Lambda Rho Chapter Chartered at
University of North Carolina-Greensboro
by Joseph Burridge (Lambda Rho ’09)
On Saturday April 4, 2009, 45 men were initiated into Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity with the help of initiation teams from Iota Psi Chapter (Appalachian State), Epsilon Mu Chapter (East Carolina), and Delta Omega Chapter (High Point). This ceremony took place in the newly renovated university Alumni House. Following the initiations, International President Pat Talley (Armstrong Atlantic State, Eta Mu '74) installed the newest chapter of Pi Kappa Alpha: Lambda Rho Chapter at the University of North Carolina-Greensboro (UNCG). Also in attendance to assist with the installation were Carolinas Regional President John McCann (Delaware, Delta Eta ‘75), Director of Expansion Ryan Collett (Kansas State, Alpha Omega '04), Director of Real Estate Nat Steinhoff (Wyoming, Iota Alpha '03), and Lambda Rho Chapter Advisor Eli Hassid (American, Kappa Upsilon '02).
To celebrate the occasion, Lambda Rho Chapter hosted a chartering banquet at the Marriott Hotel in downtown Greensboro. More than 165 friends and family members were in attendance to celebrate the occasion. An additional 65 people attended the reception after the banquet. At the banquet, UNCG's Dean of Students Jen Day Shaw, UNCG's Director of Campus Activities and Programs Checka Leinwall, and UNCG's Director of Undergraduate Advising Steve Moore (the group's faculty advisor) were present to show the University's support of Pike's newest chapter. International President Talley was the keynote speaker for the evening. In his address, he challenged Lambda Rho Chapter to live the ritual and values of Pi Kappa Alpha each day and also to better itself with the new ideals that The Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity has set out.
Colony History
It took 16 long months of hard work, determination, and dedication before the newest chapter of Pi Kappa Alpha could be chartered. In October 2007, Expansion Consultants Steinhoff and James Card (Nebraska-Omaha, Delta Chi ‘03) stepped onto the campus of UNCG to start a new colony. Steinhoff and Card spent four weeks recruiting, making sorority presentations and talking to distinguished faculty members and administrators. At the end of their four weeks on campus, they had assembled a tremendous group of 16 men (which was limited, due to specific regulations with regard to first semester freshmen). At the end of the Fall '07 semester the group jumped to 35 men.
As a colony, the men made their presence known around campus, within months becoming the largest fraternity by almost 20 men. They were active not only by coming up with their own community service and philanthropic events, but also by supporting those in the Greek community. Their biggest accomplishment at that point was winning Greek Week in their first year of competition, winning over a fraternity that was riding an almost 20-year winning streak.
These accomplishments are just mere blips on the radar. The Lambda Rho Pikes have continued to set new goals for themselves and continue to work hard to excel in every facet of being True Pikes. Some main goals are to become number one in GPA, and to be the number one fraternity in athletics.
Lambda Rho's largest goal is to become the first 100 man chapter in university history. At UNCG the Greek community is not as dominant as it is on other campuses, but the Pikes aim to change that. Greeks make up 4% of UNCG's population. Not including Pike there is an average of 20 members in each of the other six IFC fraternities. Other fraternities struggle due to the large ratio of male to female students, 30 percent to 70 percent respectively. UNCG was founded in 1891 as an all women's college and has only been co-educational for roughly 45 years. However, the men of Lambda Rho plan to seek out every single person in that 30 percent of the University's population to find “the most best men”. They have set their sights on becoming the UNCG's 2009 Chapter of the Year, as well as becoming a Smythe Award winning chapter within two years of chartering. The men of the Lambda Rho Chapter are extremely passionate, energetic, and enthusiastic to strive for excellence. The Fraternity can expect big things to come from the young men of Lambda Rho Chapter now and in years to come.
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Fouding Fathers Executive Council & Advisors '09 President: Wayne J. Fisher |