Thursday, December 5, 1996

GREEK:

Modest membership not to deflect the brothers in Alpha Gamma Omega from their higher goalBy Carol McKay

Daily Bruin Contributor

To many students like Maria Chi, the idea of a Christian fraternity seems "kinda' funny. It's sort of a paradox. The ideals behind fraternities and Christianity just don't seem to match."

A member of Alpha Epsilon Phi, Chi said she chose to pledge for her house "to be open to new things. (In a Christian sorority), something would be missing. I'd feel limited."

To the members of Alpha Gamma Omega (AGO), however, their Christian fraternity is the "best of both worlds."

"People think it doesn't make sense, but we do a lot of the same stuff (as other fraternities). There's just no drinking or drugs," said Rick Barsh, a fourth-year history student.

Barsh, a member of AGO, admits that "it's tough to shake off the stuff that goes on in other frats. For myself, I knew that if I joined another frat, it would be too easy for me to fall away from God."

God is a big part of AGO. "Our top priority is Christianity," said Pledge Master Andy Lucas, a third-year English student. "It's more of a relationship than a religion. We're called to do it."

According to Lucas, the responsibility level is higher within the small group. AGO has only nine members, and this year's pledge class was a mere four. "There's more accountability. We're more close knit. We're held to a higher standard."

For some members of AGO, the low numbers can be discouraging. Although this year's pledge class was higher than in past years, it was significantly lower than pledge classes of other fraternities.

According to Ellen Archibald, student affairs advisor, it only takes three members to become a group at UCLA. But to stay a group, it takes much more than that.

"Smaller organizations find they're working on double-time. They really have to have commitment," said Archibald.

For members of Alpha Delta Chi, a sorority that disbanded in winter '95, attempts at keeping the group together were unsuccessful. "(The group) was divided into factions. Things just weren't working," said Kristin Hansen, a fourth-year theater student.

As the former vice president of ADC, Hansen watched the 69-year-old organization "fall apart" during her junior year. It was one of two Christian sororities which failed to re-register this fall.

"It's hard when you're a local group, just sort of making up the rules as you go along," said Archibald, who advised the sororities when they were active. "They tried real hard for about a year, then threw in the towel. It was marketing and salesmanship. They just couldn't get pledges."

For the Christian fraternity, something is working. Although both Lucas and Barsh agree that they "would love to see the frat grow," they view the familial atmosphere of their house as exceptional.

"We're different (from other frats) in a sense that we're centered around Christ. But we're just a bunch of guys living together, having fun together," Lucas said.

Hansen and other members of ADC and Delta Chi Xi (DCX), the other disbanded Christian sorority, are not without options. AGO, the fraternity, has an affiliate group, the Little Sisters, which serves as a sort of "support group" for AGO. Together, the two groups hold Bible studies, perform service projects and hold noon prayer daily at the inverted fountain.

The groups also share requirements for members. Strict anti-substance rules are held and enforced. It is expected that members also refrain from smoking while in the house.

"Our goal is to present ourselves in the most holy way possible," Barsh said. AGO parties often have live music, but according to tradition, officers are restricted from dancing unless granted permission by an advisor. Lucas explains that the rule was put into place "when the lambada was becoming popular," and says that now it is more of a formality.

"As officers, we should be setting the examples with personal discipline," Lucas said.

The dancing and substance rules don't seem to be a problem for members, who claim full devotion to the house.

For Lucas, joining a fraternity was a family tradition. "Everyone else had done the Greek thing. For me, the opportunity to be in a Christian house was intriguing," Lucas said.

Barsh was uncertain about finding a "group I'd relate to. But I love it. There's such a sense of brotherhood."

He thinks all frats have that fellowship to some degree, but "I think ours is a special bond."

Because there are so few members, and like Barsh, not all of them live in the house, eight of AGO's 15 rooms are rented. Financially, the fraternity is sound. If only they had more members, "we really need to be reaching campus," Barsh said.

Though Archibald suggests that increasing membership is difficult for groups aimed at single cultures, such as Christian sororities, she sees strength in AGO because they have a house on Landfair Avenue. Though ADX was an established sorority at UCLA for 69 years, before the organization disbanded, its few members were simply sharing apartments. AGO's living situation makes a difference in terms of stability.

"They've been here for a while. They're established, with a central place to live," Archibald said.

Archibald is also hopeful for the new Latina sorority, Lambda Theta Nu, which although similarly burdened with low membership, is thriving. The eight members are all very active, said Archibald, and when the membership drive gets rolling in the spring, she feels they will "really grow."

Members of AGO are confident that their commitment and faith will keep them together.

"It's looking real promising," Barsh said, "because of our larger pledge class. There are some good strong Christians on campus."