Kappa Sigma Fraternity

The Letters of Kappa Sigma

"I will support Greek Life for the rest of my life!" This claim comes from a good friend of mine, Derek, who is involved here at Bloomsburg University. Whether you like Greek Life or not, it exists at almost every college around the country, besides catholic schools. Many students at Bloomsburg are affiliated with Greek Life, either a social fraternity/sorority or a co-ed fraternity. While speaking with me, Derek showed the ability to give me good information on what it means to be a brother of Kappa Sigma, and how brotherhood brings people together. Specifically, Kappa Sigma focuses on four important pillars, Fellowship, Leadership, Scholarship and Service. He exudes all these qualities, and that display proves the type of brother he is. There is a fine line between knowing what social Fraternities really do and what people think they do. Most people think it involves just partying and drinking, which proves they don't know the true meaning of a Fraternity. These young men make it a focus to do charitable work and take great pride in achieving good grades. These qualities make it possible to be a brother of Kappa Sigma, thus what makes Derek and the Fraternity unique.

Being that Kappa Sigma remains one of the best fraternities on campus, it is important for Derek to take great pride in being a brother. In doing so, he follows a certain set of rules that only members of Kappa Sigma know. In a low mannered voice, he reiterates, "Written and unwritten rules that we need to follow as gentlemen." He wouldn't elaborate as to what those rules are because of secrecy within the fraternity. But the low mannered voice he talks in does not show the way Derek speaks. Always upbeat and a big smile on his face, "Shap," his nickname, also known for being a class act, and definitely a truly funny individual. Derek appreciates being in the fraternity because of these rules that nobody but the brothers of Kappa Sigma understand. He rambles on, saying "The rules make you respect and acknowledge what being in such a great fraternity really means." Understanding the rules as a brother makes it important in being successful during your time at college.

Brothers of Kappa Sigma doing community service

There are important positions one has to take when in a Fraternity. Specifically, there is Rush Chair. Derek is the Rush Chair for Kappa Sigma and he constantly speaks on the phone. The clicking of the keyboard goes non stop because of the importance of the position. When explaining the position to me, Derek exclaims in a deliberate tone, "You are the one who controls who comes into the Fraternity... each kid who comes in holds the future of the Fraternity." The business-like tone in Derek's voice shows significance in his role. Each year the Fraternity picks a new Rush Chair, and this year Derek was voted in and has taken the bull by the horns with it. While always writing something down in his Kappa Sigma notebook, he references a mood of distress knowing that the decision lies in his hands. The pressure mounts more so now than ever because of rush season. He needs to make his presence known on campus and make sure he recruits the right kids to be apart of Kappa Sigma.

Derek will always want to be part of something, and choosing a Fraternity was the best way possible. He now has built a brotherhood that will last forever, with young men who will always be there for him. It didn't all start at Bloomsburg, though. As a young kid, Derek was regularly involved in clubs and sports, most notably, Football and Wrestling. He understood what it took to be part of a brotherhood, and wanted that to translate to college. A few times I brought up a common question kids in Greek Life are asked: What made you join? His response, "Ive been apart of something my entire life, clubs sports etc...when that ended I wanted it to continue in college." He clearly grasps the concept of brotherhood, and it goes back a long time from when he was young. And when asked why somebody should join the brotherhood of Kappa Sigma, Derek suggests, "Because college only comes around once, so live it up and find your home for life."

He hails from Metuchen New Jersey, yet it seems Bloomsburg has been Derek's home all along. Kappa Sigma flags fill the walls of his room in his apartment. Pictures of him and his brothers litter his paper-filled desk. On a regular Tuesday evening, Derek can be just a student, a Rush Chair, a friend and a brother of a prestigious Fraternity that runs all around the United States. Following the rules of this chapter, being apart of a family and "living the college dream" are all items that Derek has checked off. So when you come to Bloomsburg University, look for Kappa Sigma to be a topic of discussion when Greek Life comes up.