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Izagani Omega Pi: WU’s first ‘fratority’ promotes student bonding
Freshman Izagani Aquino created a “fratority” in hopes of capturing the positive social aspects of Greek Life while prioritizing inclusivity. (Photo courtesy of Izagani Aquino)
“Our basic thing is everyone’s welcome,” freshman Izagani Aquino said. “Everyone can join. Everyone can come hang out.”
Aquino was referring to Washington University’s first “fratority”: Izagani Omega Pi (IOP), which he created during the first week of the semester to help freshmen find community during this transitional period of their lives.
So far, IOP has hosted several activities to promote freshman bonding including organizing mixers, trips and commemorating a bathroom in Seigle Hall to their organization. The group now boasts over 300 members within the class of 2025.
Aquino’s goal was to create a social group on campus that would adopt certain aspects of Greek Life, such as forming close bonds between members, while remaining a wholly inclusive group.
“My first few weeks coming into WashU, it was fun to keep meeting a lot of people, but it was lonely at the same time because no one really knows you,” freshman Emily Swoboda said. “Since no one really knows you, it’s a lot of tiring, small conversations.”
Swoboda ended up joining the fratority this semester. “It felt like when a kid’s like, ‘Wouldn’t it be crazy if we did this?’ and then does it,” she said. “They don’t feel very Greek Life, but just like a lot of people getting to do fun things and trying to build community. So I thought it was kind of genius and it’s really fun.”
The fratority exists as a group open to all Class of 2025 students as a way of providing companionship and community to whatever activity a member may want to get involved with.
“It can be awkward at times to have an excuse to start a conversation or have people to go with to something happening on campus,” Aquino said. “I guess there’s some anxiety for students in those first couple of weeks trying to figure that out. So in some ways as well, the fratority can be defined as a means for having everyone involved.”
When asked about her favorite fratority memory, freshman Ella Brodey mentioned the time the fratority went on the University sponsored first year zoo trip. “Izagani kind of hijacks everything as a fratority event in a good way. We went to the zoo, and we made it onto the WashU Instagram with our hand sign. Everyone in the fratority went to the zoo together, and it was a crazy trip.”
IOP has grown to include more than 300 members who participate in a variety of activities together. (Photo courtesy of Izagani Aquino)
In addition to doing a number of activities together as a group, IOP created a “fratority paddle,” a satire on a Greek Life pledging tradition.
The paddle has symbolic meaning, Aquino said. “[It’s] basically just a scrap piece of wood that someone in the fratority found. We had a paddle decoration night where we painted the paddle, and then on the backside of the paddle, we’ve been getting everyone in the fratority to sign it. So it’s kind of another example that everyone’s involved. We’ll run into you, you can sign it, and show that you’re part of this with us.”
“It sounds kind of stupid and cheesy,” he continued. “But having the paddle there is that way of showing if you need something to fall back on, if you need someone to hang out with, or just anyone to talk to you, there are all these signatures and people here that are willing to have that conversation with you.”
While IOP seemed like an odd idea at its conception, many freshmen have changed their opinions.
“My initial impression was: ‘What is this guy doing?,’” freshman Andrew de las Alas said. “But then I realized, pretty much after he said so, that the message of it was just to try to spark some social interaction. I think both because everybody’s new and also coming out of a pandemic where a lot of people were either inside or sequestered in some way, it really jump-started a lot of social interaction.”
Aquino echoed similar sentiments about the social opportunities that IOP is bringing to students. “I’m a strong believer in those small moments of acknowledgment,” he said. “That someone knows you’re there is a huge part of making you feel like you belong somewhere. I know people that are in Model UN and then they’ll see other Model UN people in front of BD and they’re saying ‘hi’ to each other. That’s what community is. It’s not necessarily those huge moments. It’s just kind of like little moments of acknowledgment that you’re part of something together, and the fact that I’ve been able to see that on campus, I think says that it’s been successful to a degree.”
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