C&C November 2006- Issue 11

Cross & Crescent a Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity publication

INSIDE: Top Military Adviser

Maj. Gen. Vern M. “Rusty” Findley II is director, strategy, plans, and policy for U.S. Central Command

Passion for Politics and Subs

Alabama Legislator and Subway Owner

Hazing’s Culture November 2006 . XCIII . Issue 11

Cross & Crescent a Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity publication Features Chapter News 3 Chapter and Alumni News Fraternity News 8 Hazing’s Culture History 10 Theta Kappa Nu Ritual (Part 2)

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Top Military Adviser Maj. Gen. Vern M. “Rusty” Findley II is director, strategy, plans, and policy for U.S. Central Command at MacDill Air Force Base in Florida. He is responsible for the U.S. military’s strategic activities in 27 countries, including both Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.

By Tad Lichtenauer

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Passion for Politics and Subs Jay Love serves in the Alabama House of Representatives while also successfully managing 16 Subway restaurants in Montgomery, Alabama. He says Lambda Chi and politics have similarities.

By Tad Lichtenauer

Credits

Contributions

Publisher: Bill Farkas Editor: Jason Pearce Assistant Editor: Chris Barrick Assistant Editor: Tad Lichtenauer Illustrator: Jeff Reisdorfer Podcast Voice: Fuzz Martin Photographer: Walt Moser Assignment Editor: Jon Williamson Historian: Mike Raymond Contributing Editors:

Jono Hren

Aaron Jones

George Spasyk

Content for consideration should be submitted by the fiftenth of the month.

Lambda Chi Alpha 8741 Founders Rd Indianapolis, IN 46268-1338 (317) 872-8000 editor@lambdachi.org www.lambdachi.org www.crossandcrescent.com

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Cross & Crescent NOVEMBER 2006

CHAPTER NEWS

Chapter News Chapter news, alumni news, and reports of death Akron (Gamma-Alpha)

Butler (Alpha-Alpha)

Clark James (1965) died September 13, 2006. James was a Vietnam veteran.

Alumni from around the country gathered in Indianapolis to honor Dave Schenzer (1995) who passed away in late 2005. Brothers have made a contibution of $1,800 to the Alpha-Alpha fund of the Lambda Chi Alpha Educational Foundation in Schenzer’s honor.

Alberta (Epsilon-Rho)

Following the Housing Corporation’s alumni dinner honoring Earl Lomas (1950), a former justice of the Court of Queen’s of Alberta, the chapter held its first alumni poker tournament that raised $600 for chapter funds.

California Polytechnic (Phi-Sigma)

Auburn (Omega)

Scott Drummond (1984) and his firm Forty Forty helped PLAYERS INC, the licensing and marketing subsidiary of the NFL Players Association, launch a new branding and advertising campaign that uses the word-mark NFLPLAYERS below the player icon.

Karl Estes (1961) died October 5, 2006. Estes was a nature lover, an environmentalist, a book learner, a teacher, a philanthropist and a science buff. He was a certifid public accountant and worked primarily as a financial controller for most of his career.

Baldwin-Wallace (Kappa-Phi)

California State-Sacramento (Phi-Pi)

Terry Allerton (1968) was inducted into the Baldwin-Wallace College Athletics Hall of Fame. He played varsity basketball for the university and currently ranks 11th all-time in scoring.

Doug Brown (2010) died October 11, 2006. An associate member, Brown died in a motorcycle accident.

Central Michigan (Lambda-Omega)

Boston (Alpha)

The chapter raised money to help send a terminally ill boy to Walt Disney World.

The chapter Alumni Association held a reunion at the Foxwoods Resort and Casino. More than 40 alumni and guest attended, including Roy Howard (1939). The event also celebrated the 25th anniversary of the chapter’s re-colonization.

Coe (Zeta-Alpha)

Executive Chairman Jerre Stead (1964) was also named CEO of IHS Inc. Stead is a former Lambda Chi Alpha Order of Achievement recipient and Foundation Board president.

J. Otis MacMillin (1935) died October 16, 2006. In 1948, MacMillin became one of the founders of the chapter’s alumni association and served as treasurer and as a director until 1985. MacMillin was awarded the Order of Merit in 1968.

Cornell (Omicron)

The chapter held a charity clothing sale benefiting the Fingerlakes Alliance for the Mentally Ill. Led by Treasurer Grayson Fahnrer (2008), the chapter raised $7,000 in three days. The money raised from this event accounts for more than 90 percent of charity’s annual operating budget.

Bowling Green (Phi-Mu)

The chapter has established The Tom Hayn (2006) Scholarship Fund after the former chapter president died in a car crash last spring. The first recipients will be named this fall.

Matt Malinak (2007) is serving as vice president of Undergraduate Activities Organizations and Kevin Stevens (2007) is the IFC chairman of public relations. Nick Snyder (2007) is serving as vice president of public relations of Student Society of America, and Andy Hascher (2007) is the physical trainer of the Army ROTC battalion.

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Denison (Gamma-Iota)

For the first time, the chapter won Delta Gamma’s Anchor Splash competition and helped raise more than $15,000 for Service for Sight. For the third straight year, the members are the intramural softball champions.

They also were second in cumulative GPA.

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CHAPTER NEWS

Georgia State (Delta-Epsilon)

Adam Crowther (2007) is president of Democratic students, De’Von McRavion (2008) is finance chairman of student government, Aaron Bestic (2007) is co-chair of Relay for Life, Kevin Christner (2008) is IFC vice president for standards, Brian Casey (2008) is on the golf team, Jeremy Troyer (2009) is a wide receiver, and Skylar Mosenthal (2009) runs cross country.

