During the first week of February, I saw the flyers advertising rush events for the sororities and fraternities on campus. I’ve never been interested in joining a sorority, but backwards hats really suit me. So, I decided to check out a rush event hosted by one of the university’s fraternities to see if it would fit my vibe.

This decision led me to the front door of the Pi Kappa Phi house on Feb. 4. The social fraternity was hosting a “Meet the Brothers” event, and it seemed like the perfect time to drop by.

My knock on the door was met with … confusion. Though they were a bit bewildered, the two brothers who opened the door let me in with no questions asked. They pointed me downstairs, and I walked out into a sunny backyard to meet the brothers of Pi Kappa Phi.

Walking into a room full of men as a woman can feel terrifying sometimes, but with these men, I felt no fear. It was immediately clear to me that Pi Kappa Phi was a safe place to be. I was determined to complete my mission.

I was approached by a few of the brothers who asked if I knew someone there, but when it was clear that I was hoping to rush, everyone returned to their activities. The activities consisted of throwing dice in the air for some sort of game. Though I asked for an explanation, I’m still not clear on the rules.

After about ten minutes of my being there, I came across the president of Pi Kappa Phi, senior communication major Hudson Spurlock. Spurlock, like everyone else, was a bit confused about my presence at the event. He told me, “Unfortunately, unless you were born a man or identify as a man, [you] cannot join.”

I was a bit disappointed but not surprised. My hopes of rushing were crushed, but I still wanted to know about the fraternity I almost joined. I asked Spurlock a few questions and found out that Pi Kappa Phi is active in the community.

According to their website, Pi Kappa Phi strives to “create an uncommon and lifelong brotherhood that develops leaders and encourages service to others for the betterment of our communities.” 

Pi Kappa Phi’s commitment to this mission statement became clear to me when Spurlock spoke about their involvement in the non-profit, “The Ability Project,” which is a non-profit that believes every child deserves a chance to be active. Their mission is to “assist kids with disabilities by providing training resources, funding for medical equipment and advocating for opportunities for children with disabilities to participate in movement-based activities.”

I talked to sophomore sociology major Asher Early over text message, a member of Pi Kappa Phi, and learned about Gear Up Florida, “a 1,000-mile bike ride from Miami to Tallahassee, Florida, that raises money and awareness for those with disabilities,” according to Early. In the summer of 2025, Early, along with Pi Kappa Phi members across the country, will tackle the 1,000-mile bike ride and raise money for “The Ability Project.”

Over the last few years, the UCCS chapter of Pi Kappa Phi has worked to reform the way they recruit members. The vetting process for potential brothers is extensive. Spurlock and others in charge of recruitment want to make sure the people they let in have values that align with those of Pi Kappa Phi. “Our initiation happens over seven weeks,” Spurlock said. “It means we have low retention but better members.”

Their recruitment strategy seems to be successful. The brothers of Pi Kappa Phi were welcoming and inclusive, even though they were all a little confused that a girl was trying to rush.

Though I will never be able to join Pi Kappa Phi, I’m glad I tried.

The Mountain Lion statue. Photo by Logan Cole.