Cross & Crescent a Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity publication
INSIDE: Ron Paul’s Presidential Bid Internet support fuels campaign Cobi Jones L.A. Galaxy’s all-time leader
Award-Winning Poet
Fairchild, Author and College Professor November 2007 . XCIV . Issue 11
Cross & Crescent a Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity publication Features Chapter News 3 Chapter and Alumni News Fraternity News 6 NIC Leadership Change Fraternity News 7 2006–2007 Order of Omega Recipients History 8 Lambda Chi Alpha’s Five Oldest Chapters
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Ron Paul’s Presidential Bid Dr. Ron Paul is a U.S. Congressman from Texas, a physician, and a 2008 U.S. presidential candidate. His honest, grassroots campaign has been fueled by the Internet support, where his fund-raising has widely exceeded analysts’ predictions. By Chris Barrick (Butler 2004)
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Pro Soccer Star Retires Cobi Jones, the Los Angeles Galaxy’s all-time leader in games played, goals, and assists, has retired after 12 seasons. A walk-on at UCLA, he also has the most appearances for the U.S. men’s national team, and he played in the 1992 Summer Olympics. By Tad Lichtenauer (Butler 1987)
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Award-Winning Poet B.H. “Pete” Fairchild is an award-winning American poet and an English professor at Texas Christian University. His book, The Art of the Lathe, won several prestigious awards and was a finalist for the National Book Award. By Tad Lichtenauer (Butler 1987) 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 November 2007
CHAPTER NEWS
Chapter News Chapter news, alumni news, and reports of death Angelo State (Beta-Alpha)
included Order of Merit recipient Mike Saunders (Central Florida 1975) and event host David Desormoux (Central Florida 1993), a distributor for the Orlando Brewing Company.
During 2007 homecoming week, the chapter won first place for most original float, second place for the Spirit Stick, and third place in the volleyball tournament. In addition, Nate Bacorn (2007) and Mark Adkins (2009) won first place in the washer tournament, and Justin Howell won first place in the Distinguished Homecoming Scholar Contest.
Culver-Stockton (Kappa-Mu)
William Drews (1952) died September 27, 2007. A U.S. Army veteran, he worked for Black and Decker, Kirk Silver, Novice, Johnson & Johnson, and Culver-Stockton College. He also owned Awards Etc. for 25 years, and ran the College Inn Bed & Breakfast in Canton, Missouri, for 15 years. A former chapter president, Drews served as a member of the chapter’s Housing Corporation, Alumni Association, and was also the chapter adviser. An Order of Merit recipient, he published the chapter alumni newsletter, “Kappa Muse.”
Alumni members hosted their first alumni/undergraduate tailgating party.
Boston Area Alumni Association
Approximately 30 alumni and six undergraduates attended the Boston Area Alumni Association reception held on October 11, 2007, at the Sheraton Newton Hotel in Newton, Massachusetts. Attendees included Executive Vice President Bill Farkas (Butler 1988), Associate Director of Alumni Relations Josh Lodolo (Cal State-Northridge 2004), Order of Merit recipient and Boston University Chapter Adviser Eric Berger (Boston 1985), and former Fraternity staff members Kelley McCormick (McGill 1980) and Chad Tino (Worcester 1999).
Evansville (Iota-Mu)
Chapter members hosted their annual Watermelon Bust on October 6, 2007, with proceeds benefiting the Evansville Association of Retarded Citizens. Stephen Spinks (2009) was elected IFC vice presidentoperations, and Chase Schletzer (2009) was elected IFC vice president-recruitment.
Bradley (Kappa-Upsilon)
The chapter celebrated its official reinstatement by Headquarters and held an Associate Member Ceremony for 25 new associates on September 29, 2007.
Georgia Tech (Beta-Kappa)
Speaking to an alumnus, the Atlanta Community Food Bank expressed their tremendous gratitude to the chapter members for their ongoing dedication, hard work, and fund-raising efforts on behalf of the charity organization.
Cal State-Northridge (Beta-Rho)
Approximately 20 alumni and 20 undergraduate members competed against each other in the annual chapter softball game held on September 30, 2007, in Northridge, California. The alumni won the game 19–18.
Eastern Illinois (Phi-Alpha)
The chapter partnered with the other Greek organizations to sponsor the Greek Anti-Hazing Hotline, a toll-free number linked to a dedicated voice mailbox at a law firm in Cincinnati, Ohio.
California-Los Angeles (Epsilon-Sigma)
NBC Saturday Night Live cast member Will Forte (1992) wrote and starred in “The Brothers Solomon,” a new movie about a pair of well-meaning, but socially inept brothers.
Indiana State (Iota-Epsilon)
More than 50 members participated in the second annual alumni golf event held on August 20, 2007, at the Hulman Links Golf Course, in Terre Haute, Indiana. The highlight of the event was a hole-in-one by Mike Evans.
Allan Corrin (1949) died May 8, 2007.
Central Florida Area Alumni Association
More than 25 alumni members attended the Central Florida Area Alumni Association event on October 3, 2007, at the Orlando Brewing Company in Orlando, Florida. Attendees www.crossandcrescent.com
Cross & Crescent
November 2007
CHAPTER NEWS Tau Alpha, coached by Nicholas Weinhold (2008), was the overall event champion. Chapter Ritualist Shane Hook (2007) and Fraternity Educator Jonathan Cecil (2008) were selected as members of the homecoming court. North Carolina-Greensboro (Phi-Theta) John Bryant (2005) was elected SGA president, chapter Harry James Gray (1972) died October 5, 2007. He worked for Treasurer Justin Fisher (2006) SGA vice president, chapter many years as a salesman and sales manager in the wholesale President Wilson Price (2005) SGA parliamentarian, and liquor industry, most recently employed by Heidelberg chapter Vice President-Internal Jeromy Forshee (2005) SGA Distributing Co. For his many contributions to the chapter, secretary of business affairs. Gray was voted the 1985 Alumnus of the Year. Chapter Vice President-Risk Management Christopher Johnson (2007) was selected for the provost’s alcohol and drug prevention Marietta (Kappa-Alpha) and education program review committee. As a member of the volunteer search effort, Jeremy Reneau (2005) made national news when he found and rescued a Blake Phillips (1995) was elected lieutenant governor of Kiwanis missing autistic boy who had been lost in the West Virginia Division 12 in Raleigh, North Carolina. He also is chairman of wilderness for several days. the board of directors for the Better Business Bureau.
