Southern Miss Pi Kapps Win Big Elections
 Two alumni of the Theta Alpha Chapter (Southern Mississippi) were elected to state offices on Tuesday, November 11. Lieutenant Governor Phil Bryant was elected as governor while Toby Barker was re-elected to serve as state representative for Mississippi’s 102nd district in Hattiesburg.
Bryant, an alumnus initiate, graduated from the University of Southern Mississippi in 1977 and began his political career in 1990 as a state representative. He was introduced to Pi Kappa Phi by his director of communications, Mick Bullock who is also a Theta Alpha alumnus. Impressed by the fraternity’s commitment to leadership, Bryant was initiated on February 2, 2007.
Bryant, a Republican, defeated Hattiesburg Mayor Johnny Dupree by winning more than 60 percent of the vote. Both candidates were praised for running a clean race, free of attack ads and personal assaults. Bryant will serve as the state’s 64th governor.
“Pi Kappa Phi prides itself as being a fraternity of leaders,” said Chief Executive Officer Mark E. Timmes. “Our vision is to redefine fraternity as a lifelong brotherhood of leaders. We congratulate Brother Bryant for his sustained leadership for the citizens of Mississippi.”
 Rep. Barker also won in a landslide, handily defeating his opponent with more than 68 percent of the vote. Barker was first elected to the House of Representatives in 2007, and, at the age of 25, was the youngest legislator elected in the state of Mississippi. He has quickly risen in the house and was recently appointed the vice chairman of universities and colleges for the state of Mississippi.
In addition to his public service, Barker remains extremely active with the fraternity. He currently serves the Theta Alpha Chapter as chapter advisor and recently spoke during formal recruitment while the fraternity expanded to Mississippi State University.
Both men will be begin their new terms on January 10, 2012.
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Pi Kappa Phi to offer the Certified Ritualist Program
 Have you ever sought a deeper understanding of Pi Kappa Phi’s Ritual? Have you wondered how you can live the Ritual from day-to-day? Are you interested in learning how to properly stage, perform and debrief the Ritual of Initiation? This is your opportunity.
From January 6-8, 2012, Pi Kappa Phi will offer its Certified Ritual Program. All initiated members—undergraduate and alumni—are eligible to attend the Certified Ritualist training at the Renaissance Grand Hotel in downtown St. Louis, Mo. The costs—$185 for students and $225 for alumni—include two nights in the hotel, training materials, and lunch and dinner on Saturday.
The Certified Ritualist Program is a unique opportunity for any brother of Pi Kappa Phi who is interested in further clarifying how to live the Ritual in his daily life. Participants be equipped to execute and debrief the Ritual of Initiation, describe and apply the values espoused in the Ritual, and teach others to articulate and share deeper principles of the Ritual of Initiation.
Click here to register for Certified Ritualist Training. The deadline to register is January 3, 2012.
For more information about this program, contact Director of Leadership David Meigs at dmeigs@pikapp.org.
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Pi Kappa Phi expands to Mississippi State
STARKVILLE, Miss.—Pi Kappa Phi has wrapped up expansion efforts at Mississippi State. Over the course of the five week expansion, fraternity staff recruited 60 men to colonize Pi Kappa Phi’s newest associate chapter, the second active chapter in the state of Mississippi.
Leadership consultants Phillip Kelley, Beta Eta (Florida State), and Brett Haro, Theta Alpha (Southern Miss), led the efforts with support from staff members Tyler Johansson, Chi (Stetson), and Bradley Charlesworth, Theta Alpha (Southern Miss). Recruitment began during the summer as the national staff utilized summer orientation to spread the word of Pi Kappa Phi’s addition to campus. Brothers from Epsilon Phi (UAB) and Theta Alpha (Southern Miss) traveled to campus twice a week for the month of June to assist staff at orientation fair.
The staff kicked off the expansion by participating in formal recruitment and was graciously allowed to use the Delta Delta Delta chapter house. Chapter adviser Luke Fowler, Theta Alpha (Southern Miss) and academic adviser David Dycuss, Gamma Nu (LaGrange) assisted throughout recruitment and the remainder of the expansion. Chapter members from Southern Miss also attended to lend support including State Representative Toby Barker. With a small crew of brothers, Pi Kappa Phi was able to recruit 22 men during the first week of recruitment.
After formal recruitment, the staff and new founding fathers continued to recruit additional chapter members by tabling in the union, working with sorority women to gain referrals, hosting small events and meeting with potential members one-on-one. The new chapter made quite a splash by recruiting passionate Mississippi State students who are already leaders on campus. Members of the chapter are currently active in the Student Association cabinet, ROTC, Lacrosse team, Residence Life, Phi Mu Alpha and the Theta Tau engineering honor society.
The expansion would not have been such a success without the support of the Fraternity and Sorority Life staff, including Cedric Gathings, Heidie Lindsey and John Thompson as well as the Interfraternity Council led by Davis Dodson.
“The men that we recruited are excited to leave their legacy at Mississippi State,” said staff member Phillip Kelley. “They made the bold choice to start something new and build their own chapter. Their goal is to become a model chapter on their campus as well as within the greater fraternity.”
Over the next 12 to 18 months, the chapter will continue to recruit members, produce written programs and solidify their commitment to Push America in order to establish themselves as a leading chapter among the other fraternities on campus. Once the chapter has displayed its ability to sustain itself, the national fraternity will look to grant them a charter.
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