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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Alpha Sigma Tau

Showing sincerity, honesty, love and understanding in all the relationships as well as to help each other enjoy the cultural advantages in life are the stated goals of Alpha Sigma Tau. Alpha Sigma Tau was founded Nov. 4, 1899, in Ypsilanti, Michigan, by eight women who developed the character of members through the study of ethics.

“From that, they know how to select those things which are most worthwhile and finally to develop social graces,” said Cari Frazey, president of Alpha Sigma Tau and junior psychology major. “The well known fact is that it also gives long lasting friendships and great networking capabilities.”

The motto of Alpha Sigma Tau is “active, self-reliant and trustworthy.”

“We are fun group and we are looking for women with vibrant personalities like ours,” Frazey said.

The goal of Alpha Sigma Tau is to promote ethical, cultural and social development of their members.

There are 21 women in Alpha Sigma Tau, but Alpha Sigma Tau is still a colony (members have not been formally initiated), members are considered new members by national standards.

“Before I joined Alpha Sigma Tau, I didn’t really have any expectations or opinions about Greek Life,” said Samantha Lintner, senior English major. “After I joined in, I think it opened my eyes to how much people in Greek Life are involved.”

Lintner joined Alpha Sigma Tau in spring 2009, when Alpha Sigma Tau first came to campus.

“I figured being involved with Greek Life, I would meet more people and have a college experience rather than sitting in my dorm room,” said Jayme Gillespie, sophomore mathematics major.

Gillespie joined Alpha Sigma Tau because she didn’t know many people when she first got here. However, after membership of three semesters, Gillespie said she realized Greek Life is definitely bigger and more involved than she thought.

Sisters of Alpha Sigma Tau believe sisterhood can’t be there if there isn’t bonding time.

“We like to have a sisterhood every month where we can just break out of our shells and hang out. There is always food involved and lots of laughter.” Frazey said.

Recently, Alpha Sigma Tau had Mom’s Day on March 6 and the Yellow Rose masquerade will be on March 27. Both Mom’s day and Yellow Rose masquerade are traditions of Alpha Sigma Tau.

The women of Alpha Sigma Tau participate in Campus Clean-ups, hold fundraisers for National Philanthropy and volunteer for Habitat for Humanity each semester.

“After being a member of Alpha Sigma Tau, my goals are to continue volunteering and maintaining the closed friendships I have made with the other members,” Lintner said.

Since Alpha Sigma Tau doesn’t have its own house, Gillespie said her main goal for her chapter is to be installed as a national chapter and not only a colony.

“I would also love to see my chapter grow in numbers to soon be the same size as the other chapters on campus,” Gillespie said.

Sigma Tau Gamma:

Sigma Tau Gamma is a social fraternity with six principles: value, learning, leadership, benefit, excellence and integrity.

“We strive to work toward exemplifying these principles along with serving the community in times of need,” said Adam Wright, president of Sigma Tau Gamma and junior Business Administration major.

Sigma Tau Gamma was founded Jan. 20, 1922 and has been on campus for 88 years, continuing with 33 members and four new members this semester. They are always looking for men to join, and they based their program of the path and principles which give them values to exemplify.

Wright believes Greek Life is a great opportunity to network and make new friends.

“It has given me so many opportunities on campus and off, and it is great to be so involved in making the community a better place,” Wright said.

Manny Requenes, sophomore music education major, joined Sigma Tau Gamma last year. Before this, joining a fraternity was the last thing on his mind.

“I really did like how the fraternity was based and that is what really hooked me in,” Requenes said.

Requenes thinks that Sigma Tau Gamma and Greek Life is a smart choice.

“I made many friends right away, and it definitely make the ‘transferring schools’ transition go very smoothly,” Requenes said.

Recently, Sigma Tau Gamma had multiple events going on, such as Mom’s Day, Dad’s day and the annual softball tournament, which is known as snoball softball.

“We always have something going on, we enjoy being able to offer events and activities for our brothers,” Wright said.

Sigma Tau Gamma has their own food program where they are able to sit down and have a home cooked meal with all the brothers.

