From Military Man to Fraternity Man

A reflection by National Councilor Michael French, Kent State ’88

My Journey to Phi Kappa Tau began in the Military. As a junior in High School, I was planning on going to college and was looking for help to pay for school, and at the time, the Ohio Army National Guard was offering free tuition to any state school. To add to my decision to join the Military, some of the Eagle Scouts from my Troop (who I later found out were also Phi Tau’s) were joining the Guard for the same reason.

Shortly after my 17th birthday, I enlisted in 838th MP Company stationed in Austintown, OH. I went to Basic Training in the summer between my Junior and Senior year in high school. After I came back and decided to attend Kent State, multiple members in my platoon said they were Phi Tau’s at either Kent or Youngstown State and started to point out other members of my unit who were also Phi Tau’s who would help me once it got to Kent.

French with the Beta Mu chapter

Once I graduated from High School and went to MP Training that summer, I started my freshman year at Kent State. The floor of my dorm had several members of the restart of the Beta Mu chapter after a 20-year absence from campus. They had just formed the year before and needed members and asked me to come to a meeting. If you knew me in high school, I was not the type of person who would join a fraternity. I did not go through a formal rush or ever remember receiving a bid. I just kept walking through life with a group of men who seemed to be going in the same direction that I was going.

Our chapter had many members in the Military in different capacities, Ohio National Guard, Marine Reserve, Army Reserve, Air Force ROTC, or Army ROTC. When our chapter was planning our calendar, who had Drill on which weekend was always a consideration. In 1989, my journey in the Military and Phi Tau continued to intertwine. My brothers helped me with classes in January while I went to Alaska for two weeks when my unit had training.

French with chapter brothers in New Orleans

In March, Beta Mu signed our charter, and in the summer, a group of us drove down to New Orleans for our first National Convention. Then in 1990, the world started to change for my brothers and me. In June 1990, my unit got called to service to support the cleanup of the flash flood at Shadyside, Ohio, one of the deadliest that Ohio had ever seen. Then in August, while I was at Sergeant’s school, some guy we had never heard of invaded someplace halfway across the globe. Saddam Hussein had invaded Kuwait, and overnight our training took a serious turn.

At the start of the fall semester of my senior year at Kent, my brothers and I started to deal with the new reality that many of us would receive orders to support Operation Desert Shield. By the end of 1990, Beta Mu had over half of its membership on active duty, far more than any other fraternity on campus. The brothers who were not part of the Military kept the chapter going and supported the wives and girlfriends that we left behind.

French in Alaska, Fort Wainwright

For those of us deployed to Saudi Arabia, we sought each other out, and if a Phi Tau were near, we would visit if only for a few minutes. It helped us feel a little more connected to the outside world. Upon returning home, the brothers at Beta Mu had kept everything running and even grew the chapter, and it made transitioning back to being a college student a little easier. Then in 1992, I graduated from Kent State and concluded my service in the National Guard. My time as an Undergraduate and my time in the Military will always remain intertwined.

Phi Tau instills a sense of giving back, and it is just part of what makes us brothers. Although I had volunteered in other organizations, I was not a particularly involved alumnus until I was asked to be the Southeast Domain Director in 2011 to support our chapters at Auburn, Georgia Tech, and Georgia. This opportunity began my service to Phi Tau at the national level. In 2018 at the National Convention in Cleveland, I was elected to the National Council. My time on the Council has reinforced my firm belief that our volunteers are the lifeblood of our organization.

Spring Recruitment Should Start in November

An op-ed by By Taylor Johnson, Auburn ’15 - National Recruitment Advisor 

Beta Omicron Chapter at University of Maryland welcoming in their new members.

All the numbers from our chapters fall recruitment efforts are coming in.  We are mid-semester now and recruitment is largely over except for our chapters on deferred recruitment. If you’re going to grow, you must not depend on formal recruitment. Repeat it softly – “Do not depend on formal recruitment”. 

Formal recruitment primarily consists of the final moments in which students make their ultimate decision, meaning the relationships and recruitment should have already occurred, this just finalizes it. Whether you had a good recruitment or want to improve, there is a way to get more potential new members (PNMs) before the semester ends. But it takes a change in mindset and planning. As others and myself have often stated, a great recruitment success lifts all areas of a chapter’s operations; it’s the lifeblood of the operation.

Start with your existing associates, whether you have 8, 10, or 25 – they are your best asset; the lead generator. Ask and empower them to “make friends” with other guys in their class or other student organizations or even in intramural games. Get them to invite PNMs over to their apartment or dorm or wherever it is you hang out. If you serve lunch or dinner at your house—invite them. Be sure to introduce them to everyone.

Brothers from Epsilon Sigma Chapter at Chapman attending a Pumpkin Carving Event. Existing social events are a great way to bring new people around.

