In The News Archives: 2012

The following are archived In the News articles from 2012.

Past In the News Items: 2012

Fraternity starts kindness week on campus (WKUHerald.com - October 30, 2012)
On Oct. 22, Phi Sigma Pi launched its first Random Acts of Kindness week. Each member of the fraternity —which is based on a tripod of ideals that includes scholarship, leadership and fellowship — will do five random acts of kindness on campus. Davenport, Iowa, senior Anna Williams (ΒΦ), one of the brothers in the co-ed fraternity, said she found the idea on Pinterest. She and the other members thought it was something they could all do because it was an activity they could each do on their own time.

UNL’s Phi Sigma Pi hosts ‘Waiting For Superman’ to promote education equality (DailyNebraskan.com - October 22, 2012)
October is “Teach For America” month, and University of Nebraska-Lincoln honors fraternity Phi Sigma Pi is helping bring awareness to the organization’s mission through a free screening of “Waiting For Superman” on Tuesday. “The ‘Waiting for Superman’ message is that the public school system in our country isn’t working like it should be,” said Angela Tejada (ΓΩ), Phi Sigma Pi’s president and campus campaign coordinator for Teach For America at UNL. “About 50 percent of students from low-income communities won’t graduate high from high school by age 18. Teach For America aims to close this achievement gap by ensuring that more children can receive an excellent education.”

Alpha Chi Omega, Phi Sigma Pi support Clothesline Project (LehighValleyLive.edu - October 16, 2012)
Lehigh University’s Women’s Center partnered with many intramural organizations in the Greek community, as well as with Turning Point of Lehigh Valley to help promote this event. Student members of Alpha Chi Omega and Phi Sigma Pi (ΔΧ) eagerly volunteered to run the event on the Upper Court front lawn. They recruited students to design and hang t-shirts while speaking about gender violence resources available on campus, as well as the importance of domestic violence prevention.

Student continues with relief efforts to Joplin (WKU.edu - Fall, 2012)
For Chris Storath (ΒΦ), a junior from Hendersonville, Tennessee, his passion and dedication to service began with a Facebook post. When his honor fraternity, Phi Sigma Pi, approached their chapter via Facebook about organizing a service trip to Joplin, Missouri immediately following the devastating tornado that passed through the town on May 22, 2011, Storath eagerly agreed to participate."

Capture the Park raises money for Teach for America (TheManeater.com - May 1, 2012)
MU students competed in a capture the flag tournament Saturday as part of Phi Sigma Pi's Capture the Park. The MU chapter of the national honor fraternity held the event at Columbia Cosmopolitan Recreation Area to raise money for its philanthropic organization, Teach for America. "It's basically a big capture the flag tournament," Phi Sigma Pi Service chairman Jacob Schreiber (ΔΞ) said. "Teams sign up for $5 a person and all the proceeds go to Teach for America."

Fraternity hosts sleepout (The-Standard.org - May 1, 2012)
Some huddled in boxes on the side of the road. Others held signs asking for donations. All were there for two reasons: to raise awareness for the homeless and to collect donations for Habitat for Humanity. Phi Sigma Pi — a national honor fraternity based on scholarship, leadership and fellowship — hosted their annual Sleepout for the Homeless from 4 p.m. Friday, April 27 to 8 a.m. Saturday, April 28. In an effort to raise money for Habitat for Humanity, the fraternity’s local philanthropy members stayed up all night in the Mardel parking lot off Battlefield Road, asking for donations from passers-by. Kelsey Sack (ΓΣ), Phi Sigma Pi’s service chair, said Sleepout for the Homeless is the fraternity’s biggest service event that raises money for another organization and believes it is important to raise money for Habitat for Humanity.

New honor fraternity at S&T (TheRollaDailyNews.com - April 26, 2012)
According to Jeremy Robinson (ΖΠ), chapter president, “Phi Sigma Pi strives to promote high levels of excellence through service, scholarship, leadership, and fellowship. Our organization uses these ideals to promote the acquisition and sharing knowledge, nurture leadership through service, and foster life-long fellowship.” The Zeta Pi chapter at Missouri S&T is the fifth chapter in the state, and is one of the newest additions to the national fraternity.

Honor Fraternity Establishes New Chapter On Campus (DailyUW.com - April 22, 2012)
A chapter of the national honor fraternity Phi Sigma Pi is being established on campus. A pinning ceremony took place for the chapter’s 25 new members last Monday, and now the chapter is finalizing its structure and working toward becoming officially recognized by its parent organization. Rachel Zibrat, a UW graduate student and member of Phi Sigma Pi as an undergraduate, has been acting as an ambassador and mentor for the new chapter and said she will continue to do so for as long as it needs her. “My role for the rest of the quarter is going to be to help answer any questions that the new chapter might have, because they’re basically going to go at it alone,” Zibrat said. “I’m going to be there to kind of hold their hand through it, because it’s going to be hard.”

79 teams collaborate to help fight against cancer (CentralFloridaFuture.com - April 16, 2012)
Hundreds of UCF students and Central Florida citizens met at Memory Mall on Friday night for the 18th Annual Relay for Life at UCF in an effort to fight back against cancer. Catherine Siew (ΓΧ)', a junior biology major and member of Phi Sigma Pi, explained the tent that her fraternity had created. “The theme for the UCF Relay is ‘When We Were Young,’ and so we chose Hey Arnold, because that’s kind of a classic Nickelodeon show that I think everyone kind of relates to and it keeps it fun and whimsical for everyone,” Siew said. “We just want to bring everyone to the good old days, when your Saturday-morning cartoon comes up.”

