After six years, Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity has made their return to campus and is drawing enthusiasm from students who are eager to take part.
Phi Alpha Delta President Jaylyn Ortiz, a junior business marketing major with a pre-law minor, said the fraternity — which is open to all genders — focuses on students’ oral, intellectual and cultural advancement while helping students who are pursuing a career in legal work or becoming lawyers.
“The org[inization] is kind of built on the networking aspect of giving students a chance to network in a way they might not have gotten to if they weren’t having this leg up by having a prelaw fraternity on their resume,” Ortiz said.
Ortiz said she was aided by Adviser Mikel Norris, a Phi Alpha Delta alum himself, on the journey to reinstate the fraternity back on campus.
Vice President of Philanthropy Devon Damodio, a junior political science major, said she is excited for the fraternity’s return. “Ever since I came to campus I always looked out for it and I always wanted to join,” Damodio said.
Secretary Shaila Romero, junior political science major, said she is interested in becoming a lawyer. Ortiz came to her and asked about joining the fraternity as an executive member.
“I’m sitting in class and I hear people talking that Phi Alpha Delta is back in running again,” Romero said. “It makes me feel great.”
Ortiz said the fraternity is planning events soon, such as a tabling event on campus, a silent auction gala and bring in many more speakers. They recently did a Pie-a-Professor event to fund a trip in the following year to go to Washington, D.C.
“So, one of our big things is we want to go to the National Conference in D.C. next semester. There are a lot of opportunities there for grants and scholarships for our students,” Ortiz said.
Ortiz also explained how the fraternity is trying to do philanthropy with the business fraternity on campus.
“We can raise some money for charity and raise some money for ourselves,” Ortiz said.
Phi Alpa Delta held their induction ceremony on March 27 at 6:30 p.m. in the Lib Jackson Student Union Theater, where it was led by the executive members of the fraternity.
The fraternity is looking to get more students involved as it continues to grow.