ETTER FROM THE PHI ALPHA Brothers, We finished 2017 with a lot to celebrate. The number of active chapters remains near our all-time high with Zeta Psi represented on 50 campuses across North America and the British Isles. Active members that have been initiated again approaches 3,000. Several hundred Zetes attended Leadership Training Institutes that were offered in eight locations. New chapter development is making significant progress at Ohio State and George Mason University and the reactivation of the Lafayette chapter is making progress. Plans are underway to restart chapters at Connecticut, Rutgers and Syracuse in the coming months. At the same time, 2017 provided opportunities for us to learn from our mistakes and continue to challenge ourselves to improve. five chapters (Tufts, Cal, Penn State, UIC and Seton Hall) remain suspended due to serious risk management violations. One chapter - NC State - closed due to a lack of recruitment. Zeta Psi always looks to return to a campus where we issued a charter - and it’s an obligation we take seriously. Systemically, Zeta Psi is part of a thriving Greek system on college campuses. Membership and chapter counts are strong, which helps ward off an existential threat to our collective existence. National headlines highlighted the tragic incidents that were connected to fraternities in 2017. Despite universal prohibitions, avoidable and tragic deaths at Penn State, LSU, FSU and Texas State were all connected to hazing and excess alcohol. The result was national outrage and disgust. One can argue that these incidents are outliers, but the facts remain that in general. they have prompted harsh assessments of fraternities by the media and college administrations. Some university presidents see shutting down all fraternities as a solution for improving both the safety and reputation of their campuses. That approach is still in the minority, but such actions are being proposed on too many additional campuses and our continued efforts to grow are threatened by these perceptions. So, what can we do? What can you do? Whether you are an active member or an elder, we can all influence our brand. Our fraternity experience need not include binge drinking, taking advantage of women and frankly, stupid decisions. It includes collaboratively managing our college experience with leadership opportunities, teamwork, academic success and lifelong supportive friendships. We need to bring these activities and experiences to the forefront of how we describe our brotherhood and how we are seen by others. We also need to recognize that societal intolerance for hazing, excessive alcohol use and sexual misconduct has become overwhelming. “Boys will be boys” is no longer an excuse. Zeta Psi, like all fraternities, has advocated for the elimination of these behaviors for decades. However, they seem to bubble up as some chapters and individuals slip back into unacceptable activities. ZeteForward was launched in 2016. It focuses on risk management and emphasizes our values with the elimination of hazing, better management of alcohol and the prevention of sexual misconduct. It is not, as some cynics might suggest, a prohibition on fun. Rather, it is a strengthening of our bonds of brotherhood and the strengthening of our brand. Zeta Psi was founded in 1847. We have thrived for 170 years by remaining true to our bonds of brotherhood. It is more important than ever that we focus on those values that have made us strong and will continue to lead us forward. Proud to be a Zete. Yours in Tau Kappa Phi, Les Mann Les Mann President Zeta Psi Educational Foundation Phi Alpha, Zeta Psi Fraternity