FAQ

On November 2, 2005, Lambda Chi Alpha stopped producing the printed version of the Cross & Crescent (ISSN 1930-1278), switching entirely to an electronic format. Here are a few of the frequently asked questions regarding this change and our new formats.

Magazine’s Format

Chapter News

 

Magazine’s Format

Why was the printed version of the magazine stopped?

Producing and mailing the printed version of the Cross & Crescent was expensive. We spent $250,000 each year to produce four issues. That is a lot of money for a company that has an annual budget of only $3.1 million.

Will you ever print the magazine again?

Maybe. In the meantime, we hope you enjoy the electronic version.

Didn’t my dues pay for a lifelong subscription?

No. Though the Fraternity did pay for most of the magazine’s expenses (the Foundation paid for some), there was never a guarantee. Neither the Constitution nor Statutory Code make this promise.

But I still want to get the magazine for free.

We’re still providing you the magazine for free. You may read it online at www.crossandcrescent.com.

I mean I want a printed version for free.

You may also download a PDF version of the magazine for you to print and enjoy offline.

That’s still not what I mean or want.

We understand. It’s not what we prefer necessarily either, but it’s what we can provide you currently within our means.p>

Is it really that expensive to mail the magazine to those who want it?

The greatest expense of all is postage. For example, in November 2006 we mailed a postcard to 115,000 members informing them the Cross & Crescent is available only online. It cost less than $3,000 to print the postcard, but $27,000 to mail it. Scale up to a 48-page magazine, and costs quickly escalate. Electronic distribution of the same information costs us less than $15 a month in bandwidth.

What about paying for a subscription?

We determined that funding the magazine through subscriptions and/or advertising exceeded the scope of the Fraternity’s core business. More so, in 2004-2005, we informed 125,000 members that the free version of the Cross & Crescent would be sent only to those who requested to continue receiving it. Fewer than 800 members responded, which partially contributed to the printed version being discontinued altogether. If only 800 readers were willing to receive a free version, we safely assumed that fewer would be willing to pay for it.

Who paid for the magazine, the Fraternity or the Foundation?

The magazine was mostly paid for by the Fraternity. The Fraternity generates its revenue from undergraduate membership dues, royalties, and some investments. An overall 20-year decline in recruitment has decreased the Fraternity’s income. When forced to reduce expenses and cut services, ceasing the printed distribution of Cross & Crescent saves the Fraternity $250,000.

The ConStat states you have to produce four issues a year.

You’re right. The Constitution and Statutory Code do say we need to produce four issues of the Cross & Crescent every year. We plan to exceed this requirement by producing a new issue on the second of every month.

Doesn’t the ConStat mean you have to produce four printed issues?

On the contrary, the 2004 General Assembly made a point to change the Constitution and Statutory Code to explicitly state that an electronic format, like a website, could be considered a means of publication.

I’m receiving a 403 Forbidden error, what do I do?

AOL users (and users of AOL properties such as CompuServe) sometimes report that they are unable to visit www.crossandcrescent.com via their AOL web browser, receiving the message: “Forbidden. You don’t have permission to access / on this server. Additionally, a 403 Forbidden error was encountered while trying to use an ErrorDocument to handle the request.” AOL informed Lambda Chi Alpha that paying AOL users should call AOL Customer Support at (800) 827-3338 or (888) 346-3704 to report the problem. Your other option is to simply open a non-AOL browser (Internet Explorer, Firefox, etc.) and you will be able to view our website.

 

Chapter News

How is the Chapter News section organized?

Chapter News, Alumni News, and Omegas were merged into a single Chapter News section. Within this section, all news is grouped by chapter, providing you an easy way to find all news from your chapter and its members.

Where do I find Chapter News?

All chapter news is found in the Chapter News section and is preceded by the Chapter News icon icon.

Where do I find Alumni News?

All alumni news is found in the Chapter News department and is preceded by the Alumni News icon icon.

Where do I find Omegas / Reports of Death?

All Omegas (reports of death) are found in the Chapter News section and are preceded by the Omegas icon icon.

Why did you merge Chapter News, Alumni News, and Omegas into a single section?

To improve usability. Most members are interested in reading about their own chapter and people they know. The Cross & Crescent used to separate content into three separate sections, forcing readers to search three areas for information about their chapter and friends. By merging the content into a single area, readers can quickly find all of the content on any particular chapter.

Why can’t I find my chapter in Chapter News?

You or your chapter has to tell us about your accomplishments in order for us to share it with others. We publish most of what we receive. If your chapter hasn’t submitted any news in a while, contact them, write 100 words on what you learned, and submit it to the Cross & Crescent.

I submitted news but can’t find it. Why?

There’s a good chance it will appear in the next issue. If you want to make sure we received it, please ask us to reply to your message to make sure we received it.

My chapter is closed. Do you publish publish news on closed chapters?

Your chapter closing has no bearing on the accomplishments of its alumni. If your chapter’s alumni provide us news worth publishing, we will.

What can I do to have my chapter report news more often?

Email or call your chapter. Ask them what they have recently done that is newsworthy. Write it up in 50 to 100 words and submit it for consideration. If you learn of an alumnus’ accomplishment or death, submit that too.

What are your deadlines?

We publish each issue on the 2nd of every month. Our deadline for receiving content is the 20th of every month. Depending on space and editorial considerations, we sometimes accept content after deadline and sometimes hold content for the following issue.