Greeks work to handle media at training session

Members of the greek community gathered Wednesday night for a Greek Media Training event, prepping them to handle media coverage during unexpected situations within their own houses.

The IU chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America co-sponsored the event with the IU Panhellenic Association and Interfraternity Council. Katie Wickham, PRSSA vice president and PHA vice president of communications, said about 100 leaders of the greek community and PRSSA members attended Wednesday’s event in the Frangipani Room in the Indiana Memorial Union.

“We took feedback from last year’s event and made this year’s more interactive and more relevant to our community,” Wickham said.

The panel featured Dean of Students Dick McKaig, Matthew Ewing, adviser of IU’s chapter of Phi Delta Theta fraternity, and Phillip Summers, psychology professor and Pi Kappa Phi alumnus.

Rounding out the panel was Danielle Dravet, public information officer for the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission and former Panhellenic president at DePauw University.

During her tenure as president, Dravet dealt with the 2007 scandal involving the Delta Zeta sorority and the eviction of several of its members.

Jim Parham, the chief operating officer of advertising and public relations firm Hirons & Company, moderated the discussion.

During the training, panelists discussed case studies involving greek organizations dealing with the media in times of crisis, such as the 2006 death of a University of Texas freshman after attending a fraternity party, and media coverage of last year’s suspension of Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity on the IU campus.

Attendees were told to create or review a crisis management plan in case of an emergency.

“The first hours after something goes wrong are the most critical hours,” Parham said. “Keeping a tight ship is imperative.”

Panelists also said greek organizations need to focus on how they communicate their messages to members and the media.

“The house’s reputation is depending on you to behave in a responsible manner,” Parham said.

In addition, attendees watched a clip from the television show “Greek” that showed several stereotypes about sororities and then discussed impressions of sororities by students outside the greek community, with a focus on the DePauw incident.

“Impressions are spread out over several years,” Dravet said. “The more you try to make women fit a certain mold, the more trouble there is.”

Finally, the panel gave tips on creating a relationship with the media, such as double-checking facts, working with reporters and avoiding personal speculation.

Sophomore Zac Ventress, president of Kappa Sigma fraternity, said the event was very informative and that he enjoyed learning about the resources his fraternity and the University had to offer in times of crisis.

“We really do appreciate this,” Ventress said. “This was needed, whether we want to admit it or not.”