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Why should I join a Fraternity? Belonging to a fraternity offers many advantages. Your first purpose for coming to college is to obtain an education. We realize, however, that a college education encompasses more than academics. The ability to deal and live with people is a demand that will be made on you for the rest of your life. As a well-rounded man, you must merge a solid academic background with intellectual and social maturity, and build confidence in yourself to deal with the problems that will face you in later years. TKE is a very unique fraternity because we provide an environment that will encourage you to strive for academic excellence, while at the same time discovering new social horizons in a variety of campus settings. Our fraternity is involved in enhancing scholastic achievement, hosting social events, developing men into tomorrows leaders, participating in sporting events, and much more. Oftentimes, students can feel lost or become just another number in a large university such as VSU. The Greek system helps make our large University seem a little bit smaller and more manageable. A fraternity gets you involved, which helps you to develop different skills. It also allows you to develop contacts with many other students, and a variety of alumni involved in all areas of the business world. People join organizations for different reasons. Most of our members joined Tau Kappa Epsilon because they enjoyed the events, liked the people they met, and felt that our chapter had the best to offer them at this important time in their life. You will also become part of the largest fraternity network of over 300 TKE chapters and 200,000 members across North America. What makes TKE different from other Fraternities? Since our founding in 1899, Tau Kappa Epsilon has always seen itself as different from other social fraternities.. This perception has led TKE to become the world's largest international fraternity. Our founders felt that fraternities had degenerated from institutions of scholarly attainment to mere social clubs. Our founders started an organization "whose avowed purpose was to aid college men in mental, moral, and social development," and that is a mission we have not strayed away from. Our mission is no different than it was in 1899 and the challenge is no less intimidating. Building better men is what TKE is all about. For 100 years, Tau Kappa Epsilon has been building better men. Taking young men and building them into young leaders. Leaders whoa re prepare to face the world complete with a set of values and beliefs that add a distinct advantage to a man's efforts throughout his life. We have always based our membership "not for wealth, rank, or honor, but for personal worth and character." One only needs to read the Declaration of Principles to understand what Tau Kappa Epsilon is all about. Every fraternity will claim that they do not haze, but TKE was the first fraternity to implement a new member education program to replace senseless tasks with educational and inspiring programming, The Apollo Program is the name of Tau Kappa Epsilon's new member system. It is a six week program which teaches new members about the history of the Greek system, the history of TKE, the history of their own chapter, and how they fit into this system. It allows young man to become young leaders through motivational and instructional programs and activities. Do you guys party all the time? Because Tau Kappa Epsilon is a "social" fraternity many people have taken that to mean simply "partying." Part of becoming a socially mature adult involves interaction with those around you, and TKE holds several social events throughout the course of the school year to aid in that development. You don't have to belong to a fraternity to party, but the risk you take by mixing people in unfamiliar and uncontrolled environments can be costly. The rumors that you have heard or clips from Animal House simply do not exist within our chapter. We follow specific Risk Management guidelines which are designed to allow everyone to have fun, but without any unfortunate side effects. TKE has created a social fraternity that define "social" not simply as parties and celebrations, but rather one in which celebrations and parties are the rewards for our successes. We hold several dances and formal events each year. Each social event we hold optimizes enjoyment and reduces risk. What do you do for community service? Do I have to do it? Philanthropy is one activity that TKE has always been involved in. Our national philanthropic organization is the Ronald Reagan Alzheimer's Foundation. We believe that each member should contribute some hours to philanthropic service each semester, but most members do much more than that. Raising money and donating hours often involves supporting events, working with children or senior citizens, and often with other fraternities and sororities. Philanthropy events are a great way to meet people, have fun, and provides needed support within the community. Twice each year, Zeta Nu TKE holds a Car Bash in the quad of Valdosta State University. an event were everyone is welcome to socialize and eat as they take turns smashing cars with sledge hammers. Will the fraternity take up a lot of my time? Time management means something different when you get to college than it did in high school. You now have so much available time on your hands that you can either use it or waste it. TKE's new member program not only teaches you how to manage that time, but also how to get the most out of every