On Friday, Sept. 13, a total of 34 men lined the back of Dorrill Dining Hall before rushing onto Iler Field and running to their respective fraternities. These men participated in this year’s Men’s Greek Walk, each one accepted into one of the seven social fraternities in Longwood University’s Inter-Fraternity Council (IFC).
The IFC is the local governing body for the social fraternities on campus. The seven fraternities include Alpha Sigma Phi, Phi Kappa Tau, Phi Mu Delta, Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Nu, Sigma Phi Epsilon and Theta Chi.
Hundreds of Greek and non- Greek Longwood students gathered on Iler Field to watch, roar, chant and applaud the men who ran across the field. Each of the fraternities waved flags, signs and paddles with Greek letters etched in. Six to seven foot tall Greek wooden letters stood by each fraternity, painted with their respective colors.
Two men were accepted into Alpha Sigma Phi, including Justin Padgett and Jacob Wiseman.
Three men were accepted in Phi Kappa Tau, including Samuel Hellier, Dylan Jensen and Ryan Sawyer.
Phi Mu Delta accepted 10 men, including Andrew Carr, Carter Chassey, Paul Kacoyanis, Marcos Lopez-Sandoval,Zachary Reitman, Tyler Treague, Matt Tregoning, Jason Tsai, James Wallen and Tevin Jones.
Three men were accepted into Pi Kappa Phi, including Jonathan Buckley, Mike Mirda and Donald Morrison.
Five men were accepted into Sigma Nu, including John Biegert, Dylan Hendricks, Peter Sullivan, Murat Tosunoglu and Zachary Wolfe.
Four men were accepted into Sigma Phi Epsilon, including Michael DeVito, Dylan Martinez, Jacob Mumma and Conner Stevenson.
Seven men were accepted into Theta Chi, including Caleb Briggs, Hieu Nguyen, Alex O’Dell, Justin Parker, Bharani Sankar, Devante Southerland and Tyler Webb.
The requirements to join a Greek fraternity include having at least 12 Longwood credits and a minimum of a 2.5 grade point average. Men were required to sign up for recruitment online at the Longwood University Office of Fraternity & Sorority Life website to confirm that they had an acceptable grade point average for rushing.
Associate Director for Fraternity and Sorority Life Wolfgang Acevedo reported that the average grade point average for men rushing in this year’s Men’s Greek Walk was higher compared to previous years.
He commented that the average grade point average was around 2.7 to 2.8, adding, “It seems to be going up.”
Acevedo also stated that compared to last year’s fall recruitment numbers, this year the fraternities “definitely had stronger numbers.”
Acevedo said, “I think fraternity and sorority life is an important part of Longwood’s history and traditions, so I think it’s really cool that they’re on the same field and cheering each other on. That’s brotherhood. Beside from just the chapter brothers, this is a fraternal community brotherhood.”
Men who are interested in joining any of the social Greek fraternities on campus are still capable of bidding for their preferred fraternities. Those interested are able to attend open houses and other events throughout the year to meet fraternity members.
John Barham runs toward his welcoming Sigma Nu brothers at Men's Greek Walk on Friday, Sept. 13.
