Alpha Sigma Phi - University of Washington

Summer 2019 Newsletter

Mu Chapter of Alpha Sigma Phi at the University of Washington

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6 in my major to help communities build sustainable programs to improve critical infrastructure that impact energy, water and wild- life. I want a wide scope to work in that helps me accomplish my ultimate passion to help wildlife living among humans and helping humans better understand and respect wildlife and its needs. I want to work for a company or organization that can best meet the ideals I want to implement. The UW will help me find that company." Eric didn't start his journey pursuing a life advocating for wild- life at the UW. It has been a lifelong passion. During his junior and senior year in high school, he won the President's Commu- nity Service Award, a federal award, for volunteering to work on Bainbridge Island with small mammals such as possums, raccoons, squirrels, and birds of prey such as ospreys, eagles, owls, and paragon falcons. Eric volunteered 125 hours each year. Eric chose the UW because it offered him the best opportunity to realize his dreams to improve the environment and protect wildlife. Moving from Bainbridge Island into Seattle and attending a very large university on a massive campus was a big move for Eric. Like most young men going to college, there was a need in Eric to feel connected. "I was a little aware of fraternities," said Eric. "Fraternities appeared to be a community I could be part of. Once I joined Alpha Sigma Phi, the new community I encountered turned out to be brotherhood, which to me means you have each other's backs and that you help make each other better every day. I was rushed by many fraternities. During rush, I connected with some other guys who were choosing Alpha Sigma Phi. These new friendships, as well as the brothers in the house, was an attraction for me to pledge." "Being an Alpha Sig is very significant to me and adds greatly to my life," explains Eric. "It's a second and very important home to be safe and comfortable in. It's a place where I have learned a lot about myself living with so many other people who have become my friends. It is a gathering place to have dinner with people you know and care about because, again, it is my home. Alpha Sigma Phi is helping me build fun memories everyday with lots of people. We have lots of brotherhood events that brings the larger portion of the house together to have fun together. In the house I have learned about everyone else's lives, which gives me greater awareness of my own so I can grow as a person. It pushes me to keep my grades up and to focus on my education. Because I have always loved working in the greater community, the house's very strong philanthropic program is important to me. The fraternity says it betters the man. My experience at Mu is that it instills values and develops the inner gentleman in everyone." Eric White is a brother we can all be proud of. We can all agree he is already a champion and guardian for the world. He strongly agrees with Paul Oxton, founder of the Wild Heart Wildlife Foundation, when he said, "Humanity can no longer stand by in silence while our wildlife are being used, abused and exploited. It is time we all stand together, to be the voice of the voiceless before it's too late. Extinc- tion means forever." Eric is ready to step up and be that voice. 6 By Andrew Witt '17 Scholarship Chairman I n keeping with the famous Alpha Sig motto, "To Better the Man," the gentlemen of Mu Chapter have been excelling in their academic ventures. Across the board, the brothers are tackling academic challenges and helping one another along the way. As a baseline number, the Chapter's autumn 2018 grade point average was a 3.4. This places Alpha Sigma Phi amongst the top 10 fraternal organizations at the University of Washington. The house includes well beyond half STEM ma- jors. The Chapter has a plethora of technical majors, including computer science, engineering, pre-med, chem- istry, biology, design, architecture, and much more. The achievements of the brothers of Mu within such difficult and competitive majors shows incredible context for their academic achieve- ment. With other fraternities on campus housing largely a singular major, such a business, it is easy for them to have a high grade point average. Despite such rigor, Mu Chapter is excelling. Yet, the house maintains diversity with people Mu Chapter Top Grades on Greek Row

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