Use your existing social events as recruitment events. Also, utilize already scheduled university events and go there. Wear your letters. Strike up a conversation with some guys. Again, just make friends with your fellow students. Doing a philanthropy fundraiser? Get PNMs contact information or Instagram accounts and invite them. Having a cookout or playing basketball in the backyard? Invite them. Going bowling or shooting clays? Invite them. Provide an incentive for your brothers on current associate class members to bring a PNM. 

As you can see, these are things you are probably doing anyways. But you must get in that recruitment mindset and make an organized effort to do it. Get the names and contact info.  Help direct your members into a plan of action; it all centers on a concrete plan. Start this week with your chapter meetings and your new member meetings. The concept here is to meet PNMs well before the “Formal Recruitment” week at the first of the spring semester. 

Before your final exams, or holiday break, let the PNMs—whom you like, know that you are interested in them and pre-close them before the semester ends and send them home with some information to run by the parents over the holidays. That way they are primed to accept a bid when they get back! Imagine coming back to school in January with 6, 10, or 15 guys ready to accept their bid. That’s a lot better than coming back to campus and starting with nothing and waiting upon formal recruitment to start. 

I have seen this work for many years at my own chapter. It works. You can do it too! 

I’m always here for you! A lot of times recruitment information is best conveyed personally, taking into account the unique circumstances of your individual location. For these reasons, I am always available for personal phone calls so that may provide you everything that you need! Please contact me at: tayloraustinjohnson@gmail.com

Allyn Shaw Joins Phi Kappa Tau National Council

Phi Kappa Tau is excited to welcome Allyn Shaw, Michigan State ‘85, as the newest member of the National Council.

Allyn has a wealth of experience with the Fraternity. He has held roles as National Education Advisor (2015-Present), Education Dean (2010-2015), and Domain Director (1988-2010). He has also served as a Foundation Awards Committee member, Foundation strategic planning committee member, and a nominations committee member. In 2008, Allyn was recognized as an Outstanding Domain Director.

Allyn is the Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs and Services at Michigan State University where he has worked since 2015 and previously from 1999-2004. He’s also held positions at the University of Tennessee Knoxville and the University of Richmond. Allyn holds a Ph.D., two master’s degrees, and his bachelor’s from Michigan State. His intense research is an asset to the school; he has published over 15 peer-reviewed papers since 2005. Allyn has been recognized with a series of awards for distinguished and innovative faculty members.

“To give back to the brotherhood and the fraternity is exciting as I have learned so much from the opportunities afforded me by being a Brother. Moving forward, I hope to contribute to the growth and success of the Fraternity,” Allyn said. Allyn’s education and experience in higher education will make him a valuable asset to the team. We are excited to have him on board.

Go Far!

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Eastern Kentucky and Delaware Successfully Charter

October has been a successful month not only for the growth of chapters through their recruitment efforts, but also for the chartering of two of our associate chapters.  

Delta Rho Founding Fathers

Delta Rho at Eastern Kentucky University chartered the weekend of October 16th. The group has been an associate chapter since the Fall of 2017 as a staff-led expansion effort. They have since grown and through the completion of the chartering metrics have become integral on Eastern Kentucky’s campus. Over the course of the weekend 36 men were initiated with the help of alumni and Executive Offices staff. A signing and reception of the charter followed.  

Alpha Gamma Founding Fathers

The following weekend of October 23rd the fraternity also recognized the graduation of Alpha Gamma at University of Delaware from associate chapter to full-fledged chapter. Taking place over the university’s homecoming weekend, alumni and Executive Offices staff were present to assist with initiations, welcoming an additional 34 men to the brotherhood with a sizable new member class to initiate later in the semester.  

Brother Aidan Bradley, Delaware ’21, previously featured in “Aidan Strong in Delaware”

Phi Kappa Tau welcomes these two new chapters and looks forward to the impact they will have on their campus and the world.  

Both of these new chapters are the results of the dedicated efforts of students with the assistance of professional Fraternity Staff leading on the ground expansion efforts. If you are aware of any campuses, you believe Phi Kappa Tau should be at visit phikappatau.org/join to refer a campus or member.   

Mississippi State Assists Local Animal Shelter

Alpha Chi chapter at Mississippi State University has been giving back to their community by volunteering with their local animal shelter. “I reached out to see if they needed any help and they responded with an astounding YES,” said Community Service Chair Corey Krumrey, Mississippi State ’20.

“We were able to help maintain and service the area and take care of the animals. We gave them walks, fresh food, and water, and had lots of fun with them,” he said. “We do it because we’re able to. I feel like a lot of people forget about the small things they can do positively to impact the community and volunteering at the animal shelter is one of them. The staff was very friendly and it’s a good time whenever we go.”

Go Far!

What’s your chapter doing to help your community? Let us know here.

