PTK: The Best Organization You've Never Heard Of
Issue date: 12/1/08 Section: Editorial & Opinion
Of all the organizations and clubs at Wright College, there is none more enigmatic and exclusive than Phi Theta Kappa (PTK). PTK strives to make college a better experience for students, but their lacking involvement this semester have transformed them into yet another one of Wright's disenfranchised.
PTK comes off as a secret society; an educational illuminati where only certain students are eligible to join. But even so, PTK Vice President of Membership Monica Gamino's description for the organization sums it up. "Not a lot of people even know what the letters mean or what it stands for," she said. "People probably just think it's some sort of a hang out club or like in the movies, a fraternity." In reality, PTK motive's are far from the Animal House variety. Gamino said they strive for academic excellence, looking for the best and brightest of Wright but during that process, they also shun the rest of student body.
When it comes to PTK, some students aren't even aware of the organization's purpose, or existence. "I didn't know anything about it," Wright student Darrius Overall said. "If I would have, I would've got up on it." It's comments like these that illustrate just how much communication is lacking between the student body and clubs and organizations. For PTK, the problem is not a lack of communication, it's their method for recruiting students. PTK's main student criteria requires students to have a 3.5 GPA and to be full-time. It's possible that more students are qualified for PTK, but their 'Invitation Only' stance makes it difficult to know. Recruitment numbers for PTK have reached more than 100 this year, but in a school of 7,000, it's saying something when not everyone gets invited to the party. "I think they should let everybody be eligible for that, not just a certain amount of people. You know, everybody wants to get out of here," Overall said, and who could blame him.
PTK's recruitment style has been meager this semester, due to a "transitional period," according to Vice President of Scholarships Wilson Torres. Torres explained that PTK has been training their new recruits extensively this semester; What the training is for, along with PTK's intentions, is anybody's guess.
PTK comes off as a secret society; an educational illuminati where only certain students are eligible to join. But even so, PTK Vice President of Membership Monica Gamino's description for the organization sums it up. "Not a lot of people even know what the letters mean or what it stands for," she said. "People probably just think it's some sort of a hang out club or like in the movies, a fraternity." In reality, PTK motive's are far from the Animal House variety. Gamino said they strive for academic excellence, looking for the best and brightest of Wright but during that process, they also shun the rest of student body.
When it comes to PTK, some students aren't even aware of the organization's purpose, or existence. "I didn't know anything about it," Wright student Darrius Overall said. "If I would have, I would've got up on it." It's comments like these that illustrate just how much communication is lacking between the student body and clubs and organizations. For PTK, the problem is not a lack of communication, it's their method for recruiting students. PTK's main student criteria requires students to have a 3.5 GPA and to be full-time. It's possible that more students are qualified for PTK, but their 'Invitation Only' stance makes it difficult to know. Recruitment numbers for PTK have reached more than 100 this year, but in a school of 7,000, it's saying something when not everyone gets invited to the party. "I think they should let everybody be eligible for that, not just a certain amount of people. You know, everybody wants to get out of here," Overall said, and who could blame him.
PTK's recruitment style has been meager this semester, due to a "transitional period," according to Vice President of Scholarships Wilson Torres. Torres explained that PTK has been training their new recruits extensively this semester; What the training is for, along with PTK's intentions, is anybody's guess.
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