Name: Peyton Zere
Year: 2015
Hometown: Fort Jeff, New York
Major: Political Science
Campus Activities: President and Founder of Kappa Alpha, Vice Chair GW College Republicans, DC Bound Guide
Why did you start Kappa Alpha?
“I just thought it was a great opportunity. The guys over at nationals emailed me in October of 2011 and asked me for an interview. They said you can make this chapter whatever you like. I’m usually one to hop on opportunities, so I thought it would be different than just joining a fraternity and starting at the bottom and then working your way up. They offered leadership roles right from the start.”
What was the process of starting KA?
“The beginning stages were a lot of paper work and trying to get people into the right leadership positions. From there it was all about recruitment and then participating in as much as possible; philanthropies, Greek wide events, and even just school events in general. Now we’ve fallen into the more structured rush process. We don’t do as much rolling recruitment, but that’s where you have to start and you have to build that foundation.”
What was the greatest challenge of starting KA?
“I think the biggest challenge of starting KA was keeping up with the perseverance. Trying to get the name out is really difficult when you start out with eight or nine pledges. But you just can’t let talk or other factors get you down and you have to reflect on why you did it and keep moving forward.”
What has been your greatest achievement in KA?
“Having a couple really successful pledge classes and I think winning Greek week last year was huge. It really showed the guys that we could be a factor in the Greek community.”
What is KA’s motto?
“‘Dieu et les Damess,’ which means ‘For God and the Ladies.’ A lot of our ideals fall under chivalry so it’s being respectful to women and not that you have to be a certain religion but I guess you can say we are all believers and being respectful of other people’s ideas and whoever they worship or respect.”
What do you want your legacy to be on GW’s chapter of KA?
“Showing the guys to take some risk when you really want to do something and sticking with it. It would have been very easy for me and the eight or nine other guys that started it to give up after the first year and say, ‘Good try. Let’s join another chapter,’ and slip right in and be one of the masses. I’d say sticking to your guns and riding it out.”
What’s the best thing you have learned?
“I’ve learned more about myself. Coming into this I remember sitting at my first chapter meeting and literally my stomach up in my throat thinking I can’t speak in front of this many people. I would consider myself outgoing but it’s a whole different thing when you’re in charge of your peers. It’s like not they’re younger than you and there’s already some hierarchy. You are all on the same playing field. I think the confidence to be in front of your peers and set the agenda and the direction of the chapter is a confidence builder and you realize your potential.”
What has been your experience with the College Republicans?
“College Republicans has been an incredible learning experience. We are obviously in the minority here at GW, which fits into the same theme of don’t give up your own principles just to fit in. If you believe something is right and you know what your doing is what you want to why not make the most of it and go for a leadership role and put yourself out there.”
What do you think makes a good leader?
“I think being able to separate friendship from responsibility. I’ve had to punish some of my best friends, my little. You have to find that line and make sure it’s not blurred. You were give this position and you have to treat it as if everyone was equal. You can’t pick favorites and be fair.”
What advice would you give to someone who wants to take on a leadership position?
“Don’t worry about time commitment because you can always find time. Yes it’s very stressful and yeah you might have to move some things around in your life and re-prioritize but it’s worth the end result. It’s worth the fulfillment. If you’re worried about taking too much responsibility I would say don’t because if you’re a good leader you’ll be able to prioritize and realize what’s important.”
What is the best advice you have gotten?
“Every time I go into something and I’m not sure how I’m going to handle it or what to do, my mom always says, ‘A million people have done it before you.’ Yeah you might be restarting a chapter and that might be a new experience for that group of people, but people have done it before you and it’s been successful so why can’t you do it as well?”