Greek Life

Menu of Programs

Presented by Paula Martin, RD, LDN, Health Services, (412)268-2157

Healthy Eating, Healthy You: Using MyPyramid to guide your intake

This program reviews key nutrition concepts of food group balance and portion control to give students a guide for their individual nutrition needs. Other areas addressed include vitamin and mineral supplements, intuitive eating and navigating the dining areas on campus.

Fostering Positive Body Perceptions: Sisters helping Sisters

This program looks at the concept of female body image from various internal and external influences. Topics discussed, include media influence, sorority pressures, disordered thoughts or feelings about ones own body, and eating concerns.

Presented by Kris Cecchetti, Health Services, (412)268-2157

Alcohol Education

This program will focus on the decisions surrounding alcohol use on a college campus. Will address:

  • Culture of drinking
  • Physiological effects of alcohol
  • Harm reduction
  • University policies as well as legal issues regarding alcohol use
  • How to recognize an alcohol emergency
  • Making changes in your life or helping a friend make a change

Other Drug use

This program will address:

  • Culture of drug use, latest trends
  • How/why drug use begins
  • Review of commonly used substances
  • Review of substance interactions
  • Prescription drug use/abuse
  • Tobacco use

Sexual Well Being

Will address:

  • Culture of sex
  • Choices regarding sexuality
  • Abstinence as an option
  • Sex under the influence/ Sexual Assault
  • Unintended outcomes: Sexual Transmitted Infections, unplanned pregnancy
  • Resources

Presented by University Police Coordinated by Lieutenant John Race (412)268-2323

RAD

Rape Aggression Defense Systems is a program of realistic, self defense tactics and techniques. The RAD System is a comprehensive course for women that begins with awareness, prevention, risk reduction and avoidance while progressing on to the basics of hands-on defensive training. RAD is NOT a martial arts program. The RAD course is taught by certified RAD Instructors and provides you with a workbook/reference manual. This manual outlines the entire physical defense program for reference and continuous growth. The RAD System of physical defense is currently taught at more than 250 colleges and universities in the United States and Canada and is the largest women's physical defense program of its kind in the country. The growing, widespread acceptance of this system is primarily due to the ease, simplicity and effectiveness of our tactics, our solid research and unique teaching methodology. The Rape Aggression Defense System is dedicated to teaching women defensive concepts and techniques against various types of assault by utilizing easy, effective and proven self-defense/martial arts tactics. Our system of realistic defense will provide women with knowledge to make an educated decision about resistance. We operate on the premise that a spontaneous violent attack will stimulate a natural desire to resist on the part of the victim, (a premise supported by research). We educate women about "The Fight or Flight Syndrome," while showing them that enhancing their option of physical defense is not only prudent, but necessary if natural resistance is effective.

S.A.F.E

S.A.F.E. (an acronym for Self-defense Awareness & Familiarization Exchange) is an unparalleled 2-hour educational awareness, crime-victim prevention program – encompassing Strategies, Techniques, Options, and Prevention – that provides teenaged & adult women with information that may reduce their risk of exposure to violence and introduces them to the physical aspects of self-defense.

Presented by Peer Health Advocates Coordinated by Kris Cecchetti (412)268-2157

Alcohol Education

“This one time, when I was drunk."

For better or worse, many people still see alcohol use as a given when it comes to life at college. Come hear the tales of woe and words of wisdom on how to make better choices around alcohol use.

Main topics addressed include: alcohol and gender differences, when enough is enough, why alcohol and sex are a bad combo, how binge drinking is making you ugly, and how to help a friend.

Hygiene and Self Care

"What's that smell?"

Between community living, multi user computers like the clusters, and all the different people we come in contact with each day, you're bound to pick up a variety of germs. Learn which are harmful, which are ok, and how to protect yourself.

Main topics addressed include: Adequate personal hygiene, how to best avoid colds and flu, and tips for healthier community living.

Nutrition and Balanced Eating

"TNT: Tartan Nutrition Tips; how to have a dynamite diet"

Are you convinced there's no way you can eat healthy at college? Looking for strategies that let you eat what you like while still having energy and keeping fit? If so, this is the program for you. Come learn tips on how to eat better, feel better and look better.

Main topics addressed include: The variety of eating vendors on campus, what eating a balanced diet really means, the myth of the freshman 15, and portion distortion.

Healthy and Safe Sexuality

"Sex: The Ins and Outs"

Come one, come all! Pimps, players, v-cards and ho's, learn what stereotypes and culture have to do with your sex life, what practicing safe sex really means, and how to get the most from your relationships.

