The University of Colorado has reached a new milestone in multicultural Greek life with the establishment of Pi Delta Psi, an Asian-interest fraternity.
The organization is focused on bringing cultural awareness to the CU community and has high hopes about the future, said Joshua Libid, a junior sociology major and president of the Boulder chapter of Pi Delta Psi.
“We’re looking to bring better communication through other organizations on campus and bring awareness about culture,” Libid said.
Pi Delta Psi member Alexander Phung, a freshman open-option major, said he was surprised when coming to CU that there hadn’t previously been an organization like Pi Delta Psi on campus.
“I didn’t know there wasn’t one until I got here,” Phung said. “Joining the group was necessary because Asians didn’t have a big voice on campus, and I felt that it was needed.”
According to their Web site, Pi Delta Psi was founded in February of 1994 and expanded to 11 different campuses, setting a record for the fastest growing organization of its kind.
William Xu, the organization’s national president and a graduate from the Rochester Institute of Technology, said the establishment of the Boulder chapter plays a crucial link for the organization.
“We’ve mostly been in the Northeast, and Boulder is a big step for us in the West,” Xu said. “The only chapter we have on the West is at the University of California at Riverside. Boulder serves as a link between our East and West coast chapters.”
Xu said he hopes the Boulder chapter can work with other campuses across Colorado to expand.
“Even if we don’t succeed in expanding, we encourage our Boulder chapter to work with other campuses across Colorado to make a stronger presence,” Xu said.
Boulder’s Pi Delta Psi chapter has been working alongside CU’s Asian-interest sorority, Sigma Psi Zeta, in bringing cultural awareness to the CU community.
The two organizations will be hosting “Culture Shock,” a multicultural talent show in the UMC’s Glenn Miller Ballroom Friday at 7 p.m.
“It’s a talent show focused on multiculturalism,” Libid said. “We have different backgrounds presenting at the event, like Taiko drumming, traditional Japanese drumming.”
The cost of the event is free and members of Pi Delta Psi said they look forward to the chance to bring cultural awareness to students.
“I’m hoping that it’s a good show and that we can promote cultural awareness,” Phung said. “That’s the main focus of the event.”
Xu said the event is a great chance for the organization to fulfill its main goal of cultural education on the CU campus.
“We call ourselves a cultural fraternity, we want to educate those in the CU boulder community,” Xu said. “I’m very proud of them for hosting this so early in their establishment.”
Libid said having the chance to work with Sigma Psi Zeta has been great for the organization.
“We couldn’t have done it without Sigma Psi Zeta,” Libid said. “We’re really grateful.”
Contact CU Independent Staff Writer Sarah.e.simmons@colorado.edu.
