National representatives of values-based Greek letter fraternity Pi Kappa Phi have recruited 34
founding fathers for a new University of Dayton associate chapter scheduled for colonization this
fall.
Leadership consultants Nick Prichodko and Clint Carlisle arrived at the university in late
August and will be on campus recruiting male students to become founding fathers of the
fraternity’s new associate chapter until Sept. 23.
“Founding fathers will have the opportunity to build an organization from the ground up,
crafting and expanding the fraternity’s core values for the future,” Carlisle said.
Founding father and sophomore business major Josh Conner said he feels being a founding
father is a unique leadership opportunity.
“The fraternity allows me to have the opportunity to lead in a way I felt none of the other
fraternities on campus had.”
Founded in 1904 at the College of Charleston in North Carolina, the representatives said
Pi Kappa Phi currently has over 160 open chapters and is opening seven expansion chapters,
including the University of Montana, Western Illinois University, University of San Francisco,
University of Florida, SUNY Plattsburgh and San Jose State.
Carlisle said that UD was almost a “perfect match” with the core beliefs held by the fraternity.
“The values are similar to the fraternity in sense of community and service,” Carlisle said.
Prichodko said the fraternity stresses the development of character, leadership, achievement,
scholarship and service.
Prichodko said the associate chapter members have to accomplish preparatory work before
receiving their charter. Prichodko said these tasks include crafting a constitution, budget and
member and recruitment plans.
“Once they do that, they will receive their charter, become an official chapter of Pi Kappa Phi
and will go through the ritual of initiation to become members,” he said.
Conner said being a founding father will have challenges ahead in order to prove the
organization is legitimate, but he is very optimistic the fraternity will be successful.
“One of the biggest challenges is getting our names out,” said Conner. “You really have to get
your foot in that door in order for people to take you seriously and prove you are a legitimate
organization.”
After chartering, the new fraternity’s members will join the Interfraternity Council as associate
members. IFC will then vote on full member status for the chapter.
“We are excited to welcome Pi Kappa Phi into the UD greek community,” said IFC president
and senior political science major Joe Gierut in an emailed statement to Flyer News. “We felt
that this was the right time to expand due to the increase in the amount of students joining Greek
Life.”
Gierut said the introduction of Pi Kapp will bring the number of recognized value-based Greek
letter fraternities on campus to eight.
This week Pi Kapp hosted two events for their philanthropy, Push America, which works to
assist people with disabilities. The events included a Monday, Sept. 10 ArtStreet Café takeover
and an overnight bike-a-thon outside of KU from 8 a.m., Sept. 10 until noon, Tuesday, Sept. 11.
