Phi Gamma Delta

After I graduated high school I knew I was going to go to Washington State University, I also knew that I was made for fraternity life. So I decided to attend summer rushing for multiple different fraternities. I instantly felt a connection with all the guys in the fraternity of Phi Gamma Delta, also known as Fijis. I was one of the first people to sign with the house and my pledge class is one of the biggest that has came through the house in many years. I thought that joining a fraternity would help me get socially acclimated to the newly explored college lifestyle and was also a great way to make connections with other people.

The bond that I have with the pledge class off Fall 2006 is unreal, these guys were strangers when I first joined the house, but now after four years of living together, sharing rooms, and sharing a sleeping porch these guys have become my best friends. We have done fundraisers for the community, accomplished ten hours of community service each semester, and we supported multiple different philanthropies.

I think that fraternities have a terrible reputation in the public eye, but we are just a tight knit group of guys who help strengthen the community and help support local population. Yea, we will have fun and go out to socialize with other houses and sororities, but we also understand that scholarship is the number one priority of why we are in college. Our freshman year we went to the library every single weeknight and studied for three hours, regardless if we wanted to attend or not. At the time this was not what I wanted to be doing with my newly found freedom, but it build a great foundation for my study habits for the future.

My sophomore year first semester, I was voted to be the co-social chair of the house. We put on social events with other sororities and fraternities, and even put on a concert featuring Afro Man, that all proceeds benefitted the American Red Cross. I enjoyed having this responsibility because I love socializing with other peers and making connections that I normally wouldn’t have made otherwise.

I thoroughly enjoyed the social aspect of the house; I met hundreds of new people and have made lifelong friendships that I wouldn’t have gained if I didn’t live in the house. Some of my favorite times in college surround the house and the activities that we put on for brotherhoods and events through the house. Bid-Day is one of the most fun times of the year, not only do we have a new group of guys who we will have adding an extra dynamic to our house, but we have fun as well.

–Bid-Day Freshman Year                                       — Bid-Day Sophomore Year

Bid-Day Junior Year

Brotherhoods are one of my favorite aspects of the house. They can involve anything from; who can eat the most chicken wings, to who can drink a gallon of milk the quickest. They are fun and slightly dumb events but it’s not about doing the competitions it’s about the bonding that takes place while doing these events.

Second semester of sophomore year I decided to change jobs in the house and I became in charge of the awards chair for the house. We applied for multiple awards within the WSU Greek system as well as for national awards for our chapter house. Unfortunately we were not as successful as we anticipated, not winning any awards but I know that we improved the houses image and were individually successful in our own ways. At the end of the year I was awarded the most inspirational member in the house and was honored with a plaque that is engraved with my name on it in our chapter house.

As I began my junior year I decided to move out of the house and concentrate more on school, without having the distractions that comes with living with 40 other guys. I moved down the street and still attend all get togethers, brotherhoods and support the house in every way that I can. I will be a Fiji for life and no one can take that away from me.

Becoming a Fiji is a lifelong commitment that can be rewarding while in college and even after I graduate. Just the other day I was golfing with two elderly men and I found out they were Fijis and we connected on a different level just by being in the same house. The traditions are secrete and are not let out to the public, so meeting anyone who has experienced the same things that you have while in college makes a bond right off the bat with any other fellow Fiji member.