Louisville (Zeta-Sigma)
Maryland-Baltimore County (Phi-Delta)
Chapter Vice President Bobby Lubaszewski (2009) was elected IFC vice president-scholarship and academics. The chapter earned a 2.85 GPA for the spring 2007 semester, highest of all fraternities, above the all-men’s average, and fifth best of all Greek organizations.
Greg Zuknick (2008) organized the inaugural Fall Golf Classic charity event, which included both alumni and undergraduate participants, to raise money for the North American Food Drive. Nick Demyan (2009) shot the lowest score. Chapter Adviser Art Hebbeler (Butler 1982) spent a year on a university committee to develop a standard policy for future Greek system expansion. He was the only fraternity alumnus representative on the committee. Greg Cangialosi (1995), president and CEO of Blue Sky Factory, was featured in the September issue of Citybizlist regarding the publication of his upcoming book, The Business Podcasting Book.
Massachusetts Inst of Tech (Lambda)
Oliver R. Smoot (1962) joined chapter undergraduates for the annual re-painting of the “Smoot-marks” on the Harvard Bridge. He was in Boston, Massachusetts, to attend a lecture on author Robert Tavernor’s new book, Smoot’s Ear: The Measure of Humanity.
Nashville Area Alumni Association
Approximately 13 alumni attended a Nashville Area Alumni Association dinner held at J. Alexander’s in Nashville, Tennessee.
New Orleans (Lambda-Alpha)
Chapter members held their annual Watermelon Bust from October 15–20, 2007. The event raised more than $1,500 and 8,000 pounds of canned food for the North American Food Drive. The event coordinator was Jonas Dominique (2010), and the public relations chairman was Chance Kayne (2009). Zeta www.crossandcrescent.com
Northwestern (Alpha-Iota)
Brothers celebrated the chapter’s 90th anniversary on October 12, 2007, at the Hotel Orrington in Evanston, Illinois. Alumni from the 1950s to present were in attendance, and undergraduate members also were able to join the festivities after the conclusion of the homecoming parade. Featured speakers included Executive Vice President Bill Farkas (Butler 1988), Alumni Board President Roderic Montrece (1998), and chapter President Mike Casas (2009). Lloyd E. Nelson (1945) died October 8, 2007. He had a career as an electrical engineer and was a member of the Evanston Masonic Lodge, a 32nd degree Mason, and a member of the Medina Shrine Temple in Chicago, Illinois. Penn State (Zeta) Gerald N. Hall (1956) died September 19, 2007. Michael Gery (1984) died. Dick Parsons (1954) died.
Philadelphia Area Alumni Association
Approximately 60 alumni attended the Philadelphia Area Alumni Association reception held on October 9, 2007, at the Union League Club in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Attendees included Order of Merit recipients Mike Malter (Widener 1979), John McGarrigle (Drexel 1969), and Frank Bockius (Drexel 1955). Executive Vice President Bill Farkas (Butler 1988) led the program and provided an update on the True Brother Initiative.
Rose-Hulman (Theta-Kappa)
Three chapter alumni received the Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology’s Honor Alumni Award during the 2007 homecoming: Bob Bright (1957), a retired vice president with the 3M Corp.; Jeff Burgan (1977), an intellectual property lawyer for Leydig, Volt & Meyer; and Jim Trueblood (1977), a vice president with Cummins. Cross & Crescent
November 2007
San Diego State (Zeta-Pi)
CHAPTER NEWS
Tulsa (Epsilon-Upsilon)
Andrew Roy (2007) and Jameson DeSantis (2008) were selected for the 2007 homecoming court.
Hart Hix (1941) died September 22, 2007. A World War II veteran, he retired as a systems analyst from Shell Oil Co. in 1971, after 30 years of service. He then entered the homebuilding sector, working for Lee & Miller, Inc., and later opening his own business, Hart Hix, Inc., a luxury homebuilding and design company. Hart received the Order of Merit in 1984, and he also served for many years as the repairman and remodeler for the chapter house.
Chapter President Matt Pelo (2009) is a cofounder and CFO of NetworkText, a website that allows groups to easily coordinate their members by sending text messages to their cell phones via the Internet.
Southern California (Zeta-Delta)
Wabash (Alpha-Kappa)
The chapter earned a 3.26 GPA for the spring 2007 semester, fourth highest of the 19 fraternities on campus.
Mark W. Rutherford (1982), an attorney with Thrasher Buschmann Griffith & Voelkel, P.C., of Indianapolis, Indiana, was elected to the council of the Business Law Section of the Indiana State Bar Association.
Tennessee-Chattanooga (Zeta-Phi)
Chapter members hosted their annual Chop Week/Watermelon Bust, which raised more than 2,000 pounds of food and $2,000 for the Chattanooga Area Food Bank.
Patrick M. Woehnker (2011) died October 28, 2007. An associate member, he was on the college swimming and diving team.
Chapter members teamed with Chi Omega to participate in the Race For the Cure charity event.
Washington (Alpha-Psi)
During 2007 homecoming, the chapter won Best Fraternity Award at Lip Sync, the Best Overall Award at the Delta Sigma Theta Step Down, and the overall Best Fraternity Award for the second year in a row.
