Photo Illustration by Julie Thephachan

In order to “develop men of character,” the Alpha Kappa Lambda fraternity is stepping up to support their philanthropy. On Monday the group will host their third annual date auction to help raise money for SOS, a local battered women’s shelter.

“100 percent of the proceeds that we raise from this auction is going to SOS, and this all falls under our national philanthropy, which is “These Hands Don’t Hurt,” said Luke Drury, junior political science major.

Three years ago AKL began the tradition of an annual date auction. Drury said that at the time they just wanted to try something fresh and new and get people involved on campus.

Last year the event was so big that there almost was not enough room at their house. This year the group decided to move the event to a larger space and have been encouraging students on campus and people in the community to attend and support the cause.

Before the main event, the fraternity hosted a table in the union. At the table the group took donations for SOS, handed out wristbands and had a board on which Drury said students could paint their handprints. The handprints symbolized a pledge that those hands would not be used for domestic violence.

Drury explained that because “These Hands Don’t Hurt” is AKL’s national philanthropy, SOS was chosen because they deal directly with domestic violence in Emporia.

“All the money’s going to a good cause,” Drury said.

Doors for the date auction will open at 6:30 p.m. in Webb Hall. Admission to the event is free, but the audience will have the chance to bid on each candidate after they perform a talent. Additional information about the event can be found on flyers posted around campus as well as by contacting Drury.

Tyler Swalley, junior business education major, participated in the auction last year and decided to do it once again this year by performing a dance with a group of his brothers.

“It’s for a good cause,” Swalley said. “It’s not every day you get to go out and be a dork and make a fool of yourself for charity, so I don’t mind.”

Swalley said that AKL encourages full participation from its members so everyone will be involved either with the auction, as ushers, collecting money, or running the table.

“It’s a fun experience. You spend extra time practicing with your brothers and it all goes to a good cause,” Swalley said.

This year Drury said that the group has set a goal to raise $1,000. Already, with the help of local business’ donations and their table in the union, AKL has raised around $400.

“(We’re) just trying to make sure everybody knows that we’re standing against domestic violence and we want others to make that stand with us,” Drury said.

Brooke Schultz

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Alpha Kappa Lambda (ΑΚΛ)

As a diverse group of 35 young men who hold a common goal of developing into mature individuals, Alpha Kappa Lambda is one of the largest fraternities at Emporia State. Meanwhile, it also holds the award of the top scholastic fraternity and the most members running leadership roles in campus.

Alpha Kappa Lambda was established by a group at University of California, Berkeley, in 1914. ΑΚL’s motto is “The truth and the word.”

AKL commits to develop a brotherhood, who, guided by its “Five Ideals,” Judeo-Christian Principles, Leadership, Scholarship, Loyalty and Self-Support, share a lifelong undertaking to it and are dedicated to holding leadership roles and rising to the challenges and assuming responsibilities of life.

“(We’re) basically a group of guys that share the same ideas, stand for what we believe in and get involved in leadership opportunities that makes me met a lot of people and participated in campus activities,” said Russell Medley, active member of AKL, senior Physical and Health education major.

Shedding an overview on campus, AKL provides leadership.

“I would like to say that confidently, we have vice presidents of the Environment Club, the president of Associated Student Government, four RAs in the dorm. So our members are just everywhere on campus,” said Drake Foster, recruitment chair of AKL, junior secondary education social science major. “If you have good character as a model, you are making a difference.”

After being recognized as the Student Organization of the Year and the overall winner of the Greek Week competition of 2008, AKL received the scholarship trophy for achieving the highest GPA in 2009.

“We have maintained our academic potential and achieved the highest GPA of any fraternity again this year,” Foster said.

AKL has a strong commitment to make contributions to community service.

“We put in actual efforts and care about the university. We will not exist without Emporia State University,” Foster said. “We regularly hold activities to raise money and awareness for SOS women’s shelter in Emporia. Moreover, we enter the Adopt-A-School program and devote our time to set an example for young children.”

AKL offers many opportunities to shape you into the one you want to be in the future.

“The networking I did with a lot of people has made me develop myself a lot,” Foster  said.  “The people and friends I met here can become lifelong brothers, whenever I need help I know where to turn to get advice.”

To many students in fraternities, participating and enjoying Greek Life means you can share experiences and know friends whom may sit beside you on graduation day or even become your friends for life.

“You can trust the men here,” said Bo Moddelmog, pledge of the chapter and freshmen political science major. I am glad in getting to know them and learn about great character from them. It practices my political mind and offers leaderships roles that meet a high level in Emporia.”

Sigma Pi(ΣΠ)

Though operating without a fixed location, the Sigma Pi chapter in Emporia embraces the mission of Sigma Pi Fraternity. Internationally, their mission to build and support chapters and alumni organizations for the purpose of maintaining a fellowship of kindred minds united in brotherhood.

Founded in 1897, headquartered in Brentwood, Tenn., started as Tau Phi Delta, Sigma Pi challenges members to advance truth and justice, to promote scholarship, to encourage chivalry, to diffuse culture and to develop character in the service of God and man.

George Jeng, junior information systems major and recruitment chair for Sigma Pi, says that Sigma Pi is special in that “our brotherhood is so close and it gathers upon lifelong friends throughout the community. The leadership and community service opportunities are provided every month and our members are very proud of being fraternity men and to be able to make contributions.”

“Joining Sigma Pi is an wonderful experience which offers me training, guidance and innovative opportunities to undertake unique responsibilities,” Jeng said.

The Sigma Pi chapter is led by Chris Bartlett, junior secondary education in social studies major, who emphasized its unique achievement- giving back to the campus

“We make efforts to better the campus. We hold bikeathon activities and donate time and efforts to fundraise money for national organizations on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism,” he said. “Now we are working on our philanthropy, the Altruistic Campus Experience project coming in April”

ACE combines thousands of volunteer hours to offer service to campus when and where there is a need.

“Through the ACE project, we are trying to find a way to make the campus better,” Bartlett said.

Sigma Pi promotes men to reach their full potential.

“It help me improve myself a lot here.” Bartlett said, “Sigma Pi tells me a lot about social communication skills. I want to become a coach in the further, the experience I gained here lets me know how to lead a team.”

The ACE project not only improves the campus but also helps Sigma Pi members tailor their experiences to best fit the mission as well as their own developing objectives, and leave a positive legacy for the future.

“The last ACE project we did was renewing some campus areas,” said Matthew Summers, treasurer and scholarship chair of Sigma Pi and senior finance major “Basically ESU has given us so much, our ACE project is designed to give back to show our appreciation.”

Some members think that they gain a different experience than most other fraternities.

“I think the not being able to pinpoint what we are is kind of a real nice thing,” said Jack Sampel, junior secondary education in social sciences major. “I do not like the idea of how you join a fraternity and you automatically become one of those remaining comfortably within the bounds of their own experience. (Here) you can take different approaches to socialize.”

Summers believes that Sigma Pi brothers are kindred minds and kindred spirits.

“Getting involved, that is a quick way to meet a lot of people,” he said. “Make the most of what you can to enjoy your life at the university. If you hold that power, you do not need a (fraternity) house to live up to your values and ideas.”

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