrod (Miss. State)

The Patriots are looking for a young offensive tackle, so this makes a lot of sense. For the sake of value, addressing both lines in the first round will be extremely beneficial.

Chicago Bears – DT Muhammad Wilkerson (Temple)

At 6’4 and 315 pounds, he will fit in nicely to replace Tommie Harris. Even if offensive line is a need, Rod Marinelli will be itching to get his hands on Wilkerson or Oregon State DT, Stephen Paea.

New York Jets – DT Corey Liuget (Illinois)

With an aging defensive line and the chance that Jason Taylor won’t be back, Chick, Kohler and J-Frick all agree that the defensive pass rush needs to be addressed. Liuget can be a solid addition at 305 pounds and a proven pass-rushing ability. With all of the elite defensive ends off the board, this is the best value pick.

Pittsburgh Steelers – G/C Mike Pouncey (Florida)

If this would happen, what a Cinderella story! The Pouncey brothers coming together on an offensive line that definitely needs the assistance. Jordy Hall would be extremely overjoyed if this situation unfolded as such.

Green Bay Packers – DT Stephen Paea (Oregon State)

The Packers are a tough team to mock because they are so deep, across the board. Consulting Hutson, he suggested a player along the defensive line. With the rash of injuries this past season, a lack of defensive line depth was exposed. Paea is the best interior lineman on the board and he stands a good shot at producing right away.

Let me know your thoughts!!

The Ignorant Possession of Absolute Knowledge

2011-02-24T10:18:00.000-08:00

For the sake of this blogpost, I would like to first state that I am a strong agnostic; I used to consider myself an atheist but this was before I was educated in philosophy, anthropology, and religious studies. What I found is that if you are to hold scientific integrity to a high regard, you can never conclusively prove that something DOESN'T exist, unless you conclusively prove its antithesis.

In regards to evolution, science, and religion, I consider myself an individual who has continually shaped his views through careful study, extensive college coursework, and an unrelenting thirst for the best possible answers. In concert with a specific topic, I do not limit the ability of the human species to perceive and understand its surroundings, however difficult it may seem. Most of all, I've found a supreme confidence with what we know at this point: it is simply the most comprehensive understanding currently known to our devices and ability to utilize our senses. Considering what the intelligent minds of science and research have discovered thus far, I would never be so naive to conclude that it is simply the end-all of unanswered phenomenon. I firmly believe that history has numerous lessons for us moving forward and you document thousands of instances where common thought turned out to be fallacy. To think, people used to believe that the earth was flat, that the universe revolved around the earth (how egocentric, right?), and natural disasters was the punishments levied by omnipotent beings.

I recently read a blog titled, "Adam and Human Evolution" and I found quite a bit of interest in the logic: http://forums.islamicawakening.com/f17/adam-and-human-evolution-41990/

One quote stuck out to me: "Another irony is the fact that the evolutionists try to place a theory (evolution) over fact (the Qur’an and ahadith)."

This single quote is the exact reason why I find annoyance with organized religion and its ability to destroy the original purpose of a divine being. I will agree that even though evolution has quite a bit of supporting evidence since the time of Darwin, it cannot be considered fact; rather, evolution has conformed into a large collection of supported evidence in relation to the overriding theory. I would be a fool to make the claim that evolution can ultimately unlock all of life's mysteries. Yet, what I can confidently propose is that evolution is the strongest collection of evidence, individual facts, and logic to support the existence of humans (as opposed to the doctrine of any religious text and the theories of creationism or intelligent design) that we currently possess. Of course, religious texts may contain a collection of loosely formed historical facts, but the numerous allegories and narratives make it essentially a table of contents for life lessons, moral misgivings, and a landscape for developing an undocumented (but comfortable) sense of reality.

Essentially, if you are to argue at the basis of any philosophical or scientific discussion, then you need to be sure, without a reasonable doubt, that your supporting materials have definite legitimacy. As this author argues against the incorporation of human evolution in the Islamic doctrine, it becomes increasingly apparent that most of his arguments are fundamentally flawed, particularly due to his use of the Koran as the basis for discussion. Concluding the Koran to be absolute "fact" (as he describes earlier), is the same exact naive approach that many individuals have been taking for thousands of years, which eventually led to new discoveries and changes in thinking, proving them to be foolish in their confidence. Islam is not the only culprit here; most of the major religions today find undeniable confidence in their beliefs, their doctrine, and their "truth." Yet, as we've seen time and time again (especially in science), that research and careful study has revolved around the idea that, "this is without a doubt the way it works," rather than what it should be: "it's the best conclusion that we currently possess."

Of those who consider the existence of humans to be of divine intervention or natural means (human evolution), for us to maximize our potential to understand the natural world, both sides need to do several things to avoid 'Absolute Knowledge.'
1) Scientists need to continue to consider their research as simply a stepping stone in the right direction; not as undeniable truth.
2) If you are one who subscribes themselves to a religious doctrine, you need to be sure that you do not go overboard with your "truth!" For a moment, consider yourself an outsider of your religion and decide whether you would still find every tenet to be logically sound; you may find that some of the things you previously believed are a little facetious and you may have been a little naive.

...and because I don't always want things to be so serious, here's a little comedic/philosophical relief from Bo Burnham:

Transforming Cultures: Fraternities and the Detroit Lions?

2011-01-26T09:39:00.000-08:00

Recently, I had the opportunity to speak to 75 undergraduates at one of the five sessions of Phi Kappa Psi's, "American Leadership Academy," hosted in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. My objective was to develop and present an hour-long program on chapter goals/objectives. At first, I was a little overwhelmed, to say the least. As I developed my presentation and specific ways to attack the issue, one concrete example became increasingly clear for describing how an organization can change its perception, its productivity, and most importantly, its culture over time. Best of all, it incorporated two of my favorite things: fraternity and the Detroit Lions.

.................................The Set-Up............................

Over the last decade, what sports franchise has been the butt of the joke for every late-night comedian and sports analyst? Is it the Chicago Cubs? Don't we all wish it was the New York Yankees? In this instance, the sad example of a professional sports team is the Detroit Lions. For the better part of a decade (since the retirement of Barry Sanders), the Lions have been undoubtedly the poster-boy for poorly-run organizations. Poor management decisions (Matt Millen), ineffective building blocks for the future, and a suffocating culture of losing, effectively capped off with an NFL record 0-16 season in 2008, defines the franchise. At that point, the team was primarily comprised of players who had no right to be playing on an NFL field; generally due to poor personnel decisions over the past 7 years. Seemingly at rock bottom, it was time for a change. From here, what was the left of the brain trust of the organization constructed a long-term plan for improvement:

1) Clean House. Remove the general manager, the coach, and any player who wouldn't fit under the new philosophy of the Detroit Lions. They had a few players with good talent like Calvin Johnson, Jeff Backus, and Dominic Raiola, but they knew that it was time to start building talent around them. Removing the leadership and the detrimental players was the initial key to future success.