Currently the west region sales manager, Scott Robey (1993) has worked for Georgia Pacific since 1994 after serving in the U.S. Army.

Georgia Tech (Beta-Kappa)

Tracy Brown (1988) was named city executive for BB&T’s Chattanooga, Tennessee, commercial banking operations and will be responsible for commercial marketing operations.

John G. White (1985) died October 14, 2006. White was an executive vice president for Investech Company in New York, New York.

Gettysburg (Theta-Pi)

Elmhurst (Pi-Zeta)

The chapter organized a 5K run for Joseph Gurreri’s (2008) little brother’s memorial fund, the Jacob C. Gurreri Memorial Fund. The chapter raised more than $7,000 with more than 350 people participating. Gurreri was awarded “Senator of the Week” by the Gettysburg College Student Senate for his event planning.

More than 100 people participated in the Lambda Chi Alpha/Gamma Chi Watermelon Bash, which raised money for St. Judes Hospital.

Elon (Delta-Pi)

After returning from Afghanistan, U.S. Navy Medic Jamie Sclater (2002) was given the rare and prestigious role of working as a medic with the U.S. Marine Corp Scout Snipers. During his additional training, Sclater qualified as an expert marksmen with the M-16.

David Moore (2008) organized a September 11 campus-wide memorial service that was attended by U.S. Congressman Todd Platts. All members of the Chapter were there to assist and provide support for the event. Moore was awarded “Senator of the Week” by the Gettysburg College Student Senate for his event planning.

Embry-Riddle (Sigma-Phi)

The chapter won first place in intramural softball and the members helped unload pumpkins for a local church’s pumpkin sale. Ian Infererra is a member of the varsity hockey team.

Alex Salid (2006), Nick Ross (2005) and James Lovett (2005) are first officers of Express Jet Airline. Brian Hopkins (1988) is a senior first officer for DHL.

President David Gibbons (2007) made a presentation to IFC about the dangers of hazing. Jeremy Meehan (2007) serves as IFC president and Geoff Cramton (2008) serves as vice president.

Evansville (Iota-Mu)

The chapter held its annual Watermelon Bust and raised more than $700 for the Evansville Association for Retarded Citizens.

Hugh McStravick (2009) was named president of the Class of 2009 and Dean Vlahos (2009) was named vice president. Steve O’Sullivan (2010) was elected secretary of the Italian Club and Chris Cole (2010) was executive board member of WZBT, the campus radio station.

David Barning (1955) died February 2006.

C. Nicholas Haan (1966) died March 18, 2006. Haan had retired in 2005 after working 37 years in the corporate office of Allstate Insurance in Libertyville, Illinois. He also served in the U.S. Army from 1966 to 1968.

Henry J. Bargmann (1955) died September 3, 2006.

High Point (Iota-Phi)

Florida (Epsilon-Mu)

Keven Clement (1990) organized the 7th Annual “Fore” Morgan Golf Classic in Greenville, South Carolina, to raise money and awareness to find a cure for Aicardi Syndrome.

Edward Woodcock (1975) died April 1, 2006.

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CHAPTER NEWS

Indiana (Alpha-Omicron)

Maryland-College Park (Epsilon-Pi)

Jon Chan (2007) placed second in Zeta Tau Alpha’s annual Big Man on Campus competition. The event raised a record-breaking $109,200 for the ZTA Foundation, benefiting breast cancer research.

The chapter presented Ronald McDonald House Charities with a check for $18,000 at its third annual Hoops For Kids benefit. The chapter surpassed its goal to raise $15,000 for the charity through ticket sales and donations, bringing its three-year total contributions to nearly $60,000.

Iowa State (Alpha-Tau)

The members also re-painted the chapter house, earned second place in the Greek Life Recycling contest, donated gifts to the Hope Lodge in Nashville, Tennessee, and participated in Zeta Psi’s Carnival for the Cure.

More than 100 people attended the chapter’s alumni-family tailgate before the football game against Northern Iowa.

McGill (Iota-Iota)

James Madison (Phi-Eta)

Chapter Adviser Charles Bierbrier (1998) has launched his own brewery, Bierbrier Brewing Inc. in Montreal, Quebec. Many local and regional restaurants and grocery stores sell his premium Bierbrier Ale.

Steven Gaffney (1984), president of the Stephen Gaffney Company, was interviewed on NBC about his honesty programs and consulting.

Kansas (Zeta-Iota)

Miami-OH (Zeta-Upsilon)

The chapter completed the remodeling of its upstairs living area, formal room, and basement.

University officials, alumni, friends and family attended a special Associate Member Ceremony for 12 new members.

Grand High Alpha Ed Leonard (William-Jewel 1979) also attended the event and extended additional encouragement to the efforts being made by alumni to re-establish the chapter.

Lamar (Beta-Sigma)

Phil Cayton (1973) spent 26 years working for the Gulf Coast Waste Disposal Authority in Clear Lake, Texas.

He then managed a very popular local band, Secret Agent 8, and produced their two albums. Today he works as the business administrator for his church.

Based in Atlanta, Georgia, Rick Kennedy (1970) is the national sales manager for commercial refrigeration at Alfa Laval, a large Swedish company that manufactures heat transfer heat exchangers.

Michigan State (Gamma-Omicron)

Seventeen teams participated in the 2006 Lambda Chi Jr. 500 race. The event raised more than $1,100 for the St. John’s Student Parish Food Cupboard.