“I feel like we are a group of individuals who contribute greatly to the university,” said Matt Kochenower, junior marketing major.

Kochenower believes that Sigma Tau Gamma has given him networking capabilities and opportunities which never would have been possible if he had not joined.

The goal of being a member of Sigma Tau Gamma and Greek Life for Requenes is to make a positive impact to the chapter and the Greek community.

“I believe that I have already begun to achieve that goal by being nominated and elected as the Secretary for Sigma Tau Gamma and being elected as the 2010 Interfraternity Council Chairman,” Requenes said.

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Chi Omega members; Kristin Wood, junior elementary education major, Brook Hoover, junior English secondary education major, Kaile Teeter, junior nursing major, and Ashley Bonjour, junior health promotion major, enjoy dinner together Tuesday night at Casa Ramos. Jonathan Elliott/The Bulletin

In Greek life there is a saying, “From the outside looking in, you can’t understand it. From the inside looking out, you can’t explain it.”

Chi Omega

Greek life is one of the best organizations to be involved in on campus, according to Kristin Wood, Chi Omega president and junior elementary education major.

“Greek life does a lot of community service in the community, has the highest GPA on campus, and has taught me great leadership skills that I can take with me when I become a teacher,” Wood said. Wood has been a member of Chi Omega for three years.

The Nu Zeta Chapter of Chi Omega was founded on April 8, 1961, at Emporia State University. Ladies must be full-time students at ESU with a 2.0 GPA or above to join. Now, Chi Omega has 44 active members and 2 new members.

“We have women from all majors in the chapter from elementary education, nursing, sociology, premed, accounting, business administration, theater, and a bunch more,” Wood said.

Chi Omega has six purposes: scholarship, campus activities, sisterhood, career and personal development, community service and social/friendship.

Laura Bosiljevac, freshman of biology major, joined Chi Omega at the beginning of this year.

“I have had so many wonderful experiences and opportunities from being in Chi Omega and just through Greek Life in general,” Bosiljevac said. “I have also met many amazing people and learned more than I ever hoped to…my sisters in Chi Omega have been great and if possible even more fantastic than I thought when I first joined the house… many of the people in other Greek houses have turned into great friends and mentors as well, and have been just as wonderful.”

Bosiljevac said she feels that the sorority life is a special connection to the girls, and she likes the values and energy of it.

Chi Omega meets every Tuesday night. They have sisterhood events, Mom’s Day, Dad’s Day, Siblings & Best Friends Day, along with events with other sororities and fraternities on campus. And also involve in Relay For Life and Rebuilding Together each spring.

“Greek life has been nothing but positive for me,” Walter said. “It is a network of opportunities, both social and scholarly that can build a successful future.”

Members of Phi Delta Theta fraternity participate in a formal dinner together Tuesday night at the Phi Delta Theta house. Jonathan Elliott/The Bulletin

Phi Delta Theta

Phi Delta Theta President and senior crime and delinquency studies major Jeremy Walter says Greek life is a way for men and women to grow and mature into more well-rounded people than they would otherwise be.

Phi Delta Theta Fraternity was founded in 1848 at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. The Emporia State University chapter was founded 120 years later in 1968.

According to Walter, Phi Delta Theta was founded on the principles of friendship, sound Learning and rectitude.

Phi Delta Theta now has 22 members right now, with three of them not initiated into full membership. New members must attain a 2.5 GPA, be of sound moral character and complete the new member program with their fellow Phikeia, or pledge.

This program includes planning and executing a community service event, a fundraiser, a house improvement project and a social event.

“We have a lot of music majors right now, but the composition of the house changes constantly. We encourage diversity in our studies as much as possible,” Walter said.

Phi Delta Theta has a formal dinner for the chapter every Tuesday.

Matthew Crome, freshman management information systems major, joined Phi Delta Theta this semester.

“I agree with not only the values of the fraternity, but I instantly made friends with the men who were already members,” Crome said. “My grandfather, along with several other family members, had been involved in Greek life, so they helped alleviate any fears that I had.”

After joining, Crome said he met so many more people. He had assumed everyone was involved on campus and active in events, but he said he didn’t realize that so many of the most active people were Greek.

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