2) Game-plan/Changing the ATTITUDE. From the start, Martin Mayhew (the new GM) knew the team wasn't going to break their losing culture overnight. Therefore, they got a coach with a philosophy who fit their scheme (Jim Schwartz) and allowed him to build a coaching staff with other talented coaches. It was well-known that the rebuilding process was going to take at least 3 to 4 years before they reached their ideal status as Super Bowl Champions (isn't that what all of the teams shoot for?)!

3) Recruitment. As 2009 rolled around, the next step was to secure great leaders and great talent around the players that they already had. Drafting Matthew Stafford, Brandon Pettigrew, Louis Delmas, and DeAndre Levy in the first three rounds that year, started the process. Along with picking up a few serviceable pieces in free agency, the roster started to look a little bit better. In the 2010 off-season, they picked up guys like Ndamukong Suh, Kyle Vanden Bosch, Corey Williams, Chris Houston, Jahvid Best, Nate Burleson, and Tony Scheffler. Many of these rookies and veterans were the kind of players who had considerable talent/experience with the capacity to elevate the play of others around them.

Even with Matt Stafford only starting three games, the Lions were able to finish off the year with a 4-game winning streak on their way to a 6-10 record. In the midst of those ten losses, seven of them were in fact by less than five points; aka, all winnable games. For the first time since the Barry Sanders era, the Lions have legitimate optimism going into the off-season with a considerable shot at being a contender in the NFC. A notoriously poisonous losing culture is now becoming one of the most exciting stories in professional sports, due to new leadership, a new philosophy, and a new group of hard-working, talented players.

A professional sports franchise!?! How does that have anything to do with changing my chapter culture???

Take a look at your organization and consider what would happen if you wanted to change your culture. Could you start over with new leadership? Will your National organization support you and instill the right philosophy to function properly? Although there isn't a freshmen entry-draft for notoriously bad chapters, don't you think you could begin to change your culture by recruiting a few guys who are in it for the right reasons?? Don't you think those young men, who are great leaders, can elevate the behaviors and potential of others around them? Wouldn't they attract other great men to join them in the cause for your organization? These are all questions with simple answers but complicated methods of completion! Yet, if you do want to turn around your culture, understand these basic steps:

1) First, be HONEST with yourself! You could be a much better organization; you're lacking in your service to the Greek community, the surrounding community, and your members.

2) Develop a lofty VISION of exactly what you want to be in five years, with your VALUES as the motivating factor behind your actions. This vision should always be a reminder to the members of your organization.

3) Choose the RIGHT LEADERSHIP! Remove any individual from power who is detrimental to the game-plan. Employ your National organization if you need assistance completing this.

4) Be sure that EVERYONE understands that it is not going to turn around overnight. It is a process that is going to take a few years (a tough notion for many college students)...

5) RECRUIT the right people into your organization; the kind of young man or woman who elevates the abilities of others around them and truly influences others to join the cause. Not every member needs to be of this stock, but having several is essential to turning around a historically bad culture.

6) Set SMART GOALS for your chapter, year in and year out, to help you assess and maintain progress. These should all be in accord with your final vision...

Do all of this and I guarantee you will see a positive change in the quality of your members and the productivity of your chapter culture.

College Football on the Road...

2010-12-01T07:26:00.000-08:00

Of the many perks of my current occupation, including getting a chance to travel across the United States, networking, meeting and working with undergrads, etc., going to college football games was one of the greatest opportunities that I was fortunate enough to take advantage of. Here is a description of the four Division 1 games that I had a chance to check out during my travels:

GAME 1 - Washington 35 vs. Oregon State 34 (Double Overtime)

Oct. 16th, 2010: For my first big college football experience, this was about the best game I could ask for. We tailgated before the game with many of the current and past Washington Alphans, followed by a great college football game in the second deck. Our National Secretary, Jim Boyle, provided me with a ticket to the game and I am still not sure I've thanked him quite enough for letting me join him. Apparently, it's the first double overtime game that the University of Washington has ever won at home and I'm glad I was there to be a part of it. In the second overtime, Oregon State had a chance to tie up the game with an extra point but decided to go for two. The entire stadium was on edge as they waited for the play to unfold; the Oregon State quarterback tried to squeeze a pass into one of his wide receivers, but the ball was knocked down. Talk about an eccentric atmosphere upon that victory...

GAME 2 - Wisconsin 31 at Iowa 30

Oct. 23rd, 2010: Talk about another great college football experience. On my way back from my West Coast trip, I stopped into the University of Iowa to attend this game with our current District five Archon, Steve Pasdiora. Due to sleeping in later than I wanted to, I missed all of the tailgating efforts but still gathered most of the U of Iowa college football atmosphere. Before the game, there was plenty of bantering between fans of these two Big Ten heavyweights and the game did nothing but to fuel that fire. Steve and I sat in the Iowa student section, along with two of his best friends, who are students at the University of Wisconsin. You can imagine what it would be like to be wearing bright red in the middle of the drunken Iowa student section; these two faced plenty of heckling and harassment, but they took it like champs.

The game went back and forth the entire second half, but eventually, Wisconsin pulled out the upset of the hometown Hawkeyes. As a neutral Michigan fan, I found myself rooting against the Hawkeyes because of the atmosphere and the general behavior of their students. Check out this video of the last play of the game and the Wisconsin fans' reactions in the student section (turn it down because it is loud):

GAME 3 - Michigan 67 vs. Illinois 65 (Triple Overtime)

Nov. 6th, 2010: It was a rather frigid November afternoon and I got a chance to see the highest scoring game in Big Ten history. Sadly enough, as a lifelong Michigan fan who lives about 35 minutes out of Ann Arbor, this was my first experience at the Big House. I went to the game with one of my best friends, Spencer Nimmo, who is a student at the University of Michigan. Initially, I purchased a ticket located in row 14 off of Craigslist.org, but I ended up sitting in the student section with the rest of my fellow Wolverine brethren.

