Interfraternity Council
Andrew Brugman
President, Delta Chi
Vice President of Programming, Interfraternity Council
Q: Why did you join a fraternity?
A: I joined my fraternity for a number of reasons, the biggest of which being the brotherhood and community I felt throughout all of the events and dinners I attended at my chapter during my freshman year. I had never experienced the kind of bond I saw in the brothers throughout fall quarter and having that close-knit, community-based feeling was a characteristic that was especially important to me. I came to Northwestern convinced that Greek life wasn’t for me, but seeing these positive interactions and the way in which they created such an incredible community within my chapter convinced me otherwise. As I learned more about not just my fraternity, but the Greek community as a whole, I realized that this strong community feeling extended throughout all of the chapters on campus and, thus, my decision was made.
Q: What keeps you committed to the Fraternity and Sorority Community?
A: The incredible people involved in the Northwestern Greek community keep me committed to and involved in it. I’ve met some of my best friends through fraternity and sorority functions and events and, as cliché as it sounds, I’ve learned an unbelievable amount about myself and others simply by actively participating in Greek life. The people I’ve met and worked with as a result of being Greek represent incredibly diverse backgrounds and experiences and the understanding I’ve gained has honestly made my experience being Greek one of the best I’ve ever had. I would have never imagined these connections upon choosing to go Greek but, now that I’ve experienced making them, I would never trade them for anything. These friendships and professional relationships, as well as the incredible opportunities they offer are, in my opinion, the most incredible part about Greek life at Northwestern and the major driving force behind my continued commitment to the fraternity and sorority community.
Q: What is your favorite memory of Fraternity and Sorority life?
A: My favorite memory in my fraternity actually happened away from Northwestern’s campus at a new presidents’ conference for the 120 different chapters of my fraternity. I was sitting in a room full of other newly elected presidents from chapters so incredibly different from my own and was sure that, because we seemingly had nothing in common, the next four days would be incredibly awkward. This assumption couldn’t have been farther from the truth. Though we were all very different, the bond of being a Delta Chi provided the forum to engage all of us in meaningful conversations and, consequently, meaningful friendships throughout the four days. It was incredible to me to see that this simple bond was enough to unite a group of men who otherwise may have never gotten to know each other. While I have countless other amazing memories of fraternity life, this, for me, stands out as the moment in which I realized just how strong the bond of being a Delta Chi, or any other chapter, can be.
Q: Any advice for potential members?
A: My biggest piece of advice to anybody considering joining a fraternity or sorority is to keep a completely open mind when going through the process. Don’t rule out or set yourself on Greek life as a whole or even certain chapters based upon what you've heard from other people; get out and experience all of it for yourself before you make your decision! You have to make your decision based upon what’s right for you and, in order to make the best judgment, you should definitely consider all aspects of fraternity and sorority life as compared to what you believe is important.