This last week, I had the honor of getting awarded Man of the Year by the Interfraternity Council (IFC), made up of the twenty-something fraternities on Oregon State’s campus. I’m very humbled to have been given the award, so this week’s post was the cover letter I submitted when I applied for it.

To the Awards Committee,

People will always need people.

A statement that has stuck with me over the last few years never underscores the power of community and the influence we all have to improve the environment around us. Growing up, I saw my small community rally together during times of need, whether that be needing assistance during an event or coming together in an unforeseeable tragedy. 

Initially, I faced challenges upon arriving at Oregon State. I thought that I wasn’t going to find a place where I would fit in and that I wouldn’t have a good college experience. I knew I wanted to join a fraternity but lacked the self-confidence to put myself out there. It wasn’t until I had a conversation with John, who served as the recruitment chairman in ATO, that I truly grasped the essence of Greek Life. We discussed my reasons for rushing, the fact that I was nervous, and the importance of being true to yourself during the recruitment process. It was in that moment that I realized Greek Life was where I belonged, where I could truly find my place. Although I ultimately joined FIJI instead, I point to that conversation with John as my initial insight into the close-knit nature of the Greek community. Despite being in a different fraternity, his words left a lasting impact on me.

The most significant opportunity I’ve had to be influential was when I was chapter president. I’ve never believed in taking a leadership position or helping others because of the clout that would accompany it or the recognition I could receive. My actions and decisions are based solely on how I can better others and the organizations I’m a part of. To leave something better than I found it. And that’s what I aspired to do during my presidency. I worked with my friends to overhaul our rules and bylaws because we thought FIJI could be more than it currently was. I connected with a local lawyer so we could recover debts that graduate students owed and apply for grants to improve aspects of our chapter house. I got to teach my guys the importance of how our university and state laws protect and serve us. Most importantly, I got very involved in helping these men become the best versions of themselves. Having grown up on a farm, I’ve come to realize that leading college-aged men is a lot like herding cattle: chaotic and directionless when no one has a plan to get them where they should be, but give them encouragement and purpose, and they’ll follow you to the place where you want them to go.

Influence is a powerful thing. Just as I have worked to influence others for the better, everyone in our IFC community has been a positive influence on me. My brothers have made me more empathetic, understanding, and patient. Hearing their perspective on life has broadened my knowledge of the world and our places in it. The other chapter presidents during my year have also been a source of community. Despite our affiliations, we leaders always had a culture of acceptance and support as we navigated the difficulties of our presidencies. They inspired me to persevere, keep fighting for what I believed in within my chapter, and continue progressing as we built up IFC.

My experience as a recruitment chair drove me to realize the role of fraternity life in shaping young men to be better versions of themselves despite being in different houses. As I navigated the recruiting process, I came to realize that recruitment is equally reciprocal: we strive to include young men who align well with the values of our chapter, while also trying to match them with chapters where they can contribute to growth and development and better themselves. Sometimes, PNM’s I met were terrific guys, but they wouldn’t have been a good fit in FIJI. But talking to them, I knew that they would be phenomenal Phi Psi’s. Or ATO’s. Or Sig Ep’s. The list goes on. Building up our IFC community means collaboration and respect for one another; during recruitment, that means thinking about what will be best for our chapters and community. Now, there are members I met during the recruitment process who joined other houses that I see daily in the gym, on campus, or at a joint function. Now, they’re in the stage of Greek Life where they’re working hard to better their respective chapters. But I can still talk to them and support them where they are now. They might not have been a right fit for FIJI. But they are a right fit where they are now and benefiting from the same experience I went through. 

Now that I’ve stepped back from leadership in my chapter, I am focusing on being a positive role model for my chapter and our IFC community. I’ve taken on a role as a SING consultant and am providing support to my team. I’ve joined Order of Omega, our Greek Life Honor Society, to meet more people in our community and help bridge the representation gap between the number of members in IFC versus PHC. But most importantly, I am still taking the time to influence and challenge people in our community to improve. Because the people in our community are some of the best I’ve ever met. And those people are why I have come this far.

To the committee of current presidents and IFC members currently reviewing this application, my hope is that you recognize the extraordinary chance you have as community leaders to serve as positive role models for your younger members. Your influence cannot be understated. In a world where men are more isolated and disconnected from each other, we are presented with the choice to be supportive and build each other up. Our community and world requires it, and I know our IFC will continue to do it long after we are all gone.

People will always need people. Be somebody, for anybody.

Sincerely,

Colby J. Fairbairn