Meet the 2022 Pi Phi Lobbyists
Last week, a team of Pi Phis across the United States virtually lobbied Congress as part of the Fraternal Government Relations Coalition (FGRC) annual day of lobbying. Each representative had the opportunity to learn about legislation impacting the fraternity and sorority community and meet with members of Congress to share why these issues are important to Pi Beta Phi. Learn more about their experience below!
I wanted to lobby on Capitol Hill to gain experience engaging with and persuading staff or members in the House and Senate. It was a unique opportunity where I was able to share with government officials how much Pi Beta Phi has meant to me and to protect our rights as an organization.
My biggest takeaway from this experience is that government officials want to hear from us and care about the problems our organizations face. Although we each come from our own organizations, I discovered that all fraternities and sororities face similar issues. It was enlightening and fun to learn about another woman's experience in Zeta Tau Alpha, as we found we had more in common than we thought.
My biggest takeaway from this experience is about the issues for which we advocated! We advocated for the freedom of association for all social organizations on campuses across the U.S., a better infrastructure system and anti-hazing legislation. I loved getting to see how passionate members of the fraternity and sorority community are about these issues.
Lobbying is important because it helps to preserve the sorority experience for future generations. The ideas we advocated for will continue to impact college students after I graduate. I consider it such a special opportunity to be chosen to help promote these values.
This opportunity gave me the chance to not only help secure a better future for the women of my chapter but also for Pi Beta Phi and the entirefraternity and sorority community. I want to do my part in ensuring the longevity and preservation of fraternity and sorority life through advocating for legislation that will work to preserve the original intent and safety of our organizations and their members.
Indiana Delta Valora Hart
Why did you want to lobby on Capitol Hill?
I wanted to lobby on Capitol Hill to gain experience engaging with and persuading staff or members in the House and Senate. It was a unique opportunity where I was able to share with government officials how much Pi Beta Phi has meant to me and to protect our rights as an organization.
What was your biggest takeaway?
My biggest takeaway from this experience is that government officials want to hear from us and care about the problems our organizations face. Although we each come from our own organizations, I discovered that all fraternities and sororities face similar issues. It was enlightening and fun to learn about another woman's experience in Zeta Tau Alpha, as we found we had more in common than we thought.Oklahoma Alpha Jackie Kunzweiler
What was your biggest takeaway?
My biggest takeaway from this experience is about the issues for which we advocated! We advocated for the freedom of association for all social organizations on campuses across the U.S., a better infrastructure system and anti-hazing legislation. I loved getting to see how passionate members of the fraternity and sorority community are about these issues.
Why do you feel lobbying is important to the sorority experience?
Lobbying is important because it helps to preserve the sorority experience for future generations. The ideas we advocated for will continue to impact college students after I graduate. I consider it such a special opportunity to be chosen to help promote these values.Washington Beta McKenna Plowman
Why did you want to lobby on Capitol Hill?
This opportunity gave me the chance to not only help secure a better future for the women of my chapter but also for Pi Beta Phi and the entirefraternity and sorority community. I want to do my part in ensuring the longevity and preservation of fraternity and sorority life through advocating for legislation that will work to preserve the original intent and safety of our organizations and their members.Why do you feel lobbying is important to the sorority experience?
The fraternity and sorority experience, ever since its creation, has been placed under strict scrutiny, including our freedom to associate as single-sex organizations. These actions are exemplified by the disproportional actions taken by Harvard University and many others. Students who join single-sex social organizations like ours should not endure punishment for doing so, nor should they be subjected to restrictions to our activities that do not exist for other student organizations. My Pi Phi experience has been invaluable to my development in college and has given me opportunities to grow as an individual, develop my leadership skills and flourish academically. I know the connections, friendships and bonds I have made through my experience will continue to grow and support me throughout my life. Lobbying is a crucial part of preserving the longevity of the sorority experience to ensure all students have the opportunity to choose which organizations they would like to join in college. I want to ensure that my younger sister has the same opportunity I did, and my parents before me, to join a single-sex organization as I have witnessed first-hand the positive lifelong impacts of being part of an organization like a sorority or fraternity.
Published May 5, 2022