I think the biggest change I’ve noticed is how incredibly active the sorority and fraternity members are in the school. When Hannah chose to be a Phi, I was so happy. But the best was meeting all the girls and knowing we would always be there for each other. I loved the fundraisers, dances and parties. I loved my time at Drake and being a Phi. Stories about living in the house got me excited to join a sorority. She even drove me past it a couple times when we visited Des Moines. My mom always told me about the beautiful, big yellow house. I decided at a young age that I wanted to attend Drake and go through recruitment. I had heard stories about Greek life at Drake since I understood what college was. It’s rare that an organization can offer so much to its members. That made me realize that I was a part of something bigger than myself. We raised money for women’s cardiac care, helped to unite Greek life and had a blast doing it. My fondest memory since joining Alpha Phi was during our annual philanthropy, Fast Phi’t week. It’s been everything I hoped it would be and more. I am proud that my daughter has chosen to be part of Greek life. I am happy to hear that some traditions are still in place and my daughter and I will have those special bonds. I sat in the President’s room waiting my turn to pledge, thinking, “Oh, what I have done?” It didn’t take long to realize that I had done the best thing possible. My fondest memory is of pledging day and finding out who my sisters for a lifetime would be. They taught me that Greek life at Drake is a community where we can support each other and build lasting relationships, no matter which house you belong to. My mom’s best friend, to this day, joined Kappa Kappa Gamma while she joined Theta. My mom always told me that Greek life was a great way to make friends, that you meet girls going through the recruitment, even if you don’t join the same house. I don’t know what I would do without my sisters because they help me be the best version of myself. I love that we give back and have fun no matter what we are doing. With service and scholarship requirements, I feel that Greek life has motivated me to work harder for my academics and has also made me a better citizen. Sure, there are a few fraternities or sororities that have moved or have been replaced. You know, it’s neat to see that things have changed, but a lot of it is the same. I think there is more of a concentration on community service, in general. It taught you basic leadership skills: delegation and organization. It really taught me everything I needed for after school. I can’t imagine college without being Greek. My dad told me to find a group of guys that I could just hang out and have a beer with, so that’s what I was looking for.

They made good friends who they still talk to. I knew I wanted to join a house, because I saw that my dad and mom went through. What did you think about Greek life before you came to Drake? Because you’re basically with all your friends.

I don’t know what people do without Greek life. I couldn’t imagine going to Drake without being in Greek life. Those factors added to the quality of Greek life in my day. No housemothers, no cooks in some houses. In many ways Greek life today is more sophisticated. How has Greek life changed since you were at Drake? The fraternity experience was worth more than any year of academic study in the seven years I attended Drake. I used that experience as a model to create a breakfast club of local community business leaders that is still going today and is accountable for a third of my law practice. I learned leadership techniques that are invaluable still, 50 years later. The experiences I received in my fraternity life have made a huge difference in my life as a lawyer today. I was president of the TKE house and the student body president from 1959 to 1960. I love how much everybody rallies around that and tries to raise as much money as possible. I love how seriously our chapter takes our philanthropy for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. It’s really been a good experience for me. I think that it has been an incredibly valuable part of my experience at Drake. I think it’s been outstanding, I honestly don’t think that I would be where I am today without it.

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