Frequently
Asked Questions
Isn't a
fraternity supposed to be for men only?
Although most fraternities for women call themselves
sororities, fraternity is the more general term for a greek
letter organization. We are a fraternity in the true sense
of word. Interestingly, all members are referred to as
brothers, including our female members.
What is
pledging?
You can join some organizations simply by filling out a
form and mailing in your dues. Joining a fraternity is more
work. Pledging is a process where you associate with our
fraternity for several months before becoming a member.
This gives you and us a chance to get know each other
before we both decide it is time for you to become a full
member.
What is a
rush?
Rush occurs during the first two weeks of school. It is the
recruitment process where a fraternity finds people who
might become pledges. We set up a table on Quad Day and
hold a few information sessions during rush.
What is a
Professional Fraternity?
A Professional Fraternity chooses its members based on
common professional goals and interests. The more common
social fraternities choose their members based on common
social interests.
Who can
pledge AXE and when can I pledge?
Anyone who is going to take at least three Chemistry or
Chemistry related courses. This means that most scientists
and engineers are qualified. Any year is an ideal time to
pledge - this of course include people up to and including
the graduate level and professionals. We usually conduct
pledging during the both the fall and spring semesters.
Is
pledging fun?
We hope so! If you don't find it fun (which is highly
unlikely), you probably won't find becoming a member fun
either.
How much
of a time commitment is pledging?
A few hours a week maximum. We have mandatory pledge
meetings once a week and recommended activities on some
weekends. The times commitment is more than to join most
clubs and other organizations, but much less than to join a
social fraternity. We won't wake you up at 5am to do
push-ups!
What will
I do as a pledge?
As a pledge you will have a pledge family, a set of active
members to act as mentors and assist you through the
pledging process. You have to learn a little about the
fraternities history and alchemy. Mostly though, you will
be having fun and learning what brotherhood is all about.
Is AXE
only in Champaign-Urbana?
No. AXE has about 50 collegiate chapters throughout the
country. On of the coolest parts about the fraternity is
visiting another chapter or meeting brothers from a
different part of the country.
Can I
Join another frat/sorority if I join
AXE?
Yes! In fact, several of our brothers are also in social
fraternities and sororities.
I'm a
grad student. What about me?
We are not only undergrads. Many of our active members are
graduate students. In fact, many professors are also AXE
brothers (including some with Nobel Prizes). Since we are a
professional fraternity, we also have active presence in
industry and a number of professional chapters. AXE isn't
just for undergrads, it's for life.