Leadership fostered within Fraternity and Sorority Life

MSU's Dean of Students Office spearheaded the inaugural Undergraduate Interfraternity Institute (UIFI) workshop, hosted at Chico Hot Springs from Jan. 9 to Jan. 12, which was attended by 47 students from the Fraternity and Sorority Life (FSL).

By focusing on value-based leadership and fostering meaningful dialogues on critical issues, the institute aims to set new benchmarks for fraternity and sorority engagement and leadership development, according to UIFI’s mission statement.

This UIFI event marks a departure from its past venue in Bloomington, Indiana. The Dean of Students office at MSU employed the UIFI to host a more local leadership workshop, intending to make the workshop more accessible to a broader range of MSU FSL members. According to Jack Stephens, a junior and the president of the Interfraternity Council, the initiative aimed to "bridge the gap between chapters and equip the up-and-coming leaders with tools to foster positive growth in their chapter and beyond.”

Stephens reported that traditionally, the UIFI offered a four-day, three-night workshop that challenged students to rethink conventional wisdom, discover new solutions to critical issues and expedite progress within their communities. By hosting the event in Montana, MSU was able to include wider participation from its FSL community, allowing every chapter the opportunity to send at least three members.

Sigma Chi president and junior William Hyatt shared his experience at the workshop, emphasizing its focus on leadership. "A large portion of our time was focused on values-based leadership, discovering our personal values and testing them in multiple scenarios," he said. 

This eventually led to a mock debate that tackled pressing issues that members of the FSL have dealt with before. 

"It made us think deeper about issues like hazing, member accountability, alcohol abuse, mental health and how we can progress forward together to create a strong, supportive community," Stephens said.

Abby Foster, a freshman and event director for Alpha Omicron Pi, highlighted the potential long-term impact of the UIFI experience. "I think the UIFI experience is going to impact and empower the MSU FSL community to bring to light the good we do in the community and show that we are a group of students that stand for bettering Bozeman, the MSU campus and the FSL community."

"The relationships you make at UIFI alone are also a big part of why it works so well. It is an experience that I will be talking about for years to come.” Foster said. She ended with rating the event with a full five stars.