C&C April 2007- Issue 4

Cross & Crescent a Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity publication

INSIDE: South Dakota’s First Alumnus President

Jim Abbott excels as top administrator

South Dakota State’s New Leader David Chicoine comes home

NCAA Division II Sports Leader

David Brunk, Northeast-10 commissioner

Criteria For Colonization April 2007 . XCIV . Issue 4

Cross & Crescent a Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity publication Features Chapter News 3 Chapter and Alumni News Fraternity News 6 Striving for Perpetual Growth History 8 Rare Steel Engravings of Fraternity Coats of Arms

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South Dakota’s First Alumnus President 2006 Order of Achievement recipient Jim Abbott is the first University of South Dakota graduate and Lambda Chi Alpha alumnus to become president. Over the past decade, he has successfully implemented a long-range strategic plan and spearheaded a $130 million fund-raising campaign.

By Tad Lichtenauer

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South Dakota State’s New Leader On January 1, 2007, David Chicoine returned to his home state to become the 19th president of South Dakota State University. He also is an alumnus of the university and Lambda Chi Alpha chapter.

By Tad Lichtenauer

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NCAA Division II Sports Leader David Brunk is entering his ninth year as commissioner of the Northeast-10 Conference. Prior to his involvement in intercollegiate athletics, Brunk owned and operated several minor league baseball franchises for the Kansas City Royals and the Pittsburgh Pirates.

By Chris Barrick 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

www.crossandcrescent.com

Cross & Crescent April 2007

CHAPTER NEWS

Chapter News Chapter news, alumni news, and reports of death Atlanta Area Alumni Association

Command, 875th Engineers of the Arkansas National Guard and alumni from the Arkansas State chapter: Reddi Parker (Arkansas State 2002), Andrew Newson (Arkansas State 2008), Stephen Moore (Arkansas State 2005), and Austin Phillips (Arkansas State 2002).

Approximately 40 alumni attended the Atlanta Area Alumni Association reception on March 8, 2007, hosted by Lambda Chi Alpha Educational Foundation Board Member David Burch (Georgia 1973) at the Ansley Golf Club. Executive Vice President Bill Farkas (Butler 1988) presented a Fraternity update. Earlier in the day, Associate Director of Alumni Relations Josh Lodolo (California State-Northridge 2004) hosted a lunch meeting for 10 alumni who were interested in formalizing the Atlanta Area Alumni Association.

Colgate (Alpha-Zeta)

Carl A. Skog (1938) died August 16, 2004.

Winthrop Wellman (1935) died May 5, 2006.

Butler (Alpha-Alpha)

Dallas/Ft. Worth Area Alumni Association

Dr. Rolla D. Burghard (1938) died March 12, 2007. A graduate of the Indiana University School of Medicine, he served as a U.S. Navy medical officer during World War II. After the war he became a family physician, emergency room physician at Community Hospital, and retired as the founding director of Community Hospital MedCheck. Burghard served as Butler’s chapter adviser, and as the chapter’s alumni finance chairman where he championed fundraising efforts that led to the complete renovation of the chapter house. For his long service to the Fraternity, Burghard received Lambda Chi Alpha’s highest honor, the Order of Merit, at the 1990 General Assembly in Orlando, Florida.

Approximately 45 alumni attended the Dallas/Ft. Worth Area Alumni Association reception held on March 6, 2007, at the Brookhaven Country Club. Executive Vice President Emeritus George Spasyk (Michigan 1949) was the guest of honor. During the reception, the alumni presented a $500 donation to the Educational Foundation.

East Tennessee State (Iota-Omicron)

With the help of a recruitment education session held by ELC Nick Walter (Hanover 2006), the chapter had a very successful spring rush with 13 new associates. The chapter also is seeking alumni who are interested in becoming involved.

Eastern Illinois (Phi-Alpha)

The chapter has three IFC officers; Rich Schumaker (2009), Scott Ikeberger, and Rich Higginbotham (2010).

Jeff Lange (2008) is the speaker of the student senate, Higginbotham is the student senator of the year, and Bill Senese (2007) is the varsity swimmer of the year.

Central Missouri State (Lambda-Pi)

Chapter members donated nearly 500 volunteer hours to help the Youth Excited About Sports for the First Baptist Church of Warrensburg, Missouri, to complete their gymnasium.

They also completed a three-day Teeter-Totter-A-Thon to raise money for the Fraternity’s North American Food Drive.

A former U.S. Marine Corps officer now employed by the U.S. Army Maneuver Support Center, Military Police Division, Mike Todd (1993) served as an instructor in Balad, Iraq, for service member students on the operation of the Common Remotely Operated Weapon Station (CROWS). Included among his students were the following members of the 87th Troop www.crossandcrescent.com

Kevin Piket (1997) was appointed to the board of directors for the Naperville Jaycees, a non-profit service organization with more than 200 young persons dedicated to personal development through community service. He also will be taking over as president of the board of directors for Teen Parent Connection, a not-for-profit organization that has provided parenting support services for nearly 4,000 adolescent parents since 1985.

Elon (Delta-Pi)

Shawn West (1992) was recently hired as the administrative director for surgical services for Durham Regional Hospital, part of Duke Health System.

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April 2007

CHAPTER NEWS

Ferris State (Iota-Psi)

Kutztown (Sigma-Gamma)

Luke Wyckoff (1992) has joined JobPlex as executive vice president in the Denver, Colorado, office. Prior to joining JobPlex, Wyckoff was manager of channel operations for the western region of Development Dimensions International.

The chapter held its third annual alumni scholarship golf tournament on March 24, 2007.