Transylvania Alumnus Named to College Personnel Hall of Fame

Michael Covert, Transylvania ’88, has been nominated as an inductee into the College Personnel Association of Kentucky Hall of Fame.

Covert is the Vice President for Student Life and Dean of Students at Transylvania University. He will receive his recognition in Louisville this coming February.

Congratulations, Michael!

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Cory Stopka, Miami '13, Elected as Grand President of Delta Sigma Pi Business Fraternity

Cory Stopka, Miami ’13 (left) with Tyler Wash, Georgetown ’06 (right) at a Delta Sigma Pi Convention

Cory Stopka, Miami ’13, has been elected to the position of Grand President of the Delta Sigma Pi Professional Business Fraternity. Stopka previously worked on staff for the business fraternity which is also located in Oxford, Ohio. He forged close ties to staff members of Phi Kappa Tau during that time leading to his initiation into Alpha chapter in 2013. Phi Kappa Tau is incredibly proud to have a member reach one of the highest levels of service within the professional organization. 

“Delta Sigma Pi’s most prosperous days are ahead of us!” Stopka wrote when reached out for comment, “I’m excited to help and support our chapters and brothers through the remaining days of the pandemic to thrive for generations. We will continue to forge ahead and have a natural opportunity to learn from our past to continue to build momentum. We are implementing our new set of  strategic priorities and searching for our next Executive Director, among many other beneficial professional programming efforts to support all Deltasigs.”

Delta Sigma Pi has chartered at over 300 campuses and has nearly 300,000-lifetime initiates. The purpose of the business fraternity is to,  “foster the study of business in universities; to encourage scholarship, social activity and the association of students for their mutual advancement by research and practice; to promote closer affiliation between the commercial world and students of commerce, and to further a higher standard of commercial ethics and culture and the civic and commercial welfare of the community.”

Phi Kappa Tau looks forward to the great work Stopka will do for Delta Sigma Pi and the fraternity community. 

Stopka with Phi Kappa Tau staff members and friends.

Georgia Alumnus Recognized as Top Medical Researcher

Ryan Devine, Georgia ’14, has been recognized as one of the top young medical researchers in the country, according to the University of Georgia.

Devine’s work involves improving the safety and effectiveness of blood-contracting medical devices.

“Despite decades of research, blood clotting remains the most common cause of failure in blood-contracting medical devices such as hemodialysis machines,” said Devine in the feature. “By reverse-engineering the blood vessels within our body, our lab has shown significant improvement in the blood compatibility of the polymeric materials commonly used in these types of devices.”

Devine has made huge contributions in research during his time at UGA including nine published studies, four of which he is first-author. Devine has also published three patents based on his research – one of which has been awarded a provisional patent.

Devine’s dedication to his work was recognized by Baxter International’s Young Investigator Awards program. Devine is a recipient of the first-tier award – one of six in the country.

“I’m honored to be recognized for my work by Baxter, which is a world leader in blood-contacting medical device research,” Devine said. “In additional, I would like to thank the faculty, staff, and fellow students in the College of Engineering and College of Veterinary Medicine for all of the support and training during my undergraduate and graduate studies.”

Ryan will finish the requirements for his Ph.D. this spring.  

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A Memorial for James Royal

Over the summer the Zeta Xi chapter lost their brother, James Royal, South Carolina ’18, to suicide.

James’ death devastated his friends, family, and community. Local sports reporter Mike Uva created a shirt to honor James’ legacy, with all the proceeds going towards his memorial fund.

“The memorial fund is aimed towards those who are struggling with mental health,” shared his chapter brother Joey Murphy, South Carolina ’20. “The fund is aimed towards those who are struggling with mental health and helping to provide resources to those impacted by it.”

James’ parents are currently in the process of setting up the fund. You can view or purchase a shirt here.

If you or someone you know is struggling with suicide, reach out for help immediately. There are resources you can use at the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, the Suicide Prevention Resource Center, or the Suicide Prevention Lifeline (1-800-273-8255).

Aidan Strong in Delaware

Alpha Gamma chapter in their Aidan Strong shirts.

August 7th, Aidan Bradley, Delaware ’20, was hit by a train on campus.

Aidan is a senior and the son of alumnus Christopher Bradley, Delaware ’94. Over the summer, Aidan was walking home by the train tracks and was struck by a train passing through campus.

As a result, Aidan lost his right arm and right leg. After multiple surgeries, he is recovering, though there is a long road ahead. Details of the accident are unclear, as much of Aidan’s memory of the night was lost to injury trauma.

The Alpha Gamma chapter has been working closely with other groups on campus to provide Aidan with financial support during his recovery. The chapter reports that Aidan is handling the injury well and thriving in physical therapy. The family coined the phrase “Aidan Strong” due to his “incredibly” positive attitude.

We wish Aidan all the best in his recovery, and our thoughts are with the chapter and his family through this difficult time.

If you are able, the family is collecting donations here.