Four greek chapters joined forces to make their spirituality part of the ISU greek community with a special program geared toward the needs of fraternity and sorority members.

Last spring, a group of students from Farmhouse, Pi Beta Phi, Gamma Phi Beta and Alpha Sigma Phi fraternities and sororities came together to form Alpha Omega, a Christian non-denominational religious organization for the greek community.

“Evangelism is not typically geared toward the greek community,” said Tyson Stichka, member of Farmhouse, 311 Ash Ave. “A few of us came together and wanted to connect with others in the greek system.”

Greeks face different challenges than those living in the dorms or off campus. They wanted to start a group that would target the greek system and the difficulties that they deal with, said Alyssa Armbrecht, member of Pi Beta Phi, 208 Ash Ave.

The greek community makes up only 13 percent of the entire campus population, but greeks are in charge of 80 percent of the leadership positions at Iowa State, said Armbrecht, senior in food science.

Having this responsibility makes the greek community very influential, and Alpha Omega members hope the program will help recruit more members from each fraternity or sorority house, she said.

Previously, Alpha Omega met every other Thursday at 8 p.m. Each meeting was hosted by a different fraternity or sorority house. When Alpha Omega was in the early stages, it was very successful, said Stichka, senior in electrical engineering. Due to the lack of attendance, members are in the process of restructuring, he said.

“As people get busier, they have to pick and chose what they will continue [to be involved in],” Armbrecht said. “Alpha Omega is something some decided not to stick with.”

At a meeting last Friday, Alpha Omega discussed its next plan of action to battle the low turnout. In order to raise its numbers, Alpha Omega will focus on smaller Bible studies, Armbrecht said. Five fraternities and five sororities will have a Bible study at their houses. A monthly meeting will be held to evaluate the process and attendance, she said.

The organization typically is for greek students, but Alpha Omega is not intending to segregate the greek system from other groups, Armbrecht said. The greek community is a close-knit group, and it is focusing on encouraging discussions about God from within the greek system, she said.

“We wouldn’t be offended if [non-greek students] came, but we’re just kind of catered to the greek system,” Stichka said.

For more information, students may contact Armbrecht at [email protected] or Joel Cardo at [email protected].