Jerry C. Frodle (1959) died October 2, 2007. He served for nine years as a managing partner for Benson & McLaughlin, a Seattle, Washington-based accounting firm. He also served as a trustee for the University of Washington Accounting Development Fund, a board member of the Washington Society of CPAs, and the Washington State Board of Accountancy, where he was elected chairman.
Bill Staley (2007) won Top Man On Campus, which is the second year in a row for the Fraternity, as chapter President Juan Moreno (2008) won it last year.
Chapter members hosted their first Watermelon Bust charity event from September 17–22, 2007. The event raised $1,300 and approximately 1,000 pounds of food for the North American Food Drive.
Chapter members won the intramural softball championship.
Texas A&M-Kingsville (Beta-Epsilon)
Wisconsin-Whitewater (Lambda-Iota)
Karl H. Decker (1985) works for Control Concepts, Inc., an industrial automation company in Houston, Texas.
Darren Hafford (2008) is an actor and director. He was an extra in the films “Big Momma’s House,” “Good Night and Good Luck,” and “The Island.” His directing efforts include the short films, “All of This,” and “Would You Like Cream with That?”, which won awards for best writer, best director, and best cast in a local Milwaukee, Wisconsin, awards contest.
Texas State-San Marcos (Lambda-Phi)
Powers Boothe (1970) co-stars in the newly-released movie, “The Final Season,” a true story about a small town baseball team facing insurmountable odds.
Texas-San Antonio (Phi-Upsilon)
Michael Reyes (2003) is enrolled in his third year of medical school at the University of Texas-Southwestern and recently received the Edmund Eickenroht Scholarship, which is given to deserving medical students.
Thiel (Theta-Xi)
Herbert G. Gebert Jr. (1949) died September 2007.
Towson (Phi-Omega)
Chapter members held their first Watermelon Bust to benefit the North American Food Drive. The event raised approximately 1,850 pounds of food. www.crossandcrescent.com
Cross & Crescent
November 2007
FRATERNITY NEWS
NIC Leadership Change Both new and former executive vice presidents are members of Lambda Chi Alpha. In 1909, the same year as Lambda Chi Alpha’s founding, 26 fraternities met to discuss issues of fraternal organizations, and a year later they created a formal organization.
He also says they plan to “amp up public relations and bring renewed energy and new spirit to advancing the cause of fraternities within the public sector, primarily targeting the college-bound high school senior.”
In 1931, the organization changed its name from Interfraternity Conference to the National Interfraternity Conference, and in 1999, changed the name again to North-American Interfraternity Conference to include Canada.
To continue to be effective, Smithhisler says the NIC focus on three primary functions: advocacy, collaboration, and education.
Headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, the NIC now has 69 member organizations with approximately 5,500 chapters and 350,000 undergraduates located on more than 800 campuses.
Smithhisler began his professional career working on college campuses as a Greek adviser. He worked at Western Illinois University, University of North Dakota, and Colorado State University. He then joined the NIC as director of leadership education, and has had four different jobs there over the past 10 years.
Named as the new executive vice president of the NIC, Pete Smithhisler (Western Illinois 1988) says, “The NIC’s purpose is to engage our members. We are strongly encouraging our fraternities to tackle head on the major issues impacting membership, such as alcohol use, hazing, safety of members, new member education, values education, things of that nature.” Williamson’s Legacy
His work has included helping launch the NIC’s first large-scale public relations plan and outreach to college-bound high school seniors, developing IFCs within the campus community, assisting with the launch of NIC’s standards, and taking on the launch of fraternity/sorority coalition assessment project.
Smithhisler was named the fourth executive vice president of the NIC, effective August 1, 2007. He replaces Jon Williamson (Maryland-College Park 1965), who retired after serving the NIC for the past eight years.
His success with these projects made him the ideal candidate to replace Williamson. “Pete is a good person who is dedicated to the greater good,” says Williamson. “He is a tireless worker who used to joke about beginning the second shift, meaning we would work until midnight to finish the product.
Williamson also has served Lambda Chi Alpha in numerous roles, including 30 years of volunteering with the Cross & Crescent magazine as the sports editor and researcher.
“He is an outstanding facilitator and really in his element working with undergraduates, both men and women,” continues Williamson. “Pete is a member of the real world and knows what is happening on the college campus today.” Advocate for All
Smithhisler says of the departing Williamson, “It’s amazing to inherit an organization so rooted in its values. Having had the chance to work with him over the years was a real privilege.” He continues, “I truly love and respect Jon for all the skills and talents that he brought here. He truly left a remarkable legacy for all fraternities for his eight years here. His vision for what fraternities can and should be is really rooted in his own belief in the good of people.”
Smithhisler has great pride in being a member of Lambda Chi Alpha and having the Fraternity represented at the NIC, but he says his job is to wear the badge of all 69 member fraternities. “The real need is to support and be an advocate for every fraternity, so although it’s pretty special to have worked with a brother, it was pretty special to be able to effect change for every fraternity, not just Lambda Chi,” he says.
