Pi Kappa Alpha members closer to IFC charter

Oct 26 2009 - 11:40pm | Lori Jones

A former Texas State fraternity expects to complete the colonization process early next semester after a five-year suspension for hazing.

The Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity, also known as PIKE, completed two of three phases in the process of obtaining a charter.

“We are not considered initiated members,” said PIKE President Myles Burnett, history senior. “As soon as we finish phase three, we will be considered official Pi Kappa Alpha members.”

The national chapter will recognize the PIKES when they finish phase three and attain a charter, Burnett said.

“The phases are more of a checklist to make sure we’re doing everything right,” Burnett said. “Phase three is a lot of paper work. We have to make sure that there is a philanthropy program up and going and that the officers in place are doing their job.”

The requirements include each member maintain at least a 2.25 GPA. The PIKE fraternity has a 2.80 GPA average said Alistair Laing, PIKE public relations head and management sophomore.

“Normally, we do an event once each semester,” Laing said. “We’re trying to give back to the community.”

Laing said each member “must get” 20-service hours. The PIKE fraternity members are holding a basketball tournament to raise money for muscular dystrophy Nov. 6 in the Student Recreation Center. Laing said the organization adopted a highway and will participate in a cleanup day in November.

“Every fraternity seems to have a negative connotation, and we try to break that,” Liang said. “We don’t want to be the typical frat guy.”

Roland Bassett, PIKE member and finance sophomore, said the alumni will put forth money toward a house for the organization.

“We can’t get a house until we get a charter,” Bassett said. “It’s an incentive to get stuff done, but right now our main focus is getting a charter.”

The alumni will choose the property for the house, Bassett said.

“It’s a pat on the back to our alumni who really got us going again,” Laing said. “They are the ones who petitioned the IFC (Interfraternity Council) to get us back on campus.”

Laing said a majority vote was taken among other campus fraternities as another requirement to regain recognition at Texas State.

“The fastest time for any colony to be recognized by a national chapter is 10 months,” Burnett said. “We started the process  under a year ago, so we are right on track to be one of the top colonies in the country.”

Burnett said the PIKE members will participate in an initiation ceremony next semester when phase three is complete.

“We will really be able to become brothers and learn what our letters mean,” Burnett said. “The guys have been working hard to get to where they are now, and we can’t wait to join the rest of the country.”

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