Having originally been held in 1948, the race had not been run since 1991. Rick Page (1976), former chapter vice president, served as the official starter and numerous alumni made the trip to East Lansing, Michigan, to watch the race.

Louisiana State (Upsilon)

Michael D. Arabe (1969) was named senior vice president of sales and support for Peracon. Arabe will be responsible for revenue generation, customer retention and overall corporate performance.

Missouri-Columbia (Gamma-Kappa)

William Wingfield (1948) died September 21, 2006.

Wingfield enlisted in the U.S. Navy while in college and served in World War II. After the war, he stayed active in the Naval Reserve while practicing law.

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CHAPTER NEWS

Missouri-Kansas City (Sigma-Rho)

North Carolina-Greensboro (Phi-Theta)

The chapter won first place in the “Frats at Bat 2006,” Beta Sigma Phi’s philanthropy event. The event consisted of raising money at Uno’s Pizza and then playing softball and relay tournaments. Lambda Chi raised more than $1,000 for this event, more than any other fraternity on campus.

The chapter held its annual “Boulder Days” charity event and concert, raising more than $600 for the American Red Cross.

According to chapter President Will Price (2008), the event is the university’s largest charity event of any student organization.

Northern Colorado (Sigma-Omega)

Muhlenberg (Nu-Epsilon)

The chapter won five awards at the Greek matriculation ceremony, including Significant Chapter, Best New Member Program, and Most Improved GPA. The members also placed third in intramural football, won the Basketball Champions plaque, and had the highest fraternity GPA with a cumulative 2.89.

Stuart Jentis (1988) is an in-house attorney with ADP in New Jersey, specializing in pension benefit law. As a result of his wife’s recent death, Jentis has established the Felice L. Jentis Memorial BAC Foundation, a charity devoted to raising money for research into Bronchial Alveolar Carcinoma.

New Hampshire (Alpha-Xi)

Forresy D. McKerley (1957) recieved the 2006 Hubbard Family Award for Service to Philanthropy Award, the highest honor bestowed by the University of New Hampshire.

McKerley has served on the boards of the New Hampshire Historical Society, Concord Hospital, and New Hampshire Council for the Arts. He also helped establish the states’s first learning center devoted to children with dyslesia.

Shepherd (Phi-Iota)

Two years ago the chapter was in decline but today it has grown to 26 members and is the largest fraternity on campus.

Nevada-Reno (Epsilon-Iota)

At last spring’s student recognition awards, Chris Walter (2007) was named Outstanding Chapter President and the chapter won the Excellence in Academics award for having the highest cumulative GPA for fraternities.

Under the leadership of former chapter president F. DeArmond Sharp (1960), a core group of alumni helped restore the chapter’s house and financial stability. The alumni raised $500,000 through donations and loans. Alumni also volunteered time to draft engineering and architectural plans, oversee construction work, and help with fundraising efforts.

In addition, the alumni formed a local educational foundation that awards scholarships to deserving active chapter members.

Kyle Nordstrom (2007) was crowned Homecoming King.

South Dakota (Alpha-Gamma)

Ted Grossnickle (Wabash 1973), past Grand High Alpha, presented James W. Abbott (1970) with the Order of Achievement award. Abbott has served as the chapter’s first and only alumni president and during his nine years the endowment has more than doubled to $120 million. Members and alumni also celebrated the chapter’s 90th anniversary.

New Mexico State (Zeta-Gamma)

Chapter members helped build a float with the sorority sisters from Delta Zeta for the university’s homecoming parade.

The University of South Dakota Alumni Association presented Truman Schwartz (1956) the award for Outstanding Service in a Profession or Career and Outstanding Service to The University.

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Cross & Crescent

NOVEMBER 2006

CHAPTER NEWS

Southeast Missouri State (Delta-Phi)

Washington State (Tau)

The chapter’s Watermelon Fest raised more than 500 pounds of food and 300 pints of blood for charity. Chapter members also placed second in “Canstruction” an event where organizations donate cans and build a structure with them.

Charles Peckenpaugh (1950) died July 17, 2006. After graduating from high school, Peckenpaugh was with the Merchant Marines during the bombing of Dutch Harbor.

He then went to Washington State College for a year, before joining the U.S. Navy in 1943. He was a corpsman aboard the USS Nassau and also served with the Marines on the island of Tinian. He returned to Washington State to finish his degree in veterinary medicine and began his veterinary career at Button Veterinary Hospital. He retired in 1984.

Matt Knickman (2008) was accepted into the Omicron Delta Kappa National Leadership Honor Society.

Southern Methodist (Gamma-Sigma)

Hon. Terry Means (1971) recieved the Southern Methodist School of Law’s Distinguished Alumni Award for Judicial Service. Means was appointed Justice of the Tenth Court of Appeals in Texas in 1989 and U.S. District Judge for the Northern District of Texas in 1991. Means also serves on Lambda Chi Alpha’s Grand High Zeta.

New York City Metro Alumni Association

The first organizational meeting of the New York City Metro Alumni Association was held September 16, 2006, followed by a visit to the Breslin Hotel on Broadway, which is the site of the first Mason Ritual in the fall of 1913 — the original New York Alumni Association being formed soon after that momentous occasion. Similar gatherings and a newsletter are being planned for brothers in the New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut metro area.

Tennessee-Knoxville (Epsilon-Omicron)

Brent Freeman (2009) is a defensive back on the varsity football team and Chris Baltes (2010) made the varsity baseball team. Chris O’Barski (2009) plays the trumpet in the marching band. The chapter won the soccer championship in intramurals last spring.

