It’s high noon in the middle of September. The luminous rays from the sun shape themselves around the autumn trees, leaving only warped shadows reflecting on patches of lifeless grass. The remains of the crisp yard blend ideally with the beat up hemp green paint on the sides of the house. Entering the squalid living room of the chapter house for Pi Lambda Phi, you can smell the soil of dirty socks and stale beer immediately. Thoughts of distaste and revulsion are not uncommon when judging the environment that is. However, an abrupt judgement is nothing, but flawed when it comes to understanding this fraternity, especially by the setting of the house.
Existing in a world with an abundance of hatred and judgement, it becomes very common to feel as though your impact can be minuscule. The path in which you choose to live along gets decided single handedly, but along the journey you will realize you are not alone. Bloomsburg University is home to one of dozens of chapter locations for the international fraternity, Pi Lambda Phi. Together the brothers of Pi Lam seek to put their single minds together, forming not a path, but a highway on a mission to eliminate prejudice. This mission became relevant May 21st 1895, when three men overcame singularity in order to prosper under one united mindset. Today, the members who share that goal reaches far beyond just three men, and although they think individually, the goal can not be accomplished without the help of each other.
A somber comfort purple behind vibrant gold make up the formal colors for these men, symbolizing the values they live by. Pi Lam is no half hearted fraternity one joins in order to party and appear as “cool”, but rather those attributes are seen as simply perks and only that. This can easily be reflected when comparing Pi Lam to other organizations on campus, and fortunately enough Brother Vincent Plessel was amiable enough to provide some more information about their activity. When Vinny (Vincent) was asked if he regrets joining Pi Lambda Phi, he restlessly interrupts responding, “Are you kidding me?”.
With over three houses filled with brothers around Bloomsburg University, Pi Lambda Phi takes the cake for most active brothers on campus by at least twenty. “Relationships with other fraternities is extremely important in the end, and Pi Lam seemed to get along with everyone, that's why I knew they were right for me”, Vinny said with pride. A frat is often critiqued by whether they haze or if they’re ‘cool’ guys, but that is where Pi Lam is held separate from the rest. Building good relationships with everyone is the goal, but more importantly they look to shine above the rest.
Pi Lam at Bloomsburg holds the highest grade point average of all Greek organizations on campus. Not only is scholarship one of their top values, but it acts as the backbone for the fraternity. “We also have the highest military presence on campus”, mentioned Vinny nonchalantly. It is only to the highest standards scholastically that Vinny looks to recruit new members. “Often times I recruit the most interested students when I have class with them, I think they like hearing about a frat with a high gpa average”, stated Vinny. If parents are ever concerned about their son joining a frat, it is the brothers first reaction to talk about their reputation here on campus.
Aside from the boasting of Pi Lam’s academics, they hold other values that are abundantly clear. The fraternity is all about helping out the community, and the school as well. Community service is very big when it comes to Greek life, but Pi Lam looks to go above and beyond. “We look to get involved with any fundraising event as soon as possible, not only to get our name out there, but it makes us looks good as well”, Vinny describes with a chuckle. Last semester the fraternity had over two thousand hours of community service combined. A couple of their own fundraising events include selling fried oreos, bocce bash, and hosting volleyball tournaments. Community service wise, they clean the streets frequently as well as local yards, just like the big event. Vinny mentions with a hard attempted smile, “there is nothing like waking up at seven thirty to go rake leaves all day, but these are the things we have to do”. There is no limit on helping out others when it comes to Pi Lambda Phi, and that is all apart of their end mission to eliminate prejudice.
Finally, to answer the question you have all been waiting for, it is not overly difficult to get recruited by Pi Lam. Like most organizations on campus, you must have a 2.5 cumulative grade point average, as well as at least twelve credits. Brothers also look for men who stand out, the “outliers” of the population. Vinny seemed to be hesitant when asked about the new member process, one of many secrets he can’t uncover to the public. Revealing only a little, “Our new member process is something to get new members on track with the other brothers, like a study session”, Vinny conveys. “The goal is to recruit a progressive family, men who will soon look after this fraternity once the older guys like me, are gone.” says the junior classman.
So when you think about a fraternity in the future, and the ideals that make up such, remember Pi Lambda Phi as something different. Brads, chads, troys and immature boys are not the pinnacle of Pi Lam, but rather a fraternity for gentleman, for the ones who look to be apart of something bigger than themselves. Partying recklessly and dancing carelessly, nevertheless remaining studious at heart, and charitable in the mind.
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