What can Greek Life do for you?

Ashley DeSabetino

Welcome to MTSU from everyone in the Office of Greek Life!

Steven Rohall

IFC Recruitment Director

srr2m@mtsu.edu

Fraternity Recruitment - More Than You Imagined

Steven Rohall 

Many young men come into their first year at MTSU not knowing much about the benefits of joining a fraternity.  They know only what they see in the movies or on television.  Most of what they see is false.

Joining a fraternity can help you succeed in your four years at MTSU and beyond.  It immediately throws you into a situation where you will develop and perfect the ability to work with a diverse group of people towards a common goal.  It helps you with study skills, time management skills, interview skills, social skills, develops future leaders, and instills in you a strong work ethic.  All major companies look for fraternity men when hiring because they know they have been placed in situations that will help them succeed.  Fraternity men have a higher GPA at MTSU than non-fraternity men.  According to research at the University of Oklahoma, on the national level seventy one percent of fraternity men persist to graduation while only fifty percent of non fraternity men graduate.  Contraty to popular belief, the fraternity experience fosters academic excellence.

The recruitment process at MTSU is very simple.   You can sign up online at www.mtsu.edu/~greeks.  The recruitment week starts with an informational meeting on Monday, September 18 at 6:00 in the BAS State Farm Room and ends on bid day on Satruday, September 23.  A full calendar of the week's events is available on the website.

I recommend that all men give fraternity life a consideration.  If you do decide to go through recruitment week, I encourage you to keep an open mind regarding all fraternities and associate with the one where you feel the most at home.  Your fraternity brothers will become a family to you one day.  There's no better way to be something more and add value to your college experience than to Go Greek at MTSU. 

Joining a Sorority the Best Way to Get the Most Out of MTSU

Jennifer Galmish

As we begin a new and exciting year here at MTSU, regardless of whether you are an incoming freshmen or finishing up your senior year, I am here to let you know about the best way to get  involved on campus and make life long memories at the same time. The way to make all of that happen is to GO GREEK!! Being involved in a sorority has not only helped me get involved on campus but also has taught me life lessons that I will use beyond my years in college. There are so many benefits of being Greek - you will learn about community service, time management, friendships, networking, life lessons, and so much more. Sorority Recruitment is September 7-11 and it is five nights of getting to know each sorority and deciding which sorority will be best for you.

You will narrow down your choices each night until on the final night you will visit the top two sororities you have chosen.  September 11 is Bid Day and this is the day you will find out which sorority you will be in! This will be one of the most memorable days of your collegiate career.  I can not imagine what my college experience would be like without being in a sorority. My sorority had done so much for me and has taught me so much. I encourage you to go online look at the Greek Life website and see what the sororities on campus have to offer for you!

We hope to see you at the Sorority Recruitment Informational Meeting on Wednesday, August 30 at 6:00 p.m. in the BAS State Farm Room.  The deadline to sign up for sorority recruitment is Friday, September 1.

Jennifer Galmish

Panhellenic Vice President for Recruitment jlg3w@mtsu.edu

Greek Row Opens a New Chapter

MTSU’s Greek Row welcomed a new group to campus this summer.

The men of Pi Kappa Phi were selected in June of this year to take over house number two on Greek Row, the house formerly inhabited by Kappa Sigma.  The vacancy occurred in January of this year after Kappa Sigma was suspended by their Supreme Executive Committee.

The university opened up the application process to all MTSU fraternities who were without housing.  Pi Kappa Phi was joined by Alpha Tau Omega and Alpha Phi Alpha in the application process.  Each of those organizations submitted packets of information to the Office of Greek Life, including financial records, chapter rosters, recruitment plans and letters of support from alumni and their respective national organizations.  The applications were reviewed by a committee of MTSU administrators, and Pi Kappa Phi was notified of its selection in late June.

“We are happy to have Pi Kappa Phi moving onto Greek Row,” said Gentry McCreary, Director of Greek Life.  “We had three extremely qualified organizations from which to choose.  Pi Kappa Phi ultimately rose to the top because of the support of both local alumni and their national housing corporation.”

The chapter officially took over the facility on August 1.  Since that time, they have been busily preparing the house for the Fall semester.

“We’re excited that we’ve been given this opportunity,” said Brandon Pernell, the chapter president.  “This is a huge step forward for our chapter, and I’m hopeful that we can grow as a chapter to ensure our long term presence in the house.”

The chapter has signed a one year lease with the university, with an extension for a second year.  At the end of the second year, a decision will be made regarding the chapter’s ability to take on the lease on a long-term basis.

“We think that Pi Kappa Phi is a good addition to Greek Row,” said Dr. Gene Fitch, the Associate Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students.  “They are an organization that excels in academics, leadership and service to the community.  We have every reason to believe that they will lead by example and become one of the strongest chapters on our campus.”

Over 300 Attend First Annual Greek Parent’s Brunch

Over 300 incoming freshmen and their family members attended the first annual Greek Parent’s Brunch on Sunday morning in the James Union Building on the MTSU Campus.

The brunch, held for those incoming students who had expressed an interest in Greek life during Summer Customs, featured talks by MTSU President Sidney McPhee, Director of Greek Life Gentry McCreary and Murfreesboro city councilman and MTSU Greek alumni Toby Gilley.  In addition, representatives from each of the three Greek governing councils discussed the recruitment/intake process.

“We are extremely proud of the accomplishments of our Greek community at MTSU,” said Dr. McPhee during his remarks.  “I strongly encourage each of you to consider membership in a Greek organization.”

The response to the event, according to its organizers, was surprisingly positive.

“The first time you host an event like this, you have no idea what the response will be,” said Carrie Smith, Coordinator of Greek Life.  “We were overwhelmed by the number of attendees, and we received a great deal of positive feedback from the students and parents in attendance.  This will definitely become an annual event.”

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