Theta Chi - University of Florida

PAGE 2 TAU TOPICS G rowing up, Jack Haller '07 had always dreamed of flying. Today, as an officer in the U.S. Navy, Jack has fulfilled this dream by flying the MH-60R multi-mission helicopter. Widely versatile, the helicopter is used for a variety of missions, including hunting and tracking enemy submarines and ships, search and rescue, drug interdiction, and delivering supplies, Navy officials see the MH-60R as one of the most capable multi- mission helicopters available in the world today. Being surrounded by driven individuals who have a diverse set of talents and backgrounds was something Jack came to appreciate from his Theta Chi experience. Initially joining Tau Chapter because of the diversity he saw in the active members, Jack's undergraduate years helped mold him into the person he is today and taught him more about himself than any other experience he has been in before. "I made lifelong friends that helped me create some of the best memories I have," he said. "Loyalty goes a long way. It is always impressive to see the brotherhood that fills the Chapter House." Reflecting on his college years, Jack enjoyed UF game days and brotherhood events, and has returned to Gainesville to cheer on the Gators "Loyalty goes a long way. It is always impressive to see the brotherhood that fills the Chapter House." I learned how to build relations with my superiors, which will be applicable when I head into the real world. And lastly, I learned the most from my peers. My undergraduate brothers provided me with the advice and tools that I need to get through my term. Just because I was president of the Chapter did not mean that I knew more than any other brother, so listening to their opinions was extremely helpful when making difficult decisions." Through his role as IFC president, Shane has worked with administrators, faced obstacles when tackling large-scale projects, and learned about the similarities and differences of the fraternities on campus. "As Chapter president, I mainly focused on the advancement of Tau Chapter, but now, in representing every IFC chapter, I cannot always focus on what is best for Theta Chi, but rather what is best for a majority of the chapters and IFC as a whole," he said. "Some of the chapters have issues that I never dealt with in Tau Chapter, but seeing what their problems entail and how to overcome them has been an interesting experience. Even though every chapter aims for a similar goal, they each take different routes and face different challenges that I never would have known without getting involved in IFC." Shane advises younger undergraduates to put in as much effort as they can to receive a great reward in return. Moving forward, he hopes to give back to his younger brothers by creating opportunities for them not only to help build their resumes, but to grow as gentlemen as well. "When it comes to Theta Chi, the benefits that I have been able to take away have far outweighed the work that I have put in," he said. "Thank you to all of my brothers REACHING NEW HEIGHTS Jack Haller '07 Pilots Helicopters for the U.S. Navy as an alumnus as well. Welcomed with open arms, Jack was impressed with the active brothers he met and could not believe how driven the Chapter was. "Enjoy the ride and dive head first into the experience," he advises. "You'll learn a lot about yourself in the four years you're there and when it's all said and done, don't forget who your brothers are." Aside from flying, one of Jack's favorite hobbies is fishing. Jack lives in Jacksonville Beach, Fla., and can be reached at jhaller07@gmail.com. Photo courtesy of the U.S. Navy. F ollowing the Gator legacy his mother left him and the Theta Chi legacy his father and brother began, Shane Hanney '14 came to the University of Florida with a sturdy backbone. Three years later, he is in the middle of his five- year civil engineering major, a former Tau Chapter president, and the current IFC president. "At the beginning of my Chapter presidency, I didn't have any interest in becoming the IFC president, but as the year went on, I saw the bigger issues within Greek life and realized that our time on campus as a whole might be coming to an end if something wasn't done about hazing, substance abuse, sexual assault, and cultural incompetency of our chapters," he said. "Throughout my term as IFC president, I hope to reduce the negative aspects of all four of these issues, with a focus on hazing, as it is the most immediate concern for our council." Prepared to reduce the negative stigma surrounding Greek life, Shane has a solid foundation in leadership thanks to his many roles within Theta Chi. Leading up to his Tau Chapter presidency, Shane was the 2014 pledge class president, brotherhood chairman, community service chairman, and philanthropy co-chairman. His sophomore year, Shane was elected Chapter president and applied tools he learned from his earlier positions into his presidency experience. "I learned more from being president than I did in any college class," he said. "Working with different UF administrators for the safety of our Chapter gave me insight on how to react with my back against the wall. Working with our local Realty Board and National Headquarters, Former Tau President Elected IFC President New IFC President Shane Hanney '14 Works to Better Gator Greek Life (Continued on page 4)

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