Rush Information

"No man is an island."

Contents:

• What is a Fraternity?
• What is Phi Gamma Delta?
• Values of Phi Gamma Delta
• Tips on Rush
• Contact and Other Information

A Fraternity is an association of men, selected in their college days by democratic processes, because of their adherence to common ideals and aspirations. Out of their association arises a personal relation which makes them unselfishly seek to advance one another in the arts of life and to add, to the formal instruction of the college curriculum, the culture and character which men acquire by contact with great personalities, or when admitted to partnership in great traditions.

A Fraternity, too, is of such character that after men have left college they delight to renew their own youth by continued association with it and to bring their richest experiences back to the younger generation in part payment of the debt which they feel themselves owe to the fraternity for what it gave them in their formative years.

Newton D. Baker
John Hopkins 1892
Washington and Lee 1894
Member of Phi Gamma Delta
Served as president from 1905-1910
United States Secretary of War 1916-1921

The International Fraternity of Phi Gamma Delta, headquartered in Lexington, Kentucky, is a college-based fraternity founded in 1848 at Jefferson College in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, by John Templeton McCarty, Samuel Beatty Wilson, Naaman Fletcher, Daniel Webster Crofts, James Elliot Jr., and Ellis Bailey Gregg.

With chapters on nearly 130 college and university campuses in the United States and Canada, Phi Gamma Delta has approximately 5,000 Undergraduate and over 90,000 Graduate Brothers spread throughout the world.

Membership in Phi Gamma Delta (also known as "Fiji") is premised on five key VALUES:

We are united by Friendship. It is the basis of our brotherhood. Because of it we accomplish far more than we do as individuals. Friendship is the sweetest influence.

We promote the pursuit of Knowledge. It is the key to a fuller, richer life. We gain it through education, the harmonious development of the powers of the individual.

We encourage Service. We have the ability, the opportunity, and the duty to serve our fellow human beings. Our reward is the satisfaction that comes from serving.

We believe in Morality. As gentlemen of quality we must do what is right as individuals and as a group. Moral behavior is the basis of society's existence.

We strive for Excellence. It is attained only when we fulfill our total potential. Mankind benefits when each of us becomes all that we can be.

Enjoy Rush

The decision to join a fraternity is a lifetime committment. Millions of men have gone through rush and have benefited from the advantages of fraternity life. Although this sounds like a stressful time, it isn't. Make sure to have fun with rush. You will meet a lot of great guys from many different fraternities who want to do the same thing as you do--meet new people!!

Set Your Own Goals

Decide for yourself what you want out of a fraternity. Why are you rushing? Do you want a chance to be a leader? Do you want to establish a network of connections to be used once you graduate? Maybe you just want to meet new friends, or perhaps you want to join a fraternity just to enhance your college years? The best way to find a fraternity to suit your needs is to find out what you want from the fraternity.

Explore Your Options

Once you have set your goals, you need to explore your options. Make sure to visit as many houses as you can. By looking at all of the different chapters, you can get a better idea of what you want. Think of it as buying a car. First, you'd test drive at least four or five different cars before you started to...

Narrow Down Your Options

After carefully comparing your favorite cars, you'd finally make an educated decision as to which one you really want. The same goes for rushing a house. Once you have visited as many houses as you can, eliminate the ones you don't want, and go back and carefully inspect the ones you do want.

Spend Time Getting to Know the Brothers

Once you have decided which houses you want, spend as much time with them as you can. Try to meet a majority (if not all) of the brothers in a house, and go to as many of their events as you can. This gives the brothers of the chapter ample time to get to know you, and also shows them that you are truly serious about wanting to be a part of their brotherhood.

Learn from Rush

If you decide not to join a fraternity, then atleast get as much out of rush as possible. Ask questions about Professors you have, or classes you want to take. Have fun during rush. And last but not least, meet new friends that you wouldn't normally get a chance to meet.

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