San Antonio Alumni Association

More than 200 golfers, family members, and friends attended the San Antonio Alumni Association golf tournament held at the Golf Club of Texas.

The event raised about $600 to support local scholarships and was coordinated by Walter Hidalgo (Texas-San Antonio 1999) and Jonathan Rivera (Texas-San Antonio 2000) from the Texas-San Antonio chapter.

Texas A&M-Commerce (Iota-Kappa)

Thomas Alford (1961) died August 5, 2006. Alford was a charter member of the chapter.

Wabash (Alpha-Kappa)

Astoria Symphony Executive Director Allen Schulz (1987) premiered his new opera “Gargoyle Garden” in Queens, New York. His composition, with libretto by award-winning playwright Jeff LaGreca, is performed in workshop style and then it will be moved to Manhattan, New York, for a full-scale production at Symphony Space next season.

Colonial Conclave

North Carolina chapter members hosted the first “North Carolina Gathering of the Colonial Conclave.” With five chapters and one colony from across North Carolina participating, the event included networking sessions, an illusionist, and a keynote speech. The evening was organized by the North Carolina-Greensboro chapter.

Wake Forest (Theta-Tau) The chapter was honored for raising the most money in conjunction with the “Hit the Bricks for Brian” annual fundraiser for the Brian Piccolo Cancer Research Drive.

The chapter members organized a weekend of events for alumni during the university’s homecoming weekend.

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Cross & Crescent

NOVEMBER 2006

FRATERNITY NEWS

Hazing’s Culture Study shows challenges remain for college campuses.

Unfortunately, everyone has read an article or seen a news story about a tragedy involving hazing.

Despite numerous bans and seminars to try to eradicate hazing from all national fraternities, no fraternity can completely escape the reality that hazing still exists.

In many cases, hazing still appears to be engrained in our culture. Undergraduates who participate in hazing still try to rationalize their actions as being for the good of the brotherhood and will never admit that what they are doing is actually hazing.

Among varsity sports teams, however, that number climbs to 60 percent.

branding, deliberate wounds from the elders in society, and cutting and letting oneself bleed to the brink of death.

The second highest types of hazing — at around 25 percent for fraternities and sororities — were songs and chants.

If one completed these tasks successfully, he was thought of as fully tested and deserving the respect of the other people in the tribe.

Other categories that were high for fraternities and sororities were sleep deprivation, drinking to the point of sickness, and night awakening.

Many fraternities adopted this philosophy that new members somehow had to earn their brotherhood. Before new members gained the respect of the older members, they had to complete a series of tasks to show their dedication.

War’s Influence Hazing in fraternities dates back to almost the start of Greek-letter organizations, but several events contributed to the severity and frequency.

Sobering Statistics A multi-year national study on student hazing is being conducted at the University of Maine by professors Elizabeth J. Allan, Ph.D. and Mary M. Madden, Ph.D. A pilot study was first published June 30, 2006.

This study offered a comprehensive look at hazing in four northeastern universities.

Only the start of more to come, the pilot study was able to gather information that will allow a more comprehensive look into the problems with hazing and how it might eventually be eradicated from colleges and universities.

The study included student organizations such as varsity sports teams, fraternities and sororities, and band/performing arts organizations.

Overwhelmingly, the most common types of hazing were related to participation in drinking games, which constituted 21 percent of all people surveyed.

Among fraternities and sororities, about 40 percent reported hazing related to participation in drinking games.

By Ben Faulstick (Hanover 2006)

History of Hazing Fraternity hazing parallels numerous traditions of yesteryear. Many ancient traditions required certain “rites of passage” in order to achieve manhood.

For most fraternities, the “rite of passage” lies in the initiation ritual ceremony and the events leading up to the initiation ritual. Although not always bad, these “rites of passage” can sometimes be very degrading activities.

History teaches that hazing problems do not just clear themselves up over time. Ancient tribal traditions lasted centuries without any solid logic as to why they continued.

“Rites of passage” for these ancient tribes included painful modification to one’s appearance that included tattooing and

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Cross & Crescent

One of the biggest events that led to the rise in fraternity hazing was from the affects of war. Many believe the beginning of hazing started after soldiers came back from World War II, but there is evidence that earlier wars also had an influence.

One of the first well-known charges against hazing in fraternal organizations occurred just after the Civil War. In 1868, James Frank Hopkins, Greenfield Quarles, and James McIlvaine Riley formed the Legion of Honor after witnessing the hazing acts of a fraternity at the Virginia Military Institute.

This secret society opposed any acts of hazing within their institution and emphasized that the Principle of Honor

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FRATERNITY NEWS as most important in forming strong relationships. This Legion of Honor soon became known as the Sigma Nu Fraternity.

The way fraternities were set up, members could easily implement hazing. Because most fraternities revolved around secrecy and self-governance, it was easy to hide the hazing from the rest of the world.

Individual classes would try to one up the previous class because of experience.

This segregation between classes and ideas of rank within the fraternity gave rise to class distinction and in turn to hazing.

Lambda Chi’s Leadership In 1972, as most of our brothers know, Lambda Chi Alpha made a bold and radical change aimed at ending class distinction and eradicating hazing from its chapters. Lambda Chi Alpha became the first fraternity to completely eliminate pledging. No longer would the word pledge be spoken

by Lambda Chis.

be treated the same. Distinction among class became less important and new members were to be respected by all brothers of the fraternity and considered their equal.

The only difference between the two was the new members were not educated in the ways of Lambda Chi Alpha. Thus, the focus of their membership would be education and they would work with the older members.

