As a member of the SAE Fraternity, I am passionate about what greek life has done for me. I have been able to achieve goals I never would have, make a positive difference in the lives of others, and share a bond with a group of gentlemen that I am proud to call brothers. I was given a chance to share this bond when the 28 houses represented by the Interfraternity Council decided to elect me as their new president last Nov­ember. I am truly honored to serve them in this role.
The first major event on the agenda this year was the greek leaders retreat in January. At the retreat the presidents of all the fraternities and sororities gathered to discuss the issues most prevalent in our system. One of the issues was the abuse of alcohol at RPI, and what the greek community can do to prevent it in their own houses. The new IFC has spent the past three weeks working diligently to deal with the concern that some have in regards to the use of alcohol at fraternities, and will continue to do so until the problem ceases to exist.
The IFC has also continued its focus on serving the greater community, something that is now common­place to greeks. At our candle light vigil two weeks ago, the IFC gathered to pay tribute to those who were killed during the tsunami in Southeast Asia. The event was a great success, calling together not only fraternity members, but also those in other campus-wide organizations. It was truly a sight to behold, as nearly 400 members of RPI’s community (including faculty) gathered to help make a difference in the world.
The IFC is relentlessly committed to the betterment of our greek society and the RPI community. We are tackling one issue after another, taking it one step at a time. We will never sit back passively as issues plague our community. There is no organization on campus that is perfect. No group can boast of a spotless track record. However, one that works diligently to solve its problems and aims high in its goals is as close to perfection as can be.
