The UConn Kappa Sigma Effect

Hey friends, it’s Anthony,

One of my biggest concerns when entering the University of Connecticut was, how am I going to build new relationships?  Back at home, my closest group of pals had been in my life since middle school, and even elementary school.  Now I was placed in an environment that I didn’t have those people to lean on or my family.  My freshman year roommate, Joe, was also from Long Island and we met at UConn’s Orientation.  He was always talking about how his cousin Mark was involved with a fraternity on campus, Kappa Sigma.  My choice to go out and rush KE will forever be one of the best decisions I have ever made.

Normally when the word fraternity is mentioned, people reference the movies Old School and Animal House.  However, the word fraternity means, “A body of people associated for a common purpose or interest.”  The Kappa Sigma Fraternity is based on four main pillars: fellowship, leadership, scholarship, and service.  Fellowship is achieved by building camaraderie amongst everyone in the Chapter.  We also aim to create an environment where members are able to take charge and develop leadership qualities.  Since we are at the University primarily to get an education, you will not be able to fulfill your duties as a brother if you ignore your academics. Lastly, we are required to complete a certain number of community service hours each semester, because we would like everybody to feel as fortunate as we are to be attending UConn.  I have tried to epitomize those four pillars every day since my initiation.

Kappa Sigma has made a positive impact on my life.  The ideals of the fraternity, as well as the brothers who are a part of it have shaped the person I am today.  I take tremendous pride in my fraternity, therefore I want to see it become something better than it already is.  For the upcoming fall semester, I will be serving as chairmen of rush.  Not only is this a prestigious position amongst my fellow brothers, but it is extremely important to the development and future of our organization.  It is my job to analyze the character of “rushes,” which are potential new members, and decide whether or not these people are capable of improving our organization.  It’s a difficult job because there are so many contributing factors I have to uncover about this person.  Our goal as a chapter is to select only those who we feel are able to be potential leaders within our fraternity, our university, and our world as a whole.

Another project that is currently in progress is our Field of Dreams initiative.  By teaming up with the Delta Gamma Sorority, the national non-profit organization KaBOOM, as well as community organizers, our goal is to build a playground for kids in one of UConn’s surrounding communities.  Not only does a playground provide fun for whoever uses it, but the exercise and social skills you learn while playing on a playground as a kid will be beneficial in the future.  We hope to have this project completed by the second week of April 2013.

When I look back to the person I was before I was involved with Kappa Sigma, I think I’ve grown considerably.  Every single day I think being a Kappa Sigma brother was a great decision.  I am so much more involved in activities that not only benefit me, but benefit others as well.  It has also made me realize how fortunate I am to attend a university as great as UConn.  I hope that one day my Kappa Sigma experiences will be transferable in my career, but the ideals the fraternity has instilled in me will always be transferable in life.