Soon after Lambda Chi Alpha set the precedent, other fraternities started to follow suit. Several incorporated a similar associate member program, and others went one step further going to what they call a New Member Program, which calls for prompt initiation.

Making a Difference There will be no change or progress to eliminate hazing on its own. Members at the chapter level are ultimately the ones who are responsible for what occurs.

Just because the elimination of hazing relies on undergraduate membership does not mean alumni members, parents, and friends of fraternities across the nation cannot help.

The new term, Associate Membership, offered several advantages over Pledge Membership.

It incorporated fraternity education over pledge education. The thought behind this was that all members, new and initiated, should continue to learn even after they are initiated.

An Associate Member was simply one who had not been initiated yet, but still was very much a part of the brotherhood.

In turn, this broke down the barrier between the new and initiated members.

If they were learning together there was no room for hazing because all members would

The biggest and most important thing that these people can do is offer the resources for the undergraduate membership to make a smart and informed choice about changing the attitudes of hazing and distinction between new members and older ones.

Stiff Penalties

Many laws have become stricter as the problems and outcomes of hazing have become clearer. Nearly all states have laws now prohibiting hazing and many have extra penalties for violence and injury caused by hazing.

Many hazing laws such as the Chad Meredith Act in Florida have been implemented as a result of deaths caused by hazing.

This law states, “A person commits hazing, a third-degree felony, ‘when he or she intentionally or recklessly commits any act’ upon another person who is a member of or an applicant to any type of student organization, and the hazing results in bodily injury or death of such other person.”

All nationally recognized fraternities now have strict policies against hazing. Lambda Chi Alpha’s policy was adopted in 1988 at the General Assembly in Scottsdale, Arizona, and defines hazing as “any action taken or situation created intentionally to produce physical discomfort or mental discomfort by embarrassment, harassment, or ridicule.”

Along with the definition of hazing, the General Assembly offered a complete resolution on hazing which can be found in the Constitution and Statutory Code of Lambda Chi Alpha.

When this is done, members will not only realize their faults of a hazing culture, but hopefully be able to make the decision to stop hazing altogether.

Many seminars are dedicated to eliminating hazing across the nation’s fraternities. One such seminar is Theta Chi’s Executive Director Dave Westol’s program called “Theta Chi Hazing on Trial.” This program connects with college students and offers great insight into the issue of hazing.

A good test to see if an event is hazing is to ask yourself if you would feel comfortable with a parent watching the event. If the answer is “no”, then it is probably hazing.

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Cross & Crescent

NOVEMBER 2006

HISTORY

Theta Kappa Nu Ritual (Part 2) Further explanation and education about the Theta Kappa Nu ritual

By Mike Raymond (Miami-OH 1967)

As Mentioned last month, the greatest union in the history of the North American college fraternity movement took place in 1939 when Theta Kappa Nu merged with Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity.

One officer then asks another officer if the candidate’s examination was satisfactory. Upon a positive response, the candidate was then escorted into the chamber blindfolded.

One of the most significant decisions was to preserve the essence of the ritual heritage of Theta Kappa Nu in the newly combined brotherhood.

This degree was simple and consisted of determing the worthiness of the candidate. Two officers lecture the candidate on the importance of high scholarship and campus involvement. The lead officer concludes the degree by explaining the significance of the Greek lamp and presenting the candidate with a small gold cloth.

Today, most of Lambda Chi Alpha’s rituals are open ceremonies. Some of our open rituals adopted once-secret Theta Kappa Nu teachings.

Second Degree The Theta Kappa Nu Second Degree or Degree of Patriotism opened in a chapter room with two small changes in its decor. An American flag was placed on a pedestal in the center of the room and a crimson cloth was placed upon the gold and black cloths of the previous degrees.

This month we provide the second part of our overview about the teachings and ritual of Theta Kappa Nu. Initiatory Degree During the Theta Kappa Nu ritual, the Initiatory Degree or Pledge Degree was conducted in semi-darkness with the color black displayed on the central pedestals and with black door and window curtains.

At the start of this degree, the candidate was quizzed about his knowledge of a citizen’s responsibilities to his country. This was followed by the candidate taking an obligation to: honor the national flag; give his life to protect the flag and the country it represents; exercise his rights of citizenship; and, defend the right of free speech, free press, and religious liberty.

The ceremony was simple and straightforward in its design and purpose. The candidate was questioned, the purpose of the fraternity was explained, an oath was taken, the candidate was escorted to an officer where he made a small donation to the Theta Kappa Nu Scholarship Fund, he received his final instructions from the lead officer, and then was presented with his pledge pin.

Having been taught to give to others in the Degree of Learning, the candidate was taught in this degree to be prepared to sacrifice himself for the good of others.

The degree concluded with a lengthy list of tasks that the pledge had to complete before he was permitted to take the remainder of the degrees.

The significance of the crimson cloth was revealed to the candidate. He learned that the crimson cloth served as a reminder that life’s blood was not too much to give in defending the oppressed and suffering people of the country.

First Degree The Theta Kappa Nu First Degree or Degree of Learning began with the lead officer saying to the assembled brothers, “...the North Star is visible in the heavens, calling us together to remind us that the purpose of Theta Kappa Nu is to build better manhood is as fixed as the position of that heavenly body.”

The Second Degree concluded with a salute to the national flag and these words of Abraham Lincoln, “I give all that I have or ever hope to have that this may be a government of the people, by the people, and for the people.”

Third Degree The Third Degree or Degree of Morality or Virtue was presented in two sections.