When it comes to the game, there were 21 total scores between the two teams in the four quarters and the three overtimes. Needless to say, the defenses must have taken the day off in Ann Arbor. There were some great plays by both teams and with over 1,300 yards combined between the two teams, that is to be expected. Michigan stuffed the Illinois quarterback in triple overtime to win the game, and here is a video of the fan reaction upon achieving the victory (again, it's VERY loud):

GAME 4 - Ohio State 37 vs. Michigan 7

Nov. 27th, 2010: Talk about one of the best college football games that you can attend; Ohio State vs. Michigan has become one of the greatest rivalries throughout sports. Yet, as of late, my boys from Ann Arbor have been less than competitive and this game was nothing different then what has become the norm. With the loss, Ohio State has now won 7 games in a row and my Ohio State friends have not been shy about constantly reminding me of this sad fact.

As the game started, Michigan closed an early 10-0 deficit with a nice drive, capped off by a Michael Shaw touchdown to make it 10-7. Just as they were beginning to pick up a little bit of steam and momentum, the Buckeyes proceeded to return the following kickoff back for a touchdown, taking all of the wind out of our sails. From that point on, it was just a blowout. Even though the game was a joke, I have to say that despite all of the evil things that I heard about Ohio State fans, they were actually quite civil. It might possibly be a result of our futility, but I'll take the hospitality to heart.

Live Ever...Die Never... Phi Kappa Psi!

There's So Much Room For Activities...

2010-10-10T20:13:00.000-07:00

So I haven't blogged in quite a while and I feel like I'm slacking in this department. I had some free time today to come up with a good topic, rather than just listing off my activities from the last couple visits.

What I've decided to discuss is some of the group activities that I've taken part in since being on the road! With every group that I visit, I encourage some sort of group activity that gives me a chance to interact with the guys in a very low-pressure environment. I didn't get a chance to pull this off with every group that I worked with, but for the most part, we have had some fun. I want to list some of the things that I've done in an effort that you comprehend the irony behind the title of this blog post...

Purdue - Indiana Delta
I had the chance to interact with these guys in multiple facets. First off, they thoroughly enjoy loitering in the front yard and staring at the brand new house (lol), which I also took an active part in. But I had a chance to play some four-hand touch, contact football - of the 7-on-7 variety - on the intramural fields. It was a fine opportunity to get out and run around a little bit, having some fun in the process.

Butler - Indiana Zeta
We got a little creative this time around... we ended up playing a little 3-on-3 soccer in their beach volleyball court. This involved setting up two picnic tables at either end of the court, used primarily as goals. Basically, since there was a serious lack of room and scoring was hard to come by, the winner was the first to score a goal. Unfortunately, I scored on my own net to lose the game, in an attempt to play defense. Oops...

University of Colorado, Boulder - Colorado Alpha
This time around, I had a chance to participate in some good old wiffleball with the men of Colorado Alpha. This involved playing a game of 10-v-10, on a little league field, using an unconventional tennis ball and bat. Needless to say, it was interesting to see the competitive nature of the two teams as my group took a commanding, early lead and never looked back. In fact, it wasn't remotely competitive... but the delivery of gatorade mid-game by Anthony Derby, was CLUTCH.

Arizona - Arizona Alpha
Interesting story from my visit to Arizona: my second night of the visit, the chapter had two teams playing in an intramural flag football league. The "A" team needed an extra player, so I want to reach out and give a special thanks to Mr. Nick Vlahov for letting me pose as him for the night; even though I didn't do quite as well as he would have! We got to the field and it turns out, we were scheduled to face one another. What was surely going to be a lot of fun turned into kind of a downer for all of us, seeing as how we were simply playing each other and not another fraternity. Needless to say, I played a good amount on offense and defense and we gave the "B" team a good ass-kicking.

Long Beach - California Xi
Although the usual activity involves some sort of athletics, the last "official" night of my visit, we had a brotherhood event that included pool and video games. Basically, we all went down to the campus union and rented out some pool tables for about an hour. After a couple games of pool and several Carl's Jr. burgers later, we migrated to the video game lounge. Here, we rented out three game consoles; one Xbox 360 playing Modern Warfare: 2, one ps3 devoted to Modern Warfare: 2, and one Xbox 360 loaded with Street Fighter. We had a good time mercilessly slaughtering one another in a virtual world of what I call, "the call of douche." It was a pretty enjoyable experience.
Plus, I had the opportunity to join the CSULB rugby team on the set of America's Funniest Home Videos. The episode airs on Halloween (Oct. 31st)... I expect everyone to be watching and looking out for yours truly! :)

USC - California Delta
During the first day of my stay at USC, I got a chance to go out on the front lawn and just toss a baseball with one of their members. Although this wasn't a group activity, it was a good opportunity to unwind and take my mind off of chapter operations for a few minutes.
Alongside that, I took part in the amazing tradition of Monday Deliveries on the USC Greek row. Essentially, this practice involves new members from all of the fraternities and sororities delivering anything from candy, flowers, cookies, and other assorted gifts to members of other organizations. The looks on the faces of the women when I said I was a National Consultant = PRICELESS!

Cal-Berkeley - California Gamma
Once again, I had another chance to participate in an athletic event with the chapter I was staying with. On the second day of the visit, the men of California Gamma had an intramural basketball game and they needed an extra player! Therefore, I tagged along, while borrowing Mike Shippey's ID (thank you once again) and hooped it up. Funny story: as we walked up, we were still one man short; I ran into a guy near the front desk who is a graduated Phi Kappa Psi Brother from our Michigan Alpha chapter at the University of Michigan. He was currently attending graduate school at Cal-Berkeley and he also joined us on the court. Needless to say, even though we lost, it was a pretty surreal experience of Phi Psi's from all over, coming together.

Oregon - Oregon Alpha
Even in the middle of my current visit, I've already taken time to interact with these guys in so many ways. Since Thursday, I've played 2-on-2 basketball, followed also by playing about thirty games of pool! Plus, in the next couple days, a few of the guys and I are going to find some rivers/lakes and throw a couple lines in. I haven't done any fishing out on the West Coast yet, but there's a reason a fishing pole is in my back window. Needless to say, Oregon is amazing, even with all of the rain.

More to come as the road leads on... for photos of many of these events, check out my consultant photos on my FB profile.

The Means Certainly Do Not Justify the Ends...

