By: Jillian Niedermeyer
Taiki Ishii has been a member of his fraternity for just over a year. His parents are both from Japan and do not understand his involvement in fraternity life. His perspective on Greek Life is unique because he is the first member of his family to join.
Taiki Ishii works on homework in his bedroom in his fraternity’s chapter house on February 14, 2017. Ishii is one of only ten members in his fraternity who is of Asian descent. Both of his parents are Japanese immigrants.
Ishii laughs in his fraternity bedroom as he describes his parents’ opinions of his being in a fraternity. He is the first in his family to join a Greek organization, though he said that his older brother regretted not joining and influenced Taiki’s decision to join.
Ishii plays pool with a fellow fraternity member in the house’s recreation room. While the friend he plays with is white, Ishii said that he joined his organization because he saw more diversity than in other fraternal organizations on campus. He said, “It definitely broke the stereotype of what I thought a fraternity would be.”
Ishii sits at his desk as he works on homework. Behind him, he put up a collage of inspirational quotes, many from his fraternity brothers, to inspire him when he is discouraged. He said, “People should understand that it’s not about race. It’s about supporting each other and brotherhood.”
Ishii giggles with a fellow fraternity member, Glenn Tanguy, as they watch a soccer game in the fraternity house’s living room. Ishii has been a member of his organization for nearly two years and said he wishes other minority students would consider joining organizations without judgements based on stereotypes that the Greek System is all white.