Smithhisler’s Vision Looking to the future, Smithhisler says the NIC plans to maintain the integrity and legacy of the organization established under Williamson. www.crossandcrescent.com
By Chris Barrick (Butler 2004)
Cross & Crescent
November 2007
FRATERNITY NEWS
2006–2007 Order of Omega Recipients Nearly 100 members from more than 50 different chapters honored for leadership, community service
By Tad Lichtenauer (Butler 1987)
The may 1967 issue For 2006–2007, nearly 100 members from more than 50 chapters of Lambda Chi Alpha were initiated into Order of Omega an honor society recognizing particularly exemplary men and women in the undergraduate Greek system. Established at the University of Miami in 1959, Order of Omega differentiates itself from other honor societies by emphasizing community service and inter-Greek communication over academic and nominal honors. Today, there are more than 300 chapters in the United States. The Fraternity’s 2006–2007 Order of Omega inductees, include:
• James Allen (North Texas 2008) • Travis Anderson (Nevada-Reno 2007) • Jeff Blakely (North Dakota 2008) • Thomas Bledsoe (East Tennessee State 2008) • John Cain (Akron 2008) • Timothy Calamoras (Gettysburg 2008) • Taylor Calcara (Kansas State 2009) • Joe Cambareri (Rensselaer Polytechnic 2008) • Bjorn Carlsson (Millsaps 2008) • Ryan Charles (Wittenberg 2008) • Scott Crean (Southeast Missouri State 2008) • Kyle Daugherty (Culver-Stockton 2008) • Bobby Degnan (Alabama 2008) • Jameson DeSantis (San Diego State 2008) • Ryan Dyess (Nevada-Reno 2009) • Matthew Elsey (Kettering-B 2008) • Justin Fisher (North Carolina-Greensboro 2009) • Joseph Frasca (Butler 2007) • Bradley Garner (Gettysburg 2008) • Christopher Gomes (Embry-Riddle 2008) • Joseph Gurreri (Gettysburg 2008) • Amilcar Guzman (Lycoming 2008) • Chistopher Hall (Miami-FL) • Bryan Hart (Coe 2008) • Brad Hawse (Cincinnati) • Daniel B. Herron (Delaware 2008) • Jimmy B. Hicks (Arkansas 2008) • Joseph Hoffman (Eastern Kentucky 2007) • Matthew Huber (Southeast Missouri State
2007) • Renn Iaboni (Rensselaer Polytechnic 2008) • Jesse Jacobs (North Texas) • Nicholas Johnson (Lycoming 2008) • Matt Knickman (Southeast Missouri State 2008) • Stephen Koehler (Arkansas 2008) • Nicholas Kovach (Wittenberg 2008) • Nicholas Latiano (Kettering) • Nicholas Lavella (Purdue 2007) • Viktor Livshits (Boston 2007) • Phillip J. Lubbehusen (Evansville 2008) • Matthew R. Malinak (Bowling Green State 2007) • Mathew Mallard (Central Michigan 2008) • Stephen Marin (Michigan 2006) • Ryan Mark (Pittsburgh 2008) • Andrew Marquez (Kansas State 2009) • Ryan M. Masolotte (Pittsburgh 2007) • Hugh McStravick (Gettysburg 2009) • Jordan Medeiros (Troy 2007) • Jesse Metruk (Gettysburg 2008) • Brandt L. Montgomery (Montevallo 2007) • David Moore (Loyola Marymount 2008) • David Moore (Gettysburg 2008) • David Myers (Southern California 2007) • Bradley Myhre (Lycoming 2007) • Christopher Nalepa (Connecticut 2009) • Thomas Niemczycki (Worcester Polytechnic Inst 2008)
www.crossandcrescent.com
Cross & Crescent
• Kyle Otten (Culver-Stockton 2008) • Christopher Porter (Rensselaer Polytechnic 2008) • Robert Press (Cal State-Northridge 2007) • Will Price (North Carolina-Greensboro 2008) • Paulino Ramos (Florida International) • Jason Rector (Eastern Kentucky 2007) • Ethan A. Rein (Michigan 2007) • Justin Richey (Franklin 2008) • David A. Rieth (Florida) • Patrick Roberts (Franklin 2008) • Jason Rodocker (Washington & Lee) • Dave Root (North Dakota 2007) • John Scarangello (Lycoming 2008) • Ryan Scully (Florida Southern 2007) • Neil Sheaffer (Washington & Lee 2008) • Kyle C. Shirley (Alabama 2008) • Tanis Smith (Pittsburgh 2009) • Eric Stauffer (Old Dominion 2007) • Jeffrey Stolper (Kansas State 2009) • Thomas Thompson (William & Mary 2007) • Gregory Tudryn (Rensselaer Polytechnic 2007) • Nicholas Verderame (Maryland-College Park 2008) • Robert Walker (Washington & Lee 2008) • Andrew Wallace (Culver-Stockton 2008) • Kristofer Ward (Embry-Riddle 2007) • James Wells (Southeast Missouri State 2007) • Daniel Westlake (Wittenberg 2007) • Darren White (Nevada-Reno 2007) • Blake Williams (Arkansas 2008) • Thomas J. Womack (Millsaps 2008) • Matthew Yip (Alberta) • Chang Yu (Rensselaer Polytechnic 2007) • Nick Zuniga (Ball State)
November 2007
HISTORY
Lambda Chi Alpha’s Five Oldest Chapters Do any of our chapters have origins dating back before our Fraternity’s commonly accepted founding in 1909? The may 1967 issue of the Cross & Crescent Magazine featured an article by Charles Crissey (Culver-Stockton 1967) entitled, “A Century Marked by Culver-Stockton.” I came across this article a few years ago while doing some research on the life of Warren A. Cole (Boston 1912).
In recognition of its evolving status as a social organization, the name Alpha Delta Theta — the Hawk Fraternity — was adopted in 1915. Alpha Delta Theta was installed as the Missouri Gamma of Theta Kappa Mu by Grand Oracle J.H. “Dad” Krenmyre (Iowa Wesleyan 1917) on May 22, 1926. Many of the activities surrounding the installation were centered on the chapter house at 700 White Street that was affectionately known as the “Hawks’ Nest.”
I was interested in the notion that our Fraternity had roots farther back in time than our commonly accepted date of founding in 1909. I read the article, copied it, and filed it away for another day.
This year the chapter celebrated its 140th year of existence and thereby holds the distinction of being the chapter of Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity with the oldest lineage.