Louisville (Zeta-Sigma)

In their second consecutive year of competition, the chapter members earned second place in the 70th Annual Fryberger Sing and Dance Competition with their performance of Pink Floyd’s “The Wall.”

Florida Tech (Beta-Nu)

Wayne F. Petersen (1973) died June 2006. He was the principal of the W.C. Andrew Elementary School in Portland, Texas, having retired from the U.S. Army as a major.

William Katzinski (1958) died March 7, 2007.

Gettysburg (Theta-Pi)

John E. Robertson (1964) died March 4, 2007.

Steven Papuchis (2010) recorded a triple jump of 43 feet 3 1/4 inches, breaking Gettysburg’s indoor college record, as the varsity team placed second out of seven teams with 133 points at the Dickinson College Invitational.

Marshall (Zeta-Zeta)

Paul O. Hamer (1982) died March 16, 2007. He was an insurance representative with the Hamrick Insurance Agency of Huntington, West Virginia.

Thornton G. Smith (1950) died March 6, 2007.

Memphis (Zeta-Theta)

Indianapolis Area Alumni

Robert Koleas (1955) died February 28, 2007. A member of the U.S. Naval Air Reserve, he was a retired senior salesman for McCormick & Company, Inc. for 38 years.

To celebrate Founders Day on March 22, 2007, more than 30 alumni attended the Indianapolis Area Alumni Association reception held at Headquarters.

Attendees included Fraternity Staff members, Executive Vice President Emeritus George Spasyk (Michigan 1949), Grand High Alpha Dr. Ed Leonard III (William Jewell 1979), and four Order of Merit recipients: Dr. Elgan L. Baker Jr. (DePauw 1971), Fred W. Goetsch (Rose-Hulman 1957), Frank J. Maez (New Mexico 1970), and Michael K. Hart (Hanover 1971).

Mercer (Zeta-Omega)

The chapter was awarded first place in the individual category for Homecoming 2007 and re-established the Charles “Chip” Connally (1980) scholarship for the model/outstanding associate member.

Miami - OH (Zeta-Upsilon)

Corey Luke (1997) works in finance for the Boeing Company in St. Louis, Missouri, as a resource estimator.

Iowa State (Alpha-Tau)

Michigan (Sigma)

The chapter earned a cumulative 2.97 GPA for the fall 2006 semester, sixth out of 29 fraternities.

The chapter celebrated its 94th Founders Day on March 25, 2006, with a buffet dinner for 65 alumni, undergraduates, and family members. Speakers at the event included Executive Vice President Emeritus George Spasyk (1949), George Pomey (1965), Alumni Association President George Friess (1957), and Bob Snell (1945), who was the earliest initiate present.

Kansas State (Gamma-Xi)

Currently the chapter’s recruitment chairman, Greg Corbin (2008) served as one of two delegates at the 49th annual Air Force Academy Assembly in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The assembly is a conference for highly qualified undergraduates that provides an opportunity to discuss a topic of contemporary significance. In 2006, Corbin also was selected as one the university’s Truman Scholars.

During the Founders Day event, Education Chairman Ryan Black (2007) presented the first Alumni Association academic awards for members with 3.5 GPA or higher for the fall 2006 semester. Recipients included: Ryan Black (2007), Ethan Rein (2007), Anthony Budzinski (2010), Andrew Daar (2008), and

Richard Macha (1980) is the new senior director provider and member services for Independence Blue Cross in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He is responsible for customer service operations that support doctors, medical facilities, group health administrators, group health insurance brokers, and members. Macha served on the Student Advisory Committee from 1979–1980. www.crossandcrescent.com

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April 2007

CHAPTER NEWS Abe Oraiqat (2007). Most improved GPA was Richard Moreno (2008), and highest GPA was Black, who achieved a 3.77.

San Antonio Alumni Association More than 150 alumni attended the San Antonio Alumni Association’s Founders Day barbecue.

Michigan State (Gamma-Omicron) Partnering with Alpha Chi Omega sorority, the chapter won first place overall in the 2007 Greek Week competition for the second year in a row. The highlight for the team was raising $21,000 and placing third in the Relay for Life event, which benefited the American Cancer Society.

Sewanee (Iota-Nu)

Jonathan Meiburg (1997) and his indie-rock band Shearwater completed a newly expanded, fully re-mastered album Palo Santo. The band has received rave reviews from The New York Times, The Onion , and on National Public Radio, which named the album one of the best CDs of 2006.

Millsaps (Theta-Eta)

Thanks to a week-long Pantry Raid, the chapter members donated more than $15,000 to the local Stewpot Ministries, which will benefit the Stewpot’s daily lunch program, Meals on Wheels program, and food pantry program.

South Carolina-Aiken (Pi-Alpha)

Chapter members volunteered their time to paint the exterior Doll House in Hopelands Gardens, the headquarters for the Garden Clubs Council of Aiken.

Montreal Alumni Association

The Montreal Alumni Association held its annual Crescent Ball on March 24, 2007, at the Black Watch of Canada in downtown Montreal, Quebec.

South Dakota (Alpha-Gamma)

Howard W. Connors (1938) died February 28, 2007. A World War II veteran serving as a U.S. Navy officer, he taught mathematics at the University of South Dakota for 40 years, in addition to coaching football, basketball, track, and baseball.

From 1938 to 1940, he was a professional baseball player for the Sioux Falls Canaries, which included playing a game and being photographed with Babe Ruth. Connors was inducted into the South Dakota Sports Hall of Fame, the Coyote Sports Hall of Fame, the North Central Conference Hall of Fame, and the South Dakota Intercollegiate Conference Hall of Fame.

