Phi Taus recruiting for colony members

Phi Kappa Tau Fraternity, after nearly a decade of absence from campus, is working steadily to reestablish its Beta Lambda chapter at IU. Plans for the fraternity's new colony have been underway since November 2002, and the recruitment process for the first colony members will be extended through the end of the spring semester. \nDirector of Phi Tau's chapter services, Mike Gabhart, who works with the fraternity's expansion efforts, said the fraternity is entirely committed to reestablishing the new IU chapter. \n"We've been pleased with how the process is going so far, but because of how big IU's campus is, it's going to take more time and resources to establish," Gabhart said. \nAfter a Phi Kappa Tau presentation in November, IU's Interfraternity Council and the fraternity expansion committee unanimously voted to allow Phi Taus to become a colony.\nThe fraternity now has between three months and two years to meet IU's requirements as a colony, which includes membership standards along with the long-term goals of Phi Kappa Tau.\nAt the beginning of the second semester, Phi Tau made its debut at IU's IFC annual call-out fair. The fair allowed Phi Tau to get its name out on campus and for potential members to introduce themselves to representatives of the fraternity. \n"We need people to know that Phi Kappa Tau is back at IU," Gabhart said. \nThe fraternity has since been given a list of all of the men who went through spring and fall recruitment who didn't join a chapter. Phi Tau has targeted leaders on campus and is scheduling some meetings to talk to specific men one on one. \n"They're a lot of quality guys on this campus that aren't currently greek, and it'll take some time just to sit down and talk with them about Phi Tau," Gabhart said. \nPhi Tau hopes to install a colony chapter of approximately 50 men by the end of the spring semester, Gabhart said.\n"We're trying to recruit men of character, and that's what we're focusing on," he said. "That's not to say things can't be social, but what we're stressing is social responsibility."\nThe fraternity was founded at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, in 1906 and originally began IU's Beta Lambda chapter in 1949. Due to issues concerning membership and risk management, the fraternity was removed from IU in 1993.\nSeveral factors led to Phi Tau's decision to reinstate IU's Beta Lambda chapter. \n"Alumni support, in particular the monetary support for educational programming, is remarkable," Gabhart said. \nHe also cited IU's close proximity to Phi Tau's executive offices in Oxford, Ohio, and the University's support for the recolonization. \n"The University has made a decision to hold the fraternities to expectations and standards, and we're ready to partner with the administration to provide a positive fraternity experience," Gabhart said. \nIFC Vice President of Recruitment Brian Moak said Phi Taus are a fraternity that the University could benefit from. \n"Phi Tau is a great organization. They're not focusing on the social aspects of fraternities as much, but they're selling their values, their foundation, the leadership aspects and they're focusing on getting great men who represent those qualities," he said. "I also feel that the rest of the greek community has received them well." \nGabhart said he has been pleased with IFC's support during the recruitment process. \n"IFC and the University have both been extremely supportive of our efforts," he said. "They're pointing us in the right direction and giving us feedback and directions." \nIFC President Evan Waldman said he is excited about Phi Tau's return to IU.\n"Every year we get new fraternities that try to expand, but Phi Kappa Tau is unique in a sense because they're 100 percent committed to their values and to this campus and to getting men who are committed to those values," Waldman said. \nPhi Taus will hold informational meetings on Tuesday, and Thursday. For more information, contact Eddie Rauen, Phi Tau's IU leadership consultant, by phone at 513-476-6192 or by e-mail at erauen@phikappatau.org.