By Amanda Alfanos, Editor-in-Chief
Jarred Johnson, mass communications junior, is recognized Oct. 5 in Gardner Center in Meinders School of Business. Johnson was chosen as the first Phi Gamma Delta president for the OCU chapter. the Photo: Marianne Pickens/The Campus
Offices are in place and Phi Gamma Delta founding members are aiming to build a reputation.
Jarred Johnson, mass communications senior, was elected Wednesday as the colony’s first president.
Johnson said his responsibilities as president include being the face of the fraternity, presiding over meetings and staying in contact with FIJI international officials.
“I have to make sure everything is carried out,” he said.
Johnson also is liable for overseeing the operations of 15 other colony chairmen.
“I have to make sure everything is carried out,” he said.
Johnson said he thinks he was elected because he believes in encouraging people to step up and find their own leadership styles.
“I wanted to make sure members have a say in the colony’s operations,” he said. “I’m taking the insights to executive leadership class and that class focuses a lot on pushing decision making as far down the chain as possible.
“My goal was to simply put people in the right places.”
Johnson also serves as the director of policies and initiatives for Student Government Association.
He said having the position prepared him for his presidency.
“I work on different projects involving community service and the results of retention,” he said. “It has taught me how to delegate and helped me to let go.
“My day is spent scrambling between SGA meetings, FIJI and school.”
Johnson’s goals for FIJI include gaining a charter for the colony within a year. He also hopes FIJI becomes a competitive fraternity on campus.
“I really want to branch out and have better relations between all the Greek houses and between non Greeks,” he said. “I’m most excited to have events with the sororities.
“They’ve all expressed interest, so we’re excited to host events with them.”
Johnson said he and colony brothers hope to host spring recruitment through Interfraternal Council to attract new members.
“Right now since we’re not a part of IFC, we’re doing continuous open bidding,” he said. “From now until December we’re hosting small and a few larger recruitment events.”
Potential events include laser tag and a victory dance.
Men interested in joining FIJI must have a 3.5 college GPA and uphold the fraternity’s core values: morality, leadership, knowledge and service, Johnson said.
This article originally appeared in the Oct. 13 issue of The Campus newspaper.
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