North Carolina-Greensboro (Phi-Theta)

Mark W. Jones (2001) died March 21, 2007. He was a sales representative for EchoStar Communications Corp.

Northeastern State (Delta-Beta)

Steven “Russ” Riff (2003) was named an honor graduate while attending the Oklahoma Bankers Association Consumer Lending School. He was one of two honor graduates selected by their peers and instructors of the class. Riff is currently a consumer/commercial Loan Officer with Oklahoma National Bank in Sapulpa, Oklahoma.

Stetson (Zeta-Tau)

Rev. Donald B. Cliver (1960) died February 6, 2007. A graduate of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, he was a retired Baptist minister and served a number of churches in the Carolinas for more than 35 years. He was an adjunct professor at Surry Community and Gardner-Webb University and the author of a book, “God’s Garden: Walking Butterflies.”

Oregon State (Alpha-Lambda)

Jeffrey Schmidt (2007) died March 1, 2007. A chapter officer, he was in the U.S. Marine ROTC and played lacrosse for the university club team.

Texas-Austin (Alpha-Mu)

Robin M. Pate Jr. (1948) died on February 4, 2007. A World War II veteran, Pate worked in the petrochemical and natural gas liquids industry, spending the majority of his career with Tenneco and Enterprise Products.

Polytechnic (Theta-Upsilon)

The second and third floor bathrooms of the chapter house were remodeled thanks to the efforts of alumnus Thales Savas (1985), the House Corporation, and the work of the 22 chapter members.

Texas State-San Marcos (Lambda-Phi)

Powers Boothe (1970) is starring as Vice President Noah Daniels in season six of Fox’s hit TV show “24 .”

Rensselaer (Epsilon-Eta)

Todd E. Holbrook (1960) died March 13, 2007.

Awarded a four-year scholarship to play varsity hockey at RPI, he later spent most of his career working as an electrical engineer for Western Electric.

Wabash (Alpha-Kappa)

Patrick Millikan (2008), an All-North Coast Athletic Conference football lineman and team co-captain, was one of 29 male student-athletes to receive the prestigious NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship.

Sam Houston State (Sigma-Mu)

The colony held its chartering banquet on March 29, 2007. www.crossandcrescent.com

Cross & Crescent

April 2007

FEATURE

Striving for Perpetual Growth Criteria considered before determining which campuses are suitable for expansion or re-colonization efforts.

One of Lambda Chi Alpha’s fundamental precepts is growth. From local chapters recruiting new members, to the General Fraternity colonizing new chapters and re-colonizing dormant ones, growth is a key to Lambda Chi Alpha’s long-term stability.

By John Holloway (High Point 1993)

Institution’s Receptiveness One key to successful expansion, as well as successful chapters, is Lambda Chi Alpha’s ability to partner with a university’s administration.

• Support for expansion team: Has the administration and staff of the institution committed to support the General Fraternity; is there a clearly defined and functioning set of policies and procedures available from the institution regarding expansion and recruitment?

In the Creed we state, “The crescent is our symbol; pure, high, ever growing....” This concept of perpetual growth as individuals, chapters, and the entire Fraternity is a vital aspect of our framework for striving to do more than those who have not accepted the oaths and obligations of membership.

Since 1909, Lambda Chi Alpha has expanded to a combined 334 college and university campuses throughout North America.

To put this in perspective, there are only 800 campuses that have fraternities and sororities as a part of their culture.

Alumni Support Alumni guidance, as well as their time, talent, and treasure, are the determining factors in successful day-to-day colony operations. As the colony grows, it needs older, experienced brothers showing them the Lambda Chi Alpha way.

In spring 2006, the Grand High Zeta and the General Fraternity Staff worked cooperatively to establish criteria the General Fraternity would use to ensure sound decision making with respect to expansion and colonization.

• How many alumni live within 30 miles of campus, and out of that number, how many alumni are willing to commit to practical support of the colony on a consistent basis?

• One of the most important offices in a chapter and an essential role is that of the alumni adviser, and a very important consideration is if there is a credible and interested alumnus available and willing to serve as the chapter’s chancellor (High Pi).

This marked the first time in many years a viable and sound process existed for determining when and where Lambda Chi Alpha would endeavor to grow.

• Another benefit of our analysis is assessing how many Lambda Chis are donors to the institution, as well as to what degree of support our alumni play in volunteer capacities on the campus.

Passionate and dedicated alumni helped drive our need for expansion criteria. Many times, alumni brothers contact Headquarters inquiring about current and inactive chapters, as well as if and when we plan on returning to campus if their local chapter is dormant.

Legacies on Campus Understanding what the name Lambda Chi Alpha means on campus is an important gauge on whether or not it is time to re-colonize a dormant chapter.

Lambda Chi Alpha owes each brother and potential brother the opportunity to have a lifelong and life-changing experience, rooted in core values that guide our moral compasses for life.

• How long has the chapter been gone from the campus and what were the reasons for going inactive?

Understanding this responsibility, our professional accountability, and the need to communicate with our different constituencies and publics, the General Fraternity makes every effort to exhibit strategic thoughtfulness and intentional, sound rationale for our expansions and re-colonizations.

• Are any members from the closed chapter still students on campus, and what, if any, reputation remains?

State of Greek Community The current state of the college or university’s Greek community is a strong indicator on the type of environment the colony will grow into in the ensuing years.

Based on the expansion criteria currently in place, the General Fraternity Staff considers the following topics when evaluating a campus for colonization: www.crossandcrescent.com

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April 2007

FEATURE • As far as the overall Greek community is concerned, there is a focus on how many IFC recognized fraternities exist on the campus, the cumulative GPA of these groups, as well as the recruitment format practiced (traditional fall recruitment or deferred recruitment).

