Brother Interview: Erik Benson '11

This week's brother interview is on brother Erik Benson!

Basic Stuff: 

1. Your name, as you would prefer it to be stated? 

I am Erik Mitchell-Benson, better known as "Benson".

2. Your current location? 

I currently live in San Diego, California.

3. Your Facebook/Twitter account links?

Facebook is my primary use - https://www.facebook.com/nvuserik

I don't really use my twitter.

Fraternity Stuff: 

4. Badge Number? 

#141

5. Pledge Class Name? 

I was a part of the Phi Class.

6. Fraternity Nickname, if you remember it? 

My fraternity nick name was Pimpolious.  Guardian of the flowers from a Shakespeare tale, as well as where the word "Pimp" was derived from.

7. Story behind how you got your nickname, if you remember it? 

There is no distinct story as to how I got my name.  It was more of a description towards me being gay as well as promiscuous while being a brother.

8. Your fondest memory of being a Phi Psi? 

My fondest memory of being a brother is the embrace I received upon my return from California after I initially moved. I did not have to worry about being alone the entire weekend, as well as worrying about where I was going to rest my head.  I got to meet all the new pledges as well as attend their initiation (the highlight of my entire trip).

9. Your most embarrassing moment as a Phi Psi? 

After a crazy night Evan Stone had woken me up because I had passed out in the basement. When he woke me...we both realized I was naked. 

10. Your proudest moment as a Phi Psi? 

My proudest moment as a brother was when I hosted the Born This Way Event and it was a complete success.  Almost every Greek organization came to support and we made a good amount of money. This event also set me on my career path that I am on now!

11. Any unique memories from your time as a Phi Psi? 

Ultimately I believe that my entire experience was a unique one. Being an openly gay (PINK & LAVENDER!!!) Phi Psi while living in the fraternity house always caused for unique experiences. The one that took gold was living in the house while being in a relationship. 

12. Any fraternal advice you would give to an undergraduate Phi Psi today?
I would advise any undergraduate to stick it out! Although life has taken me in another direction that is working for me, I would say just hang in there. Everything is temporary... especially college. With that said make the memories last! If you cut it short, you will always be stuck with " What if?" in the back of your head.

Career Stuff: 

13. Year you graduated from Rowan? 

I would have been graduating this year 2014, but an internship I had taken changed all that and threw my life in a new direction. So unfortunately I have not graduated but plan to join a CEP (Certified Event Planner) program within the year at San Diego State University.

14. Degree(s) you graduated Rowan with? 

Unfortunately since I had moved I did not get the degree I was working towards.  While in attendance at Rowan, I was studying Art and Advertisement.  Ultimately I do plan to finish my degree but after I get my CEP certification. 

15. Any advanced degrees or certifications you have? 

Since I have not completed a degree just yet I do plan to go to SDSU for that CEP certification that I had mentioned earlier. Achieving this certification will allow me to hold the abbreviation CEP after my name as well as allow me to coordinate events around the country. 

16. Your current occupation? 

Shortly after moving to San Diego for a Corporate Event Planning internship for a international Bio Tech company, they hired me and kept me on for the following year. Then I had left them and began work for Stone Brewing Co. (Yes, the beer!) I was doing grunt work for a few months but currently I am interning as an Event Planner at their Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens Liberty Station location.

17. Number of years in that occupation? 

I have only been at Stone Brewing Co. for 6 Months, but I have been doing Event Planning for 2 1/2 years now.

17A. If a brother was looking for some free beer, would you be able to hook us up?
If someone in the Fraternity is really a craft beer enthusiast, I could probably send a special box their way. About once a month Stone releases a special beer (most recently our 17th anniversary beer) and I get the cases for DIRT cheap instead of paying the $100 dollars it's actually worth! So if anyone is interested (and of legal age), please let me know and I can try to hook it up!  Also, I am on a first name basis with the creator of Stone, so if anyone would like a signed poster or just some Stone apparel/ items, I can hook that up as well!

18. Any career advice you would give to an undergraduate Phi Psi today?
The advice I would give is that if you don't like the job you have, or you do not like the field you are studying then change it!  In the end the only person who has to enjoy that job/career is you!

Relationships/Family/Personal Stuff: 

19. Are you currently in a relationship? If so, with who and for how long? 

Currently I am single.

20. Do you have kids? If so, how old and their names? 

No kids.

21. Hobbies that you are currently into? What do you like to do in your spare time? 

Currently I work a HELL OF A LOT, so I don't have too much time for hobbies.  When I do I mainly just do art work and try to better myself in that.

21A. Having lived on the west coast for a while now, what is the main difference between there and the East Coast? 

There are many things different here on the west coast but for me there isn't just one significant difference. There are two!  I don't know when the last time I have seen legit rain is!  I remember walking to class getting soaked and just being miserable or a mixer being nearly empty because a sorority didn't want to come over because it was pretty terrifying outside.  Here, you can plan in advance and not worry! It's actually quite amazing.  The other big difference is personalities out here.  People are either one of these 3 types.  Really easy going, really pretentious/materialistic, or really flakey.  You typically have your chill, laid back surfer typical Californians, then you head to LA and people there most of the time don't want to be associated unless you drive a Maserati and eat croutons on a regular!  Lastly, being flakey is understandable out here because the weather is so nice all the time that it's just extremely easy to find something else to do, and sadly I have been guilty of that a few times lol.

22. Anything you would like to share with other brothers through the blog regarding your relationship/family/personal life?

If anybody ever finds themself in California... more in the San Diego region. Feel free to visit me and/or I can meet up with them and take them out into the city and show them what California is all about!