Fraternity Council to host information night

The Interfraternity Council (IFC) of Texas A&M University-Commerce will be holding a "Meet The Greeks" event on Feb. 14 from 6-8 p.m., upstairs in the Rayburn Student Center.  Zach Shirley, assistant director of Greek Life, is coordinating the event.

This event is designed to promote membership in and information about the five local chapters of National Social Fraternities on campus and will have representatives on hand from each chapter: Kappa Alpha, Delta Tau Delta, Kappa Sigma, Sigma Chi, and Alpha Gamma Rho.

According to Kappa Alpha member Nick Harp, the event will kick off with a presentation of information about all of the fraternities given by IFC President Doulton Schweizer.  

After the presentation, each fraternity will have a room where they will have representatives to visit with and to answer questions.  Those interested in possible membership are encouraged to visit each room and talk with members of each fraternity.  The hope is to help attendees determine what group would most likely be the best fit.

Delta Tau Delta Vice President Brad Powers said this is the first time such an event has been planned, and they are hoping it will "make people aware of what fraternities are really all about."

"Our members have higher GPA's, on average, than those who are not in a fraternity," Power said.

Harp said the event will also provide fraternities a chance to show the real ‘Greek life' is not the same as what is portrayed in pop culture.

"It's not like in ‘Animal House' and the movies," Harp said. "We do a lot of good things, such as community service and service projects."

Both Harp and Powers stressed that this is not a competition between fraternities.  They said that all fraternities work together and the goal of each is for their members to feel a part of the process.

Schweizer said his goal as president is to "build a more solid foundation for IFC, and maintain a stronger presence on campus."

The IFC serves as the governing body over local chapters of National Social Fraternities.  Their mission is to promote scholarship among its members with participation throughout their communities and to develop cooperation between the fraternities, the university and the community.