Phi Gamma Delta Fraternity is close to securing their charter this year.
The fraternity has been on campus and working to obtain the charter for four years. The fraternity was added in 2010 because of the high demand for fraternity involvement on campus.
The fraternity gained 13 new members this semester, putting their member number at 33. They needed 30 to begin to apply for the charter.
Now the men must raise about $15,000 to purchase ritual supplies and apply for the national charter.
Fiji had raised about $13,500 as of presstime.
Part of the money that was raised during their recent philanthropy week went toward this number.
Their philanthropy is the United Service Organizations (USO), whose mission is to serve the needs of American military members and their families.
“There is a lot that goes into applying,” said Connor Branson, president of Fiji. “It’s been a rewarding process. I am sure we will be able to apply by the end of this semester.”
Phi Gamma Delta (also known as FIJI) has more than 120 active chapters and 18 colonies across the United States and Canada. It was founded at Jefferson College in Pennsylvania. Since its founding in 1848, the fraternity has initiated more than 170,000 brothers. The nickname FIJI is used commonly by the fraternity due to Phi Gamma Delta bylaws that limit the use of the Greek letters.
“The brothers who are seniors are the first class to have been in FIJI all four years,” Branson said. “We are proud of them for sticking with us through this process.”
Jacob Overling, business administration junior, said he is proud of all his brothers.
“We are so close,” Overling said. “We can almost taste it. It will be a good feeling when we are finally done.”
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