I write this now, as my last action under the title of Vice President of Public Relations of the Interfraternity Council. Over the past semester I have seen significant improvement of every fraternity and of greek life as a whole. I am confident that we will continue to work together and strive to create progressively better councils in the future.
We have had many accomplishments over the past semester. These include the Greek Parade, the Greek Women’s Hockey Night, and the Troy Night Out Easter Egg Hunt. All of these events have been able to incorporate both a social and a philanthropic atmosphere. The IFC’s members seem to realize that community service is both fun and rewarding. From picking up trash on the side of the highway, to donating presents to kids, to raising money for local charities, greek life is at the forefront of Rensselaer’s community service.
I know I am proud to call myself a fraternal brother in the greek system at RPI, and I am sure that every brother of a fraternity here on campus would agree wholeheartedly. We see our greek experiences here at RPI as extremely influential in both our student lives and in our future. I cannot help but to think about the times spent with alumni from my fraternity, and about the extraordinary connection that I still have with them, whatever the age difference.
With that in mind, I would ask that everyone on campus look to both the experiences of their past and those they hope to have in the future. Seniors, thesis architecture students, and graduate students, what have you accomplished during your time at Rensselaer?
For those that will be returning in the fall, I would ask that you determine where you want to be. While I will not pretend that greek life is for everybody, you can find your place in it if you want to. Strive to find yourself, whether it is in student government, various clubs, or perhaps greek life. You will have every opportunity to take advantage of these various opportunities throughout the year, but especially in the fall. I can look to the graduating seniors that I know, both within greek life and outside, and can see their accomplishments as a result of their motivation to belong in and to improve their surroundings. We cannot doubt that they will continue to do this when they enter the workforce.
As a member of the Interfraternity Council cabinet, I have seen a great multitude of individuals who strived to accomplish great things both during their time at RPI and in the work force. It is evident that the two are interconnected. I can honestly say that I will owe any of my future accomplishments to my experiences both on the IFC and on campus.
So, for those returning in the fall, remember that you should value your time here, both in and out of the lab and lecture hall. I hope you find your place and strive to accomplish great things.
