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The Oracle December 3,2001
5
In the long run, it all pays off: Men of Pi Kappa Phi to recieve charter
Members of the Kansas associate chapter of Pi Kappa Phi will recieve their charter, which will officially recognize them as Theta Epsilon of the University of Kansas, on Dec. 8, 2001. The chapter's 61 members are acknowledged as founding fathers.
For nearly two years, the men of Pi Kappa Phi have labored to build a strong chapter at the University of Kansas. Their hard work is about to pay off.
by kristin keeney
On December 8, the Kansas associate chapter of Pi Kappa Phi will receive its charter, a certificate of official recognition from the fraternity's national organization, to become Theta Epsilon.
"Having a charter simply means that we are standing on our own two feet, and we've come into being a fraternity that is functioning at a high level," said Jake Albers, Pi Kappa Phi president. "This is what we've been working towards."
In February 2000, representatives from the national organization interviewed and selected 38 men to colonize Pi Kappa Phi at KU. One month later, on Mar. 3, the men elected officers while getting to know one another during a retreat. This event marked the fraternity's local founding.
"It's been a really tough process, doing everything from the beginning," said Josh Kropf, vice president. "We started from scratch with a book and some guidelines, and we went from there. Receiving our charter will be absolutely amazing to me."
In order to obtain its charter, Lyle Dohl, chartering chairman, said the chapter had to meet a number of requirements such as maintaining a GPA above the KU all-fraternity average, acquiring a set number of members and getting their finances in order.
"It has been a huge struggle for us," Albers said. "I remember the first chapter. We've come 180 degrees from where we were."
The chapter also had to develop a constitution, bylaws, and code of conduct, as well as assemble a standards board and a chartering brochure that included biographies of all 61 members, Dohl said.
Although it was a lot of work, Dohl said it was worth it all.
"You can always join a fraternity, but we get to start one. This was our chance to come up with
our traditions instead of having them handed down to us," Dohl said.
This rare opportunity to become a founding father was enough to change member Dave Buchanan's mind about the greek community. Buchanan didn't think he needed to join a fraternity when he first came to KU.
"I thought there was so much to do in college that I didn't really need to be greek," Buchanan said. "But I thought this was such an unbelievable way to do that I had to be apart of it. I have done a 180 with the Greek system."
Interfraternity Council President Andy Knopp said it was a great step for Pi Kappa Phi to receive its charter, which will enable the chapter to vote on all IFC matters.
"I look forward to having their
input," Knopp said. "They have been great contributors since they have been here on campus."
"We are starting to come into our own," Dohl said. "KU has a great greek tradition, and we want to contribute to that tradition."
During a black-tie banquet at the Marriott in Downtown Kansas City, Theta Epsilon will be presented with the charter this Saturday before several alumni and national Pi Kappa Phi representatives. The chapter has sent out numerous invitations to KU faculty, sorority and fraternity presidents, Panhellenic Association and IFC.
"It's going to be a good way to bring all the work that we've done to a close for the year," Dohl said.
However, before members can celebrate, Dohl said they must
photo courtesy of Pi Kappi Phi
complete a written test on Thursday, oral interviews on Friday, and rituals of initiation Friday night and Saturday morning. The rituals will take place in a church and members will attend a service in the same building on Sunday.
"We finally established a fraternity with a good group of guys. We're ready to move forward," said member Jay Brunner.
The chapter's next focus will be on housing, Albers said. "We obviously want a place called home, but I think we've proven that we don't have to have a house to be successful at KU."
Even without a house, the men have already established a solid foundation on the KU campus. "We can only go up," said Albers.
GAMMA lock-in promotes non-alcoholic fun
by blake shuart
A few weeks ago, while the majority of KU students were out partying with friends on a typical Friday night, greek new members spent an evening together eating, joking, and learning how to maturely manage alcohol at the Greeks Advocating Mature Management of Alcohol lock-in.
The evening took place on October 26th at Robinson
Atheletic Center, and was sponsored by InterFraternity Council, Panhellenic Association and KU.
The lock-in, which lasted from 10 pm to 2 am, featured such activities as volleyball, basketball, pumpkin painting and carving contests, and also
"GAMMA was a great experience because it showed me that I can have a good time without alcohol," said Kristi Rossley, Pi Beta Phi. "It was a good way to meet people from other sororities."
included large assortment of refreshments for all participants.
The annual event has been both successful and rewarding for the past four years.
"The tradition keeps growing and expanding as the years go on, and we hope that soon involvement will spread to encompass all new greek members and a large portion of other greeks on campus," said Scott Thein, former IFC vice president for risk management.
Organizers came up with new
ways to make this year's lock in more worthwhile.
"This year we've added a few new events designed to show the negative effects of drinking," said Matt Sargent, GAMMA chairman and member of Phi Kappa Psi. "We also redesigned the T-shirts and attempted to gain more sponsorship in the areas of food and entertainment."
The lock-in also presented participants with a unique social opportunity. Cara Milligan, Pi Beta Phi, viewed
GAMMA as "a worthwhile experience, because I was able to meet a variety of people that I would probably not know otherwise."
Summing up the focus of the event, Thein said, "Even if it is only one night a year, GAMMA is a great experience for everyone involved and definitely goes a long way towards discouraging the abundant use of alcohol. Hopefully it will continue to grow and prosper long after I graduate."