Friday, October 10, 2008

New business
Albion's business colony becomes a fraternity
By EMILY MAGYAR
News Editor

Members of Delta Sigma Pi from Albion and local universities celebrate the creation of Albion's new fraternity on Oct. 4.

Delta Sigma Pi, Albion College’s business society, became an official fraternity on Saturday, Sept. 29.

The fraternity started as a group of students looking to join the business society.  Within a few months, they became a colony, and this past weekend, they were officially granted fraternity status. 

Twenty new members were initiated into the society, and a banquet followed the ceremony.

“The group on Saturday was the founding class at Albion,” said Kris McPherson, Rochester senior and Delta Sigma Pi vice president of finance.  “The 20 of us were the first to be initiated.  Throughout this week, we’ve initiated a few more.”

Several Delta Sigma Pi chapters from around the state were present for the ceremony, including an alumni chapter from Detroit and current collegiate chapters from Western Michigan University and Michigan State University.  A group of the Delta Sigma Pi national representatives was also in attendance.

“We are very happy to be established as a real chapter,” said Charlie Dill, Ann Arbor sophomore.  “After many months, we’ve finally done it.”

According to Dill and McPherson, Delta Sigma Pi is a professional fraternity that was organized in order to further the study of business at colleges and universities.  The fraternity encourages scholarship and social activity within the association of students.  Delta Sigma Pi aims to help students studying business by giving them information they will need in the workplace.

“I’m sure I’d be speaking for everyone if I said that we are very proud to have brought a chapter of Delta Sigma Pi to Albion,” McPherson said.  “And we’re excited to be a part of the founding class as well as seeing what the future holds.”

Kasey Kaplan, St. Charles, Ill., junior and member of Delta Sigma Pi, feels that the new official fraternity status will help the community.

“I think it’s great that Delta Sigma Pi is finally a fraternity,” Kaplan said.  “I feel the group has worked hard to become one.  Now that we are recognized as a fraternity, I think we will have even more of a positive influence on the campus both in community work and in networking among students.”

Delta Sigma Pi aims to connect students in colleges and universities to the greater business community.

“People can get involved in a variety of ways,” Dill said.  “We have recruiting events that are usually posted in the econ department.  (Anyone interested) can also contact any of us for more information.”