Members of UNM's Greek system say the University's nine fraternities and four sororities offer a wealth of opportunities for students - from community service and personal development to simply a place to hang out and make new friends.
"For me, it's family," Chi Omega member Jena Marquez said. "I'm not from Albuquerque, and I found a home here right away. That's what a lot of college students are looking for."
The 65-member sorority aims to develop students socially, academically and professionally, she said. Chi Omega participates in a range of philanthropic activities, from fundraising for the Make-a-Wish Foundation - the main beneficiary of community service from Chi Omega's national organization - to helping support Special Olympics and area soup kitchens. The organization also sponsors several social events, and for the last three semesters has boasted the highest GPA of the four sororities, Marquez said.
Kappa Kappa Gamma president Adrienne Betzen said her sorority also put a lot of effort into philanthropy and academia. She said the sorority regularly participated in the Albuquerque AIDS Walk, the Muscular Dystrophy Bowl-a-thon, the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta and other events. Every fall, the group opens up its doors to underprivileged children for "Owloween," named after one of the sorority's symbols.
She said the advantages of pledging a sorority would reverberate long after graduation.
"It's a very beneficial experience - something you carry with you for the rest of your life," she said. "You have a bond with people all over the country."
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Alpha Chi Omega member Heidi Livermore said joining a women's fraternity was a great way to get involved at UNM.
Her sorority's 60 members racked up 800 hours of community service last semester, including work raising money to fight cystic fibrosis, and collecting $8,000 for the Albuquerque Retarded Citizens Organizations and the Albuquerque Women's Resource Center, she said. Besides social events with fraternities and other sororities, Alpha Chi Omega puts on an Easter egg hunt for children each year at the Duck Pond.
Representatives from UNM's fourth sorority, Pi Beta Phi, did not return several Daily Lobo calls.
UNM's range of fraternities offer a variety of missions, though most focus on community service and socializing.
"When I came to UNM, I was playing sports in high school, and this was a great way to meet people like that and get involved," Sigma Alpha Epsilon president Chris Moulton said. "It was a great way to meet a lot of friends."
He said his fraternity was founded to promote brotherhood and community service. Philanthropic events include an annual pumpkin-carving event, where children are invited to trick-or-treat on Greek Row, maintenance of an adopted stretch of highway and fund raising. The 30-man chapter is what is called in UNM Greek parlance a "wet" house - that is, members may serve alcohol to others of legal age during parties. The group throws several social events per year, including a large formal held in a local hotel once per semester.
Sigma Phi Epsilon spokesman said his fraternity divided its attention between community service and socializing.
"We try to stress a sound mind and sound body - academic and physical well-being," he said, adding that Sigma Phi Epsilon participated in several intra-fraternity sports activities.
"We take intramurals really seriously," he said.
The 55-member group's philanthropy includes inviting sororities to compete to gather the most canned food for Roadrunner Food Bank, participating in Greek Sing and fundraising for the AIDS Foundation and UNM Children's Hospital. The wet fraternity's social events range from formals held around the state to attending theater events.
Chavez added that Sigma Phi Epsilon's no-hazing policy set it apart from other Greek houses.
"We try to build more of a friendship instead of something where new members are scared of us," he said. "We want them to be comfortable."
Pi Kappa Alpha president Dave Brummet said his organization could be considered an athletic fraternity.
"A lot of our members play sports at UNM - we're a big athletic house," he said.
The group's mission statement outlines its mission to develop men as "students, leaders, athletes and gentlemen." The group puts on a variety of philanthropic events each year, including Pike's Peak, a benefit for Carrie Tingley Children's Hospital, and social events in its wet house.
Though Pi Kappa Alpha's residence house is currently undergoing extensive renovation, the group also boasts the Estufa - an oddly shaped 90-year-old chapter-house at the corner of University and Martin Luther King Boulevards. Despite various attempts by others to get in over the years, the fraternity claims that no outsider has ever seen its interior, and it is one of only two buildings in the world into which no woman has ever entered.
Those looking for more activism and community service might try Lambda Theta Phi. In the last few years, this organization has participated in such activities as helping candidates run campaigns, raising funds for community centers, and mentoring in schools. Last semester, Lambda Theta Phi raised $5,000 for the Southeast Community center.
"We're careful not to duplicate other groups," president Javier Martinez said.
On Feb. 20, the Albuquerque City Council will pass a resolution honoring the 25-member group for community service, Martinez said.
"Yeah, we get the girls, we do the partying, but if you want to become a more productive member of society, we're the organization for you," Martinez said.
Lambda Chi Alpha former vice president James Leeder says his fraternity is unique in that there are no pledges - only what he calls associate members. Associates are not treated as less than active members, and they are allowed to participate in voting, meetings, and hold offices, he said. After a semester, each goes through an initiation to become a full member of the 19-man fraternity. He said the fraternity held a number of community service events each year to benefit various organizations like Carrie Tingley Hospital, but no social events this semester because of a suspension. Normally, he said, the fraternity was "75 percent dry" - forbidding alcohol during the week.
"They can study on a Tuesday night without music blaring," he said.
Kappa Sigma former president Bryan Colton said he joined his fraternity because of its record for community service and its members' relationships with alumni.
"They tell us about their careers, how being Greek has helped them," he said.
The 45-member fraternity puts on a variety of annual events, including alcohol server training classes, leadership and scholarship workshops.
Omega Delta Phi president Terrance Gallegos said his relatively new fraternity was primarily aimed at service. The fraternity has been on campus for two years and became an official chapter this summer.
Philanthropic events include work with the Ronald McDonald House, Habitat for Humanity and Joy Junction.
"Our motto is 'one culture, any race' - we just want quality brothers," Gallegos said. "We're more interested in getting two guys that really help than seven or eight who don't really want to do anything."
Matt Ruybal, a spokesman for Phi Delta Theta, said the fraternity, one of two dry houses on campus, is one of the few in the nation to give scholarships to its members based on grades - up to $800 per semester for maintaining a 3.0 GPA.
The organization participates in a host of community service projects, from gathering clothing donations to participating in the annual Zoo Boo Halloween event.
UNM's other dry house, Phi Gamma Delta, cites its secrecy as its claim to fame.
"We're the most secretive fraternity on campus," former president Raul Zubiate said, after estimating the group's new membership as one.
Phi Gamma Delta, also known as FIJI, participates in a range of community service activities throughout the year, including volunteering at food shelters, fund-raising for Carrie Tingley hospital and participating in the annual Easter egg hunt at the Duck Pond, which raises money for a variety of charities.
"If you're looking to meet new people, this is one of the most diverse houses on campus," Zubiate said. "You can always find yourself in this fraternity, it's easy to make a friend."
