The Triangle

Issue date: 2/15/08 Section: News

Media Credit: File Photo-The Triangle After losing recognition in February of 2004, Alpha Pi Lambda has returned to campus.

After an 18-month suspension, the Alpha Pi Lambda fraternity has been reinstated on Drexel's campus and has begun its spring rush for this year's pledge class.

The fraternity lost recognition at Drexel in February 2004 due to several violations of University policy.

Alumni Association for Alpha Pi Lambda President David Kaganovsky said that after almost a year and a half of suspension, the fraternity is looking forward to making new progress.

According to Kaganovsky, the fraternity, along with the Alumni Association for Alpha Pi Lambda, put together a packet of information essentially outlining the core values of the fraternity, as well as a description of what the fraternity would be doing differently.

"It comes down to adherence to the rules that already existed, and providing oversight," Kaganovsky said. "As the alumni corporation, we're taking a much more active role in providing mentoring and guidance, and we are also emphasizing importance of adhering to the rules, large and small. There's no small rule - today it's grades and tomorrow it's hazing."

The Alumni Association will also be conducting a semi-annual review of all the fraternity brothers, during which the alumni will sit down to find out "who they are, what their values are, and if they match the core values of the fraternity," according to Kaganovsky.

Patrick Ward, current fraternity president, said that the executive board will continue to keep in constant contact with the fraternity.

"We talk through e-mail and phone, and have monthly alumni meetings. It's a very active role, and different from how we've previously run the fraternity," Ward said.

According to Kaganovsky, this is the first class initiated back as a fraternity since the May 2006 suspensions. All the members of the previous fraternity who had not graduated were not allowed to re-join, but upon graduation will be permitted to join as alumni.

Ward said that the fraternity is focused on ensuring that there are no repeat incidents or violations of University policy.

"To make sure that nothing of what happened happens again, with each rush and pledge class that comes through, we're going to monitor them to make sure they're not bad seeds," Ward said. "We don't distribute bids to people who just want to party. We want active students who mesh with us. We're just making sure we don't bring in any bad seeds that could bloom into a problem."

According to Ward, a "big part of making sure everything's going smoothly is the alumni actively advising and keeping [the fraternity] on track."

Ward said that the fraternity is looking forward to a variety of new projects, including the rush events that have been taking place all week.

"Right now, our focus is mainly on rush for the next week or so, and we're also looking into a lot of community service projects," Ward said.

Kaganovsky added that the fraternity members were all working to get ahead academically.

"I believe that's the first responsibility they have to themselves and each other - to graduate, get good jobs, and be productive members of society," Kaganovsky said.

The house, on 33rd Street and Powelton Avenue, will be reopened fall 2008, at which point the fraternity will be allowed to move back in.

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