Each fall season for decades, on campuses all over the country, thousands of young men, most of them fresh out of high school, have joined college fraternities. The vast majority of these new pledge members, happy with thier choice of fraternity, have enjoyed their weeks or months of pledgeship and have been initiated into full active membership as a matter of course. Few of them have ever pused even for a moment to examine the reason - real or imagined - for adopting the badge of a particular Greek-letter organization, much less ask themselves why they pledged a fraternity at all.
More than a quarter of a million men have undergone the experience you have just begun. These men made the decision to pledge Sigma Alpha Epsilon, successfully completed the period of pledgeship and became brothers of ΣΑΕ. Each of their experiences has been unique, just as yours will be.
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Did You Know...
Greeks Excel in Scholarship
- Greeks consistently achieve higher scholarship ratings than the all campus average.
- Greeks have a 10% higher rate of graduation than do non-Greeks.
- Greek Membership is affordable.
- Room and board is comparable, sometimes even lower than college or university charges.
Greeks Achieve
- 70% of those listed in "Who's Who in America" are Greek.
- 85% of the upper-level executives in the "Fortune 500 Companies" are Greek.
- 43 CEOs of the top 50 US companies are Greek.
Greeks Lead
- 75% of the members of the U.S. Congress are Greek.
- 85% of the U.S. Supreme Court Justices this century are/were Greek.
- 100 of 158 of those who have served on the President's Cabinet this century are/were Greek.
- All but 3 of the U.S. Presidents since 1825 have been Greek.
Greeks Give
- As Alumni, Greeks give approximately 75% of all money donated to universities.
- As undergraduates, Greeks raise approximately $7 million per year for charities.
- As undergraduates, Greeks give approximately 850,000 volunteer hours per year.
Interfraternity Council
The Interfraternity Council is the coordinating and governing body for Embry Riddle's fraternity system. Membership of IFC consists of one representative (Chapter President) from each of the eleven national fraternities under its jurisdiction, which constitutes the General Assembly, seven positions elected by a vote of the General Assembly, and five positions appointed by the president of the Interfraternity Council.
Fraternity Rush
Rush is a mutual selection process, meaning the chapters select you while you select them. Men's Fraternity Rush at Embry Riddle is an informal event. Wear whatever you feel comfortable in, and have a good time. It is an opportunity to meet new friends in all classes and majors. Remember to have a good time and enjoy yourself!
What to Expect from a Fraternity
Leadership
- As a fraternity member, you will have many opportunities to become involved in leadership positions. Since fraternities are self-governing organizations, members, gain experience in many leadership capacities.
- Most chapters will have five or more officers as well as a variety of committee chairs. For instance, a fraternity treasurer will gain invaluable experience by working with a budget that may exceed $100,000.
- Other opportunities for leadership positions are the officer positions with Interfraternity Council. These experiences serve as excellent references for prospective employers.
- Today employers seek individuals who have become actively involved on campus and in their living groups. Fraternities offer great opportunities for you to gain such experience.
Scholarship
- The fraternity experience will assist you in making the academic transition from high school to college. Although the classes you have taken in high school were undoubtedly difficult, much more will be demanded of you in college. For most college freshmen, this transition is very challenging.
- Fraternities play an important role in assuring the academic success of their new members. Many fraternities set minimum grade point averages that each new member must attain before he is initiated, and most fraternities have an organized study hall to encourage proper study habits.
- There are always older members in the fraternities who are willing and able to help you with your classes. This is an advantage unique to the fraternity system.
- The academic portion of your college life is the greatest determinant of your success. Employers also look for students who have achieved academic success along with their extracurricular involvement. Fraternities have made an important contribution in this area to the lives of many men. We hope you too will decide to take advantage of the benefits.
Social
- Social functions offer an excellent way for freshman to become better acquainted with members of the chapter. Most fraternities have functions with various sororities on weekends.
- Social functions allow new students to become acquainted with others on campus. These experiences create memories that will live on long past a studentís time at ERAU.
Community Service
Embry Riddle's Greek system provides members with opportunities to contribute to the community. Service activities allow Greeks to give back to the University, the city of Daytona and national philanthropic organizations. By participating in service projects, fraternity and sorority members make a difference in the lives of those in need. Each year ERAU Greeks sponsor events such as the annual blood drive. Other activities include volunteering at local soup kitchens, working with special Olympics, raising money for the American Heart Association, volunteering at the hospital, and raising money for the Children's Miracle Network. Greeks recognize the importance of service and strive to create a positive environment for the community around them.
Friendship
- Choosing fraternity life will mean living with a group of men who have similar goals and values. Fraternities offer a living situation where new friendships are made that will last a lifetime. That sense of brother hood in nurtured through shared work, community service projects, intramurals, and the successes and frustrations of involvement with a self-governing body of men.
- If you were to ask any fraternity member the most important aspect of his college experience, he will no doubt tell you about the lasting friendships he has made through his fraternity. These friendships are not exclusive to fraternities, but programs and activities are geared toward interpersonal relationships that are enduring.
- You have the choice of eleven fraternities at ERAU. You can pick a fraternity with about any characteristic you desire. The four years of the fraternity experience is a small investment for the many rewards that are the result of fraternity membership. At college, fraternities provide a small, close group that gives you immediate friends.
- Fraternities work hard during rush to find men they want to have in their chapter as their friends, but the final decision to join is yours.
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