The chapter room was organized as before with the addition of a gold cloth cover placed on the black pedestal covers of the previous degree.

In section one, the candidate was blindfolded and held the small piece of gold cloth he was given in the Degree of Learning or First Degree. An officer then determined if the candidate’s gold cloth was untarnished.

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HISTORY

The obligation, a somber pledge to never commit a public or secret immoral act, to always defend virtue, and to always strive to be a true man, was administered by the lead officer.

search for the secret of life. He told the assembly that he had returned with scrolls he found in a secret cave.

The key to reading the scrolls was the hidden meaning of Theta, Kappa, and Nu. With this key to unlock the meaning of the scrolls the existence of an unknown god was revealed to the group. The lead officer called for a sacrifice to this new god.

During this first part, the candidate was taught the grip and the meaning of the four triangles on the pledge pin.

An officer slowly repeated the secret Theta Kappa Nu motto and, in the middle of the sacrificial fire, the crimson cross began to rise to its full height. This time, the sacrifice was acceptable to the one, true God.

In section two, the character of the Theta Kappa Nu initiation process changed. The candidates were seated in the south of the chapter room facing the lead officer. The chapter room was lit only by black, gold, crimson, and white candles.

An officer then read statements from the scroll like: “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” “Do unto others as you would that others do unto you.” “Love thy neighbor as thyself.”

In the room was a specially constructed altar that was covered or painted to resemble stone and contained a hidden crimson cross that could be secretly raised at the proper moment.

Simultaneously, the other officers transformed the chapter room into a new space by adding a white pedestal cover and white curtains over the door and windows.

A fairly elaborate story was dramatically portrayed to illustrate and drive home the basic lessons of this degree. The story featured an officer wearing a long flowing white beard, in ancient and tattered clothing, and carrying a staff and a bag of scrolls. Six goblets of grape juice and a small dish of bread cubes also were required to perform this degree work.

The story opened with the lead officer in despair and calling for hemlock so that he and the other officers could die as did Socrates of ancient Greece.

The officer next gave a lecture disclosing that the crimson cross was the cross of sacrifice for others. He told them of Jesus of Nazareth and the sacrifice he made for them.

Before they drink the hemlock, an officer stopped them and convinced the lead officer to make a sacrifice to the God of Fellowship. The sacrifice fizzled and failed.

Interestingly, the ritual had the hemlock symbolically transformed into wine and the flaming sacrifice turned into bread. The officer finished his lecture by explaining the significance of bread and wine as symbols of self-sacrifice.

Once more the officers raised the goblets of hemlock to end their despair. This time the officer reminded them that learning drives away darkness, ignorance, and fear. The lead officer heeded the advice of the other officer and ordered a sacrifice to the God of Knowledge. Once again, the sacrifice failed.

Section two ends with the chapter members taking part in a simple communion service. At this point in the initiation, the new members were read the “League and Covenant” and signed it.

Another officer intervened and persuaded the lead officer to make a third sacrifice to the God of Patriotism. Once more the flame was low and quickly died out. The sacrifice was not acceptable.

The Theta Kappa Nu ritual taught the members of the fraternity that the highest ideals of brotherhood, learning, patriotism, and virtue could only be achieved with the help of God. This teaching represents Theta Kappa Nu’s greatest gift to our fraternity.

Having made their sacrifices to the gods closest to them, and crying out in deep despair, “Our hope is gone!,” the officers dejectedly returned to their goblets.

At that moment, the disguised officer staggered into the room carrying the bag of scrolls. He shouted, “Eureka!

Eureka! Eureka!” The officer told the story of his long

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FEATURE

Top Military Adviser Maj. Gen. Vern M. “Rusty” Findley II is director, strategy, plans, and policy for U.S. Central Command Steve Moody vividly recalls the day he met Rusty Findley (Arizona State 1976) at the front door of the chapter house.

World Traveler Growing up, Findley frequently moved around the world as his dad was in the U.S. Air Force.

During high school he spent a year in Texas, another in the Philippines, and the rest of high school in Hawaii.

Moody (Arizona State 1976) pledged Lambda Chi during the summer and was working his first recruitment event that fall. The front door of the chapter house opened and Findley, along with another rushee, came walking in.

“As I looked at both of them, I took the other guy,” Moody says about the two rushees. “Rusty looked like he was 10 years old and I thought he would never make it.

Boy was I wrong. Rusty became a true leader in the house and was the guy everyone went to if they had a problem with anything.”

Findley was a star athlete in high school and had a passion for baseball. He had visions of playing for Arizona State as they were a baseball powerhouse.

Unfortunately, their reputation also meant they had an unbelievable number of top prospects, so Findley’s chances were slim.

After graduating from high school at 17, Findley chose Arizona State so he could remain in close proximity to his parents who had decided to retire in California. It also allowed him to take advantage of his ROTC scholarship.

Whenever Moody and Findley get together, Findley usually repeats that story — so often that even their children know it.

Little did Moody or anyone else know at the time that Findley would eventually work his way up the military ranks to become a major general and the director of strategy, plans, and policy for the U.S. Central Command (USCENTCOM) at MacDill Air Force Base in Florida.

“I wanted to be close enough but far enough away,” he says.

Pledging Lambda Chi When Findley arrived at Arizona State he decided to investigate joining a fraternity, for rush began immediately after he arrived.

USCENTCOM is one of the five geographically defined unified commands within the U.S. Department of Defense. It is the authority for the U.S. military’s activities in 27 countries, including both Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.

