Chi Psi - University of Washington

A s Jackson Reed '21 prepared to graduate this spring, he reflected on his overall experience at the University of Washington. One of his best decisions over the past four years at UW was joining Chi Psi, where he found brothers who would support him not only throughout college, but also for the rest of his life. "Chi Psi was the right fraternity for me because of the balance," Jackson said. "When I was going through recruitment, I felt extremely comfortable being at the Lodge, because I felt that the brothers there cared a lot about their education, their development, and the value of having a great college experience and creating lifelong friends." Jackson will always be thankful that his brothers thought highly enough of him to be Theta Delta's #1. He had far from the typical term as #1, as he had planned to begin his term studying abroad. His quarter of studying in Barcelona was abruptly canceled, however, once the pandemic hit, so Jackson quickly shifted gears and led Theta Delta remotely from his hometown of San Ramon, California. "Ultimately, it was a very rewarding experience," Jackson said. "It was a huge challenge that had a lot of struggles but isn't an experience I regret at all." Jackson can't pinpoint one specific Chi Psi memory as his favorite, but he enjoys UW football games, luaus, adventuring/traveling, playing basketball and Settlers of Catan, and going to new breweries with his brothers. Jackson also had a great time attending the National Convention at Rutgers University and meeting Chi Psis from all over the country. The balance that Jackson was seeking from Chi Psi as a freshman is evident as he wrapped up his senior year. At the beginning of the 2019 fall quarter, Jackson was stressed because he couldn't figure out what classes he wanted to take. He eventually decided to sign up for an introduction to real estate class and pursue a real estate minor. Fast forwarding to April 1, Jackson started full- time work as a project coordinator with Vitus, a real estate development firm in Seattle. Whether helping with his studies or giving him someone to talk to after work, Jackson's Chi Psi brothers have been there for him every step of the way. "I appreciate the Lodge, my brothers, and all the Theta Delta alumni who gave me the opportunity to have the best four years of my life," Jackson said. "Thank you to everyone who I've come across in shaping my Chi Psi experience." You can connect with Jackson at jacksonreed38@gmail.com. pg. 3 Alpha Theta Delta Finding Balance in the Theta Delta Brotherhood Jackson Reed '21 Cherishes His Chi Psi Experience "Chi Psi was the right fraternity for me because of the balance. When I was going through recruitment, I felt extremely comfortable being at the Lodge, because I felt that the brothers there cared a lot about their education, their development, and the value of having a great college experience and creating lifelong friends." Research Proves the Fraternity Experience Is More Relevant to Today's College Students than Ever Before Recent research on fraternities and sororities demonstrates how positive the impact of the Greek experience—and the Alpha Theta Delta experience—is for undergraduates today. Both inside and outside the classroom, we are providing tangible value at the most important time of growth in their lives. Membership improves the learning gains students make in the classroom, and members are more academically engaged than their peers. Members are more involved in campus activities than other students, and Greek organizations promote both personal development during and satisfaction in their college experience. Fraternities and sororities seek to enhance inclusivity, and our members actually report higher levels of interaction with people different from themselves compared to unaffiliated students. These benefits are even greater for first-year students as they join fraternities and sororities and find community and belonging. This leads to stronger retention and higher graduation rates among Greek students than their peers. As many college students experience stress, loneliness and depression, fraternities and sororities offer critical connection and a sense of community, and members report higher levels of positive mental health than their unaffiliated peers because of it.

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