[Applause] fraternity permanently banned where
fraternity permanently banned where
fraternity permanently banned where student dies too fraternity chapters
student dies too fraternity chapters
student dies too fraternity chapters face sanctions of hazing and alcohol
face sanctions of hazing and alcohol
face sanctions of hazing and alcohol policies university imposes new
policies university imposes new
policies university imposes new regulations and restrictions on parties
regulations and restrictions on parties
regulations and restrictions on parties after student dies from alcohol
after student dies from alcohol
after student dies from alcohol poisoning these are the top stories when
poisoning these are the top stories when
poisoning these are the top stories when googling fraternity news all published
googling fraternity news all published
googling fraternity news all published within a week of each other there are a
within a week of each other there are a
within a week of each other there are a few main reasons college students decide
few main reasons college students decide
few main reasons college students decide to rush in join Greek life paying for
to rush in join Greek life paying for
to rush in join Greek life paying for your friends while joining a brotherhood
your friends while joining a brotherhood
your friends while joining a brotherhood or sisterhood right what about throwing
or sisterhood right what about throwing
or sisterhood right what about throwing parties every weekend and having pledges
parties every weekend and having pledges
parties every weekend and having pledges do your dishes that’s usually what pops
do your dishes that’s usually what pops
do your dishes that’s usually what pops into your parents heads when you tell
into your parents heads when you tell
into your parents heads when you tell them you want to rush I remember trying
them you want to rush I remember trying
them you want to rush I remember trying to explain to my middle-eastern parents
to explain to my middle-eastern parents
to explain to my middle-eastern parents that I wanted to join to a fraternity my
that I wanted to join to a fraternity my
that I wanted to join to a fraternity my freshman year I used all the tricks in
freshman year I used all the tricks in
freshman year I used all the tricks in the book mom I swear it’s an engineering
the book mom I swear it’s an engineering
the book mom I swear it’s an engineering fraternity I won’t have to buy my books
fraternity I won’t have to buy my books
fraternity I won’t have to buy my books Baba I promise we don’t just party every
Baba I promise we don’t just party every
Baba I promise we don’t just party every weekend sometimes we just hang out and
weekend sometimes we just hang out and
weekend sometimes we just hang out and talk on Saturday nights
talk on Saturday nights
talk on Saturday nights my favorite was having to explain to
my favorite was having to explain to
my favorite was having to explain to them how we went to Las Vegas every
them how we went to Las Vegas every
them how we went to Las Vegas every Memorial weekend and had a formal
Memorial weekend and had a formal
Memorial weekend and had a formal banquet dinner mom I swear we just get
banquet dinner mom I swear we just get
banquet dinner mom I swear we just get 25 hotel rooms on the strip and we just
25 hotel rooms on the strip and we just
25 hotel rooms on the strip and we just hang out and and give away awards to all
hang out and and give away awards to all
hang out and and give away awards to all the high achievers it’s not that big of
the high achievers it’s not that big of
the high achievers it’s not that big of a deal man you should have seen the
a deal man you should have seen the
a deal man you should have seen the puzzled look on their faces that
puzzled look on their faces that
puzzled look on their faces that confusion and disagreement went on for
confusion and disagreement went on for
confusion and disagreement went on for quite a while the media grasps the
quite a while the media grasps the
quite a while the media grasps the negative stereotypical headlines and
negative stereotypical headlines and
negative stereotypical headlines and repeatedly splashes it across the public
repeatedly splashes it across the public
repeatedly splashes it across the public what most fail to realize is all the
what most fail to realize is all the
what most fail to realize is all the good that fraternities and sororities do
good that fraternities and sororities do
good that fraternities and sororities do for the community and for others the
for the community and for others the
for the community and for others the average Greek chapter is held to a
average Greek chapter is held to a
average Greek chapter is held to a higher standard donating almost 7
higher standard donating almost 7
higher standard donating almost 7 million hours and over 54 million
million hours and over 54 million
million hours and over 54 million dollars every year to multiple
dollars every year to multiple
dollars every year to multiple nonprofits
nonprofits
nonprofits according to a USA Today article studies
according to a USA Today article studies
according to a USA Today article studies show at the graduation rates being 20%
show at the graduation rates being 20%
show at the graduation rates being 20% higher among Greeks compared to non
higher among Greeks compared to non
higher among Greeks compared to non Greeks that study also showed that 85%
Greeks that study also showed that 85%
Greeks that study also showed that 85% of fortune 500 executives as well as the