The article stayed with me because it brought to mind the question, “What chapter has the longest history as a local fraternal organization?” The answer to this question would also establish which chapter has the longest pedigree as a chapter of Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity.
In addition, the Culver-Stockton chapter can also lay claim to being the successor of the first local student organization founded west of the Mississippi River.
To find the answer to the question about our oldest chapter, I examined sources such as The Expositor of Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity (1929); The History of The Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity (1992 and 1996); various issues of The Purple, Green, and Gold, Theta News, and Cross & Crescent magazines; and the content of some fraternity and university websites.
Baldwin-Wallace Chapter (Kappa-Phi Zeta) The other former Theta Kappa Nu chapter with a long pedigree is the chapter (Kappa-Phi Zeta) at Baldwin-Wallace College in Berea, Ohio. This chapter can trace its origin to the Schiller Literary Society that was founded in 1868. In the early years of the society there was a great deal of opposition to its existence by both the faculty and the student body. Over the years it gradually overcame the opposition and assumed the characteristics of a social organization.
After doing the research, I now believe that I have the answer to that question. Our Oldest Chapters Our two local organizations with the earliest founding dates happen to be Theta Kappa Nu chapters that merged with Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity in 1939.
In 1919, it adopted the name Sigma Phi in recognition of the fact that it was a fraternity. Sigma Phi became Ohio Beta chapter of Theta Kappa Nu Fraternity on February 19, 1926.
Culver-Stockton Chapter (Kappa-Mu Zeta) Our chapter (Kappa-Mu Zeta) at Culver-Stockton in Canton, Missouri, can trace its lineage through Theta Kappa Nu (1926), to Alpha Delta Theta (1915), and finally to The Hawkins Literary Institute (1867).
One interesting feature of its installation banquet was the appearance of Dr. John C. Marting, an original founder of the Schiller Literary Society, who offered numerous toasts and stories about its earliest years. As a result of our merger with Theta Kappa Nu in 1939, the BaldwinWallace chapter represents the second oldest local chapter that is part of our Fraternity. This year it celebrated its 139th year as a student organization.
The Hawkins Literary Institute was not only the source of the chapter but also the source of its nickname, “The Hawks.” Up until 1907, the group functioned as a literary and debating society.
www.crossandcrescent.com
By Mike Raymond (Miami-OH 1967)
Cross & Crescent
November 2007
HISTORY Though the Emerson Society lasted only two years, it did succeed in breaking the political power of the Greek system. Members of the Eureka Society founded the Independent Literary Society in 1885 as an organization of men and women interested in improving the culture of the University. The preamble of its constitution established the organization’s principle goal: that the true end of literature and society be better served in the Indiana University.
Three More Old Chapters The next three chapters were never affiliated with another national fraternity. All of them came into Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity as local fraternities with long histories and strong traditions. Evansville Chapter (Iota-Mu Zeta) The chapter (Iota-Mu Zeta) at the University of Evansville in Evansville, Indiana, can trace its heritage to the creation of the Photozeten (or Seekers of Light) Society in 1869. This organization was described as “a society for the special benefit of young men studying for the ministry.” The Photozeten Society was known as the Phi Zeta Fraternity when it was installed as Iota-Mu chapter in 1956. This historic chapter of Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity marked its 138th anniversary this year.
In the fall of 1904, a house was leased by the male members of the society. This decision caused an amiable split with the men retaining the name of the society and the women forming another group with a similar purpose.
Hamilton Chapter (Gamma-Eta Zeta) The chapter (Gamma-Eta Zeta) at Hamilton College in Clinton, New York, can trace its origin to the Hamilton Debating Society that was established at the college in 1878.
In April 1917, the Independent Literary Society petitioned Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity for membership. On May 2, 1917, a charter was issued to the chapter (Alpha-Omicron Zeta).
In a few years, the Hamilton Debating Society became the Emerson Literary Society (1882). This new society was founded by men who had not been invited to join any fraternity at Hamilton College.
Tracing its local history back 127 years, the Indiana chapter is our Fraternity’s fifth oldest. Conclusion The first four of our earliest chapters were founded at small private liberal arts colleges. These colleges were all affiliated with either a Christian Church (Methodist or Disciples of Christ) or, in the case of Hamilton College, a Christian missionary. Indiana University is home to the oldest chapter found at a public institution.
An early member of the Emerson Literary Society remarked that they regarded fraternities as inventions of the devil. In 1918, 33 members of the Emerson Literary Society resigned and formed Beta Kappa Fraternity. On February 22, 1924, with Grand High Alpha Ernst J. C. Fischer (Cornell 1910), Grand High Epsilon John E. Mason (Pennsylvania 1913), and Administrative Secretary Bruce McIntosh (DePauw 1916) in attendance, the chapter was installed into our Fraternity.
All five of our oldest chapters can trace their origin to a literary or debating society. These pioneer literary societies, or local fraternities, eventually would become some of our most historic chapters, developed at a time when students had few cultural or social opportunities. Their education was limited to a narrow curriculum that focused on classical languages, mathematics, ancient history, and rhetoric.
Our fourth oldest chapter can trace its local history back 129 years to 1878.
Students formed these early societies to provide themselves with opportunities to discuss and debate current political and social issues. It was a time when the lives of college students were dominated by the dictates and regulations of administrators and faculty members.
Indiana Chapter (Alpha-Omicron Zeta) In 1929, The Purple, Green, and Gold magazine featured a short story about the chapter at Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana.
Many students sought relief from the limited curriculum and their highly regulated lives by forming literary societies and fraternities.
According to the author of this article, the Eureka Society was founded in 1880 to protest the corrupt and unfair political tactics of fraternities that dominated elective offices and honorary positions on the campus. www.crossandcrescent.com
As Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity approaches its 100th anniversary, we need to remember that our organization’s roots go back as far as 140 years to Culver-Stockton College and The Hawkins Institute.
