A new fraternity is coming to campus, but even though it’s new it already has a history in Bowling Green and all over the country.
Phi Kappa Psi, a national fraternity with 103 groups nationwide, is going to restart their involvement in the greek community on campus. The fraternity was first established in 1950 and left the University in the mid 1990s.
Founding member Chris Moeller is excited about the opportunity to not only bring back the fraternity to the University, but to give the pledges different options of how Phi Kappa Psi operates.
“With Phi [Kappa] Psi, you make the program what you want it to be,” Moeller said. “You create the procedure. If you are not happy how things are run, you can change it.”
Moeller has the philosophy of pledges will not simply be “cookie cutters” – no one will have to fit in, rather Phi Kappa Psi will fit them.
“You should fit the fraternity … you shouldn’t have to change,” Moeller said. “The experience you have in Phi [Kappa] Psi is what you want it to be.”
Another founding member, Patrick Grayshaw, was struggling to find a fraternity to fit him and did not want to get shoved into one. He wanted his voice to be heard.
“I didn’t find one that quite fit,” Grayshaw said. “I get to have a say in how things are done [in Phi Kappa Psi]. I’m not shoved into something. I’m not just falling into a group.”
Moeller and Grayshaw promise each new member is going to have input on how Phi Kappa Psi is going to be run. One of the values the fraternity has is using and applying strong leadership qualities.
Ron Ransom, director of expansion for Phi Kappa Psi, notes at any rank of class or age, each member is going to have their voice heard, which he thinks will help to boost their confidence.
“The opportunity we allow at Bowling Green is for student leaders to get involved where they can actually take on a strong role from the beginning,” Ransom said. “A lot of other groups have a hierarchy with seniors running things and juniors next in line. Joining Phi [Kappa] Psi at this time will let [new pledges] be leaders.”
Moeller agrees with Ransom that regardless of the age, every member will have a say.
“Every new member has input,” Moeller said. “Every person’s opinion means that much more [to Phi Kappa Psi].”
Phi Kappa Psi, like other fraternities and sororities, wants to benefit the greek community as much as possible.
“We want to start something different to complement what is already there,” Ransom said.
Grayshaw also hopes the fraternity can help the greek community at the University as a whole.
“I want [Phi Kappa Psi] to be the new fraternity on campus people are looking at,” Grayshaw said. “I want to develop a positive message.”
Students interested in getting involved with Phi Kappa Psi can e-mail [email protected] or visit www.phikappapsi.com for more information.