Findley liked the Lambda Chis he met and decided to join the chapter, moving into the house his first semester.

“We had a small pledge class, but the house boomed in numbers after that,” he says.

As major general, Findley is responsible for preparing and maintaining bilateral and multilateral operations as well as contingency plans. He reports directly to Gen. John P. Abizaid, U.S. Army Commander, USCENTCOM.

Not surprisingly, Findley took on several leadership roles at the chapter, serving as chairman, treasurer, and ritualist.

“To understand what’s going on in the region, you have to spend time in the region,” says Findley, speaking from Qatar.

“I have very vivid memories of the ritual,” he says. “I remember it as something you really wanted.”

In order to meet with the leaders from the Middle East and other nations, Findley frequently commutes between MacDill Air Force base in Florida and the U.S. military base in Qatar.

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By Tad Lichtenauer (Butler 1987)

After several very large recruiting classes, Findley learned an important lesson that he brought with him into the military.

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FEATURE

“We had a lot of people versus having a team,” he says. “I call a fraternity a team. And that’s something I’ve taken forward with me. I realized then that we wanted quality (not just quantity).”

Findley eventually became the deputy chief of staff, strategy, plans, and assessment for Operation Iraqi Freedom from Baghdad, Iraq before he assumed his current position in July 2006.

Findley credits his early leadership opportunities with the Fraternity for helping him develop his military philosophies.

“College for me, I learned as much outside as inside the classroom,” he says. “The fraternity was a big part of that. I learned a lot about life outside of the classroom. It helped me develop my philosophy and leadership abilities.”

For his heroics and accomplishments, Findley has received numerous awards and commendations, including a Distinguished Service Medal, Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit with two oak leaf clusters, Bronze Star Medal with two oak leaf clusters, Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters, Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster, Joint Meritorious Unit Award with oak leaf cluster, and the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with “V” device.

Flying Airplanes Ironically, Findley did not have a passion for flying when he was growing up, even though his dad was in the U.S. Air Force.

“I didn’t take to it initially,” he says. “I was big into other things like sports and intramurals.”

Additionally, Findley was promoted to a brigadier general on October 1, 2001, and a major general on July 1, 2005.

But Findley says that once he got a taste of the Air Force, it really grew on him.

As for his future assignments, Findley quickly and sincerely states: “I’ll go wherever they want me to go and do whatever they want me to do. That’s the way I feel about it.”

Findley earned his Air Force commission in 1976 as a distinguished graduate of the Air Force ROTC program at Arizona State University.

Findley is a command pilot with more than 3,700 flying hours in the KC-135, T-37, T-38, C-130, and C-17A.

Friends for Life Findley says the value of the relationships and friendships is what he remembers most about his days at the Lambda Chi chapter at Arizona State.

Assignments and Awards Findley quickly moved up the military ranks, becoming the commander of the 43rd Air Refueling Group, Malmstrom Air Force Base in Montana in July 1996.

“The guys you stay in touch with, you want to stay in touch with,” he says. “We’re kindred spirits.”

Moody looks back on his days of being around Findley and recalls how lucky the chapter was that he came through the door.

Other senior operational positions soon followed, including commander of the 437th Airlift Wing at the Charleston Air Force Base in South Carolina and commander of the 319th Air Refueling Wing at the Grand Forks Air Force Base in North Dakota.

“Rusty’s strength was his belief in God,” Moody says.

“And to this day I know it still is his strength. ‘Family,’ ‘faith,’ and ‘friends’ are words he uses every day.”

“We became best friends our senior year and to this day, we are the same,” Moody says. “Lambda Chi should be proud of Rusty and all of our successful brothers all over the world.”

After he was made commander of the 437th Airlift Wing in 2000, Findley’s C-17-equipped unit provided vital support to Operation Enduring Freedom, airdropping humanitarian daily rations to the people of Afghanistan on the first night of the war.

“We were really fortunate that day he came through our front door and that I didn’t scare him off,” he says.

His wing also tactically inserted the first non-special forces unit into a covert dirt airfield south of Kandahar, Afghanistan.

These historic combat firsts earned his unit the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with “V” device for valor.

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Photo Credits in Order of Apperance © Copyright Courtesy U.S. Airforce, All rights reserved. © Copyright Courtesy U.S. Army photo/Staff Sgt. Cain S. Claxton. © Copyright Courtesy U.S. Airforce, All rights reserved. © Copyright Courtesy U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt Scott Wagers.

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FEATURE

Passion for Politics and Subs Jay Love serves in the Alabama House of Representatives while also successfully managing 16 Subway restaurants.

Jay Love’s passion for politics, business, and family is clearly evident when you listen to him talk about his life experiences.

By Tad Lichtenauer (Butler 1987)

stick out there for you to have a plan to reach that goal. To gauge where you are or where you want to be in life.”

As luck meeting opportunity would have it, Subway was going through a huge expansion mode in the 1990s when Love bought his first of many stores.

“I think you just need to follow your passion,” he says.

“Whatever it is that you want to do. Maybe it’s not to be in the legislature or to own a Subway sandwich-shop franchise. Maybe it’s in your personal life — to spend more time with family or to be closer to God — but just follow your passion in life.”

The average Subway store owner has about two to three stores. Love owns 16 stores, which puts him in the top five percent of Subway franchise owners.

In the year 2006, the Subway chain entered its 41st year of operation. It is the world’s largest submarine sandwich chain with more than 25,000 restaurants in 83 countries. As a matter of fact, the Subway chain operates more units in the United States, Canada, and Australia than McDonald’s does.

