When Ryan Russell approached the lectern at the student trustee candidate forum last year, he was confident he had supporters in the audience.

“I probably had about 30 Sigma Pi guys there supporting me,” Russell said. “There’s no feeling like knowing you’ve got a group that is going to go out there and support you and be there for you.”

On election day, Russell’s fraternity brothers showed their commitment by wearing “Vote for Ryan Russell” T-shirts and pins, helping him walk around the Quad to encourage people to vote for him. 

Last fall, over 2,100 Illinois State University students—about 10% of the student body—were involved in 42 fraternities and sororities focused on building engagement and a sense of community and promoting academic achievement and leadership development. 

Russell, an active member of Sigma Pi, is just one of those students. 

“I’ve met a lot of really good people, lifelong friends, and lifelong mentors,” Russell said. “It was the first organization I joined at ISU, and it’s the best decision I’ve ever made.”

Russell has held various leadership roles in Sigma Pi. He also serves as president of the Interfraternity Council, is a member of the honors organization Order of Omega, and serves as treasurer of Alpha Kappa Psi, a professional business organization. He was additionally a student life senator in the Student Government Association and president of Business Week.

“I wouldn’t be able to do some of the things I’m doing now if it wasn’t for joining Sigma Pi,” Russell said.

Perhaps most notably, Russell serves as the student trustee on the Board of Trustees, giving students a voice in the overall direction of the University. Russell credits his fraternity brothers for their crucial support during his successful campaign for the role. 

Illinois State fraternity and sorority members have plenty of fun through involvement in their organizations, but Assistant Vice President and Dean of Students Andy Morgan dispelled the common perception that fraternities and sororities serve only as social clubs.

“I am incredibly proud of our Illinois State University sorority and fraternity community for consistently achieving strong academic performance, leading to higher retention and graduation rates compared to the university average,” Dr. Morgan said.

Joining a social fraternity or sorority offers more than just personal growth and networking opportunities; it also provides a chance to give back to the community and make a positive impact. Last year, the fraternity and sorority community raised $250,819 for philanthropy, according to Morgan.

Senior dance education major Dyana Davis, president of Alpha Kappa Alpha—one of Illinois State’s nine organizations coordinated by the National Pan-Hellenic Council for historically African American Greek-lettered fraternities and sororities known as the “Divine Nine”—organized a food drive last October for Oakdale Elementary, a school in Normal serving primarily low-income students. The sorority continues to support Oakdale families.

“One of my proudest achievements is our partnership with Oakdale Elementary through our Childhood Hunger Initiative Power Pack,” Davis said. “This program provides weekend and holiday meals for children, supporting 11 families every Friday.”

Like Russell, Davis formed connections in her sorority that will last beyond her tenure at Illinois State.

“The lifelong connections I’ve made and the impact we’ve created together are testaments to the power of unity and service,” Davis said.

“Lifelong” is a word used by many to describe the relationships and values they have formed through their involvement in Fraternity and Sorority Life. 

“You get to surround yourself with a group of like-minded people who end up becoming some of your best friends,” Russell said.