The Next Three Years

Within the next three years, Lambda Chi Alpha International Headquarters has committed to reactivating the following chapters: Ball State (Iota-Alpha) Chartered in 1951 Dormant since 2004 1,700 total members initiated

It is also necessary to consider the average membership total of each fraternity on the campus. Finally, with regard to the overall community, the housing format and the number of occupants in the recognized chapter houses bears scrutiny.

California–Santa Barbara (Zeta-Eta) Chartered in 1949 Dormant since 2004 1,304 total members initiated

Institution’s Reputation When assessing campus potential for a healthy Lambda Chi Alpha colony, the reputation and standing of the institution in the U.S. News & World Report annual survey are important indicators for success.

Drexel (Epsilon-Kappa) Chartered in 1941 Dormant since 2006 1,470 total members initiated North Carolina State (Gamma-Upsilon) Chartered in 1924 Dormant since 1998 1,186 total members initiated

• The laws of the Fraternity state that Lambda Chi Alpha can exist only at accredited, four-year institutions. We also take into consideration the acceptance rate, graduation rate, enrollment trend, and freshman retention rate of the college or university.

North Carolina–Wilmington (Delta-Sigma) Chartered in 1991 Dormant since 1998 175 total members initiated

Established Interest Groups An established interest group can expedite the expansion, as this provides an opportunity to evaluate potential members and quickly begin training, as opposed to spending initial time periods recruiting and establishing a core of initial members.

Wisconsin–Whitewater (Lambda-Iota) Chartered in 1965 Dormant since 2005 932 total members initiated

The third piece is the ability of the General Fraternity to provide adequate support through a commitment of staff and essential resources.

The General Fraternity staff understands its responsibility to commit entirely when leading an expansion effort.

• Is there a collection of undergraduates already organizing their efforts and desire to affiliate with Lambda Chi, to include the policies, procedures, and laws of the Fraternity?

Finally, the decision to re-colonize a dormant chapter or to colonize on a new campus is the Fraternity’s ability to recruit a collection of undergraduates who embrace the values of the brotherhood and their willingness to subscribe to our creed.

Once the criteria are applied and assessed, the staff and Grand High Zeta review the information gathered and apply Lambda Chi Alpha’s theory for essential support.

We can have the alumni, and partner with the college or university, but a group of men with values and beliefs consistent with that of the Fraternity must exist.

This theory applies to all chapters, and the General Fraternity firmly believes all chapters need this essential support, known as the “four legs of the table,” to succeed.

In addition to bringing the Lambda Chi Alpha experience to new campuses, Lambda Chi Alpha will remain committed to monitoring campuses where we have dormant chapters.

The first “leg” is the presence of local alumni support for the colony. As mentioned earlier, alumni are the guiding hand in day-to-day operations, as well as teachers, mentors, and consistency over time. The second leg of the table is the support of the campus administration and the condition of the fraternity and sorority community.

The Fraternity’s ability to weigh whether or not a campus is ready for Lambda Chi Alpha is stronger for having expansion criteria, and it will help in establishing a strong pool of expansion opportunities over the coming years.

Again, Lambda Chi Alpha looks to partner with the university, and a mutual willingness to approach every situation as a team is a key to success. www.crossandcrescent.com

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April 2007

FEATURE

Lambda Chi Alpha’s Early Coats of Arms The Gamma Plate and the two Mason - Epsilon Zeta Plates are three rare Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity engravings.

By Mike Raymond (Miami-Ohio 1967)

The steel engraving process was used to make unique and beautiful fraternal illustrations from about 1880 to shortly after World War I. There were at least three different, but overlapping, phases in the use of steel engraved plates to make fraternal prints.

Coat of Arms and Crest Engravings The final phase of fraternal engravings took place from about 1905 to shortly after World War I. This phase was characterized by a very conservative approach to representing fraternal organizations.

Allegorical Engravings During the first phase, which lasted from about 1880 to 1890, most fraternity engravings were of the allegorical type. Basically, the allegorical print told a story associated with the ritual or teachings and beliefs of the group.

The engravings from this time focused on coats of arms or crests without any embellishments whatsoever. The coats of arms and crests were rendered with near photographic precision.

While neither as rich in potential meaning as the allegorical engravings, nor as unique and individualized as the earlier badge engravings, these engravings do provide insight into the aims and purposes of the organizations.

Fraternities like Beta Theta Pi and Psi Upsilon commissioned a number of them to illustrate books and magazines that they published during this period.

Many of the symbols used in these coats of arms are common to various sororities and fraternities. After studying numerous examples of this style of engraving it becomes apparent that fraternities and sororities share a common heritage based on similar ideals.

They are rich in detail, and I am sure that they are very meaningful to the members of these fraternities. They are also reminiscent of the tracing boards still used in Freemasonry as a memory and lecture device in their degree work.

Lambda Chi Alpha Engravings While some of these engravings were used to illustrate books and magazines, most were used to illustrate college or university yearbooks.

To my knowledge, our Fraternity has never commissioned or published an allegorical style engraving.

Badge Engravings The next phase of fraternal engravings covered a period of time from about 1890 to 1905. The fraternal engravings of this period emphasized illustrations of membership badges embellished with additional decorative features.

As a matter of fact, the need for a Lambda Chi Alpha Coat of Arms for a college yearbook was directly responsible for the creation of our first coat of arms in 1912.

A common practice was to festoon the illustrated fraternity badge with a ribbon banner displaying the names of the group’s chapters.

In some cases, like Delta Kappa Epsilon and Beta Theta Pi fraternities, individual chapters would add elements to the badge engraving.