2010-09-27T15:14:00.000-07:00

I want everyone to read a portion of a magazine article that I came across during my travels. I won't tell you the school or the name of the publication, but it is a magazine written by Greeks, for Greeks. Here it is:

"Now that they are in, these boys are about to dive head first into the greatest semester that you would NEVER do again. They are going to learn (the hard way) the school's Greek motto: "Work Hard, Play Hard." Emphasis on the word 'play.' However, as a pledge, there might be more of an emphasis on the word 'work.' They are going to be spending their nights cleaning their respective fraternity houses, and partaking in activities that I would rather not disclose in this classy publication."

Priceless, right? Also, here's another indicative piece:

"They have no idea how much fun they are going to have in their next 4 years because of the choice that they just made. Like Yoda to Luke, let's train these newbies how to party like a (insert school) Greek."

Never mind the shameful application of the Star Wars saga, after reading this, I almost got sick to my stomach. The fact that excerpts like this are accepted within a Greek community is almost a slap in the face to so many other Greeks who preach respect, honor, integrity, and brotherhood. The article glorifies the fact that pledges are put to work to accomplish mindless tasks, such as cleaning the fraternity houses. Never mind the fact that Brothers, Pledges, members of other fraternities, Sorority women, and other women alike destroy the house the night before; it is apparently their job to clean up after everyone else. Plus, apparently for you to be worthy of joining a Greek organization, you must clean up someone dinner, left on the table from three nights prior. How innately precious when it comes to teaching personal responsibility...
Plus, it's not like they are trying to hide the fact that their organizations force their new members to accomplish deeds that are not worthy of printing or becoming public. From a consultant perspective, this is absolutely shameful to read and disappoints me to no end.

Furthermore, instead of highlighting the great things that Greeks do like donate money, hours and hours of community service work, countless deeds of philanthropy, excellent scholarship, and other leadership accomplishments, the focus in this article (and almost every other article) is on the parties. Sure, our members should be enjoying a flourishing social life; one that involves interacting with men of other organizations and many of the women on their respective campuses. This is all a part of teaching our members to be socially excellent.

Yet, what makes us different from any other social group or club on campus is our higher ideals and values.

When all that our undergraduate Greeks focus upon is the partying and obvious hazing, it continues to reinforce terrible stereotypes of our organizations that only a select few facilitate on a regular basis. Our organizations, at their core, provide us with an opportunity to take an oath: a pledge that we will hold ourselves to a higher standard than the average member of society. This is an obligation to respect your new members, hold them in high regard and treat them with some dignity and self-respect.

I encourage any member of a Greek organization who sincerely believes in our cause to advertise the great things that you do. Let the social aspect run itself, because it does not need publication in a newspaper, through facebook, or any other social media. Show the rest of the community and all of the doubters/non-believers that Greek life, at its core, is here to make the world a better place; not invite ridicule.

The Value of Quality Alumni Support

2010-09-21T10:34:00.000-07:00

Coming to you live from Long Beach, California, I wanted to express some thoughts on a topic that I think is very important.

The more that I have traveled, I have further understood the value of good, strong, unbiased alumni support for our undergraduate Phi Kappa Psi chapters. If one of our chapters fails to receive any strong alumni support, there is a fundamental disconnect with chapter operations and successful leadership. Let me use an analogy from a Greek Advisor on the road:

A chapter without a strong advisor is like a football team without a coach
-This team doesn't have the veteran leadership that they need.
-The team relies on their captains to lead the way; which may work in some instances, but raises significant issues down the road without a mentor.
-How much do the players really respect the captains? These men must command enormous respect for the team to thrive.
-How much do 19 and 20 year old kids really know about chapter life, good life skills, and effective leadership?

When I heard this analogy, I found it extremely interesting and I considered it very relative to chapter life. Not that any of my chapters were perfect, nor are they in such chaos that there is a desperate need for alumni support. Yet, to provide the best product to our members and prospective new members, having that quality advisory leadership is essential. This includes a strong house corporation and an even stronger alumni advisory board, which are both beneficial to the extended life of a chapter.

I am a fervent proponent for emphasizing four principles into our members; four principles that I believe facilitate strong chapter operations and provide the best product possible. These principles are respect, integrity, courage, and honor (or the RICH principle). Respecting the men around you, the house, and the organization; having the integrity to do the things that you say you're going to do or provide to individual members; having the courage to do what is right, no matter the personal gain or the enemies that you may invite; and upholding personal honor and the honor of the organization. I believe, these values lie at the core of our membership and its success, especially in this day and age.

Our alumni must be the forces which transcend to our members successful life skills, unyielding ideals and values, positive adult mentoring, and how to effectively run a chapter. How else do you describe the constant waves of success and failure that occur within chapters of Greek organizations? Lack of alumni support and leadership leads to the loss of knowledge and positive actions. The power of our organizations lies in the undergraduate membership; men who drive our actions. Yet, we must remember that this membership is comprised of 18-22 year-old's who have to yet find out what the world is really like. Hell, I'm not even at that point yet and I'm writing this blog!

I'm Certainly Not in Kansas Anymore!!

2010-09-09T19:52:00.000-07:00

As for my first couple weeks on the job as a chapter management consultant for Phi Kappa Psi, I've got three chapters in the bag and just arrived to my fourth in Boulder, Colorado. I would like to share a few thoughts that came across my mind during the ever-so lovely 9 hour drive:

1) First off, I want to acknowledge the fact that so far, I have had the privilege to work with three great chapter presidents. This is a shout-out to Jeff Shull, Alex Mecker and Joe Wadlington; you gentlemen are extraordinary men and even better leaders for your chapters. I would like to once again thank you guys for taking a lot of time out of your busy college schedule to accommodate me in any way possible.

2) We had the Fraternity Consultant fantasy draft the other day... It should be interesting to see how truly competitive 18 Fraternity consultants can be when it comes to this sort of thing. It went very quick and I know a lot of us are really looking forward to the routine trash talking and oh so glorious league victory!

3) As for the traveling process to Colorado, I was blown away by how gorgeous the plains of Kansas and Colorado really are. I expected a very boring drive but in retrospect, I truly enjoyed the sights on the way. Plus, the fact that the speed limit is 75 allowed me to cruise...

4) When driving through the "country" and areas such as Kansas and Colorado, I've found the best music to jam to has to be country music. Even if you aren't a big fan of the genre, you play some good country music and it just makes the trip that much more enjoyable. Plus, I feel like it takes the lyrics (which are originally supposed to be easily relate-able) and just adds to the experience. I highly recommend to any other road warriors; give it a shot, even if you're not a fan.

