Nationals and the Pikes


Nationals and growth Expansion


The emergence of a national fraternity Pi Kappa Alpha has led to great consternation among some alumni and students. When two student groups approached the University about forming new organizations, the leaders were asked -- or told -- to combine their interests into one new organization and to consider a new model. A national organization was born. The details of how this evolved continue to be contested. For some alumni, this new organization represented a breach of an unofficial agreement or understanding that the University would not introduce national organizations into the Greek program at Trinity. To many, it signaled a change that would drastically alter the landscape of student life. Concerns linger that a national organization has an unfair resource advantage.


Students and alumni can be reassured that there is no plan to change to a national system and never was. The members of the national organization are still Trinity University students. They have brought a new way of operating into the Greek community, but the membership in other organizations remains steady. At worst, the national organization models what Greek standards look like across the nation. At best, the organization will lead others to shed complacency in terms of recruitment, operations, and quality.


The staff at Trinity has been approached by multiple national organizations wishing to add chapters at Trinity University. The ad hoc Greek Advisory Board from 2009 examined the impact of national organizations and future directions. Though the report leaves open the possibility of adding national organizations, the alumni have been heard and there are no plans or desires to add national organizations. Most likely, any such move would have to be student and alumni initiated and broadly supported.


The Greek system at Trinity is successful, in part, because it provides a way for students interested in Greek life to participate without the Greek system dominating the campus social scene. Just over a quarter of students join organizations and the local system isn’t as rigorous as the national system in terms of dues and obligations.


While the report Greek Advisory Board report does not discourage expansion, there are no plans to expand the system at the present time. Trinity University’s priority is strengthening the current system and its member organizations. As a result, there are no plans to re- instate organizations that have dissolved.


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