The earliest reference to a Lambda Chi Alpha Coat of Arms can be found in a letter from Lewis F. Drury (Massachusetts 1913) dated June 6, 1912:

These special elements indicating a founding date, chapter designation, or additional symbols like swords and shields, had some special meaning to the specific chapter.

Another thing the Sophomores were asking about. In our annual yearbook published by the Junior Class each frat has a seal or coat of arms, I don’t know what you call it, but it takes up most of a page and has the pin and motto worked up in a design. We would like to know what arrangements we can make about borrowing the plate or having one made for use in publishing the annual.

As in the case of the allegorical style of engraving, I have found no steel engraving of a Lambda Chi Alpha badge with such embellishments.

Of course, no such engraving plate existed at that time.

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April 2007

FEATURE Without question, Mason was the principal designer of this coat of arms. He brought a strong background and deep interest in ancient languages, heraldry, and European history to his work.

Creation of the Gamma Plate About two months later, Warren A. Cole (Boston 1912) responded to this letter by stating that a standard design for a coat of arms had not yet been designed. Cole recommended that the chapter contact either E. A. Wright or Louis Dreka of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to arrange for a steel engraving plate.

Two versions of this coat of arms were created by Mason.

He was responsible for a sketch of a proposed coat of arms that has seldom been seen outside of old Lambda Chi Alpha publications or our fraternal archive in Indianapolis, Indiana.

The exact date that Cole created what is now known as the Gamma Plate is unknown. However, it is known that he sent a drawing of the coat of arms to Gamma Zeta on September 10, 1912.

This sketch served as the basis for a steel engraving produced

by Charles H. Elliott that was used in a Technique yearbook at Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a LaVie yearbook at Pennsylvania State College.

In addition to this fact, we know that Louis Armstrong Webster (Massachusetts 1914) sent Cole a letter indicating that Gamma Zeta had just received a proof of the coat of arms engraving from Charles H. Elliott another Philadelphia engraving company. Webster mentions that the cost of the steel engraving plate was $36.

This engraving of the coat of arms was quickly replaced by a more refined and accurate coat of arms that remained unchanged until our merger with Theta Kappa Nu Fraternity in 1939.

John E. Mason (Pennsylvania 1913), writing in an early issue of the Purple, Green, and Gold Magazine, relates this familiar story: The first coat of arms was prepared by Gamma at Massachusetts State where the chapter felt the need of a “fraternity plate” for publication in the Greek letter section of the year book. The Gamma “Plate” or coat of arms was based on the first ritual of Lambda Chi Alpha....

As can be seen, Mason’s original published version of our coat of arms varies in many respects from the second version of the design that was adopted by our Supreme Council in 1912, and copyrighted by our Fraternity in 1913, as our official coat of arms.

In a footnote, Mason also states that from its resemblance to the emblems of Gamma Eta Gamma legal fraternity, we infer that the original suggestion for this plate ... came from W. A. Cole.

The original steel engraving plate for the Gamma Plate was long thought lost until it was discovered by a brother a few years ago at an auction.

A close examination of Mason’s first version of the coat of arms shows numerous variations from the second version adopted in 1912: the absence of our Latin motto; a slightly different design of the crown, helmet, sword hilts, lamp, and balance; the absence of the illuminating rays; the missing letters on the open book; and, the use of an oversized badge.

One example of our rare first coat of arms is on display at our International Headquarters building. Another example of this small treasure is on display in my office.

A good example of the official 1913 coat of arms, from a steel plate engraved by Elliott, can be found in the 1917 edition of Pennsylvania State College LaVie yearbook.

Creation of the Jack E. Mason - Epsilon Zeta Plate The life span of the Gamma Plate was very short with only one documented appearance in the Index yearbook. It is possible that the Gamma Plate was used in the 1913 edition of Brown University’s Liber Brunensis yearbook.

Another example of the official 1913 design was engraved by E. A. Wright for an unknown college yearbook. This illustration represents a classic embossed print that has been reproduced on tan paper with a yellow ink background for the coat of arms.

At about the same time that the Gamma Plate was being created, the art committee of Epsilon Zeta, headed by Mason, was busy designing the second coat of arms for our fraternity.

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April 2007

FEATURE

South Dakota’s First Alumnus President 2006 Order of Achievement recipient Jim Abbott is the first University of South Dakota graduate to server as it’s president. iN 1996 Jim Abbott had just lost the Democratic bid for the U.S House of Representatives when two University of South Dakota freshmen suggested that he apply for the position of university president.

By Tad Lichtenauer (Butler 1987)

He then taught middle and high school social studies and college-level political science before practicing law and later managing various businesses.

Prior to becoming university president, he was president and chief executive officer of Zylstra Communications Corp., a cable TV company in Yankton, South Dakota.

Although he considered the job to be more academic, Abbott (South Dakota 1970) was influenced by the students when they told him that the university needed someone with his unique skill set.

Abbott served from 1985 to 1990 as the city commissioner for Yankton, South Dakota, and from 1991 to 1992 in the South Dakota House of Representatives.

Campaign South Dakota Being a lifelong resident of South Dakota and having 75 to 80 percent of our students come from South Dakota, Abbott says he truly enjoys interacting with students and their families.

“I always call myself the accidental president,” he says. “I think they thought that morale was rather low and perhaps someone who had a tie to the university and some management expertise might be a good choice for some period of time.”

“I know everybody always says this, but it really has been an enormously fun part of the job,” he says. “You really do get to know students.”

Shortly after Abbott was inaugurated, the university established Campaign South Dakota with a goal of raising $60 million.

After a lengthy hiring process, Abbott was named the 17th president of the University of South Dakota on July 1, 1997.