5) I saw numerous signs on I-70 for a petting zoo/wild animal reserve and it claimed to have a 3000 pound Prairie Dog. When I first saw this sign, I was obviously very intrigued. Only due to the fact that I wanted to keep moving, did I not stop to pay to see something which was 99% likely to be fake. But if any other consultants or anyone in general travels on 70 through Kansas, please check it out and take some photos.

6) A revelation: Fellow Phi Kappa Psi Chapter Management Consultant, David Ellsworth has a second home. If he ever ends up homeless, this is right where I'll send him: Ellsworth, Kansas.

If you have made it this far, I commend you because I am generally not the most exciting person in the world. I knew no one would want to hear ALL of this from me, so this is my media outlet! More stories of travel to come...

A Week in Indiana...

2010-09-01T07:31:00.000-07:00

I have just wrapped up my first week of being a traveling consultant and I have to say, no amount of training or experience could have prepared me for the extremely long days and the constant conversations. Going into this position, I was a little fuzzy about how my relationship would stand between being a professional consultant and a 21-year old male. This is the dichotomy that I want to examine in more depth.

First off, I can confidently say that I have made very strong personal connections this last week and some of these young men will be my good friends for a long time. With a job like this where it is so important that you make strong personal connections with students, I believe I accomplished that goal and helped instill more productive chapter practices. Undergraduate members of our Fraternity do not want some consultant robot that comes into the chapter; whom is all business, meets with you for half an hour, then doesn't take the time to interact with you after the fact. My initiative (and it may be lofty because I don't make a significant salary) is to spend extra time and effort to uphold the business aspect of the job; but also just take the time to be friends with these guys, take a vested interest in their life and future, and most of all, just hang out with them. From an undergraduate perspective, if a consultant came into my chapter and ran through the typical meetings/conversations, while also hanging out and throwing a football/baseball, going out for a drink at night, and just chilling around a TV playing Madden, I would take him a little more serious and be more likely to assist change (if it's needed).

The goal for myself has been to find as many ways to break down barriers so that I can help build them up with the appropriate procedure and strength. For me to purposely do that, I have to connect with these guys on a personal level. How I can do that is simply by rejoicing in the fact that I am only 4 months removed from college myself, so my goal is to be as knowledgeable and relate able as possible, speaking to these guys in terms they will understand and not find offense.

For any of you out there who I will be visiting this semester, just know that I'm coming to your chapter to help smooth out your chapter operations and ensure the overall health of the chapter. However I can help, I want to be that resource that you can lean on. I'm not coming in trying to be "the" bad guy, nor am I wanting to completely restructure your chapter. Living out of a car and going on a 7000 mile road trip means I'm going to be stressed at times, but that will not prevent me from giving 110% to this job.

My experience as an undergraduate member of Phi Kappa Psi provided me the opportunity to take multiple leadership positions and develop the strong bond with Brothers that I hold today. This is an opportunity that we must preserve for our undergraduates because the good that can be done from Fraternity or Sorority, is much greater than the harm that we see on a regular basis. I'm dedicated to upholding this cause and consistently providing our members with a quality product.

If you have any questions or comments, please email me at: KAH@phikappapsi.com

The Road Awaits...

2010-08-22T16:09:00.000-07:00

As many of you may already know, I am now an Educational Leadership Consultant for the Phi Kappa Psi Fraternity. Basically, that means that I will be traveling via automobile all over the country to many of our 101 chapters and 5 colonies. Our two recruitment/expansion consultants, Jon and Adam Miller, just left earlier today to the University of Houston Expansion. They will arrive on Monday morning at some point, but the rest of us are still at Laurel Hall in Indianapolis.

My journey begins this Wednesday with a visit to the University of Purdue (Indiana Delta) chapter. Here is a look at the rest of my schedule:

Purdue University: Aug. 26th - 28th

Butler University: Aug. 30th - Sep. 1st

Beloit College: Sep. 3rd - Sep. 5th

University of Kansas: Sep. 7th - Sep. 9th

University of Colorado: Sep. 10th - Sep. 12th

University of Arizona: Sep. 14th - Sep. 16th

San Diego State University: Sep. 17th - Sep. 20th

California State University, Long Beach: Sep. 21st - Sep. 24th

University of Southern California: Sep. 26th - Sep. 28th

University of California, Los Angeles: Sep. 29th - Oct. 1st

San Francisco Leadership Event: Oct. 2nd

University of California, Berkeley: Oct. 3rd - Oct. 6th

University of Oregon: Oct. 8th - Oct. 13th

Oregon State University: Oct. 13th - Oct. 16th

University of Washington: Oct. 17th - Oct. 20th

Michigan State University: Nov. 1st - Nov. 3rd

University of Michigan: Nov. 4th - Nov. 6th

University of Toledo: Nov. 8th - Nov. 10th

Bowling Green State University: Nov. 11th - Nov. 13th

Well It's Been A Month...

2009-05-26T10:02:00.000-07:00

So it's been a while since I've last posted (sorry!)...
Anyways, here are the things that are on my mind these days:

1) So yesterday, I spent the entire day touching up the paint on my car and cleaning it up. Wow, did it need it BAD!

2) The specific reason that I was working on the car is for my upcoming road trip this Friday to Mr. Edward Frick's home in Blairstown, NJ. After I spend the weekend getting settled in, I will be starting my internship at the American Museum of Natural History on Tuesday, June 2nd at 11 am. From then on, I will be working every Tuesday and Wednesday at the museum for 3 months in the Biological Anthropology collections unit (I had to tell about 30 people that exact thing at a BBQ the other day).

3) Speaking of that BBQ, we had a bonfire that night, in which I invited over a small selection of people. Overall, it was a great time but unfortunately, when I threw a pallet on top of the fire, what I thought was at the time a small piece of matter that got stuck in my eye, 2 days and considerable irritation later, it seems that what happened was actually that an ember hit me in the eye and I burned my cornea. I tried to drive yesterday and it was downright atrocious; my eye watered the entire time and I'm completely confused on how I got back safe. It's not feeling too bad right now but it is still irritating. Hopefully it will get better before I have to drive 10 hours on Friday...

