Interfraternity Council votes on Sig Eps’ membership
IFC status comes three years after arrival on campus

By Julie Ann Matonis
Staff Reporter

Interfraternity Council members voted unanimously Monday evening to grant the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity full membership to the council.

The Sig Eps previously held associate member status. Now as full members of the IFC, the Sig Eps are able to vote on IFC bylaws, budgets and officers and enjoy the same rights and privileges as every fraternity.

Kevin Dobski, IFC vice president, said he hopes the addition of the Sig Eps will have a positive impact on the council.

“We now have 10 voting fraternities which will matter when voting on new issues,” Dobski said. “The Sig Eps are now on the same level and have an equal voice. Hopefully, they will have a big impact on the IFC.”

There is now the possibility that IFC votes will result in a tie.

The Sig Eps have been on the TCU campus since 1997. They received their national charter Jan. 22, 2000, but never had full membership status in the IFC. Austin Dickson, Sig Ep president, said beginning in the fall of 2000, the Sig Eps were given three semesters to fulfill IFC requirements.

At Monday’s meeting, IFC voted by secret ballot with each fraternity chapter getting one vote.

Kyle Gore, IFC president, said he was not surprised by the unanimous vote.

“There was no discussion,” Gore said. “It was quick and easy. The Sig Eps put a lot of effort into their presentation last week.”

During the presentation Dickson and Matt Singer, Sig Ep vice president of communication, gave bound documents to representatives from each fraternity that highlighted Sig Ep compliance with IFC stipulations for full membership. Requirements included raising the chapter GPA and participating in philanthropy events. Singer said the document also contained a letter on behalf of the chapter saying the Sig Eps would appreciate support.

Singer said there was no guarantee that the Sig Eps would receive full membership from IFC, but now that they have, they will try to contribute.

“We’re grateful it went our way,” Singer said. “Now we have active input and can affect changes.”

Eric Lammers, a senior history major and Sig Ep member since 1997, said their new status on the IFC helps cement their position in the Greek community.

“We’ll stick to our core values to set an example as leaders,” Lammers said. “Most importantly, we get the respect we deserve as a fraternity.”

Julie Ann Matonis
j.a.matonis@student.tcu.edu