Fraternity finds new home

Pi Kappa Alpha takes over former FIJI house; remodeling to finish September

By Jillian Yalung
The Collegian

After being without an official fraternity house for almost a decade, the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity has a place to call home.

Last semester, the five-year suspension of the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity — better known as FIJI — was installed also revoked housing accommodations.

The Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity — also known as Pike — saw the vacancy as a gateway to a new beginning and decided to lease the property.

With a new start, they are having the entire complex renovated to bring it back up to code.

Pike’s fall 2006 President, Jeremy Wittman, shared the details on the extent of the renovations.

“They have remodeled the entire inside,” Wittman said. “They redid all of the bathrooms, appliances, floors and walls. As for the exterior, we have replaced the roof, are securing the perimeters with a fence and have reinforced the once-wobbly upstairs balcony. The entire remodel should be done by September 1st.”

The fraternity hopes to have an official ribbon cutting ceremony soon after the remodeling is completed.

With the move to the new house and the renovations being made, Pike’s President and Vice President Jeff Tillquist believe that their fraternity, as well as the Greek system, will benefit tremendously.

Wittman said, “It will bring a new face to the Greek system.”

Some of the benefits that the leaders of the fraternity hope to see are an increase in pledges and participation in their annual philanthropy event and a sense of unity within all of the fraternities.

Tillquist also hopes to spread their fraternity motto “SLAG” across the campus.

“SLAG is the motto that we live by,” Tillquist said. “Scholars, leaders, athletes and most importantly, gentlemen.”

With the limelight on the fraternity due to the move, Pike hopes to enlighten students and skeptics that fraternity men are gentlemen and show them what fraternities are really all about.

Learning from the death of former Fresno State student Danny Daniels, Jr., Wittman and Tillquist plan to ensure the safety of all brothers and guests while they are on Pike property.

Daniels, 19, was at the house Jan. 7 and found dead the next day. An autopsy confirmed he died of alcohol poisoning. The Division of Student Affairs suspended Phi Gamma Delta for five years as a result of the alcohol-related incidents that violated the university’s policy.

The Fresno State Alcohol Policy states, “The University disapproves of alcohol abuse, intoxication, and any resulting unacceptable conduct. While the moderate consumption of alcohol may be an acceptable part of certain social activities, alcohol abuse conflicts significantly with the mission and values of the University.”

Though tragedy is the memory of the house for now, with the goals that this fraternity has set for themselves, they hope for it to soon become a house remembered for its unity and brotherhood.

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