New Colony - Oneonta College

[PhiPsiRuss]

Phi Kappa Psi will induct a local interest group into colony status at 8:00 in the Hunt Union at Oneonta College in Oneonta, New York.

Anyone interested in attending should contact Evan Rakowski at 1-607-436-8663

[PhiPsiRuss]

Monday, December 22, 2003

Brothers,

I was in Snow-covered Oneonta, New York, the “City of the Hills,” for the colony induction ceremony for our brand new Oneonta Colony at Oneonta College. The ceremony was on Friday, December 5 at the Hunt Student Union, and there was a retreat on Saturday and Sunday at the Colleges campgrounds. As part of Phi Kappa Psi’s Speaker’s Bureau, I spoke with the colony on Saturday, before my first attempt to go home, about the importance of becoming good alumni. I decided to wait a few weeks before submitting my report so that I don’t sound excessively optimistic about this new group.

Well, I departed on my 4+ hour bus trip from Manhattan at 7:00am on Friday. It drove up the Hudson Valley, and then west through the Catskills Mountains. I arrived in a picturesque town, and some time later, I was able to meet up with Eric Parker (Iowa Alpha, 00) and Josh Perrin (Penn Gamma, ’01.)
That night, Eric and Josh conducted the colony induction ceremony for 15 gentlemen. They were assisted by Brett Topche (Penn Iota, ’00.) Brett is the cousin of Evan Rakowski, the colony’s vice president, and it is this connection that brought us this outstanding group of gentlemen. Afterwards, we had a modest banquet that also included 4 freshman prospects (1st semester freshman may not join fraternities at Oneonta,) school officials, and several ladies.

I spoke with Dr. Steve Perry, the VP of Student Affairs, about our group, and about the state of the Oneonta greek system. The greek system at Oneonta, today, is one of the worst in the nation. Several years ago, there were a half dozen or so chapters of national fraternities. They all lost their charters for severe risk management policy violations. They all went local, and got even worse. Phi Psi is the second recognized fraternity to recently join the Oneonta community, following Chi Phi (also a colony.) Both groups are non-hazing and act responsibly. Dr. Perry is particularly looking for Phi Psi to help lead the emergence of a responsible greek. Dr. Perry noted the large percentage of student leaders in Phi Psi, such as the Student Body President and the Student Body Vice President. The Oneonta Phi Psis also have several RAs, and members of the swim team. It seems very promising, and I talked to Dr. Perry about the support structure that we have for our chapters and colonies.
On Saturday, we headed up the campgrounds at about 11:00am. Eric and Josh led the way group building exercises. Then there was a tackle football game in 6+ inches of snow. I then spoke with the group before what I thought would be my return trip home. I told them about my experience as a former colony member, and that they are fortunate to be part a national fraternity with our superior level of chapter and colony support. I also told them that no matter how successful they are as active members, if they don’t become active alumni, their efforts won’t be sustained. I passed around my Order of the S.C. badge, told them about the Order, about GACs, and about how much fun they are. Then, at about 4:15, I headed back to Main Street to catch my bus back to New York.

Blizzards are a funny thing. Despite all of the snow in Oneonta and New York City, Buses were running from Oneonta to all points west, and everything was moving in the Hudson Valley and New York City. I thought that I was heading home. I was wrong. 18” of snow in the Catskills Mountains made skiers happy, but left the roads very dangerous. No one was answering their cell phones, so I took a cab back up to the campgrounds and stayed the night. I’m glad that I did, because I got to talk with most of them, participate in some more group building exercises, and sit in on their goal setting session.

I managed to get a bus back to New York on Sunday. I realized that we have a truly outstanding colony and that it may not be long before they are contending for the Grand Chapter Award. I also realized the opportunity at hand in the SUNY system. If this group lives up to its potential, and I believe that it will, Oneonta will soon have a dynamic greek system that it can be proud of, with Phi Psi at the top. From my discussion with Dr. Perry, he talks with his peers in the SUNY system on a regular basis, and the SUNY colleges (not the 4 universities of Albany, Binghamton, Buffalo, and Stony Brook) seem to share similar problems with their greek systems, and they all want reform. We could get additional opportunities to expand, with the full cooperation of college administrations, at some of these schools, purely based on our impending success in Oneonta.

I enjoyed my stay up there, and I look forward to their chartering.

Fraternally,

Russell Warshay... (Florida Alpha, '87)
Director of Alumni Affairs Area Coordinators
Phi Kappa Psi Fraternity

[PhiPsiRuss]

THE DAILY STAR

Tuesday, December 16, 2003
Fraternities reappearing on SUCO's campus
By Jill Fahy

Staff Writer

ONEONTA — Fraternities do exist at SUCO after all — at least
those that have agreed to follow the rules.

For the first time since the mid-1990s, two State University
College at Oneonta fraternities have been recognized by their
national chapters and by the college as legitimate Greeks on
campus.

Phi Kappa Psi and Chi Phi have each been assigned interim
recognition status for one year until the college can grant them
full recognition, said Angie Eichler, who works closely with
SUCO's Greeks.

The new groups, which do not have houses and which conduct
meetings on campus, join seven sororities that are recognized
by the college.

Eichler called those students in the fraternities "strong students
and leaders."

"The recognized fraternities realize the importance of community
service, brotherhood and educational program for Greek life,"
Eichler said Thursday. "There is a social aspect involved, but
these students realize the importance of the other factors."

A third fraternity, Alpha Kappa Lamda, has begun the national
and campus recognition process, according to Eichler. She said
a representative from the fraternity's national chapter was to
meet with SUCO officials last week.

