Pi Kappa Phi fraternity has been on campus for two years and is now a house of 36 men. Many of the members living in the house are founding fathers and helped to establish Pi Kappa Phi”s presence at the University of Idaho.
Will Kennedy is a sophomore at UI and a founding father of Pi Kappa Phi. He rushed the house as a freshman and said he loves Pi Kappa Phi because the men offer a genuine experience to their members from the very beginning.
Kennedy said the greatest thing Pi Kappa Phi has to offer is the opportunity to form a brotherhood with guys you can be yourself around. He said when he began rushing, he knew right away that he belonged in Pi Kappa Phi.
“There were a lot of options at a lot of different places that I really didn”t like, but it was difficult after the first day, and I was feeling down on my luck,” Kennedy said. “Once I got to PiKapp, I realized I didn”t have to be afraid of feeling uncomfortable, or not knowing what I was looking for.”
Kennedy said the men of Pi Kappa Phi follow a set of pillars that help to guide them in their college years and after. The house prides itself on upholding character, leadership, academics, service and sportsmanship. He said these tenants define parts of he and his brothers” personalities. He also said these qualities helped him to learn about others without judgment and to keep in good academic standing.
“I”m definitely more scholastic for joining PiKapp,” Kennedy said. “I”m on top of my grades more than I would have if I wasn”t Greek. It matters to me – being in charge of other people”s grades, to have good grades myself, it”s important.”
Blake Coker is a sophomore at UI and a first-year member at Pi Kappa Phi.
“I was looking for a place – it sounds cheesy – but somewhere that accepted you for who you were,” Coker said.
Coker said one of the most promising aspects of Pi Kappa Phi is the philanthropic opportunity offered to members. One of these opportunities is the “Ability Experience.”
Coker said the “Ability Experience” is an opportunity for members to help build camps for those less fortunate.
“I would never have the ability to do that if it weren”t for Pi Kappa Phi,” Coker said.
Coker and Kennedy both said that these opportunities are crucial to their college experience.
“To have the opportunity to go and help someone, regardless of your intention, changes someone”s life be it yours or the people you”re helping. A change happens,” Kennedy said.
Kennedy said he was able to put many negative things in his life behind him because Pi Kappa Phi taught him to be a better person.
“If you live your life to be a better person, you act like it, that”s going to get you farther in life,” Coker said.
Kevin Neighbors can be reached at [email protected]