Pike disbands after unsuccessful colonization
Pike disbands after unsuccessful colonization
This past summer, MIT’s Pi Kappa Alpha (Pike) colony disbanded in a mutual agreement between the colony and the national organization.
The colony originally started in the spring of 2010, in what began as a slow process because members were scattered across many dorms on campus, said former Pike President Eric A. Del Castillo ’13. Sigma Alpha Epsilon, another new fraternity on campus (founded in 1892, then closed in 1998 before reopening this year), succeeded where Pike failed partially because SAE had the advantage of having members concentrated in Bexley Hall, said Castillo. There was also little progress in organizing the potential fraternity during the summer, which came upon the group very quickly, said Castillo.
Pike was unsuccessful in its first Rush attempt this fall due to a lack of available members and funds. Only five brothers were on campus during rush, and the colony only had a $500 budget. It was difficult to compete with the other frats that spent “thousands or tens of thousands of dollars,” said Castillo. “With such an established Greek life it’s hard to jump into it,” he added.
Though Pike did recruit seven more members in the spring and brought its total to 25, the colony had to disband. Their numbers could not support the funds necessary to pay their national organization, who did not want to pursue the colonization, said Castillo.
Even though there is no longer a Pike on campus, Castillo said that they are all “still good friends,” and that Pike still exists as a social group.
—Bruno B. F. Faviero