2008 Woodie Awards
Social and professional fraternities offer Greek Life alternative
Caitlin Wolters
Issue date: 10/19/07 Section: News
The start of Fall Semester often attracts new students who are interested in being part of Greek Life. While the commonly publicized fraternities and sororities get a large flow of new members, some students become involved with social and professional Greek organizations on campus.
These groups are based on the different colleges offered at the university. They range from fraternities and sororities based on engineering to business to agriculture.
Senior Jack Welsh, president of Sigma Phi Delta, the engineering fraternity on campus, said there are benefits of being involved with people from a particular major.
"The aim is to create an environment in which engineers can experience social events and understand academic commitment," Welsh said. "Our motto is 'For the good of the profession.' "
Senior Danielle Caby, founding member of Delta Sigma Pi, the new business fraternity, said the fraternity is coming to campus because there are not many business clubs at the university.
"With a big university, you would think they would have the clubs and fraternities for the business school because it's pretty good," Caby said. "So, one of my friends decided to research it and bring it here."
She said it was a long, complicated process, but Delta Sigma Pi is now officially a part of campus Greek life.
"It took a year and a half to bring it to campus," Caby said. "There had to be a certain amount of students. There were a lot of red tags, paper work and confusion with the whole process and recruiting people. But it was all worth it in the end."
Welsh said he decided to join the social and professional fraternity because he knew his engineering classes would be difficult.
"I don't believe I would have stuck with engineering if I didn't have the fraternity," he said.
Caby said she supports these fraternities because they provide members with academic help.
"It's very well recognized so it gives you an edge in comparison to others," she said. "Our Web site gives connections to alumni and you can shadow them for a day at their job."
These groups are based on the different colleges offered at the university. They range from fraternities and sororities based on engineering to business to agriculture.
Senior Jack Welsh, president of Sigma Phi Delta, the engineering fraternity on campus, said there are benefits of being involved with people from a particular major.
"The aim is to create an environment in which engineers can experience social events and understand academic commitment," Welsh said. "Our motto is 'For the good of the profession.' "
Senior Danielle Caby, founding member of Delta Sigma Pi, the new business fraternity, said the fraternity is coming to campus because there are not many business clubs at the university.
"With a big university, you would think they would have the clubs and fraternities for the business school because it's pretty good," Caby said. "So, one of my friends decided to research it and bring it here."
She said it was a long, complicated process, but Delta Sigma Pi is now officially a part of campus Greek life.
"It took a year and a half to bring it to campus," Caby said. "There had to be a certain amount of students. There were a lot of red tags, paper work and confusion with the whole process and recruiting people. But it was all worth it in the end."
Welsh said he decided to join the social and professional fraternity because he knew his engineering classes would be difficult.
"I don't believe I would have stuck with engineering if I didn't have the fraternity," he said.
Caby said she supports these fraternities because they provide members with academic help.
"It's very well recognized so it gives you an edge in comparison to others," she said. "Our Web site gives connections to alumni and you can shadow them for a day at their job."
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