“Afterward, I found out that our consultant thought we could raise only $30 million,” he says.

First Alumnus President Being the first University of South Dakota alumnus to serve as president, Abbott has successfully developed a long-range plan, culminating in a five-year strategic plan entitled “Setting the Standard.”

However, the campaign has raised a whopping $130 million and a big final celebration is planned for May 19.

The money raised is being used to increase student scholarships, build and remodel facilities for the School of Medicine and School of Business, and fund endowments to increase faculty salaries.

As part of that plan, the university implemented a programmatic review of every department, college, and school. Building on “Setting the Standard,” a new strategic plan for the next five years is currently underway.

“I think my management experience as the president of a cable TV company and my legal background were more helpful than anything else,” he says about being a successful university president, “along with my familiarity with the university.”

Abbott earned his University of South Dakota Bachelor of Arts degree in 1970 and his Doctor of Law degree in 1974.

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April 2007

FEATURE Political Lessons Learned In 2002, Abbott took a leave of absence from the presidency to seek the Democratic nomination for governor of South Dakota.

Order of Achievement Award At the 2006 Leadership Seminar, Abbott was one of two alumni to receive the Fraternity’s Order of Achievement Award that recognizes alumni for outstanding achievement in their professional careers.

He easily won the Democratic nomination but was defeated in the general election by Republican Mike Rounds. After the election, Abbott returned to the presidency of the University of South Dakota.

Even though he lost, Abbott jokes about how he overheard his daughter telling a friend about why they named their dog Adlai after former Democratic U.S. presidential candidate Adlai Stevenson.

“We have a dog named Adlai and I overheard my daughter saying last summer ‘Yeah, I know that’s a really dumb name but my dad named him after another really old Democrat who didn’t win anything,’”

Unfortunately, he was not able to attend the event so in October 2006 past Grand High Alpha Ted Grossnickle (Wabash 1973) presented Abbott with the award at a South Dakota Board of Trustees meeting.

He says he has no regrets about his losing political campaigns.

“Any time you put yourself out there you learn a little something about your own capabilities. Sometimes you have to sit back and think you know there are some things you do real well and others you don’t,” he says.

“First of all, it was a heck of a lot more emotional than I expected,” Abbott says. “I was surprised by how emotional it was; how emotionally affecting it was.”

What the Future Holds In an effort to increase national exposure and media coverage, university officials announced that the school will be moving from NCAA Division II athletics to Division I.

Lambda Chi Influences Abbott has been a strong supporter of the Greek system and any other university-related organization or activity that gives students a second interest or affinity.

“It’s a little trite, but I do think that athletics often is the window to the university,” he says. “They might not know much about the academic quality, they might not know much about the programs, but they do note athletic success whether they want to or not because it does tend to be prominently displayed in local newspapers.”

“People who are not only university alumni but also members of a fraternity or sorority or an athletic team or something additional besides simply being university students, have a greater interest in the university and its well being,” he says.

Last fall, South Dakota chapter members and alumni, including Abbott, celebrated the chapter’s 90th anniversary. Abbott was influenced to join Lambda Chi when he was in college by Bill Kleibacker (1970), a good friend from high school who was a year older.

Abbott says he didn’t always have this opinion before he became president.

“I’ve come to have a healthy respect for athletes, and coaches, and athletic administrators,” he says. “But it’s still very clear to me that one should be a student first and an athlete second.”

“They weren’t trying to be something they weren’t,” he says. “Just seemed like a bunch of really good guys.”

Ultimately, Abbott’s focus for making the university better is really about two things — make the best faculty possible and the best students possible.

Abbott served as chapter vice president, served on several committees, and directed what was then called the Stroller Show, where sororities, fraternities, and independents teamed up to present vaudeville-type acts.

“I used to always say that everybody should change jobs every 10 years. But now that I’ve been here 10 years, I’m not so anxious to follow my own advice,” he says. “I have some things I want to complete here.”

“It’s sort of like a microcosm of society in general,” he says about his fraternal experience.

“It’s an easy place to learn how things work.”

Every time he thinks it might be time to move on, there’s a new project to think about.

“When it really comes down to it, my heart is here,” he says.

Photo Credits in Order of Apperance © Copyright Courtesy University of South Dakota. All Rights Reserved. © Copyright Courtesy University of South Dakota. All Rights Reserved. © Copyright Courtesy University of South Dakota. All Rights Reserved. © Copyright Courtesy University of South Dakota. All Rights Reserved.

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FEATURE

South Dakota State’s New Leader On January 1, 2007, David Chicoine returned home to become the 19th president of South Dakota State University.

Chicoine is not an uncommon surname if you live in South Dakota. South Dakota’s heritage tracks back to the French Canadians who settled there in the 1800s after moving west from Quebec.

“It is exciting to have the chance to come back to an institution from a major, globally respected research university. I’m eager to help realize the aspirations that everybody, including the faculty, students, support groups, alumni, has for State and what it can accomplish.”

Chicoine graduated from South Dakota State with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1969. He went on to earn a Baster of Science degree from the University of Delaware, a Master of Arts degree from Western Illinois University, and eventually a doctorate from the University of Illinois.

Since that time, dozens of Chocoine’s have graduated from South Dakota State University. One of them was Dr. David L. Chicoine (South Dakota State 1969).

“I was aggressively recruited to consider this job,” he says. “It was pretty important to have a lot of individuals think that I had the background and the credentials to return to my home state, my alma mater, and be successful as its 19th president.”

On January 1, 2007, Chicoine returned to his home state from the University of Illinois to become the 19th president of his alma mater, which is located in Brookings, South Dakota.

