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Phi Kap at UNC-Charlotte

The following is a written recollection of the beginning of Gamma Lambda, by Founding Father and Past Alpha, Reggie Alston. This is being reprinted from the Gamma Lambda Gazette Vol 8 No.2 (Fall 1994).

In January 1987, four friends got together to discuss starting a new fraternity at UNCC. These friends Eric Gay, John Young, Reggie Alston and Curtis Best, had all thought about joining a group but nothing they found at UNCC appealed to them. They decided to start a new group, a fraternity. They envisioned a group of men witha common bond and common goal. They wanted a group that could not be labeled or typed. After hours of discussion Gay, Young, Best, and Alston decided to talk to a few of their friends and see what they thought about becoming charter members of a new fraternity and the reaction was great. The guys that were contacted agreed that a fraternal organization would be the best way of forming a lifelong bond with their friends and serve as a great vehicle to start partying. After several interest meetings, the group chose the name Beta Sigma Lambda...The Group elected Reggie as President, Eric as Vice President, John as Secretary, and Curtis as Treasurer. Beta Sigma Lambda recieved their charter from SGA in february and then it was official. The fraternity was 14 members strong but they realized the group was small and needed to insure their ontinued presence at UNCC after they had graduated. Eric was selected to chair a National Search Committee to identify possible national fraternities to associate with. Eric was looking for a fraternity that did not push size over quality and that would have a hands-off approach in dealing with their chapters. Beta Sigma Lambda wanted to be their own fraternity and avoid turning into a cookie-cutter group as many of the other fraternities had become. The committee picked three national fraternities to interview: Phi Kappa Sigma, Alpha Xi Rho, and Delta Sigma Phi. In April, all three presented themselves to the Student Government Association, Interfraternity Council, and Beta Sigma Lambda. The Brothers of Beta Sigma Lambda decided upon Phi Kappa Sigma and promptly threw the president into the lake (with much rejoice). Then it was really official. Beta Sigma Lambda was now a colony of the national fraternity Phi Kappa Sigma. Now the biggest task was still at hand, to convert Beta Sigma Lambda into a Phi Kappa Sigma Chapter. The members undertook the challenge with veracity. All through the summer, brothers attended meetings, held fund raisers, and worked to increase membership. One of the brothers had a great idea: Phi Kap could work at the SOAR program in the summer to increase the freshmen's knowledge of the young fraternity. During SOAR, new freshmen were invited to get to know the brothers and Phi Kap held parties during each SOAR session. Afterward, welcome letters were sent out to all quality freshmen in attendance. In the beginning of the fall, the freshmen were contacted and invited to sporting events, meetings, and parties. All these events, planned by Eric Gay, lead into the first Fall Rush. Phi Kappa Sigma had over 30 guys that were becoming die hard Phi Kaps. They believed in Phi Kappa Sigma's ideals and understood the direction of the Brothers' work. They saw a small but tight group of men that had the direction and drive to become the best on campus. Eric organized and ran rush excellently. Phi Kappa sigma at 13 members, had the strongest rush turn out on campus. Phi Kap was long on its way in becoming the envy of other Greeks. Phi Kap sent out over 25 bids and 23 freshmen men took the challenge of becoming Skulls--they became the first pledge class, Alpha class. Alpha class was the fulfillment of a dream and the hope of the future. The Alpha class and the Brothers worked long and hard to forge the name Phi Kappa Sigma permanently into the infrastructure of the university. From Alpha Class rose great leaders, great motivators, and great partiers. Alpha Class suceeded, the challenge was met and the colony became the Gamma Lambda Chapter of Phi Kappa Sigma in December 1987. It is important for us all to remember what we were to know where we will go.