It is the beginning of a new semester with brand new opportunities. Greek life, clubs, and organizations on campus have been capturing the interest of Gusties since day one. Being overinvolved happens to the best of students, to the point of being stretched thin. Finding a stable medium of being adventurous, involved, and keeping those grades steady is something Luke Israel, Senior International Management and Philosophy double major from Duluth, MN has been able to achieve.

Luke is one of the Co- Presidents of the Epsilon Pi Alpha Fraternity, involved in Inter-Greek Senate (IGS), Habitat for Humanity, TEDxGustavus, and the Nordic Ski team.

“It is really easy to say yes and get involved in more and more things,” Luke said. “I have had that problem in the past where I took on too much and I could not give 100% in anything I was doing, which I did not enjoy.”

David Newell, an Administrator at Gustavus, thinks fondly of Luke’s determination. Luke and Newell’s relationship strings from their work together with Habitat for Humanity and TEDxGustavus

“Luke possesses the ability to adapt to new environments and bring his best effort wherever he is.” — David Newell

“Luke possesses the ability to adapt to new environments and bring his best effort wherever he is,” Newell said. “I believe Luke is committed to excellence. He demonstrates this by always working hard, following through, and committing to a job well done.”

As recruitment for Greek life thrives in the current weeks, Luke looks forward to fun times ahead with the Eppies while adapting to some changes.

“It is fun. It is a really exciting time of year right now. We had our first meeting and it is really nice to be back and see everyone,” Luke said. “It is tough sometimes, a lot of new things this year. We have a new director this year for Greek Life, her name is Julianne Watterson and I work a lot with her. But we are in this transition period where there is always something new, and always transitioning. There is no formula or book saying ‘This is how you run a fraternity’, you just get a lot of new things and unique opportunities where you just have to figure out how to best serve the fraternity. Yes, I am a Co-President but the fraternity belongs to everybody, not just to me.”

The other half serving with Luke as the Epsilon Pi Alpha Fraternity Co-President is Senior Benjamin Michalicek. It was the mix of soccer and pink hair that kick started this roommate, friend bromance between Luke and Michalicek.

“Luke is mindful, caring, and sassy,” Michalicek said. “Luke came for a visit to my school, and I think I struck him with my pink hair, so he remembered that several years later when we were in high school together.”

Through the years, the two friends have made memories through their outdoor adventures with their fellow Eppie Brothers.

“The last two summers Luke, some brothers and I have gone on a canoeing trip down a river together,” Michalicek said. “We decided to take a small detour on a side stream instead of traversing down a big bend. We turned a corner to realize a tree had fallen over said stream, and couldn’t back paddle, so we wound up going through the tree. I fought the branches (still have a small scar) but when I turned around in the canoe, Luke was gone. I was about to jump into the river to swim up after him when he poked his head out of the bottom because he just laid down under the seat. Somehow we still beat the others who’d taken the correct way though.”

Another story Michalicek enjoys sharing is the time when he convinced Luke to join him with putting their fraternity’s Greek letters on their chests so they could tan around it.

“His skin burned a lot faster. He had an incredibly red chest with our letters sticking out in pale white. He’s never let me live it down that he did my idea better than I did,” Michalicek said.

When Michalicek and Luke are not out making exciting memories together they are conversing in thought provoking conversation, bowling on Mondays, hanging out with fellow brothers or listening to some laid back music.

As Luke is no longer new to his Gustavus educational career, thoughts of what comes next come to mind. “Graduation seems some long ways away but it’s not,” Luke said. “I don’t know what I am doing after school so that is not the greatest feeling. It is the beginning of the school year now but I know it is going to go by in a blink of an eye. I am excited but nervous for what the future holds.”

Luke has some last-year advice to those especially contemplating Greek life.

“Even if you don’t think at first you want to go Greek, just go to the recruitment events and meet the different chapters and meet the members. Spend time looking into Greek because it is a big decision to join. Check out everyone and if you have questions, ask your questions, don’t be afraid to ask. Don’t be afraid to explore things that you were not interested in at first.”