There are still 10 or so fraternities that have not been recognized
by the college or their national organizations since the
mid-1990s, when they refused to accept the college's
deferred-rush policy. The rule asked Greek groups not to rush
freshmen until they reached their second term.

Though they are no longer recognized by SUCO, these
underground fraternities continue to exist without faculty advisers
or fraternity houses.

College officials have called these groups "social clubs" that
have no ties to the college.

Oneonta city officials, who in the past two years have cracked
down on the activities of outlawed fraternities, call them "gangs."

SUCO's disassociation from these rogue fraternities has
caused friction between SUCO officials and Oneonta city
officials, who have called on the college to take more
responsibility for the students involved with the outlawed frats.

Fifth Ward Alderman Rodger Moran said he hopes SUCO's
recognition of the fraternities will be a positive step.

"It sounds like these are the sort of fraternities a college would
aspire to have, ones based more in academics," Moran said.
"We remain disappointed, though, that SUCO doesn't want to
take that same stance with the rogue fraternities we're aware of."

Evan Rakowski, a SUCO student government leader and vice
president of Phi Kappa Psi, said his fraternity stresses
leadership and being a gentleman.

"In a lot of ways, there isn't a lot of tradition on campus,"
Rakowski said. "Greek life is a way to establish that."

He said his fraternity isn't out to prove a point or to show up any
other group on or off campus.

"We're not out to tell anyone what's right or wrong, or that we're
better than they are," Rakowski said. "We do hope we give a
positive message to Greek life."

In 2000, SUCO updated its policy for all students who wanted to
start a fraternity. Added to the existing campus code of rights and
responsibilities for Greek organizations is a process that walks
new groups through the steps necessary to gain recognition.

"We needed to have a process in place that involved a review of
documents and a discussion with people involved to give the
institution an opportunity to look at organizations, so we can
make a more-informed determination," said Steven Perry, vice
president for Student Development at SUCO.

If properly monitored, Greeks can be a positive presence on
college campuses, Eichler said.

"It can help the overall image," she said. "Our Greek system is
slowly improving to be a positive aspect here."

[PhiPsiRuss]

http://www.thedailystar.com/news/sto...5/18/frat.html

The Daily Star

Tuesday, May 18, 2004

Fraternity seeks SUCO recognition

By Adam Dolge

ONEONTA — Some student leaders at the State University College at Oneonta are organizing a fraternity with the blessing of the college administration.

Phi Kappa Psi, a national social fraternity, may soon recognize a chapter at SUCO, one of two fraternities working with officials to earn recognition from the college. Alpha Kappa Lambda is in the beginning stages of recognition similar to Phi Kappa Psi.

The college recognizes six sororities as well as one fraternity, Chi Phi.

Hartwick College recognizes three sororities and eight men's fraternities, according to Robert Clark, director of communications. He said about 12 percent of the Hartwick student body is affiliated with these Greek social organizations.

Evan Rakowski, president of the SUCO Student Association and also of Phi Kappa Psi, said the idea for starting a new fraternity at SUCO began in the spring 2003 semester.

"Three or four of us got together and were interested in a new fraternity because we were not happy with Greek life at SUCO," Rakowski said. "It wasn't the system we saw at other schools."

About eight fraternities have not been recognized by their national organizations or SUCO since 1995 when they refused to accept the college's deferred-rush policy. The rule forbade Greek organizations from accepting first-semester freshmen after a study showed a majority of freshmen who pledged frats were flunking out.

Rakowski acknowledged that locally, many people have a negative view of fraternities. He said Phi Kappa Psi aims to show that a social fraternity can benefit its members and the community and "be a good thing."

"We're not here to tell the other fraternities how to act," Rakowski said. "What we want to show is Greek life can be done right. ... Greek life, when it's done right, can be a positive thing."

The Phi Kappa Psi fraternal colony was formed in the early fall. In September, there were five members, and within four weeks the fraternity grew to 19 members, he said. There are 21 members now, Rakowski said, and four pledges were recently recruited.

Members of Phi Kappa Psi include the vice president and four other representatives of the Student Association, the president of the Resident Student Organization, the presidents of the senior and sophomore classes, and seven members of the Omicron Delta Kappa leadership honor society.

The members have already been active in serving the community. Rakowski said the fraternity has done 500 hours of community service, including picking up trash off the streets and playing hosts for the overnight program for prospective SUCO students, some members housing as many as six people.

The members participated in the American Heart Association Heart Walk, Halloween festival, Take Back the Night march, Into the Streets and the college's Easter Egg Hunt for local children.

"I think their recognition is a positive thing for our school and the community," said Angie Eichler, associate director of campus life at SUCO.

"They've done a fabulous job and have come a long way in a short time," Eichler said.

Being in a fraternity can be a positive experience, and the recognized Greeks are trying to bring something positive to the school and community, she said.

In December, the group was recognized as a colony, the probationary status before the chapter is fully recognized. It is petitioning the national headquarters to become a full chapter after only six months as a colony, Rakowski said.

The fraternity members are hopeful about receiving a positive reply from the national organization this month and become the first chapter in the 152-year history to earn its charter at the organization's annual Grand Arch Council this summer, Rakowski said. The national recognition would be an honor for SUCO, he said.

Rakowski said under the interim recognition by SUCO, the fraternity cannot vote in the college Greek Council. Recognition by the college could be finalized in the fall term, he said.

"Recognition brings a lot," Rakowski said. "We can work with the school, meet on campus, wear our letters on campus, and hopefully it will bring a positive attitude to fraternities."

The fraternity was founded in 1852. There are 5,500 undergraduate members and 60,000 alumni in 90 chapters representing 34 states and the District of Columbia, college officials said.