Nearly 40% of Butler students are members of fraternities and sororities. Through these Greek-letter organizations, students build a sense of belonging, develop leadership skills, participate in service projects, and connect with alumni mentors. Butler’s fraternity and sorority community contributes more than 17,000 service hours each year and raises over $425,000 annually for local and national philanthropies. Through these experiences, students grow as leaders, scholars, and engaged members of their communities.
Nate Kirschman
Majors: Finance and Economics
Hometown: Cleveland, Ohio
Fraternity: Sigma Nu
How has your experience in fraternity and sorority life influenced your sense of belonging and connection on campus?
My experience in fraternity and sorority life has greatly influenced my sense of belonging and connection on campus. It has given me a tight-knit and supportive community of like-minded individuals who pushed me to get involved in many different activities inside and outside Greek life. Before college, I never would have imagined myself having as many leadership experiences and involvement opportunities as I do today. Through these experiences, I was able to meet many people across campus that I never would have known otherwise. Overall, campus feels much more welcoming and I have a strong support system.
In what ways has being involved in your chapter supported or challenged your academic success and personal growth?
Being involved in my chapter has had a major impact on both my academic success and personal growth. The brothers in Sigma Nu (SNU) hold each other accountable academically and encourage people to stay focused on their goals. I can also go to older members for advice on classes and academics. On a personal level, I was much more reserved before college, but the chapter pushed me outside of my comfort zone. I’ve grown as a leader through these experiences. Many of the leadership positions I hold today are roles I was encouraged to run for because people believed I would be a good fit for them—even before I fully believed it myself.
Can you share a moment when your fraternity or sorority experience positively impacted your leadership development?
One moment that positively impacted my leadership development was serving as the Lieutenant Commander, or Vice President, of Sigma Nu. In this role, one of my main responsibilities was getting members to participate in events such as volunteering, house cleans, and alumni events. Some of these activities were not always the most exciting, so it challenged me to learn how to motivate people and get them to buy into something they may not have initially wanted to do. Through this experience, I developed stronger communication and leadership skills and learned how important it is to lead by example and create a positive environment that encourages involvement.
How would you describe the positive benefits within fraternity and sorority life, and what makes it meaningful for students?
The positive benefits of fraternity and sorority life as the strong sense of community, support, and personal growth that it provides. I think that at a smaller school like Butler, it is so much more important to find a support system that works for you. I believe that Greek life gives you that large group of people you can always rely on and go to during difficult times and moments of success. In my experience, fraternity and sorority life at Butler is completely different from the way it is traditionally portrayed in the media and does not have any of the negative stereotypes that are common.
What impact do you believe fraternity and sorority life has on the broader campus and local community?
Fraternity and sorority life has a very positive impact on both the broader campus and the local community. Sigma Nu regularly raises money for organizations, such as the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. Many fraternities and sororities on campus are involved in similar fundraising efforts throughout the year. In addition to fundraising, members also spend time volunteering at food banks, religious organizations, community events, and other service opportunities in the local area. All fraternities and sororities on campus encourage their members to be service-oriented, supportive, and involved with the people around them.