WORCESTER, Mass. – Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) senior Matthew Schulze, of Townsend, Mass., has been selected by Sigma Alpha Epsilon's national office to be part of the North American Interfraternity Conference delegation to represent the undergraduate fraternity experience on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. from April 12-16, as the NIC lobbies to pass the Collegiate Housing and Infrastructure Act, which includes regulations for fraternity and sorority chapter fundraising and house renovations.
Schulze, 21, a member of WPI's chapter of Sigma Alpha Epsilon, was chosen out of 300 applicants to attend the Congressional Hill visits that will occur with the NIC’s annual meeting. The 75 undergraduates who were selected for this honor will lobby Congress to pass legislation that will help fraternities and sororities. For the past year, the NIC and fraternity and sorority members have pushed Congressional members to approve the Collegiate Housing and Infrastructure Act. If passed, it would allow for tax-deductible donations be used for improving the safety and structure of fraternity and sorority houses at colleges and universities across the country, thus giving fraternal/sorority education foundations the same economic rights as colleges and universities to pay for and build campus housing.
"I hope to be an active participant on Capitol Hill and give my support to the legislation that could potentially save hundreds of lives as well as strengthen Greek life," Schulze said. "WPI's Greek system is one of the best in the country. My experience of Greek life at WPI has been invaluable because not only has it provided me with skills that I can take with me in the future, but it motivates me to continue to give back to my community."
Schulze, who is majoring in biology and biotechnology with a concentration in cell and molecular biology and genetics, will also help lobby for the College Fire Prevention Act, which would authorize federal money to fund, via matching grants, fire safety improvements to existing college housing.
A senator of WPI’s Student Government Association for four years, Schulze has been vice president of standards and internal operations for the Interfraternity Council, an orientation leader, and a peer advisor on campus.
"Representing WPI's fraternity and sorority system in Washington, D.C. is an incredible honor," he said. "The ability to serve the Greek community in this capacity means that I can help Greek life thrive on WPI's campus and show that we are values-based organizations that contribute to the intellectual, social, and overall growth of its members."
"Matt is one of WPI's most committed student leaders," noted Emily Perlow, WPI's associate director of student activities and Greek life programs. "His passion for improving the lives of WPI fraternity and sorority members makes him an excellent representative on Capitol Hill."
