Members of Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity are learning more than reading, writing and arithmetic during their time at Iowa State. They’re also learning how to communicate with one of their newest members.Matt Ressler, freshman in pre-architecture, joined as the first member of the ISU greek system to have a hearing impairment, said Ryan Millsap, freshman in philosophy and one of Ressler’s roommates at Lambda Chi Alpha, 203 Ash Ave.Ressler, who joined in November, is also the first deaf member in any chapter of the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity nationwide, he said.In an interview on Microsoft Network Instant Messenger Service, Ressler said some of the members are learning basic sign language, especially his roommate Justin Hines, sophomore in biochemistry.”Justin is the one who’s learning fast. I’m still teaching [the members] signs, and they like to learn the bad ones, which isn’t good,” he said.The move from the dorms to the fraternity has been positive, Ressler said.”I’m a people person. I like being around people, and the people like being around me,” he said. “I lived at Friley [Hall]. It wasn’t that fun living at the dorms. I liked being in a place where I know everyone.”Millsap said he’s having a good time getting to know Ressler better, and living with someone with a hearing impairment is “no big deal.””I can actually talk to him,” he said. “He can read lips. Everybody wants to come in and talk to him. We have a note pad.”Millsap said the “best conversation” he’s had with Ressler, however, did not involve sign language or lip-reading but rather his computer.”We were using [AOL] Instant Messenger, and he sits right next to me,” he said.Millsap said Ressler is also aware of things going on in the house.”He knows when there’s a party going on,” he said. “He can feel the vibrations, and he’ll bob his head.” Brian Nash, senior in mechanical engineering, said he got to know Ressler “pretty well” when he served as rush chair during fraternity recruitment last semester.”He’s got a great physical sense of humor,” Nash said. “He’s a really funny guy.”Nash said members of the fraternity began preparing to have a deaf member during the first semester. Brian Tenclinger, director of greek affairs and assistant dean of students, gave a seminar in American Sign Language for the members. Nash said they learned basics, such as boy, girl, run, jump and how to sign Lambda Chi Alpha.Millsap said Tenclinger, who minored in sign language during college, also talked about Ressler’s special needs, like an alarm clock that vibrates instead of giving off noise.Nash said the seminar was a positive experience.”I think [Ressler] saw it as an effort to get to know him better,” Nash said.Millsap said the house itself is undergoing a few technical changes. Strobe lights are being added to the fire alarm in Ressler’s room, and locks are being added to bathroom doors. Millsap also said chapter meetings are now conducted using a laptop because the house “doesn’t have anybody who knows sign language well enough.”Even with the technical alterations, Millsap said Ressler’s presence “hasn’t impacted the house in a huge way.”Ressler agreed.”It’s like having a new person living in the house,” he said. “It’s no big difference to have a deaf person to join a fraternity.”Matt Ostanik, Government of the Study Body senator for Interfraternity Council, said the assimilation process for Ressler shows the character of the greek system.”It’s just another sign that there is room for every person in the greek system. We can find a spot for them despite what special needs they have or anything else,” said Ostanik, senior in architecture.Nash said things are not always easy, however.”There are situations where you can’t always whip out a pad of paper and write things down,” he said. “And some things you just don’t think about, like bringing pads of paper to dinner.”Nash also said chapter meetings are a little bit different. Even with the laptop added so Ressler knows what’s going on, Nash said he thinks Ressler may miss a few things.”There are little side conversations and jokes I can’t write down quickly enough,” he said. “He may feel like he’s missing out.”Despite the changes, both Nash and Millsap said the fraternity has adjusted to Ressler’s presence and considers him a “normal guy.””Everybody loves him,” Millsap said. “He’s one of the coolest guys I’ve ever met.”