Looking for a new home away from home? Greek life may be the answer. Currently, Robert Morris University has six fraternities and three sororities on campus. With a new fraternity starting this semester and possibly another sorority next semester, it’s easy to see how popular Greek life is becoming.
Originally chartered at RMU on May 16, 1970, Alpha Chi Rho (AXP) slowly disappeared in the mid 1990s due to a lack of organization. In the fall of 2009, a young group of men decided to revive AXP and restart its chapter at RMU.
By April 16, 2011, these young men officially received the re-chartering of their group. This semester, they stand 30 men strong and are looking to expand their brotherhood. AXP begins its recruitment this year by hosting deck hockey games at the outdoor basketball courts.
“On Thursday, Sept. 1, all men on campus are invited to meet the brothers of Alpha Chi Rho and play deck hockey,” stated Dan Jezerski, AXP rush chairman. “The following Monday, we are hosting a Midnight Dodge ball tournament at the outdoor courts.”
Phi Sigma Kappa (PSK) fraternity was also on campus in the 1970s and then re-chartered on Nov. 22, 1986. Since then, they have been a very well known group on campus, holding many community service events and raising numerous amounts of money for their philanthropies.
“Our main philanthropy is muscular dystrophy. On top of that, we hold an ALS walk each year and also raise money for World Vision,” explained Tyler Butler, president of PSK.
Beginning this semester with 11 valued men, PSK has many recruitment events planned throughout the semester.
The brothers of KDR have definitely made a name for themselves on campus, having only lost Greek Week once in the past 18 years in 2008. Since 1981, the brothers of Kappa Delta Rho (KDR) have symbolized what fraternalism really means; their motto in Greek, “Honor Super Omnia,” is translated in English to “Honor above all things.”
This semester, the 28 members of KDR are excited to hold many rush, community service and philanthropy events.
“Our philanthropy is KDR Kids. We raise money and can donate it to any kids philanthropy. Last year, we focused on working with the Children’s Miracle Network,” said Will Danks, KDR president.
Ten years ago, RMU found itself with another group of interested men looking to begin a brotherhood. On April 27, 2001, RMU students chartered the Phi Delta Theta (PDT) fraternity and have been growing in size ever since.
Being one of the biggest and most prestigious fraternities nationally, RMU’s 22 active PDT members are ready to expand their brotherhood on campus.
Each year, the brothers of PDT give back to the community in amazing ways, doing over 1000 hours of community service and raising even more money for their philanthropies. PDT fraternity holds two big events to raise money for their philanthropy, Lou Gehrig’s disease, better known as ALS. A walk is held at the Pittsburgh Zoo in the fall semester and around campus in the spring to raise money and awareness for ALS. The PDT brothers also hold on campus events such as wiffle ball tournaments to raise money for research for this disease.
PDT will start the year off with fun recruitment events such as midnight dodge ball, water balloon fight, bonfire, sand volleyball and more.
“Culture for Service and Service for Humanity” is the motto of the Phi Beta Sigma (PBS) fraternity chapter at RMU. Built upon the high values of brotherhood, scholarship and service, PBS believes every potential member should be judged on his own merits and his merits alone.
Of the six fraternities, the Kappa Sigma fraternity is the newest on RMU’s campus. Established in the spring of 2011, these 26 men are looking to gain valuable life opportunities by becoming Greek.
This semester is their first official semester of being recognized by the school, and they are excited to get their events rolling.
Greek life is not all about fraternalism though. The Greek women have an extreme impact on campus as well. The sisters of Zeta Tau Alpha (ZTA), Zeta Phi Beta (ZPB) and Delta Zeta (DZ) hold annual community service events, raise money for multiple non-profit organizations, and host many on campus activities to keep students active on campus.
The Iota Alpha chapter of ZTA was founded on Nov. 15, 1980 and has been an important group to RMU’s community ever since. Each year, ZTA sisters raise thousands of dollars for their philanthropy, Breast Cancer Awareness and Education.
“ZTA also has partnerships with the NFL, Susan G. Komen and Yoplait. Some events we do are focused around our philanthropy such as the ‘Pink Out Football Game’ and ‘The Yoplait Yogurt Eating Contest’,” said Leah Grabiak, a sister of ZTA.
At the beginning of the fall semester, they will have 28 active sisters. ZTA’s rush events are run through Panehellinic Council, and their three recruitment events during formal recruitment are themed around Disney in the fall.
Scholarship, sisterly love, service, and finer womanhood are all qualities found in the sisters of the Sigma Sigma chapter of ZPB. Chartered on Feb. 10, 2007, the women of RMU’s ZPB chapter are small in number, but unbelievably passionate and devoted to the core values of the sorority.
With an invitation-only based selection, ZPB currently only has eight members.
“It’s based-on invitation only. Then also a lot of research goes into it and making sure that it’s something that the girls actually want to do, instead of just wanting to be a part of the Greek community,” explained Briana Smith, ZPB’s president.
DZ has been on RMU’s campus since May 3, 1980 and has been a prestigious organization ever since. These 40 sisters raise money and hold charity events for multiple organizations.
The sisters of DZ will be holding rush events throughout the first month of school through the Panhellinic Council. They begin the year on Aug. 31 by holding a bonfire and smores cookout at the fire pit.
If interested in joining any of these fraternities or sororities, be sure to attend their rush events as well as the Meet the Greek event at Sewall Center on Sept. 7 at 9 p.m.