of fortune 500 executives as well as the
of fortune 500 executives as well as the first female astronaut were all a part
first female astronaut were all a part
first female astronaut were all a part of Greek life at one time since 1910 85
of Greek life at one time since 1910 85
of Greek life at one time since 1910 85 percent of US Supreme Court justices and
percent of US Supreme Court justices and
percent of US Supreme Court justices and even 76 percent of US senators were all
even 76 percent of US senators were all
even 76 percent of US senators were all a part of Greek life prior to beginning
a part of Greek life prior to beginning
a part of Greek life prior to beginning their careers that professional and
their careers that professional and
their careers that professional and social network built is life-changing
social network built is life-changing
social network built is life-changing for an individual after pledging and
for an individual after pledging and
for an individual after pledging and joining a fraternity my first quarter in
joining a fraternity my first quarter in
joining a fraternity my first quarter in my undergraduate studies I began to see
my undergraduate studies I began to see
my undergraduate studies I began to see immediately that there was much more to
immediately that there was much more to
immediately that there was much more to Greek life than throwing parties and
Greek life than throwing parties and
Greek life than throwing parties and having that frat mindset gaining
having that frat mindset gaining
having that frat mindset gaining leadership positions while leading a
leadership positions while leading a
leadership positions while leading a chapter to continuous success turned out
chapter to continuous success turned out
chapter to continuous success turned out to be the real meaning of Greek life for
to be the real meaning of Greek life for
to be the real meaning of Greek life for me at least here’s what really happened
me at least here’s what really happened
me at least here’s what really happened during my experience it wasn’t always
during my experience it wasn’t always
during my experience it wasn’t always fun and games
fun and games
fun and games I saw a brother and up in the hospital
I saw a brother and up in the hospital
I saw a brother and up in the hospital due to a near-fatal accident and our
due to a near-fatal accident and our
due to a near-fatal accident and our chapter raised over $12,000 in a short
chapter raised over $12,000 in a short
chapter raised over $12,000 in a short amount of time to help his family with
amount of time to help his family with
amount of time to help his family with hospital expenses where were those
hospital expenses where were those
hospital expenses where were those headlines I supported the chapter when
headlines I supported the chapter when
headlines I supported the chapter when we lost a brother to an unforeseen
we lost a brother to an unforeseen
we lost a brother to an unforeseen circumstance and came back when we lost
circumstance and came back when we lost
circumstance and came back when we lost another brother shortly thereafter to a
another brother shortly thereafter to a
another brother shortly thereafter to a fatal car accident neither of these
fatal car accident neither of these
fatal car accident neither of these deaths being fraternity related did that
deaths being fraternity related did that
deaths being fraternity related did that miss the evening news and then of course
miss the evening news and then of course
miss the evening news and then of course there were the better days where I’ve
there were the better days where I’ve
there were the better days where I’ve seen several alumni passed down
seen several alumni passed down
seen several alumni passed down internships and job opportunities for
internships and job opportunities for
internships and job opportunities for our younger members and I’ve attended
our younger members and I’ve attended
our younger members and I’ve attended leadership schools where thousands of
leadership schools where thousands of
leadership schools where thousands of leaders have gathered and shared their
leaders have gathered and shared their
leaders have gathered and shared their wealth of knowledge the memory I have
wealth of knowledge the memory I have
wealth of knowledge the memory I have was an opportunity I was given to travel
was an opportunity I was given to travel
was an opportunity I was given to travel across the country and sit down with the
across the country and sit down with the
across the country and sit down with the Supreme Council of my national
Supreme Council of my national
Supreme Council of my national fraternity they chose the top 30
fraternity they chose the top 30
fraternity they chose the top 30 undergraduate leaders among all active
undergraduate leaders among all active
undergraduate leaders among all active members and the bonds created that
members and the bonds created that
members and the bonds created that weekend were unforgettable to this day I
weekend were unforgettable to this day I
weekend were unforgettable to this day I still talk to the members I met that
still talk to the members I met that
still talk to the members I met that week
week
week shortly before this opportunity I was
shortly before this opportunity I was
shortly before this opportunity I was awarded with the highest Thunder honor
awarded with the highest Thunder honor
awarded with the highest Thunder honor an undergraduate can receive in my
an undergraduate can receive in my
