Alumni relations influence greek system

When a student pledges a sorority or fraternity in college, he or she is a member forever, and alumni relations are an integral part of greek life.

In the 1950s, Judy Daerr graduated from IU early, moved out of the Pi Beta Phi house and started a family. Life became busy, she said, but she always tried to be supportive of her sorority.

“It’s important in any system that there are people who have done this before,” Daerr said. “That doesn’t mean they are always right, but it’s about what you, as an alum, can do. It’s give and take, but there is always that connection with the chapter.”

Now her children are grown and she is retired, she said she tries to give more time and attention to the white house on Third Street.

Though she served as the president of the alumni club, now she helps the women with recruitment, assists in renovations of the house and remains in touch with dozens of Pi Phi pledge classes.

“It’s nice to meet the women, talk with them and see them growing up and managing well,” Daerr said.

Alumni relations vary with each chapter, but many elect officers to specifically to serve as liaisons between alumni and active members by writing newsletters, keeping in touch with alumni, welcoming members back to campus and helping active members understand the chapter’s history.

“You help alumni get out of it what they want while keeping the house (on track),” said junior Scott Agness, alumni relations chair of Phi Kappa Psi. “Alumni want to know if the house is in good standing, if the traditions are still in tact and what kind of interests we have.”

Agness said Phi Kappa Psi alumni do a lot for active members, sponsoring leadership seminars, serving as mentors for brothers and more.

“Little things make big differences,” Agness said. “They’re always asking what we need.”

And alumni have been a driving force behind Alpha Delta Phi’s establishment at IU. Founded last semester, the colony has been “adopted” by alumni across the country who are teaching the men about the fraternity’s philosophy, traditions and standards.

Sophomore and the fraternity President Steve Ross said though they do not have a direct tie to IU, alums are excited about forming a chapter here.

“It’s a difference of perspective,” Ross said. “The idea of having a new chapter at a Big Ten school like this have the alumni motivated to help us out.”

But what this also means is it will be a couple decades before Alpha Delta Phi has an established alumni base at IU.

“Once we actually have IU Alpha Delta alums, we’ll have to develop that base and make sure it stays strong,” Ross said. “It’s going to be challenging, but in some ways it’s an advantage because we get to build the culture of alumni involvement almost seamlessly from graduation.”