day. As with any organization you will get out of it what you put into it, and the rewards will vary depending on the drive that you have. Our goal is to make you a better man. The time you spend perfecting that goal will not be taking up time, but will instead be the most important time you've ever spent. My parents don't want me to join a fraternity. What if I just didn't tell them? Sometimes parents believe that fraternity life revolves only around alcohol, women, and hazing, and unfortunately some fraternities cannot offer much more than that to you. TKE takes a lot of time to keep parents informed about what things will be like in the chapter and how they can make the Teke Experience more rewarding. Some students find this a strange idea at first, but you should talk with your parents about which fraternities you are interested, what kinds of opportunities they have to offer, and what kinds of questions you need to ask each fraternity. This will show how seriously and responsibly you are making this decision process. Our chapter officers are more than happy to speak to your parents and address any concerns. In addition, our chapter hosts a Parent's Weekend each Spring for all parents to meet each other, meet the members, and tour the house. What intramural sports do you do? TKE is actively involved in intramural sports from basketball to flag football. We allow every member to play on whatever team whenever they want to without having to wait until there is room for them. Playing sports is a great way to relieve stress and to keep in shape. Being physically fits is a key component to becoming a Apollo Man. Tau Kappa Epsilon is greatly involved with interacting with sororities on campus. The new member program holds awareness seminars with sororities on campus, and that's a great way to get to know people. TKE also pairs for several social functions during each semester. Part of being a member of a "social" fraternity means that you have the ability to build those social interaction and "people" skills you will need the rest of your life. My dad was a Teke at another school. Do you honor legacies? TKE is the Fraternity for Life and we take great care when legacies come to our attention. The values and ideals that are passed to every member of TKE insures us that they understand that their sons should be considered "not for wealth, rank, or honor, but for personal worth and character" just the same as every other potential new member. To this measure we consider anyone who wants "the choice to belong" to Tau Kappa Epsilon to be an unbiased process. Legacies will still "rush" the fraternity before a bid to join Tau Kappa Epsilon will be extended. Legacies interested in the chapter should contact us to set up an interview. Alumni members will understand the policy based on our belief that "We maintain that exclusiveness is the direct antithesis of a true fraternity" and we must include any man who wishes to accept "the challenge to become." I'm worried about my grades. What can your chapter do to help me in school? The academic success you make in your first few semesters in college will largely limit or expand your future options. It's always easier to maintain a GPA than to raise one. TKE provides academic support from the very start with the Apollo Program, your Big Brother, Chapter and Academic Advisors, Scholarship Chairmen, Chapter Educator, tutoring services, and much more. Along with all the adjustments you'll be making during your first few months at college the last thing you want to worry about is poor academic performance. Do you get a lot of support from alumni? Part of belonging to the Fraternity for Life means continued support even after your undergraduate years are over. We publish an alumni newsletter, hold alumni events, and use alumni contacts to help graduating fraters obtain job interviews. Our Board of Advisors is made up of chapter alumni as well as other fraters who have chosen our chapter as their focal point for alumni support. To be honest, we don't get millions of dollars willed to us for renovations, we don't spend contributions on parties, and we're not looking for alumni to spend our obstacles away. We have always valued the effort that alumni provide more than the money they give. TKE teaches its members that the only price Brotherhood has is dedication. Alumni offer everyone from our newest member to our graduating seniors support in every area from finding a job to recounting how they made the most out of their undergraduate years in TKE. The support that our alumni give every year is immeasurable. What are your membership standards? If you are selected to receive an invitation (bid) to join our great Fraternity, you can do so knowing that our chapter members have applied an extensive set of criteria to your selection, and you'll know that they believe that you have what it takes to live up to our standard. We base certain membership criteria on your past experiences and how you have already turned opportunity into success. If you accept the "challenge to become" a member of Tau Kappa Epsilon you will be expected to maintain a certain GPA, be involved on campus and within the chapter, perform a few hours per semester of community service, to meet financial obligations, and to live up to the ideals of Tau Kappa Epsilon. Our biggest standard is the standard of success that over 200,000 men since 1899, have lived up to. It is our goal to provide you with the opportunity, assistance, and support that will see you through the most important years of your life. |
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