Cross & Crescent
November 2007
FEATURE
Ron Paul’s Presidential Bid Dr. Ron Paul is a U.S. Congressman from Texas, a physician, and a 2008 U.S. presidential candidate. Congressman Ron Paul says the fraternity provided him much fellowship but also supported him financially. He became house manager and was paid $9 a month, which paid for his rent. He then took the job of kitchen steward, which he says was a little more challenging.
After two years, he was drafted and began active duty with the Air National Guard. He was stationed at Kelly Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas. Though he would have preferred to continue his medical training, he decided to make the best of his time in the military. “I became a flight surgeon not an Air Force pilot but I got my private pilot (license),” says Paul. “At that time, you know we were fantastically rich because I could make $700 a month and didn’t work nearly as hard as I did as a resident.” Following his two and a half years of active duty he returned to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to continue his medical training, leaving internal medicine and redirecting his focus to OB/GYN.
“You had to order all the food, plan all the meals, you were in charge of the cooks for three meals a day, seven days a week,” remembers Paul (Gettysburg 1957). “I got $43 a month for that and that paid for my food…and the food was good because I got to buy it.”
He then decided to return to Lake Jackson, Texas, to begin his private practice. “I wanted a busy practice, and the only other doctor left the day I started, so I was the only OB/GYN in the county,” he says. “It was very busy, very challenging practice.”
Paul has since gone on to serve 18 years in the United States Congress and is currently seeking the Republican nomination for president of the United States. His political ideals are surrounded by the ideas of shrinking government and allowing maximum individual freedom with an emphasis on economic policy –- including ending the war in Iraq. He believes he can defend those positions by merely obeying the U.S. Constitution.
Politics Paul says his interest in politics really started in the 1960s, when he started to study economics.
Paul often reflects back on his college days while on the campaign trail and tells the story about his experiences to illustrate what he believes is an economic crisis.
“Early on and during the ‘60s as a resident I liked to read other things than just medicine. I became fascinated with economic policy and came across a school of economics called Austrian Economics.” explains Paul. “It is free market, sound money type of economics. It’s a little different than just saying conservative economics because they believe you can’t have paper money but have sound money. It also deals with limited government.”
“People say how can you go to college without all this government help and subsidies,” he says. “I say I went to college but it was much cheaper then and the prices are much higher now — due to the inflation and other reasons. I use this story as an analogy on how far things have gone.”
Paul felt the 1970s were a rocky decade because the country had spent so much money that it didn’t really have on the Vietnam War and through the introduction of welfare in wholesale.
Medicine and Military Following graduation from Gettysburg College in Pennsylvania, Paul attended Duke University School of Medicine, and then went on to the Henry Ford Clinic to get further training in internal medicine.
www.crossandcrescent.com
By Chris Barrick (Butler 2004)
10
Cross & Crescent
November 2007
FEATURE “That had to be paid for, and when you print a lot of money to pay for these bills, you end up with a lot of inflation,” says Paul. “So in the ‘70s, we were paying for the bills of the ‘60s, and we had rampant inflation and interest rates at 21 percent.” Paul felt there was a perfect explanation for it all and thought the policies were wrong. He decided to run for Congress, not expecting much, but to his surprise was elected in 1976 and served until 1977. He was then again elected in 1979 and served until 1985. In 1988, he ran for president of the United States as a Libertarian. He says it was very challenging because the laws are very biased against competition with the two major parties, and in many ways not very democratic.
Another Campaigning Brother On October 30, 2007, Kevin O’Neill (Syracuse 1992), an attorney and resident of Williamsburg, Virginia, announced his candidacy for the Republican nomination for United States Congress from Virginia’s First Congressional District in the special election to be held on November 10, 2007.
“It is very hard to get ballots and if you aren’t a billionaire or multimillionaire having a lot of your money, you can’t really compete,” says Paul. “The media won’t give you any attention and you’re not allowed into the debates.”
O’Neill is a former Fraternity staff member, serving as an ELC from 19911992, and the associate director of chapter services from 1992-1996. Since September 2000, he has worked as an attorney in the public policy department at Patton Boggs LLP in Washington, D.C.
After his unsuccessful presidential bid, Paul left office, but then decided he didn’t want to give up politics, so he ran again for the Congress in 1996, and he has served ever since.
The special election is a result of the unfortunate death of Congresswoman Jo Ann Davis, who died on October 6, 2007, after a two year battle with breast cancer.
“In 1994, the Republicans took over the House and Senate and I thought they might be serious about shrinking the size of government, which has always been my goal,” says Paul. “It was soon after I realized there was no sincere effort.
“No one ever thought this situation would develop. Congresswoman Jo Ann Davis was an able representative of the First District, and we all mourn her untimely death,” O’Neill said in his campaign announcement statement. “I was pleased to work with her on numerous occasions to help her bring federal attention and support to critical initiatives that improved the lives of the people in the First District. We will miss her commitment to Virginia and the United States.”
Of his time in the House, Paul has a reputation for helping people who need to work with the government and says he takes his job very seriously in two ways.
O’Neill graduated from Syracuse University, where he served for two years as the chapter president. Over the last two weeks, he says more than 30 Fraternity brothers have donated to his campaign.
“The way I vote, and what I do legislatively, I always follow to great detail to do what I promise and what the Constitution says,” explains Paul. “The other half of Congressional responsibility is to intercede for the constituents.”
In addition to financial contributions and voter support, O’Neill is also seeking volunteers who are interested in helping with his expedited campaign. Lambda Chi Alpha Is a 501c and does not endorse any candidate. For more information on how to support Kevin O’Neill visit: http://www.kevinforvirginia. com/.