Main topics addressed include: the how-to's of sexual decision making, safe sex on a college campus, the health benefits of sex, and resources available for students.

Stress Management

"Relax, Take a load off"

If pressure, strain, tension and anxiety have become popular words in your vocabulary, stress management might be the answer. For many of us, stress is an every day factor that we have to deal with. Come learn how to better manage your time, how to choose the right stress relief for you, what you can do to prevent getting stressed out, and how to help your friends.

Main topics addressed include: time management, learning to say no, prioritizing, stress relief techniques, and resources on campus.

Presented by Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) Coordinated by Mick Landaiche, Ph.D. 412-268-2922

Emotional and Psychological Health

University life can be challenging. Stresses related to schoolwork, Greek life, extracurricular activities, relationships, family, and future goals can take a toll on your emotional and psychological health. At CMU, even having fun can be stressful! CAPS is available to talk with small groups about any kind of emotional or psychological difficulty faced by your chapter. We can address any number of things: stress management/relaxation; difficulties with socializing; problems with depression or anxiety; relationship challenges; trauma or loss; you name it. We’ll facilitate any discussion that meets your needs. Give us a call or drop us a line to talk about how we can be of help to your chapter.

Presented by Lenny Chan or Monica Bebie (412)268-2142

Living your Ritual

Ritual is an integral part of the fraternity and sorority experience. It is what separates Greek organizations from every other organization on campus. While each of your members has participated in ritual and swore to the same values as you, sometimes members fail to live up to those expectations. This program looks at fraternity and sorority ritual and how to incorporate ritual into you daily life.

Values Based Decision Making

Everyday you make thousands of decisions. Some are benign and do not mean much while others can greatly affect your career at Carnegie Mellon. Fraternities and sororities are values based organizations and members should challenge themselves to make decisions based on these values. This program helps you identify your personal values and how those values fit within the context of your chapter.

Greek Life 101

Greek Life at Carnegie Mellon dates back to 1906. This program looks at the history of Greek Life at Carnegie Mellon and identifies significant events that helped to create the Greek community we know today. An overview of today’s community is given with a look at current trends and traditions (this program is perfect for new members!).

Conflict Resolution

Conflict often occurs in our everyday day life. Conflict is usually seen as negative but should be seen as an opportunity to cultivate a stronger relationship. This program looks at conflict that can occur within an organization and effective ways for resolving such conflicts.

Presented by Jonathan Kroll (412)268-9510

Spiritual Intelligence: What is it, Why is it Important, and How do I Improve it?

“A well-developed spiritual intelligence provides a powerful framework for understanding one’s place in the world...Leaders who possess a high spiritual intelligence seem to develop particular capacities and insights” (Rogers & Dantley, 2001, p. 597). What are these capacities and insights and how is spiritual intelligence developed? These questions will be reflected upon and answered in this interactive session.

Leadership: The Process of Understanding Your Self

This session is based upon the leadership theory called Presence, or Theory U. Theory U came to life after reflecting upon interviews of more than 150 successful leaders in all sectors of society from different corners of the globe. Otto Scharmer, the creator, realized that there is something ‘deeper’ that drives these leaders to be successful. This session will explore Presence and our ability to ‘deepen’ our leadership practice.

Presented by Shernell Smith (412)268-9510

The Privilege Walk/Power Walk

This activity is designed to give participants an introspective view of privilege as it relates to their personal values as well as helping the group to witness the diverse experiences that their members bring with them.

The Neighborhood

This activity is designed to give participants exposure to a simulated environment of prejudice. Participants, who have in many cases never been part of any oppressed group, are asked to take on such a role. The constructed environment brings forth an experience in which participants are able to address their individual and collective experiences regarding prejudice, privilege and oppression.

Gender Bender

This activity is a reverse roles experience that tests your ability to think like a member of the opposite gender. The experience is not designated to create competition between the genders. The game does not require a formal setting.

Stereotypes

The goals of this program are to:

  1. Increase the participants’ awareness of the stereotypes that they hold.
  2. To provide the participants with an opportunity to share their feelings about being the objects of stereotyping.
  3. To allow the participants to observe how other cultures are more alike than different.

Presented by Jamie Rossi (412)268-2142

Online Safety and Security

Facebook and Myspace are part of your daily routine and you have thousands of online friends. Have you thought about how the information in your profile might be used against you now or in the future? This program looks at ways to engage in online communities while protecting your privacy and personal information.