Sister Act

Pi Beta Phi leader adds inclusive language to national policy

April 28, 2009

Eleanor "Nell" Etheredge '09, chair of Pi Beta Phi's policies and standards committee.

It's just two words: sexual orientation.

But these two words, added to a standard nondiscrimination statement, can make a radical difference, says Eleanor "Nell" Etheredge '09.

Last fall, Etheredge attended a presentation hosted by the Interfraternity Council on how Greek organizations could be more open to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals. One key proposal was to amend their nondiscrimination policies.

Etheredge, a law & policy major, is an admitted policy geek. And she is from Northampton, Mass., a city known for its progressive politics. With that background, "my eyes and ears tend to pick up on these things," she says.

'A no-brainer'

So Etheredge, chair of Pi Beta Phi's policies and standards committee, reviewed its policy, which included race, religion, national origin and disability. "The entire chapter was surprised that [sexual orientation] wasn't already in there," she says. "It seemed like a no-brainer."

Etheredge decided to write a request to the Grand Council, the national governing board, to add the inclusive language. Tapping into her experience from an internship with the Massachusetts Office of Federal-State Relations for Gov. Deval Patrick, through The Washington Center, Dickinson's partner program in Washington, D.C., she carefully researched and crafted a memo that outlined why inclusion was so important.

"This kind of thing is exactly what I want to do," says Etheredge, who plans to work in Washington, D.C., after graduation, with law school in the future. "I love to research legislation—I've always wanted to be involved in government."

She also sought advice from several sources: Karen Neely Faryniak '86, associate vice president for college relations and advisor to Dickinson's Pi Beta Phi chapter; Doug Edlin, associate professor of political science; and Susannah Bartlow, director of the Women's Center.

An accepting environment

The resulting memo contended that amending the policy would show that Pi Beta Phi offered an accepting environment for current and potential members, would reiterate the sorority's stated commitment to all women and would set an example for other Greek organizations. It also would provide legal protection for the organization.

Etheredge's approach was "innovative and proactive," says Faryniak. "She takes her leadership responsibilities seriously, and this was a nice combination of her academic and extracurricular activities."

When Etheredge presented the memo to her Pi Beta Phi sisters, they voted unanimously to adopt it. She then mailed the memo to Karen Chevalier, grand vice president of communications for the organization's Grand Council.

The timing was perfect. The council was scheduled to meet in March, and Etheredge spent part of her spring break communicating with members to clarify her points. Within a week, Chevalier e-mailed Etheredge that the council had approved the changes exactly as she presented them.

"Nell reminds us that one person can decide to take on an issue, engage others and create change," notes April Vari '82, dean of students. "I hope that her work and Pi [Beta] Phi's actions serve as an inspiration to other fraternities and sororities."

In addition to sending a welcoming message to current and future sisters, Etheredge hopes that news of the policy change will influence the Dickinson community and begin a dialogue among her fellow feminists.

"There's this perception about sororities—that you have to be a girly-girl and date boys," she says. "But sororities were founded as feminist organizations to give women support in a male-dominated environment. They were a sisterhood network."