Until the end of last year, Chicoine served as Illinois’ senior officer and adviser to the university president and board of trustees on technology commercialization and economic development issues and initiatives.

This included intellectual property management, start-up businesses, and other matters of technology transfer, as well as business and economic development.

In addition to his duties as president, he also is a member of the faculty of the economics department.

Chicoine also previously served as Illinois’ dean of the College of Agricultural, Consumer, and Environmental Sciences and as head of the Department of Agricultural Economics.

“I have the opportunity to continue the momentum that was in place and then to continue to raise expectations and achieve the high aspirations that everybody has for this university,” he says about his priorities.

From Colony to Official Chapter When Chicoine attended South Dakota State as an undergraduate, fraternity and sorority system was infancy with only two agricultural fraternities, Alpha Gamma Rho and FarmHouse International Fraternity.

Those priorities also include continuing to achieve more national distinction for the university.

One example is his decision to transition from NCAA Division II athletics to Division I athletics. This decision led to the school’s women’s basketball team qualifying for the WNIT tournament, the first time a transition institution has been invited to participate in post season play.

As a part of the Lambda Alpha colony’s second class initiates, Chicoine had the unique and challenging opportunity to evolve a colony into an official chapter.

Opportunity to Return Home With more than 11,000 students, South Dakota State is a comprehensive undergraduate and graduate institution comprised of nine colleges, including agricultural and biological sciences, engineering, arts and science, pharmacy, and nursing.

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By Tad Lichtenauer (Butler 1987)

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the

in

its

Chi of

FEATURE “We had a lot of great brothers who worked really hard toward chartering in the three years I was involved,” he says. “That’s probably the highlight.”

have this fraternal background, it would be a bit more challenging for us to collaborate and to partner,” Chicoine says.

During the colony status, the brothers from nearby University of South Dakota helped with initiation ceremonies and other activities.

The two universities were established in the 1880s with two distinct purposes: South Dakota State as a land grant university and South Dakota focused on law and business.

“We had a lot of good help from the South Dakota chapter. They were the colonizing unit,” Chicoine says. “It was a really good experience for us.”

Chicoine served as the chapter’s treasurer for two years and was elected president after they achieved chapter status.

“We find ourselves in a situation where we are very complementary with our institutions’ respective missions.

We have very little duplication and we ought to be able to take advantage of our historical relationships as Lambda Chis and academic leaders — making more of this opportunity than might otherwise be the case,” Chicoine says.

“Leadership is an interesting experience,” he says. “One of the keys was to have a great shared vision and ownership by the people that we were recruiting and those who were already in the house.”

He says they were a focused group and shared the same vision at a time when it was needed to move the organization forward from colony status to that of a full fledged chapter.

Rivals and Collaborators A few years ago while at Illinois, Chicoine bumped into Jim Abbott (South Dakota 1970), a Lambda Chi and president of the University of South Dakota.

Applying and Teaching Economics Chicoine is enjoying his unique, two-pronged opportunity to both apply economics as university president while still having the chance to teach economics in the classroom.

“I really enjoy economics, and getting into administration was simply the ability to apply some of the principles and some of the concepts that you study in your own discipline to the actual world of higher education administration,” he says.

“There was something about him that seemed so familiar to me but I couldn’t figure it out,” Abbott says. “I finally realized after reading his biography or something that he had helped found the Lambda Chi Alpha chapter at South Dakota State 40 years ago.”

He says it is a privilege to be a professor —to teach, educate, and practice something you really like to do.

“I believe it is a privilege to serve in a leadership position in this industry that really is the place where the gateway of opportunities provided to individuals and really creates a prosperous future for the individuals as well as the places that we have responsibility to serve,” he says.

That’s when Abbott and Chicoine first met.

“Because I was a member of the chapter at South Dakota, we actually helped in founding that chapter,” Abbott says. “So I just thought it was real interesting that you’d have two Lambda Chis (now) at two strong state schools that tend to be rivals.”

Photo Credits in Order of Apperance © Copyright Courtesy South Dakota State University. All Rights Reserved. © Copyright Courtesy South Dakota State University. All Rights Reserved. © Copyright Courtesy South Dakota State University. All Rights Reserved. © Copyright Courtesy South Dakota State University. All Rights Reserved.

Chicoine says he was amazed by Abbott’s memory of their first meeting and he recalls how valuable the help was.

Now that Chicoine is officially in his new position, he and Abbott have a common fraternal bond and interest in wanting to see the success of their respective schools.

“Both Jim and I are committed to providing a leadership style that is focused on helping our faculty and our institutions achieve our high aspirations, and to serve the people of this state. Perhaps if we didn’t www.crossandcrescent.com

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FEATURE

NCAA Division II Sports Leader David Brunk is entering his ninth year as commissioner of the Northeast-10 Conference. for david brunk, a former owner of a few minor league franchises, nothing beats baseball this time of year. It’s still his favorite sport.

By Chris Barrick (Butler 2004)

The following season he became business manager for the Indian’s Double-A club in San Antonio, Texas.

“Each spring my wife will ask me if I miss it when spring training rolls around,” he says. “When we were in Kentucky, we would go back to Fort Myers, Florida, for spring training. We’d hang around the batting cages and renew old acquaintances.”

“Before the first pitch was thrown that season, the Kansas City Royals called my boss and asked if they had a recommendation for someone to be general manager for their A team in Waterloo, Iowa, a member of the Midwest league,” Brunk says.

As commissioner of the Northeast-10 Conference, Brunk (Ball State 1972) hasn’t had much opportunity to attend a lot of spring training lately, but he does find the time to attend Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees games.