4) Luckily, my baseball coach is a cool guy: he's going to let me play in tomorrow's game free of charge, even though I'm leaving soon. I doubt if I'll be playing in center field (which is my usual spot) or even pitching, but that does not matter at this point. I just want to go out there and get some at-bats in and hopefully pitch a little bit. The game is Wednesday at 6:30 at Jaycee Park.

5) It's been a short month at home...I've been reading Matthew Alper's "The 'God' Part of the Brain," been playing a lot of hockey, and keeping myself occuppied with NHL 09 on my ps3. I'm going to miss my family and my cats because I probably won't be back home until Christmas but I'm used to this kind of thing. Until then, my next post will be coming to you live from New Jersey and hopefully during a successful internship! :)

Thanks,
Hickman

The Detroit Lions - Draft Success or Failure?

2009-04-26T19:25:00.000-07:00

When it comes to the Detroit Lions and their choices in the 2009 NFL Draft, there are some key acquisitions that are going to really help this team. Although, I still see some glaring holes elsewhere. Anyhow, here's my breakdown of their draft:

1) Matt Stafford QB (USC)
20) Brandon Pettigrew TE (OKST)
33) Louis Delmas S (WMU)
76) DeAndre Levy OLB (Wisconsin)
82) Derrick Williams WR (PSU)
115) Sammi Lee Hill DT (Stillman)
192) Aaron Brown RB (TCU)
228) Lydon Murtha OT (Wisconsin)
235) Zack Follett OLB (Cal)
255) Dan Gronkowski TE (UMD)

Here are the specific needs that the Lions had prior to the draft:

QB: They addressed the position (although at high price) by selecting Stafford first overall. Many say that they should have went with offensive tackle Jason Smith to build in the trenches but Mayhew and Schwartz looked at the situation the same as I did; they realized that they did not have a legitimate answer at QB for years to come and through careful research and workout evaluation, they went after their guy. This pick will make or break this regime and the franchise for the next five years. The reason Stafford won't demand a full A grade from me is because he is highly overpaid at his position of being an unproven, rookie QB.

Grade: A-

MLB: With the selections of Levy (Wisconsin) and Follett (Cal), the Lions picked up two depth guys that play the outside linebacking position and can contribute on special teams. What puzzles me is that they had several shots to grab guys like Rey Maualuga and James Laurinaitis, but apparently had Delmas higher on their board and passed. I believe that both Levy and Follett can make the transition to MLB but there were obviously better natural MLB's up through the middle rounds (see Jason Phillips from TCU or Jasper Brinkley from South Carolina), which could have filled a huge need in their defense. Look for them to address the position further through the waiver wire or by signing a veteran; possibly re-signing Paris Lenon.

Grade: C-

DT: They did draft Sammie Lee Hill, who played a lot at DE last year, but he is 330 pounds and can certainly translate to the middle of their defense. But overall, the Lions failed to address the front seven of the defensive side of the ball earlier in the draft; something we were led to believe they would do for several months prior to the draft. Although, a depth chart of Grady Jackson, Andre Fluellen, Sammie Lee Hill, Chuck Darby, and Landon Cohen is not too horrible; lots of young talent there and some veteran stuffers.

Grade: C+

TE: Fitzsimmons has always proven to be just a pass-catching TE, Gaines drops a ton of balls, and Heller is a specialized blocker. Therefore, the Lions needed a guy who could make plays for them at the position in all facets of the game. Pettigrew was the only one of the elite TE's in this draft that has the blocking capabilities and pass-catching ability to make a difference; the rest were specialty players, most of them undersized. Hence, I understand why they took Pettigrew at 20 and ensured his future assistance in the run game and short-passing game. The only question I have is why they would take TE Dan Gronkowski from Maryland in the seventh round when a guy like MLB Danelle Ellerbe is still around and they already had four tight ends on the roster?

Grade: B+

OG/OT: I was a huge fan of Eugene Monroe at first overall (mark my words: he will be the best offensive lineman of this draft) but the Lions decided to start with the QB and build the o-line later. Although I'm fine with that strategy, they needed to add a bruising guard or stout left tackle later in the draft. Duke Robinson was around until the later rounds and even though he had a rough bowl game this past year, I still think his size and toughness would have allowed him to start immediately for the Lions. Saying that, Lydon Murtha may be a future starter on the left side of the offensive line. But considering he's a 7th round pick, he's a project and it was way too late to address the offensive line.

Grade: C+

Safety: This is the one position that seemed very mysterious prior to the draft for the Lions. Gerald Alexander was productive his rookie year and although undersized, played very well. Yet, he is slowly recovering from a neck injury that may keep him sidelined. Alongside him, our depth at safety encompasses Kalvin Pearson, a phenomenal special teams player that simply missed way too many tackles as a starter at safety and Daniel Bullocks, a guy coming off of a severe leg injury last year who struggles in space. It's up for debate whether Bullocks and Pearson were hung out to dry way too much considering the swiss cheese that was the defensive front. Anyhow, the pick-up of Delmas, potentially the best safety of the draft, was a solid pick-up that represented the staunch draft philosophy of Schwartz and co. If he projects as half of a Dawkins, Ed Reed, or Polamalu, he will be a solid back-end player for the Lions.

Grade: A

Return Specialist: The addition of Derrick Williams and Aaron Brown to the return game should do wonders for the Lions (I still have no idea why they re-signed Aveion Cason this offseason as he is no answer in special teams and definitely not a second or third RB). Williams and Brown will both contribute at their respective positions; Williams will be the third or fourth wide-out behind the two Johnson's and possibly Ron Curry (expect some injuries, so he may see a start or two). Brown will start as the third RB behind Kevin Smith and Maurice Morris, but will see some time. Both are solid pick-ups that provide much-needed depth and talent at their positions.

Grade: B+

Overall, I give my Lions a B for their picks in the 2009 NFL draft. They addressed a few key needs, put their faith in a franchise QB, but because of their questionable draft strategy of taking the best player on the board and ignoring bigger needs, they left a few holes unfilled. I understand Schwartz's philosophy but at some point, how do you continue to ignore the quarterback position of your defense at MLB? Only time will tell...hopefully we can garner some sort of respect this upcoming year and be competitive in the division. Restore the roar, I say!

2009-04-22T08:37:00.001-07:00

1. Detroit Lions: QB Matt Stafford (UGA)
-Barring any snags in contract negotiations, this seems like a done deal now (Curry says he would take less money to sign!!!).