an undergraduate can receive in my fraternity by our chapter advisor he
fraternity by our chapter advisor he
fraternity by our chapter advisor he allowed my parents to pin the awarded
allowed my parents to pin the awarded
allowed my parents to pin the awarded badge on me at our holiday dinner and to
badge on me at our holiday dinner and to
badge on me at our holiday dinner and to be honest it wasn’t until that moment
be honest it wasn’t until that moment
be honest it wasn’t until that moment that I saw my parents faces light up
that I saw my parents faces light up
that I saw my parents faces light up with joy and excitement because they
with joy and excitement because they
with joy and excitement because they were finally beginning to see what the
were finally beginning to see what the
were finally beginning to see what the fraternity has done for their son and
fraternity has done for their son and
fraternity has done for their son and theirs future another story I tell from
theirs future another story I tell from
theirs future another story I tell from my presidency was an interview I had
my presidency was an interview I had
my presidency was an interview I had with an LA Times reporter back in March
with an LA Times reporter back in March
with an LA Times reporter back in March of 2015 he interviewed me regarding the
of 2015 he interviewed me regarding the
of 2015 he interviewed me regarding the fraternity at a university in the south
fraternity at a university in the south
fraternity at a university in the south regarding a racial incident Oklahoma
regarding a racial incident Oklahoma
regarding a racial incident Oklahoma frats racist chant highlights the
frats racist chant highlights the
frats racist chant highlights the exclusionary roots of Greek life was the
exclusionary roots of Greek life was the
exclusionary roots of Greek life was the headline across all news channels a
headline across all news channels a
headline across all news channels a racist event splashed across every media
racist event splashed across every media
racist event splashed across every media outlet and the culprits were members of
outlet and the culprits were members of
outlet and the culprits were members of our fraternity my fraternity that
our fraternity my fraternity that
our fraternity my fraternity that fraternity I represented day in and day
fraternity I represented day in and day
fraternity I represented day in and day out while one chapter should not reflect
out while one chapter should not reflect
out while one chapter should not reflect the inner-workings ethics and morals of
the inner-workings ethics and morals of
the inner-workings ethics and morals of an entire fraternity or Greek life as a
an entire fraternity or Greek life as a
an entire fraternity or Greek life as a whole this one really hurt most
whole this one really hurt most
whole this one really hurt most importantly I wanted that reporter their
importantly I wanted that reporter their
importantly I wanted that reporter their audience and the country as a whole to
audience and the country as a whole to
audience and the country as a whole to know that our fraternities membership
know that our fraternities membership
know that our fraternities membership represented a strong ethnic diversity
represented a strong ethnic diversity
represented a strong ethnic diversity reflective of our campus population many
reflective of our campus population many
reflective of our campus population many people join for the wrong reasons they
people join for the wrong reasons they
people join for the wrong reasons they hear these stereotypes and they want to
hear these stereotypes and they want to
hear these stereotypes and they want to be a part of that popular group that
be a part of that popular group that
be a part of that popular group that just parties and drinks on the weekends
just parties and drinks on the weekends
just parties and drinks on the weekends but they’re really missing what the real
but they’re really missing what the real
but they’re really missing what the real reason of being in Greek life is all
reason of being in Greek life is all
reason of being in Greek life is all about during high school and my early
about during high school and my early
about during high school and my early college years my family struggled
college years my family struggled
college years my family struggled financially I made a promise to myself
financially I made a promise to myself
financially I made a promise to myself that one day I would pay it all back to
that one day I would pay it all back to
that one day I would pay it all back to my parents by making them proud I told
my parents by making them proud I told
my parents by making them proud I told myself I’d lock in a full-time career
myself I’d lock in a full-time career
myself I’d lock in a full-time career prior to graduation and if it wasn’t for
prior to graduation and if it wasn’t for
prior to graduation and if it wasn’t for my fraternity this would not have been
my fraternity this would not have been
my fraternity this would not have been possible I look back on the morals and
possible I look back on the morals and
possible I look back on the morals and traditions not only from what I’ve built
traditions not only from what I’ve built
traditions not only from what I’ve built in my fraternity but also what I’ve
in my fraternity but also what I’ve
in my fraternity but also what I’ve adopted from my culture all of this
adopted from my culture all of this
adopted from my culture all of this molding me into the person I