“It’s not that I am enthusiastic about some of the programs but if they exist we have to try to make them work as efficiently as possible,” Paul continues. “For instance, I could think of a much better way to devise a system of social security than what we have, but it exists, so I try to be as efficient as possible and help people when they need help” Presidential Race Paul has launched another presidential bid, this time as a Republican and is doing so with great success. He says one reason is because he isn’t facing the difficulties of being a third party candidate but also the conditions have changed in the United States.
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FEATURE “People are aware of what I am talking about because of seeds that have been planted. I don’t think political change comes out of the blue but from individuals who lay ground work,” says Paul. “The end stages are coming for our economic system and the value of our dollar. Our country is stretched way beyond its means. We have a foreign policy that has stretched us overseas.” One of the largest platforms for Paul supporters has been on the Internet. His campaign has exceeded any estimates that analysts had predicted for third quarter fund-raising. “I have done fund-raising in the past by direct mail and it was very expensive,” says Paul. “This money from the Internet essentially has no charge. All we do is put an email out saying we are raising money for such and such and the money comes in. You get people to come together like that — it can be very helpful.” Paul also has support from a lot of people crossing party lines, some typical Democratic voters have rallied behind him. He believes this is because his message of freedom is popular for everybody and it brings people together.
Paul’s campaign is embedded in grassroots efforts, with the average donation being $40. He says it is something his campaign has to do to survive because he is unable to get money from special interest groups being that his campaign is about breaking up the special interests.
“The founders understood that personal freedom and economic freedom are one and the same,” says Paul. “The economic freedom is just an extension of your personal liberty.”
Paul has strong support from military and youth. In fact, he has more donations from military than all the other Republican candidates combined.
College Paul, a Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, native, attended Gettysburg College. He wanted a small college and the fact that Gettysburg was church affiliated was also a huge draw. He also had a good friend, Richard Lewandowski (Gettysburg 1956), who attended the college and would ultimately become Paul’s big brother in the Fraternity.
“We neutralize the argument that if you don’t support the war that you don’t support the troops,” says Paul. “I think that is nonsense.” Paul thinks the support from youth is exciting because he believes all significant political movements come from young people.
“Every fraternity has different reputations — some were only sports, some were only the playboy types, but Lambda Chi was well-known for academics as having a lot of well-rounded people in a lot of different activities as well as sports,” says Paul. “The fact they represented all these different areas and cared about having good grades, I thought it would be better because I wasn’t into the drinking and other things some fraternities were known for.”
“Young people are more principled and more idealistic and their minds are more open,” says Paul. “It seems like the young people have figured out that they are going to get the burden of the cost of these past wars that have to be paid for.”
Paul also served as chapter secretary and was president of his pledge class.
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FEATURE
Pro Soccer Star Retires Cobi Jones, the Los Angeles Galaxy’s all-time leader in games played, goals, and assists, has retired after 12 seasons.
By Tad Lichtenauer (Butler 1987)
At the Los Angeles Galaxy’s Final Home Game on October 18, 2007, Cobi Jones (California-Los Angeles 1993) was honored by his team, fans, and Major League Soccer for his 12 memorable seasons.
Jone’s best year was 1998, when he collected 19 goals and 13 assists en route to MLS Best XI honors and U.S. Soccer Male Athlete of the Year.
As the only player in MLS history to play with the same club since the league began in 1996, Jones is the Galaxy’s alltime leader in games played, goals, and assists.
He is one of three players in MLS history to have scored 60 or more goals and added 80 or more assists, and he was named an All-Star in each of MLS’ first seven seasons.
He performed in five MLS Cups, winning twice in 2002 and 2005, and for two Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup championship in 2001 and 2005.
Lambda Chis Pay Tribute As a walk-on at the University of California-Los Angeles, Jones emerged as a talented player in college, making the prestigious UCLA soccer team as a nonscholarship player.
“It’s been an honor and a pleasure to represent my country and the city of Los Angeles over the span of my career,” Jones says. “I will never forget what ‘The Beautiful Game’ has given me, the wonderful friends, and the great fans that have supported me throughout my career.” Jones also is currently the all-time leader of the U.S. men’s national team in appearances, having played for the team in the 1994, 1998, and 2002 FIFA World Cups. He won with the national team at the 2002 CONCACAF Gold Cup, and he also represented his country at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Spain.
While attending UCLA, Jones became a member of Lambda Chi Alpha.
Leaving a Legacy “I hope that people remember me, not only for the accomplishments that I’ve had, but also how I’ve conducted myself on and off the field,” he says. “I want to pass the legacy that I have created of supporting the game of soccer, as well as being an advocate of the game, onto younger players who come after me. I wanted to be competitive, but I wanted to have fun as well and I think I’ve accomplished both of those things throughout my 15 years of playing professional soccer.”
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In a show of support for his career and Fraternity membership, a group of Lambda Chis from the Loyola Marymount University and the University of Southern California attended Jones’ final home game. Chad Cooper (Ball State 1992), a Galaxy group sales representative, was also in attendance with his fellow brothers enjoying the final tribute to Jones. “One can’t think of Major League Soccer, or U.S. soccer for that fact, without thinking of one of the greatest players this country has ever produced,” Cooper says of Jones. “I’m so proud to call him a brother. It was remarkable to see his last home game with my brothers from Loyola Marymount and USC.”
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FEATURE
Award-Winning Poet B.H. “Pete” Fairchild is an award-winning American poet and an English professor at Texas Christian University. B.H. “Pete” Fairchild, the Lorraine Sherley Professor of Literature at Texas Christian University in Ft. Worth, Texas, has been called Kansas’ greatest living poet.
By Tad Lichtenauer (Butler 1987)
Poetry can be defined as ‘the thinking mind bodied forth,’ a marriage, in a very particular sense, of mind and body.” Although poetry often conveys emotion Fairchild thinks that is often a byproduct of writing about his life experiences.