2. St. Louis Rams: T Jason Smith (Baylor)
-With the loss of Orlando Pace, I see this as a no-brainer.

3. Kansas City Chiefs: LB Aaron Curry (WF)
-Only because they drafted Branden Albert last year. They will not be disappointed with his performance.

4. Seattle Seahawks: T Eugene Monroe (Virginia)
-This makes a lot of sense, but Mark Sanchez is a possibility.

5. Cleveland Browns: WR Michael Crabtree (Texas Tech)
-I just have the feeling Braylon Edwards will not be around long.

6. Cincinnati Bengals: T Andre Smith (Bama)
-Although his workouts have been sub-par and he has character concerns, his presence on film and the need for an offensive tackle makes this choice far from difficult.

7. Oakland Raiders: WR Jeremy Maclin (Mizz)
-The Raiders need a WR desperately and Maclin is a solid pick.

8. Jacksonville Jaguars: DT B.J. Raji (BC)
-Putting this guy aside Stroud will be a major move for their defense.

9. Green Bay Packers: OLB/DE Brian Orakpo (Texas)
-The Packers would be enthralled if Orakpo fell to here.

10. San Francisco 49ers: DE Everette Brown
-I'm not sure the 49ers would take Sanchez at this point, so Brown is a value pick.

11. Buffalo Bills: OLB Brian Cushing (USC)
-With Brown off the board, Cushing is going to be an immediate starter on the outside, replacing Angelo Crowell.

12. Denver Broncos: DE Tyson Jackson (LSU)
-With Raji off the board, Jackson is the best true 4-3 end in the draft.

13. Washington Redskins: QB Mark Sanchez (USC)
-Dan Snyder would FREAK if Sanchez fell into his hands, especially if he does not have to trade up.

14. New Orleans Saints: CB Malcolm Jenkins (OSU)
-The Saints would be ecstatic if Jenkins falled to this spot.

15. Houston Texans: OLB Clay Matthews (USC)
-OLB is the biggest need for the Texans and Matthews fits their 4-3 scheme better than Aaron Maybin.

16. San Diego Chargers: T Michael Oher (Ole Miss)
-The Chargers upgrades big-time at right tackle, a position of immediate need.

17. New York Jets: QB Josh Freeman (KSU)
-The Jets have to replace Brett Favre...Clemens and Ratcliffe?

18. Denver Broncos: ILB Rey Maualuga (USC)
-As someone who knows a diehard Broncos fan, this would be a steal at this point.

19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: DT Peria Jerry (Miss)
-The Bucs lost both starting DT's; with Freeman off the board, Jerry is an immediate starter at the DT position.

20. Detroit Lions: ILB James Laurinaitis (OSU)
-The Lions got their QB on offense; now they need their QB of the defense, filling a huge need in the middle of thier defense with a strong, powerful run stuffer.

21. Philadelphia Eagles: RB Knowshon Moreno (UGA)
-A little help with the loss of Buckhalter. Ask any Philly fan, they love the big names!

22. Minnesota Vikings: OT Eben Britton (Zona)
-The Vikes are going to have a tough time figuring out whether they should take offensive tackle or WR. I think the hole at RT is too much of a need, rather than taking Percy Harvin, who recently failed a drug test.

23. New England Patriots: DE Robert Ayers (Tennessee)
-The Pats have a lot of picks, so I look for them to possibly move up and take a player they are very high on. Otherwise, Ayers is the best player on the board for that aging defense.

24. Atlanta Falcons: TE Brandon Pettigrew (OKSU)
-I still don't think L.J. Smith is the answer at tight end. Pettigrew could be that final piece that takes the Falcons deep into the playoffs.

25. Miami Dolphins: CB Darius Butler (UConn)
-They desperately need help at CB.

26. Baltimore Ravens: WR Darius Heyward-Bey (UMD)
-Last time I had them taking Hakeem Nicks, but I believe that Bey's straight line speed will be something more valued because of the other possession receivers on their team.

27. Indianapolis Colts: DT Evander "Ziggy" Hood (Miss)
-The Colts get a run-plugging DT they need.

28. Buffalo Bills: DE/OLB Aaron Maybin (PSU)
-Maybin has an explosive first step but his lack of size brings down his value. Therefore, the Bills get a damn good player here in the choice they picked up in the Jason Peters deal.

29. New York Giants: WR Hakeem Nicks (UNC)
-My last pick was Kenny Britt, but this time, Nicks is on the board.

30. Tennesee Titans: CB Vontae Davis (ILL)
-Although there are some questions about this kid, he's got a ton of raw talent and a lot of upside.

31. Arizona Cardinals: RB Chris "Beanie" Wells (OSU)
-I don't know if the Cards can pass on a player of his caliber at this point when they have such a need at RB.

32. Pittsburgh Steelers: C Alex Mack (Cal)
-The Steelers need offensive line help more than anything right now, and he's the best one on the board at this point.

33. Detroit Lions: T William Beatty (UConn)
-With Ziggy Hood and Britton off the board, the recent signing of Ronald Curry at WR (no more need at WR this early in the draft), no tight ends worthy of this high of a pick, and all of the top cornerbacks off the board, Beatty provides the best value at a position of need (Left tackle).

Logical Draft Picks for the Detroit Lions...

2009-04-17T09:28:00.000-07:00

We are only 8 days away from the big day, so here is my preliminary picks for the Lions' first five picks in the draft (granted, if they are still available):

1) QB Matt Stafford (UGA): Gotta get that quarterback here (wouldn't be surprised if they take Jason Smith).
20) ILB Rey Maualuga (USC) Need a leader in the middle of the defense and Maualuga has the potential to be a gamechanger.
33) DT Evander "Ziggy" Hood (Mizz): Fulfills our need on the defensive line immediately.
56) OG Duke Robinson (Oklahoma): Robinson is the best guard in the draft but because of a poor showing late in the season, he falls to this spot.
82) CB Jairus Byrd (Oregon): Byrd is a highly touted corner but what appeals to the Lions is his return skills, something they are in desperate need of!

Mock Draft 2009: Installment #3

2009-04-08T12:19:00.000-07:00

1. Detroit Lions: QB Matt Stafford (UGA)
-Barring any snags in contract negotiations, this seems like a done deal now.

2. St. Louis Rams: T Jason Smith (Baylor)
-With the loss of Orlando Pace, I see this as a no-brainer.

3. Kansas City Chiefs: LB Aaron Curry (WF)
-Only because they drafted Branden Albert last year. They will not be disappointed with his performance.

