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With the greek year beginning with the new calendar year, the possibility of expansion of the Greek community is becoming a reality.
Each year the topic of expansion is brought before the Inter-Fraternity Council (IFC), and in Dec. the fraternity Alpha Tau Omega was extended an invitation to join the Pepperdine Community.
Alpha Tau Omega is a welcome addition to Pepperdine’s campus after the de-activation of Sigma Nu in 2003, which left a noticeable deficit in the opportunities for potential fraternity members in the Pepperdine community.
Over the past year, several national fraternities were invited to the campus to hold presentations before the IFC in order to begin the preparations for considering a new fraternity to the campus.
Trent Allen, IFC president, was one of the committee members who oversaw the presentations, along with representatives from each of the four current fraternities on campus.
“The IFC put together an expansion committee to consider the various presentations from the potential candidates,” Allen said. “After viewing the presentations and discussing the strengths and weaknesses of each, the expansion committee narrowed it down to two fraternities, Alpha Tau Omega (ATO) and Kappa Sigma.”
The two fraternities were then considered as to which the invitation to colonize would be extended.
From the expansion committee, Keiy Murofushi, then IFC vice president of Recruitment, Chris Van Velzer, Student Organizations director and Greek life advisor, and Allen met with Doug Hurley, director of student activities, and Tabatha Jones, associate dean of students, to discuss the expansion process and which group would be the best fit for the Pepperdine community. After several meetings it was determined that ATO would receive the invitation to colonize.
Colonization for fraternities is a complex process, beginning with the formal invitation to the fraternity to colonize.
An interview with the fraternity’s administration follows, and after getting a feel for the campus the fraternity publicizes that a new chapter will be established. Informational sessions are hosted, and between 15 and 30 individuals are selected to start the chapter.
The new members are taken though an intensive training program on how to run a chapter, directly followed by a full recruitment of new members.
At the end of the process the new colony receives its charter from the national chapter, signifying full-chapter status.
Leadership, character, scholarship and brotherhood are the basic principles of ATO, according to the national chapter Web site. The fraternity focuses on developing leadership skills and providing leadership opportunities for their members.
Eric Tomlick and Steve Silcock are representatives for Alpha Tau Omega. They are on campus for one month presenting to various organizations and seeking recommendations from sororities and student groups. They are holding social events for those interested in attempt to bring people together.
“We were founded upon Christian principles, and are looking for men of good moral background,” Silcock said. They are recruiting all male undergraduate students freshman to seniors.
They will recruit a minimum of 20 guys but hope to recruit more.
“We have high expectations for Pepperdine’s chapter. The people we’ve talked to have been great,” Silcock said. “Pepperdine has been so helpful and accepting. It is the most welcome we’ve felt on a campus.”
Those who are interested in seeing what the newest fraternity at Pepperdine is all about attend one of their daily information sessions. They will be recruiting on campus through Feb. 11.
Greek life offers an opportunity to make life long friendships and to get involved with other students at Pepperdine.
“Being in a fraternity/sorority is about making friendships that will last far beyond your college years, while enhancing your personal development by committing to ideals of scholarship, leadership, and service,” Allen said. “It is being respected for your individuality while being part of a brotherhood/sisterhood with individuals who share the same goals and values.”
ATO’s members are encouraged to make getting their college degree their first priority. According to the ATO national chapter Web site, the ATO Foundation offered approximately $275,000 in scholarships and grants to members and chapters in 2002.
However, members are encouraged to participate in other campus programs and join other student organizations. The chapter also provides opportunities for members to meet brothers and sisters from chapters at other college campuses, usually through regional or national leadership conferences.
The fraternity and sorority experience is not limited to the college years, as it continues through adulthood.
Alumni associations are available across the country and provide large amounts of potential for career connections after college. Alumni and national volunteers continue to provide advice and guidance for the chapter and its members after graduation and, as well as serve on alumni corporations.
Submitted 01-19-2006
MALIBU, CA
