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Students involved in diverse activities

3/31/2016

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Picture
Bobby Scott, Copy Editor
March 30, 2016
​

When it comes to clubs and other extracurricular activities in college, some students may think it is only beneficial to partake in activities that relate to their majors. That, however, is not always the case, especially at Pitt-Johnstown.

Several students have taken advantage of the opportunities offered by clubs or activities outside of their majors.

Not only does it help build a solid resume, but it can also potentially diversify a students’ area of expertise.

Junior Jesse Ritter majors in both biochemistry and biology, but is also involved in the business fraternity, Alpha Kappa Psi, as well as the social fraternity, Sigma Tau Gamma. He is also involved in the university’s biological honor society, Tri-Beta, and the chemical society.

In Alpha Kappa Psi, Ritter holds the social media chairman title, which puts him in charge of the chapter’s Twitter and Facebook page.

“One of the major (problems) that young adults (have) entering the workforce or applying to a professional or graduate school is lacking knowledge outside of their own majors,” he said.

“A major component of medicine that is often overlooked is its application in business, so I joined Alpha Kappa Psi in order to gain another prospective outside of my usual studies, as well as to become an overall better-rounded person.”

Ritter said he is applying for medical school for 2017. He is also the current vice president and elected president of Tri-Beta for next semester.

“The people and faculty that I interact with are completely different,” he said.

“Biochemistry is a small group of students that you see every day (both in class and in Tri-Beta and the chemical society). Being in a business fraternity allows me to interact with students and faculty with completely different experiences.

“It greatly expands my ability to effectively relate and communicate with people outside of the hardcore science world.”

Junior Santana Lardo is also a biology major, but her extracurricular activities include being a member of the Black Action Society, Student Government Association and Outdoors Club, along with pledging to the coed national service fraternity, Alpha Phi Omega, and the university’s judicial board.
Lardo said, while her activities don’t necessarily involve her major, they assist her in developing as a person.

“The clubs (I am involved in) have helped me grow in all aspects,” she said.

“I came to college as a shy girl, but those clubs have really helped me come out of my shell and gave me a lot of opportunities.”

Lardo plans to apply to dental school after her time at Pitt-Johnstown, which is something she has known she wanted to do since high school.

“I know that it will stand out when applying to dental school,” Lardo said.

“(My activities) have also opened my eyes to the world, and being involved in these clubs makes me want to continue to be involved in the community after I graduate.”

Accounting major Matt Christina is not only a part of the Pitt-Johnstown Baja Team, but also the campus development chairman in the Student Government Association.

The Baja Team is made up of students, mostly mechanical engineering majors, who participate in the building and racing of an off-road baja vehicle. An off-road baja vehicle is similar to that of a dune buggy.

“I thought it would interest me,” Christina said.

“I always had a passion for working with my hands and learning new skills, so I thought I would really enjoy it.”

Christina was originally an engineering major, but switched when his boss at work suggested that he look into accounting.

While the team focuses more on engineering, it also has elements of accounting.

“(The team) does a cost report sales presentation and a yearly student government budget, so I definitely think it helps on the business end,” he said.

Christina plans to graduate in December.
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Fraternity brothers try to attract membership

3/25/2016

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Delta Sigma Chi RushDelta Sigma Chi members (left to right) Brady Pryce, Dylan Carlson, Ryan Daly and Eric Hood advertise the fraternity’s Ping Pong Tournament at the Student Union.
Peijia Zhang, News Editor
March 23, 2016
​

Pitt-Johnstown fraternities’ members are working to make the fraternities more desirable for students to join, according to Student Affairs Vice President Shawn Brooks.

He said he suggested that fraternity brothers rethink the way they conduct social events in order to make them more exclusive and by invitation only.

Brooks said he meets with interfraternity council members during their meetings, and the last time they met was prior to spring break.

Party guidelines were a main topic discussed at their last meeting, according to Brooks.

He suggested that they hold more closed parties instead of having all parties open to all students and provide brothers with connections to the fraternities’ alumni, and internship as well as job opportunities.

Delta Sigma Chi President David Urbassik, a senior accounting major, said there is a concern about students’ lack of interest in Greek life on campus in general.

Urbassik said he knew that there were about 30 brothers in his fraternity at one point in the ’80s, but there are only about 15 active brothers now.

“And it’s really confusing why people are not interested in Greek life any more,” he said.

He said a possible reason for the lack of interest is that some of the activities they do are unseen by many students.

He said there is a misconception among some students that all the brothers do is party.

“We help out. We do community service. We try to make the school a better place for everybody,” Urbassik said.

He said the brothers meet every week to discuss plans for the coming weekend and make sure they keep up with service hours.

Having been in Delta Sigma Chi for two and a half years, Urbassik said he was the fraternity’s social chair last year, and he is also the vice president of the interfraternity council this year.

He said the council has biweekly meetings, during which they share house news and any campus-related information.

There are two brothers from each active fraternity on campus constituting the eight-members council, according to Urbassik.

Besides Delta Sigma Chi, the other three active fraternities are Kappa Delta Rho, Sigma Tau Gamma and Delta Chi, according to Pitt-Johnstown’s website.

Brooks said the fraternities should provide the brothers with a value-added experience because, at the end of the day, how their time is  spent outside of their classes should help them get employed.

“It’s a no-brainer,” Brools said, referring to connecting with alumni network.
“I think that the sense of belonging is important.”


READ MORE: Fraternity brothers try to attract membership
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