The search has ended

Plans are underway for a new fraternity on campus.

The expansion committee recently approved the decision to install a new chapter of Phi Gamma Delta (FIJI) on campus. The committee consists of four administrators and four students.

FIJI was selected by officials because it’s the best fit for stu­dents and will offer them what they need, said Corey Hill, Inter­fraternity Council adviser.

Before FIJI is recognized as a fraternity on campus, it must go through a process called coloniza­tion. During this period of a year to a year and a half, the chapter will complete a list of require­ments to help establish itself on campus, Hill said.

After this step, the national fraternity of Phi Gamma Delta will grant the chapter a charter. The document will recognize the fraternity as a functioning chapter with all the rights and benefits of one, Hill said.

The expected date of when FIJI will arrive on campus is still undecided.

“FIJI is going to put together a proposal on the way they will come to campus,” Hill said. “The IFC will then either approve or amend this proposal.”

To begin the selection process for the new chapter, officials solic­ited 28 fraternities. Officials then selected 10 of the fraternities to submit an application.

The university then chose three of the fraternities to send national representatives to visit campus for an interview. The fraternities were Delta Tau Delta, Phi Gamma Delta and Sigma Alpha Epsilon.

New fraternity member growth has remained consistent for the past six years. There is a spike in the amount of men who were interested in rush in the past two years, Hill said.

“This demand tells us that the university is in need of another fraternity,” Hill said. “Students have asked for this. We are here to serve students.”

Hill said his goal is to have 30 percent of the men on campus go Greek.

“This isn’t possible with only two organizations,” he said.

Drew Feldman, acting fresh­man, said a new fraternity is a good idea.

“I don’t think there are enough options for guys who want to be a part of Greek life,” he said.

Eli Holley, political science sophomore and Kappa Sigma member, said the new organiza­tion may affect the number of men who pledge his fraternity.

“The number of men will decline, but it’s not necessarily a bad thing,” he said. “For the sake of incoming freshman they will have more options.”