SigEp staff interviewed the vice president of communications from our Wisconsin Beta chapter at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Brandon Buzdugan, to learn more about their chapter’s ski trip this winter.

Gurney: I got the chance to see the photos @officialsigep shared about your ski trip, but tell me a little bit about the event. What was the schedule, what did y’all do and where were you?

Buzdugan: Our vice president of programming wanted to tie our rush all together, and create a finale to spring rush. Our theme for rush was skiing, so we thought a ski trip would be really cool. We found this place, Tyrol Basin, a little bit outside of Madison. We got a bunch of the brothers who were interested in going and all the new brothers to go and ski together for the afternoon. It was a chance to celebrate them being a part of the brotherhood.

Gurney: So it’s a cap to recruitment week after guys joined?

Buzdugan: Yes.

Gurney: I think more chapters need to find creative ways to celebrate when guys join.

Buzdugan: We wanted to stand out. We’re still somewhat new at this point [on campus] and we wanted to do something that would really capture the attention of new brothers. We actually do fun stuff as a brotherhood, not just the typical [activities] on campus, not just the typical frat guy stuff.

Gurney: How do you think this event encapsulates seeking balance and building a sound mind and body through the Balanced Man Program?

Buzdugan: Unlike other frats, we do more than the typical house party or what other guys do on campus. We really wanted this to be an expedition of sorts, relating it to the Balanced Man Program. We are teaching brothers who have not experienced skiing something new. And it was such a fun bonding way to really emphasize the brotherly love of our Fraternity. Everyone hung out. Some of the older guys were talking to new guys they had not talked to before in a completely new setting. It was an interesting dynamic to witness and go through.

Gurney: Did you guys have any highlights from the day, either from yourself or the rest of the chapter?

Buzdugan: Some of the guys who went had no experience skiing whatsoever. It was really fun seeing brothers teaching each other how to ski. You know, a lot of us were either professionals or new beginners. So that was a fun thing that everyone took away. We all talked about how fun it was just to teach everyone and kind of just do the rounds. By the end of the night everyone was well adjusted and we were all just bonding, going up different slopes and whatnot.

Gurney: How does this shape what your chapter wants to do with the BMP in the future?

Buzdugan: We want to stand out and show everyone that we are not the typical fraternity. We value different aspects of life, whether that’s academic, recreational — having fun — and that community and brotherhood. We really emphasize trying something new, stepping out of our comfort zones and experiencing life the best we can.

Gurney: What would your message of encouragement be to chapters who are struggling to create ideas that help them be different and keep brothers involved?

Buzdugan: Collaborating; everyone talking about different ideas and working toward a goal is what I think would be most beneficial. That’s how we came up with this event. We were all sitting down thinking of something we could do that was outside the box. See what’s around you — what’s sustainable that you can all have fun doing while being realistic — but also something that no one else [on campus] would think of.