molding me into the person I
molding me into the person I today I’m able to hold casual and
today I’m able to hold casual and
today I’m able to hold casual and professional conversations while leading
professional conversations while leading
professional conversations while leading executive and upper management meetings
executive and upper management meetings
executive and upper management meetings all with that confidence I’ve built
all with that confidence I’ve built
all with that confidence I’ve built within the fraternity I have the ability
within the fraternity I have the ability
within the fraternity I have the ability to use the alumni and undergraduate
to use the alumni and undergraduate
to use the alumni and undergraduate network to pass down jobs and vice versa
network to pass down jobs and vice versa
network to pass down jobs and vice versa I know I have a strong and loving Family
I know I have a strong and loving Family
I know I have a strong and loving Family Foundation even when they don’t a
Foundation even when they don’t a
Foundation even when they don’t a hundred percent agree with me and that
hundred percent agree with me and that
hundred percent agree with me and that makes me stronger more confident right
makes me stronger more confident right
makes me stronger more confident right before graduating from Cal Poly Pomona I
before graduating from Cal Poly Pomona I
before graduating from Cal Poly Pomona I co-founded a startup with my fraternity
co-founded a startup with my fraternity
co-founded a startup with my fraternity brother using that networking knowledge
brother using that networking knowledge
brother using that networking knowledge we gained in our undergraduate years it
we gained in our undergraduate years it
we gained in our undergraduate years it revolves around creating custom quality
revolves around creating custom quality
revolves around creating custom quality apparel for college organizations
apparel for college organizations
apparel for college organizations including Greek life clubs on campuses
including Greek life clubs on campuses
including Greek life clubs on campuses and other startups we look to support
and other startups we look to support
and other startups we look to support other individuals looking to make their
other individuals looking to make their
other individuals looking to make their market a company which is why the
market a company which is why the
market a company which is why the majority of our team is still in college
majority of our team is still in college
majority of our team is still in college the college network has endless
the college network has endless
the college network has endless opportunities as you’re meeting people
opportunities as you’re meeting people
opportunities as you’re meeting people from all over the world in every class
from all over the world in every class
from all over the world in every class you take and every activity you
you take and every activity you
you take and every activity you participate in take a moment to think
participate in take a moment to think
participate in take a moment to think about your best friend and what his or
about your best friend and what his or
about your best friend and what his or her parents do for a living what about
her parents do for a living what about
her parents do for a living what about your larger group of friends and what
your larger group of friends and what
your larger group of friends and what each one of their parents do for a
each one of their parents do for a
each one of their parents do for a living now think about every single
living now think about every single
living now think about every single person you interact with on a daily
person you interact with on a daily
person you interact with on a daily basis and what every one of their
basis and what every one of their
basis and what every one of their parents do for a living when you think
parents do for a living when you think
parents do for a living when you think about how large our networks naturally
about how large our networks naturally
about how large our networks naturally are it’s mind-boggling
are it’s mind-boggling
are it’s mind-boggling so did I pay for my friends no I paid a
so did I pay for my friends no I paid a
so did I pay for my friends no I paid a very small amount to be a part of a very
very small amount to be a part of a very
very small amount to be a part of a very large national organization that has
large national organization that has
large national organization that has only given me endless opportunities for
only given me endless opportunities for
only given me endless opportunities for myself and my future that friends part
myself and my future that friends part
myself and my future that friends part was just an added bonus it’s up to the
was just an added bonus it’s up to the
was just an added bonus it’s up to the future of Greek life and others in their
future of Greek life and others in their
future of Greek life and others in their undergraduate studies to build that
undergraduate studies to build that
undergraduate studies to build that positive Network for their future as Tom
positive Network for their future as Tom
positive Network for their future as Tom Ford said the most important things in
Ford said the most important things in
Ford said the most important things in life are the connections you make with
life are the connections you make with
life are the connections you make with others
others
others thank you
thank you
thank you [Applause]
”
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