Students boost job opportunities in Africa with bra drive (statenews.com - April 11, 2012)
More than just spirits will be lifted thanks to MSU students who donated their bras to help stop sex trafficking in Africa. About 70 bras were collected at the International Center on Tuesday for the Free The Girls bra drive, co-hosted by the Phi Sigma Pi (ΒΣ) and Alpha Phi Omega fraternities. The drive was part of a fundraiser for the nonprofit organization Free The Girls, which helps to provide job opportunities to women rescued from sex trafficking in Africa.

Teetering to a new record (thenortherner.com - April 11, 2012)
Hundreds of people gathered onto the grassy knoll just in front of Griffin Hall on Monday, April 9 for Teeter-A-Thon hosted by NKU Dining Services. “I just really love teeter totters,” said sophomore geology major Jessica Damron (ΕΡ). “Plus we both are here for the Guinness World Record title.” Damron and fellow teetering partner, sophomore psychology major Brooke Yancey, teetered on their custom made Phi Sigma Pi teeter to display their school spirit and affiliation with the university. The Guinness World Record title may have been the highlight of the event, but the attempt to raise funds to bring BigBelly Solar waste and recycling containers to the university was the underlying theme.

Purdue players run (for) student body right (ESPN.com - March 30, 2012)
That's why they're running for president and vice president of Purdue's student government. The two players share a ticket -- Ishmael Aristide (ΓΑ), a junior safety, is running for president; Henry, a junior quarterback, is running for VP -- and hope to be voted into office when the elections take place Monday through Wednesday.

Honors fraternity says Joplin is home away from home (WKUHerald.com - March 13, 2012)
David Serafini (ΒΦ), along with 11 members of PSP and one other WKU student, traveled to Joplin, Mo., to help with recovery efforts on March 3 until March 7 for Joplin Run III, the organization’s third trip to the town. Serafini said the group helped with demolition efforts and debris removal this trip, but he could see a difference in Joplin’s recovery since the last trip, with more houses being built and businesses returning.

Phi Sigma Pi hosts panel discussion to address bullying concerns, solutions (TheStateNews.com - February 28, 2012)
Epling discussed bullying, which led to his son Matt’s mental distress and eventual suicide, in a panel discussion Monday evening in the Engineering Building. The event was hosted by the national coed honors fraternity Phi Sigma Pi (ΒΣ).

Brittany Morales named Gilman Scholar for Spring 2012 (UTSA.edu - February 2012)
Brittany Morales(ΕΜ) will be living her Irish dream this spring. She is one of the 2012 spring scholarship awardees of the nationally competitive Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program. “I'm from a small town -- Rosenberg, Texas -- and the majority of my family hasn’t traveled outside of the state,” she explains. “This opens me up for new experiences and to help guide me to new challenges. I feel this would also assist in my understanding of other cultures and declare differences and similarities between America. I feel as a future psychologist, it is better to be open-minded and to take in everything as a learning experience about people.”

National honor fraternity aims high (TheDailyEvergreen.com - 31 January 2012)
Phi Sigma Pi President Kelsey Pruitt (ΖΝ) leads meetings and oversees event planning. She joined the chapter because she was interested in honor fraternities. “I was actually looking into fraternities at Washington State University, something like an honor fraternity and they just happened to be recruiting right when I was doing that,” she said.

Students spruce up Delmont school (TheAdvocate.com - 29 January 2012)
Delmont Elementary, on Douglas Avenue near Hollywood Street and Interstate 110, received a face-lift Saturday, thanks to members of Phi Sigma Pi (ΓΘ), a coed national honor fraternity for college students. The Phi Sigma Pi members set up the cleanup session through Teach For America, with which Phi Sigma Pi has an official partnership, Stage said. The students — from LSU, Tulane University, Mississippi State University, Auburn University and the University of Alabama — were in Baton Rouge for a Phi Sigma Pi regional conference, Stage said. Stage is the LSU chapter’s regional delegate.

Governor appoints new student member to Truman's Board of Governors (HeartlandConnection.com - 19 January 2012)
Governor Jay Nixon appointed Michael Bushur (Β), of Lee's Summit, to represent students on the University's highest policy-making body. Bushur is completing his second year at Truman, studying Psychology and Economics. When he finishes, he said he wants to go to law school. Bushur said his participation on the University's Conduct Board and Funds Allotment Council helped him prepare for his new task. Bushur also attributed his participation in the honor's fraternity, Phi Sigma Pi, as giving him the opportunity to get to know the variety and the diversity of students at Truman.

Phi Sigma Pi raises funds for TAP (LockHaven.com - 18 January 2012)
This year Phi Sigma Pi recognized the event’s growth and named a chair for the walk, with all proceeds to benefit TAP’s youth educational programs. Along with many hours of planning the walk, Samantha Hippler (ΒΗ) added extra fundraisers: a Zumba night at the university and a Pizza Hut night. The three events raised a total of $620 for TAP.

Bike and Build sends students riding and working on affordable housing across America (CM-Life.com - 9 January 2012)
Three Central Michigan University students will cycle more than 4,000 miles to promote affordable housing across the country this summer. Bike and Build, a non-profit organization, hosts cross-country cycling trips where volunteers ride and build affordable houses, Alyssa Chrisman (ΓΜ), a Sterling Heights junior, said. Chrisman, an English major, said as a future teacher, affordable housing plays a major role in supporting children’s education. “There are students who could be homeless or not have a safe place to go home to at night, and I think that’s really sad if students are preoccupied because they don’t have a home,” she said. “It’s not an issue that people their age should worry about.”