Yuniel Molina, new coordinator of Special Events for Student Government Council-University Park, holds himself to high standards.

A junior double majoring in political science and international relations, Molina is motivated to work with the Student Government Association.

“I want to work with SGC because I see a great potential in SGA and I feel that there is a lot to take care of,” Molina said.

“I feel the need to provide my skills and services to our student body for the betterment of FIU.”

Molina has many objectives in mind while working with SGC-UP; he plans to facilitate the welcoming of new freshmen and transfer students to FIU during Welcome Week, hold a presidential election voter’s registration event and oversee Panther Hall’s renovation.

Molina is also dedicated to improving student safety with continued work on Mobile Campus, an ongoing project that sends students text messages in the event of an emergency at the University.

Molina also hopes to hold at least one major event per semester for the student body as well as several student town hall meetings.

“I hope that this year’s SGA works diligently for the students,” Molina said. “I encourage the whole student body to be informed of what SGA is and what SGA can do for them.”

Other than being involved with the SGC-UP, Molina is also Entertainment Chair for Dance Marathon, FIU’s largest annual student-run event, which raises money for the Miami Children’s Hospital Foundation.

He is also a member of Sigma Alpha Mu and serves as the Family Relations Chair.

Molina hopes his SGC-UP position will help him gain the experience and expertise necessary to be able to handle another position in the SGA next year.

“I feel that what I will learn will benefit me,” Molina said. “I will already know the way SGA works along with knowing the staff, deans and other school officials.”

Molina was born in Havana, Cuba but he grew up in Miami.

No stranger to student government, Molina was involved in the Student Government Organization and was president of his junior and senior classes when he attended Hialeah Senior High School.

After he graduates from FIU, Molina’s plans are to pursue a career in the United Nations or the State Department, mainly focusing in on international problems and conflict resolutions.

Although he plans a life in the world of politics, Molina said he would also like to pursue his childhood dreams of becoming an actor.

The Interfraternal Council’s rush week took place last week and many fraternities are looking ahead to another great semester.

“What FIU should expect from Sammy is success in everything we decide to take part of,” said President of Sigma Alpha Mu Danilo Cabrera. “We will be hosting large events throughout the year. In addition, expect Sammy to support Athletics and the Alumni Association as well.”

Throughout the week, fraternities had tables in Graham Center where men were able to get more information about each one, such as information about the history of each organization and what they do on campus.

Being there every day throughout the week also gave men the chance to meet different brothers.

The first day of the week was called “Meet the Fraternities,” held for men interested in joining Greek Life and allowing them a chance to meet all the different fraternities so they would be able to decide which ones they were particularly interested in.

After the first day, each fraternity held different events to better focus on the men who were especially interested in their organization.

Some of the events were open to anyone, some were even open to women - mostly the events that were parties - and some were private events that were by invitation only.

The week gave each fraternity the chance to show what they have to offer men on campus.

“As far as what we offer young gentlemen that are thinking of going Greek is that they will have fun during their time at FIU,” Cabrera said. “They are going to party while keeping their scholastics above average. They will have the opportunity to develop their leadership skills and they will meet people.”

Jaime Montalvan, a junior and finance major, decided Greek Life was for him and decided to rush.

He was very impressed with the way all the fraternities established themselves to the men. Fiji grabbed his attention at first.

“They had a lot of loud music at their table and it was just a very fun atmosphere,” he said.

He ended up deciding to attend mainly Pi Kappa Phi events throughout the week.

“All the fraternities were very welcoming and I felt comfortable with everyone, but I felt like I had a lot in common with Pi Kappa Phi and the guys seemed really cool,” he said.

Some of the Pi Kappa Phi events that he attended last week were their barbecue and “getting to know the brothers of Pi Kappa,” where they had alumni visiting and provided information about their fraternity.

Montalvan said that he decided to go through rush week because he didn’t want to leave school without at least trying it.

“Summertime gave me more time to really get to know the brothers from different fraternities and I feel like I had a slight advantage because I rushed in the summer,” said Alex Maltez, a freshman computer engineering major who became a pledge in the summer.

Maltez ended up getting a bid from Phi Gamma Delta.

“I just felt right with them, like I belonged there,” he said.

He was happy with fall’s rush week and said that he was pleased with last week’s events, such as their barbecue and surfing at Adrenalina in the Miami International Mall.

Male students interested in joining an IFC fraternity can go to Campus Life in GC for more information or visit www.fiu.edu/~greeks.

Greek Life is a bimonthly column by Amanda Batchelor. Read it in the Beacon as well as FIUSM.com.