2008 Woodie Awards
Fraternity Alpha Phi Omega attempts to gain recognition
Tara Morrill
Issue date: 3/4/04 Section: News
- Page 1 of 2 next >
It's not everyday that a group of individuals are as eager and dedicated to starting a new fraternity at Marist as the students and advisors of Alpha Phi Omega are right now.
Alpha Phi Omega (APO) is a national, co-educational, service-based fraternity. APO's essential mission is to help members develop leadership skills, make lasting friendships and provide service to others.
The fraternity has hundreds of chapters at colleges and universities across the nation and prides itself on being the most representative undergraduate intercollegiate organization in the United States. Since APO places such an emphasis on leadership and service, alumni include former Presidents John F. Kennedy and Bill Clinton.
Matt Osborne, a graduate student in computer science and software development, always had the idea of starting an APO chapter at Marist in the back of his mind.
"I am a brother of Alpha since I pledged as an undergraduate at SUNY Plattsburgh in the fall of 1997 and I believe strongly in its [APO] principles. Once I found out that another graduate student was a brother, the idea had become pretty much cemented," Osborne said.
Osborne also said that having an APO chapter here on campus would pass on the joy of doing community service to other Marist students.
Yet, APO is in the process of becoming an officially recognized fraternity at which includes a series of steps.
According to Osborne, the fraternity must draft a copy of the bylaws, have a minimum of 10 interested undergraduate students, and a faculty advisor, in order for Student Government to give APO an initial vote of confidence.
If Student Government approves the fraternity, it will then move on to Student Senate, who have the final say in whether or not Marist will officially recognize APO.
Christine Rossman, another brother and Section 88 Extension Committee member, feels that due to the lengthy process of obtaining recognition, APO will not have a chance to become an official Marist fraternity any earlier than Sept. 2004.
Alpha Phi Omega (APO) is a national, co-educational, service-based fraternity. APO's essential mission is to help members develop leadership skills, make lasting friendships and provide service to others.
The fraternity has hundreds of chapters at colleges and universities across the nation and prides itself on being the most representative undergraduate intercollegiate organization in the United States. Since APO places such an emphasis on leadership and service, alumni include former Presidents John F. Kennedy and Bill Clinton.
Matt Osborne, a graduate student in computer science and software development, always had the idea of starting an APO chapter at Marist in the back of his mind.
"I am a brother of Alpha since I pledged as an undergraduate at SUNY Plattsburgh in the fall of 1997 and I believe strongly in its [APO] principles. Once I found out that another graduate student was a brother, the idea had become pretty much cemented," Osborne said.
Osborne also said that having an APO chapter here on campus would pass on the joy of doing community service to other Marist students.
Yet, APO is in the process of becoming an officially recognized fraternity at which includes a series of steps.
According to Osborne, the fraternity must draft a copy of the bylaws, have a minimum of 10 interested undergraduate students, and a faculty advisor, in order for Student Government to give APO an initial vote of confidence.
If Student Government approves the fraternity, it will then move on to Student Senate, who have the final say in whether or not Marist will officially recognize APO.
Christine Rossman, another brother and Section 88 Extension Committee member, feels that due to the lengthy process of obtaining recognition, APO will not have a chance to become an official Marist fraternity any earlier than Sept. 2004.