Fraternity seeks men who never planned to go Greek

March 16, 2010 by Renata Follmann 

Phi Gamma Delta wants to provide model experience for members who excel in school

A scholar, a gentleman, an athlete and a leader. A new fraternity on campus is looking for men who believe they possess these characteristics.

Phi Gamma Delta, which also goes by Fiji, has started a new chapter at UNLV.

“We are here to offer a role model Greek experience,” said Matt Cessna, Fiji field secretary.

For Cessna, UNLV students who would be a good fit for the fraternity are those who say they do not want to be a “typical frat guy.”

“This offers them a chance to do something different,” Cessna said.

He said that Fiji gives its members the opportunity to start something from the ground up.

The fraternity does not focus on crazy parties, Cessna said, and hazing is strictly prohibited.

That does not mean it is a dry association. According to Cessna, the purpose of social events Fiji promotes is for people to get to know each other. For him, this is where the fun is.

The focus is on finding the members who will excel in school. There is a minimum of a 3.0 GPA average to pledge and to maintain the status of a member. When someone is falling behind on the grades, Fiji’s members work together to ensure each other’s success.

Being a gentleman, the second most important characteristic after scholarship, is based on having respect for all men, women, the university and members of the community, Cessna said.

“It’s important to this organization and what we are trying to do here,” he explained.

They also want men to be leaders and improve the lives of those who are around them. The athletic ideal promotes teamwork, respect and competition.

Not everyone is a fit for the association and its philosophy.

Blake Naccarato was recently offered a chance to join Fiji, which only takes people by recommendation. He is a freshman majoring in civil engineering. Even though he does not have anything against the association, he refused the invitation.

“I would prefer to focus my involvement on my major,” Naccarato said, referring to fraternities directly related to his field.

Budget was another main factor in Naccarato’s decision. He said joining a fraternity in his junior year, when he has a more steady income, would be a better idea..

For those who are interested, Phi Gamma Delta has been around since 1848. And since the beginning, the fraternity main goals are to promote leadership and scholarship among its members.

What makes this fraternity so different? According to Cessna, members have the ability to make it right for them. They also focus on reaching out to other organizations on campus to connect with them, because they do not want to just stay within the Greek system.

Fiji, which was founded in 1848, is still looking for members for what they call “Founding Fathers Opportunity.” The fraternity is expected to be up and running by the end of March.

“We are here to bring men into the Greek system who never thought about getting into it before,” Cessna said, adding that the fraternity will “assist [the members] to start an organization that is a role model as well and support the university and members of them community as well.”

Cessna now oversees 23 chapters in the west side of Canada and US. He started his path at this fraternity by meeting men who became role models, who were members.

He said joining the fraternity helped him learn what it means to be a leader – and once a Fiji, he explained, a member will be always be a Fiji.