4. Seattle Seahawks: T Eugene Monroe (Virginia)
-This makes a lot of sense, but Mark Sanchez is a possibility.

5. Cleveland Browns: DE Brian Orakpo (Texas)
-It's either Orakpo or Crabtree...time will tell.

6. Cincinnati Bengals: T Andre Smith (Bama)
-Although his workouts have been sub-par and he has character concerns, his presence on film and the need for an offensive tackle makes this choice far from difficult.

7. Oakland Raiders: WR Michael Crabtree (TTU)
-Although there's speculation out there of taking Maclin, I don't think Al Davis can pass on Crabtree's playmaking ability, despite the injury.

8. Jacksonville Jaguars: WR Jeremy Maclin (Mizz)
-The Jags DESPERATELY need a playmaking wideout here. It's either going to be Crabtree or Maclin.

9. Green Bay Packers: DT B.J. Raji (BC)
-Raji is just too good to pass up here, now that his failed drug test was a fallacy.

10. San Francisco 49ers: QB Mark Sanchez (USC)
-I just don't think San Fran can rely on Alex Smith and Shaun Hill at QB.

11. Buffalo Bills: DE Everette Brown (FSU)
-This seems to be a consensus pick because the Bills need significant help in the pass rush. Brown gets the slight nod over Maybin.

12. Denver Broncos: DE Tyson Jackson (LSU)
-With Raji off the board, Jackson is the best true 4-3 end in the draft.

13. Washington Redskins: OLB Brian Cushing (USC)
-The Skins need a strong-side LB and Cushing fits the bill.

14. New Orleans Saints: CB Malcolm Jenkins (OSU)
-The Saints would be ecstatic if Jenkins falled to this spot.

15. Houston Texans: OLB Clay Matthews (USC)
-OLB is the biggest need for the Texans and Matthews fits their 4-3 scheme better than Aaron Maybin.

16. San Diego Chargers: T Michael Oher (Ole Miss)
-The Chargers upgrades big-time at right tackle, a position of immediate need.

17. New York Jets: QB Josh Freeman (KSU)
-The Jets have to replace Brett Favre...Clemens and Ratcliffe?

18. Denver Broncos: DE/OLB Aaron Maybin (PSU)
-He's the best player on the board at this point and continues to rebuild that horrid Denver defense.

19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: DT Peria Jerry (Miss)
-The Bucs lost both starting DT's; with Freeman off the board, Jerry is an immediate starter at the DT position.

20. Detroit Lions: ILB Rey Maualuga (USC)
-In a dream scenario, the Lions pick up a monster in the middle of their defense for years to come.

21. Philadelphia Eagles: RB Knowshon Moreno (UGA)
-A little help with the loss of Buckhalter. Ask any Philly fan, they love the big names!

22. Minnesota Vikings: T Eben Britton (Arizona)
-The Vikes are going to have a tough time figuring out whether they should take offensive tackle or WR. I think the hole at RT is too much of a need, rather than taking Percy Harvin.

23. New England Patriots: ILB James Lauranaitis (OSU)
-With Maualuga off the board, I see them taking the next best option at ILB.

24. Atlanta Falcons: CB Vontae Davis (Illinois)
-Davis is too good to pass up here and the Falcons need help in the secondary.

25. Miami Dolphins: CB Darius Butler (UConn)
-They desperately need help at CB.

26. Baltimore Ravens: WR Hakeem Nicks (UNC)
-The Ravens definitely need a wideout and I believe the Nicks' size and athleticism will make him the pick over Heyward-Bey.

27. Indianapolis Colts: DT Evander "Ziggy" Hood (Miss)
-The Colts get a run-plugging DT they need.

28. Philadelphia Eagles: T William Beatty (UConn)
-The Eagles need offensive line help, regardless of what side Beatty plays on.

29. New York Giants: WR Kenny Britt (Rutgers)
-Britt is the closest thing to Burress.

30. Tennesee Titans: DE Robert Ayers (Vols)
-He is the best player on the board here; can't go wrong with the hometown kid.

31. Arizona Cardinals: RB Chris "Beanie" Wells (OSU)
-I don't know if the Cards can pass on a player of his caliber at this point when they have such a need at RB.

32. Pittsburgh Steelers: C Alex Mack (Cal)
-The Steelers need offensive line help more than anything right now, and he's the best one on the board at this point.

33. Detroit Lions: WR Percy Harvin (Florida)
-I know that everyone criticizes the Lions' past choices at WR, but at this juncture, can they really afford to pass on Harvin's playmaking ability? Alphonso Smith and Duke Robinson are also possibilities here.

The Stafford Debate

2009-04-03T12:43:00.000-07:00

There has been lots of speculation between Lion's fans and network analysts about the #1 Overall Pick, spawning multiple draft scenarios for April 25th. Accordingly, I feel like everyone is very uninformed in what the Lions should do and shouldn't do...

The Lions SHOULD Draft Matt Stafford and here is my reasoning:

1. Don't believe the hype about the QB's next year; they really aren't THAT good. Sam Bradford is definitely a solid QB but McCoy and Tebow are not top-tier NFL prospects at that position. Plus, Schwartz does not have the luxury of passing on a franchise QB in this draft and banking on the fact that we'll suck next year and taking one then. Remember, this is a team that went 7-9 two years ago...the potential is there.

2. Take Stafford this year because we have Culpepper who can hold the fort down for at least one year, letting Stafford sit on the sideline to soak things in and LEARN. Therefore, we don't have to rush him in to ruin his development as an NFL QB. Plus, you can take an offensive lineman in the second or third round who can provide a viable option on the left side (see Britton/Beatty/Robinson) or next year you can take an OT in the first round. It's much more likely that a rookie offensive tackle can come in and contribute, rather than taking a QB next year and setting the franchise back ANOTHER year due to his development. Stafford, plus a top-tier OT next year would be the best thing the Lions could do for themselves.

3. By taking Stafford, you fill a gaping hole for a franchise QB and allow yourself to address the DT, MLB, TE, OL, and S positions the rest of the way. Do you see another viable draft option of a QB later in the draft? Nate Davis? Brian Hoyer? Pat White?

It's time the Lions get their franchise QB. They cannot worry about decisions they made in the past (Harrington, Andre Ware); if Schwartz thinks Stafford is the guy, they need to go ahead and grab him before they make the mistake of passing on him and setting the Franchise back once again.