By Farris Willingham, Editor-in-Chief
Phi Gamma Delta received seven new members during Fall 2012 Rush, advancing the fraternity closer to approval from its national headquarters.
FIJI has 21 members, and its officials plan to apply for charter in January 2013, FIJI President Remy Luong said.
Students established the university’s chapter of FIJI in Fall 2010, according to Student Publications’ archives. They had 23 members.
The fraternity first participated in the Interfraternity Council’s formal rush week in 2011, Luong said.
“Chartering is a process,” he said. “It’s about improving operations.”
The fraternity’s members do not define membership by a number, Luong said.
“There’s never a quota that we’re supposed to meet,” he said. “It’s all about quality over quantity.”
They seek men who are willing to accept the challenge of starting a new organization on campus, Luong said.
“Our main focus is gaining quality guys that can function and can help us reach our goals as a fraternity,” he said.
The university does not require a quota for a fraternity to receive its charter, said Corey Hill, student development coordinator.
“The national headquarters sets amendable guidelines for each colony,” he said.
Fraternity recruitment is difficult, Hill said.
“It’s not an easy task to be a new organization and recruit seven new members, competing against established organizations like Kappa Sigma and Lambda Chi Alpha,” he said.
FIJI’s members recruit year-round, even though they gained seven members from Fall 2012 Rush, he said.
“Just because formal rush week is over, that doesn’t mean we’re done recruiting,” Luong said. “We will keep growing over time.”
The national headquarters will determine whether or not the chapter deserves a charter.
A branch of Phi Gamma Delta is expected to display growth in four areas before becoming an official colony, according to phigam.org.
They are:
• Membership and recruitment,
• Academics,
• Community service and campus involvement, and
• Long-term stability/financial responsibility.
FIJI’s national headquarters will review the campus chapter’s contribution to the university, Luong said.
In November 2011, the fraternity’s members hosted Spaghetti for Soldiers to benefit the USO, according to Student Publications’ archives.
They also have competed in Homecoming, Spring Sing and Relay For Life, and assisted at Heart Homestead, FIJI’s local non-profit volunteer opportunity.
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