e-Omegalite THE • PI • KAPPA • PHI • FRATERNITY
DECEMBER 2018
PURDUE UNIVERSITY
New IFC president comes from Omega
Making an impact in college can be a challenge, but for one Pi Kappa Phi member that opportunity will be as the leader of the Purdue fraternity system in 2019. Nathan Longo (Omega 2042), chapter archon in 2018, will take the reins of the 42-fraternity, 3,500member system at Purdue in January. He will become the Pi Kappa Phi chapter’s first Interfraternity Council President since 2007. Longo worked with IFC in 2017 and wanted to serve in an executive assistant role in 2019. However, he was encouraged by his chapter brothers, fellow fraternity presidents, outgoing IFC officers and Purdue Greek advisers to be president. He was drafted and elected thereafter. “Nathan has had tremendous leadership experiences within Purdue’s fraternity, sorority and cooperative life community that have prepared him to succeed in the role of IFC president,” said Brandon Cutler, associate dean of students. “He understands the system, processes, community and the importance of building collaborative relationships.” Leading such a substantial Greek community does not intimidate him. “I think managing and navigating the larger administrative infrastructure that IFC and Purdue both have will be a unique experience that will more directly relate to something like running a business,” he said. IFC has five executive board members, six directors, five associate board members and the Presidents Council, which is made
Nathan Longo, 2018 archon, will be the 2019 Interfraternity Council president. up of all of the chapters’ top leaders. The group works on new member recruitment as well as chapter development, scholarship, philanthropy, community service, member education, risk management and public relations, according to its website. Longo has a vision for building upon a Greek system richly entrenched into the Purdue community. “My goals for IFC as president are encompassed by three aspects: Improving implementation of health and safety policy, improving the way Purdue fraternities approach recruitment and fostering a culture of leadership in several areas within our community,” he said. The health and safety issues – aka risk management – are at the forefront of nationwide discussions about the roles Greeks play in university communities. Challenges range from binge drinking to mental health as well as hazing and life and death issues. “The areas I want to focus on
with this are building a culture of leadership and understanding among our general population,” Longo said. Furthermore, he wants to work with the other Greek councils to implement health and safety policies. As far as improving new member recruitment, Longo said he’s in favor of providing prospective new members an overview of the Greek community and explain that not all chapters focus on the same things. For example, there are fraternities that recruit men with specific academic majors, some that are religious-based, and others that focus on athletics, social, philanthropy or academics. Still others do not recruit for a specific emphasis at all. Accordingly, he wants to expand upon the traditional “Meet the Greeks” event, where all chapters man booths in a large open forum. “I think giving an opportunity for potential new members to quickly see every chapter will benefit both the chapters and the new members,” he said. Continued on Page 2