The Royals then bought a team in the Florida State League and eventually sold the franchise to Brunk with the stipulation the team would be moved to Fort Myers, Florida, where the Royals held spring training.

He was recommended for the job and spent the next two seasons there. He then worked the following two seasons in Jacksonville, Florida, running the Jacksonville Suns, the Kansas City Royal’s Double-AA team.

Brunk remembers the experience as a dream come true.

“Over the years, so many of our players blossomed into bona fide major league stars,” remembers Brunk, “One year we had a starting pitching rotation that included Brett Saberhagen, David Cone, and Mark Gubicza. Ex-Royal, Yankee, and Ranger Don Slaught as the catcher and Gene Lamont, who managed the Pirates and White Sox, managed Fort Myers the first two years we had the team.”

Attending Ball State Brunk grew up in West Lafayette, Indiana, and has attended Purdue University football and basketball games his entire life.

When it came time to pick a college he chose Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana, for it provided new scenery and new opportunities.

Brunk eventually decided to purchase another team. He worked out an agreement with the Pittsburgh Pirates to put a Single-A short season team in Watertown, New York, where they hadn’t had a team since 1949.

“The size was right, it was comfortable, and educationwise, Ball State impressed me,” says Brunk.

Though Brunk played sports in high school, he decided to bypass collegiate athletics to focus on his business degree.

Intercollegiate Athletics George King, former athletic director at Purdue University, was a friend of the Brunk family and gave Brunk’s mom a copy of the NCAA News in 1984.

However, he did play some semi-pro baseball in Muncie, Indiana, for two summers. Lacking a desire to work for a corporation, Brunk decided to finish his degree and pursue a management career in baseball.

Baseball Team Owner Upon graduation, Brunk was fortunate enough to be offered a management position in minor league baseball with the Oklahoma City 89ers, which at the time was a TripleA minor league program for the Cleveland Indians.

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In the issue, there was an ad for the director of the Eagle Athletic Fund at Morehead State

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FEATURE University in Kentucky. Taking King’s advice to pursue the job opportunity, Brunk entered into a career in intercollegiate athletics.

Currently Brunk is also chairing the NCAA Division II Management Council, which oversees day-to-day operations of the Division and works with the staff at the NCAA and Division II Presidents Council on policy implementation.

“I had had two opportunities at the time,” he says. “I had been offered a job with the New York Mets, which a couple years earlier I would have crawled on my hands and knees for, and the other for Morehead State. We had a young daughter at the time, so we opted for a campus life at Morehead State.”

The Northeast-10 also launched pay-per-view ne10.tv this year. The network broadcasts conference football games, men’s and women’s basketball games, and other championships.

While at Morehead State, Brunk spent time as the associate athletic director and softball coach, and also served as an adviser for the Lambda Chi chapter. He says he enjoyed his short stint as chapter adviser and was glad he had the chance to give back.

From Morehead State came the opportunity to join the NCAA national office (then located in Overland Park, Kansas), where he worked from 1990 until 1998.

Next, Brunk was offered the opportunity to become commissioner of the Northeast-10 Conference.

“It has made our institutions a little bit of money, but our goal is to offer free viewing and generate revenue through advertising,” says Brunk. “We have the New York market, Boston market, and Providence, Rhode Island, market.

We are optimistic that advertisers will see the benefit.”

The Commish The Northeast-10 is an NCAA Division II conference consisting of 15 institutions. Unlike Division I athletics, there are limited scholarships for student athletes.

The conference offers 23 championships, the most of any Division II conference.

Division II has also entered into an agreement with CSTV and through the CBS contract some of the Division II championships are now being nationally televised.

The Lambda Chi Legacy Brunk came in contact with Lambda Chi Alpha long before he ever stepped foot on the Ball State campus. His grandfather joined Lambda Chi at Indiana University and transferred to Purdue where he was initiated.

His grandfather had numerous Fraternity brothers in the area who met regularly. Once on campus, Brunk found Lambda Chi to be what he described as “far and away the best house on campus.”

“We believe in providing championship opportunities for all of our student athletes,” Brunk says.

There are a lot of similarities as commissioner to what Brunk did previously in his career, but he admits he misses not having more interaction with athletes.

He associated early in his freshman year and learned a lot form his experience.

“I really gained the ability to work with all different types of individuals,” he says. “In my line of work, it is paramount to be able to do that. When you ride the ups and downs in the business world, you can relate to being in a fraternity.”

“I try to get around to the different campuses to see football, basketball, volleyball, and other events,” says Brunk. “During our championships is when I have the biggest opportunity to interact.”

Brunk says the NCAA is about the balance of academics, athletics, and the overall betterment of the student athlete.

Brunk’s best memories come from interactions with brothers. He remembers the house working together to host the Bike-a-thon as well as the time they turned the fraternity house into a night club called Club Lambda during rush.

Division II recently released a new platform with the slogan, “I chose Division II,” which Brunk believes helps start the Division II conversation.

“Interaction with the brothers is the thing that really lasts a lifetime and is the reason you’re a member of a fraternity — it’s for the lifetime friendships and relationships,” he says. “My experience with Lambda Chi Alpha was one that had a great impact on my life and is one that I will never forget.”

“It really helps getting the word out about our key attributes,” he explains. “This is what we stand for in Division II. It is about the life experience of the athlete. That is why we have our jobs — to educate them.” www.crossandcrescent.com

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Photo Credits in Order of Apperance © Copyright Courtesy North East 10 Conference. All Rights Reserved. © Copyright Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity. All Rights Reserved. © Copyright Courtesy North East 10 Conference. All Rights Reserved.. © Copyright Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity. All Rights Reserved.

April 2007