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Here's a message to students that want to join a fraternity but didn't rush this week: it's not too late.
Phi Kappa Sigma, the newest fraternity on campus, will hold its rush activities next week as it looks to become the 15th on campus. The group is currently only a student interest group, as it hasn't yet secured its national charter.
Nick Stoltman, the president of Phi Kappa Sigma, said the fraternity is looking for quality instead of quantity in its members. Unlike many of the larger fraternities, Phi Kappa Sigma only plans to have 30 to 40 members following this year's induction.
"We're just looking for guys with good character that are willing to do a bit of service and that are passionate about Greek Life," Stoltman said. "Finding a core group is what we're trying to do right now."
The 15 current members, all pledges from last spring, have laid the foundation for the group's planned success, Stoltman said.
"These are the founding fathers, and they are the core of our group," he said. "They should be proud of themselves."
For new pledges looking to join, community service will be key to membership. Phi Kappa Sigma, a nationwide fraternity with over 60 active charters, promotes community service through Habitat for Humanity and other groups, Stoltman said, and the Columbia chapter plans to take part as well.
"We're definitely going to serve the community through Habitat for Humanity," Stoltman said. "We're hopefully going to get involved with a food kitchen and other organizations around campus as well."
Stoltman also said the national chapter supports the substance-free and non-hazing policies set by the university.
While the group hopes to be official soon, the process for joining the Greek community isn't easy.
Phi Kappa Sigma presented its plans last year to the university, and after being approved, now must acquire a charter from the national organization within two years. In addition to the charter, Phi Kappa Sigma must recruit members and find housing.
Greek Life Director Ron Binder said that while the university would help with housing, it isn't necessary to being a part of Greek Life.
Though housing could be an issue, Binder said plenty of students will want to be involved.
"I'm convinced there are plenty of people out there that want to be Greek that are just not asked," Binder said. "This new fraternity will bring plenty of new ideas to the table."
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