Appetite to Serve Love says that he always wanted to serve in some form of public office and he had a real interest and love of politics. He had done some volunteer work on other campaigns, including two of Alabama Gov. Bob James’ campaigns.

Currently a member of the Alabama House of Representatives, Love (Auburn-Montgomery 1990) is a Republican serving a district in Montgomery, Alabama, and he is running unopposed in the November 7 general election. He did have competition in the primary but he easily defeated his opposition.

Of course that is quite a different story from four years ago when he first ran for the legislature, which he narrowly unseated a 24-year incumbent by only 135 votes.

“I always wanted to serve in the Alabama legislature,” he says.

“My mother-in-law told me I had 135 votes to spare,” Love says with a laugh.

During his first term, Love says that the job was pretty much what he expected it to be. His father-inlaw had served in the legislature for two terms from 1986 to 1994 so Love received some good inside advice.

Top Subway Owner In addition to spending about four months a year as a legislator, Love is a small business owner with 16 Subway restaurant stores located throughout Montgomery, Alabama.

Love credits his early discipline of methodical goal-setting with his ability to manage both his political and business careers.

“He gave me a pretty good heads up of the ways things worked,” he says. “But you really can’t fully understand it until you experienced it yourself.”

A year before he opened his first store in 1992, Love already knew that he wanted to have seven stores by his fifth-year anniversary. By the fifth year, he actually had nine stores.

Love’s primary platform for running for office is his position on fiscal responsibility. This platform was especially near and dear to him since he is a small business owner.

“Everybody needs goals in life,” Love says. “I think it’s important to have goals. It gives you a carrot or a measuring

“Try and keep your budget as low as you can,” he says. “You never know when you are going to have a downturn in the economy.”

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FEATURE Another point of fiscal responsibility is to also create an atmosphere in Alabama that is conducive to small business and large business also. Love says that those are the engines that drive the economy.

When he was first elected in 2002, Alabama was just coming out of a recession. Tax revenues had not caught up with the rest of the country and they were experiencing a revenue shortfall.

“Once September 11 happened in 2001 we had already begun slowing down but that really put a kink in the collection of revenues for both the state and the federal government.”

Another ‘Bama Leader

Fortunately, Alabama has now turned the corner thanks to the influx automotive jobs over the decade. Mercedes, Honda, Toyota, and Hyundai have all opened manufacturing plants in Alabama with good, high-paying jobs.

Woodall received his law degree from the University of Virginia School of Law in 1975. He was then hired by the Birmingham, Alabama, firm of Rives and Peterson where he eventually became managing partner.

Thomas Woodall (Millsaps 1972) serves as an associate justice on the Alabama Supreme Court. He is running for re-election on November 7 and hopes to win his second six-year term.

From 1991 to 1996, Woodall practiced with the Birmingham firm of Woodall and Maddox, where his practice was devoted to civil litigation in state and federal trial and appellate courts.

In February 1996, Alabama Gov. Fob James appointed Woodall a circuit judge in Jefferson County. He was elected in 1998 without primary or general election opposition.

“The economy in Alabama has really been turned on its head,” he says “We were very agricultural, textile based economy and those jobs were really going away.”

In 2000, Woodall was elected associate justice of the Alabama Supreme Court and he took office in January 2001.

“The best days for Alabama are forward not behind us and not a lot of states can say that.”

Keeping a Balance Living in the capital of Alabama is a big plus for Love as he does not have to travel for the legislative session and all of his Subway restaurants are easier to manage since they are all in the same city.

Lambda Chi’s Lasting Influence Love grew up in Montgomery, Alabama, and after graduating from high school he began his college career at Auburn University.

But he soon decided to switch to Auburn-Montgomery and that also led him to pledge Lambda Chi Alpha in the fall of 1997.

He says it can still be challenging but he feels very blessed that he does not have to spend much time away from his wife and four children.

Love had known a few of the brothers from high school and just from around Montgomery, Alabama. The chapter had a small house that was just up the street from the governor’s mansion. Only about six or eight members actually lived in the chapter house but they had about 50 to 60 members total.

“The hardest thing is to keep focus on what you need to be focused on,” he says about juggling politics, business, and family.

“It’s so easy ...to let the minutia of details get you off track.”

Love says he has really enjoyed his time serving in the legislature, his business career and some possible new real estate ventures that are pending.

Working at Sears while he went to school, Love didn’t have the time to serve as a chapter officer. He says he regrets that but he also credits having to juggle school and work with his ability to set goals and priorities.

“I think how people today treat their time in college can be a real indication of where they are going to go in life,” he says.

About managing both his politics and business ventures, he says: “As long as I can do both and it doesn’t distract from my family I’ll continue to do both. My wife enjoys that I’m in the legislature. I’m home to eat dinner just about every night. Really not been a drain on family time with wife and my kids.

One of the most important lessons he learned from being in Lambda Chi that he carries with him today are the comparisons to being in a fraternity and also serving in the legislature.

As for his future in politics, Love says he will continue to be satisfied with his current office but that if there is some higher office at some point in the future that he feels compelled to consider, he would.

“The legislature is really like a fraternity in terms of once you get out of the governing side of things the relationships you build with other members are just like the ones you build in the fraternity house.”

“I really enjoy doing what I’m doing now,” he says.

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Photo Credits in Order of Apperance © Courtesy Alabama House of Representatives. All Rights Reserved. © Courtesy Matt Cooley. All Rights Reserved. © Courtesy Matt Cooley. All Rights Reserved. © Courtesy Alabama Supreme Court. All Rights Reserved.

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