NIC Press Release
Four Members of Congress Receive Award of Distinction
Indianapolis, IN.- Four members of the United States Congress were awarded the North-American Interfraternity Conference's Award of Distinction in recognition of their efforts to advance the ideals and efforts of fraternities and for being a vocal advocate for the needs of fraternities.
Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX), Senator Trent Lott (R-MS), Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones (D-OH), and Congressman Pete Sessions (R-TX) received their awards during the NIC Congressional Reception at the Cannon Caucus Room on Tuesday, May 14, 2002. The award winners each took the opportunity to address the more than 600 fraternity and sorority members in the room.
Hutchison told those assembled that she felt that fraternities and sororities provided a needed "learning opportunity on college campuses." She added that she's always been proud to introduce herself as part of a sorority. Fraternities and sororities claim over 9 million members.
Tubbs Jones, a leading advocate of Fire Safety in fraternity and sorority housing, urged the crowd to talk to their congressional representatives to join her in passing the College Fire Prevention Act (H.R. 2145). Fraternities and sororities currently own and manage $3 billion in student housing and house over 250,000 students in 8,000 facilities on college campuses across America.
Sessions took the opportunity to dedicate his award to the many fraternity and sorority leaders who have helped him achieve his goals and objectives over the years. Fraternities and sororities are the most visible and active values-based organizations on college campuses. There are currently 160 members of congress who are members of fraternities or sororities.
The North-American Interfraternity Conference represents 66 fraternities with 350,000 undergraduate members on over 800 college campuses. The mission of the NIC is to advocate, promote, and enhance the excellence and effectiveness of the men's college fraternity movement.