Growing up in small towns in Texas, Oklahoma, and southwest Kansas, Fairchild (Kansas 1964) earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Kansas, and a doctorate from the University of Tulsa.
“I’ve never thought of myself as conveying emotions,” he says. “I think that just occurs naturally as a result of one’s trying to write precisely about one’s experience in the world.” Published Works & Awards Fairchild’s poems have appeared in Southern Review, Poetry, Hudson Review, Yale Review, Paris Review, The New Yorker, Sewanee Review, and The Best American Poems of 2000. He also is the author of Such Holy Song, a study of William Blake. The Arrival of the Future was his first full-length book of poems. His third collection, The Art of the Lathe, was a finalist for the National Book Award and winner of the Kingsley Tufts Award, the William Carlos Williams Award, the California Book Award, the PEN Center West Poetry Award, and the Texas Institute of Letters Award.
Fairchild’s interest in poetry began in high school even though he says his writing at the time was not very good. “I wrote a little my senior year in high school, but it was awful, and then in the university I wrote more fiction than poetry,” he says. “They didn’t offer creative writing courses in poetry because there simply wasn’t enough student interest, but they had a very fine fiction teacher in Edgar Wolfe.”
He received the 2004 Rebekah Johnson Bobbitt National Prize for Poetry and the National Book Critics Circle Award for his book Early Occult Memory Systems of the Lower Midwest.
The other influence and comparison Fairchild makes to his love of the complexities of poetry was his father’s love of woodworking. “The performance of the craft, doing well something that is very difficult,” he says. “My father was a lathe machinist. I see myself doing something similar, though with words rather than metal.”
He is also a recipient of Guggenheim, Rockefeller/Bellagio, and National Endowment for the Arts fellowships. In addition, he also received the Arthur Rense Poetry Award from the American Academy of Arts and Letters.
To this day, Fairchild’s interest in poetry remains something of a mystery to him but he does know that he enjoys the precision it requires.
In April 2007, Fairchild was named one of five recipients of the 2006–2007 Alumni Distinguished Achievement Awards from the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at Kansas, the highest award bestowed on graduates.
“It’s the most precise form of expression that the language gives us,” he says. “Another reason was that I was psychologically split between the life of the body (work) and the life of the mind (the university).
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FEATURE Although he is not one to comment about the awards and recognition he has received over the years, Fairchild did offer a comment on the National Endowment for the Arts website that conveys his appreciation. “It’s very simple: without an NEA Fellowship in 1989–90, I would not have been able to complete my second book, Local Knowledge, nor have had the necessary time to compose the core poems for The Art of the Lathe, my third book, which, I am proud to say, received the Kingsley Tufts Award and was a finalist for the National Book Award, thus bringing my work to a wider audience than the immediate members of my family and also, therefore, making future work possible.”
Remembering Manchester Another notable author and Lambda Chi Alpha alumnus, who died in 2004, was William Manchester (Massachusetts 1946).
When asked what his awards and accomplishments mean to him, Fairchild is very gracious and succinct in his response: “They all represent recognition by one’s peers, and that’s always gratifying,” he says.
He was a 1992 Order of Achievement recipient and a best-selling author of 18 books that were translated into 20 languages. A World War II veteran, he received his Bachelor of Arts from the University of Massachusetts in 1946, and a master’s degree from the University of Missouri in 1947.
Fraternity Experience Fairchild jokes about why he joined Lambda Chi Alpha at Kansas: “Well, the lodging and food were relatively cheap, and I figured it increased my chances of meeting girls.”
After graduate school, Manchester went to work as a reporter for The Baltimore Sun. There he met journalist H.L. Mencken who became the subject for Manchester’s master’s thesis and first book, Disturber of the Peace.
When he makes a more serious comment about his Fraternity experiences, he says it really was about the friendships he made and the interesting intellectual late night conversations.
In 1955, Manchester left the newspaper business to become an editor for Wesleyan University, where he spent the rest of his career. He later also became an adjunct professor of history and writer-in-residence.
“You know, I think it would be more appropriate to say I learned a great deal from some of my friends there,” Fairchild says. “I was fortunate to be surrounded by some of the smartest people I’ve ever known, and they — especially a couple of them — had a distinct intellectual influence on me.”
In 1967, his best-selling book, The Death of a President, depicted a detailed account of the murder of President John F. Kennedy, who had been the subject of one of Manchester’s earlier books. Over the years, he also wrote several books about World War II, including The Arms of Krupp: The Rise and Fall of the Industrial Dynasty that Armed Germany at War, American Caesar (about Gen. Douglas MacArthur), and Goodbye, Darkness: A Memoir of the Pacific War.
One of those invaluable friends he has stayed in contact with over the years is Richard Taylor (Kansas 1964). Taylor earned a doctorate in math at the California Institute of Technology, then went on to have an opera career, and today he is a medical doctor.
He also says that in addition to writing poetry he thoroughly enjoys the art of teaching and being a college professor.
“He has been a good and valuable friend through the years,” Fairchild says.
“I mean, you’re talking about the things you love and getting paid for it,” Fairchild says. “Who could ask for more?”
The Art of Teaching Fairchild credits many of his teachers and numerous other poets and writers with influencing his work.
He also believes that even though poetry may not be as popular as it has been in the past, it still remains his passion. “Well, it still has the same impact on me; but it certainly doesn’t have the impact on the general culture that it once had,” he says.
“But certainly Anthony Hecht was very important to me -- as a poet, a master craftsman of the language, and then later as a friend,” he says. “Also William Stafford, James Wright, Richard Hugo. Shakespeare, Keats, everyone.” www.crossandcrescent.com
When asked about his writing plans for the future, Fairchild says his plans involve as much writing as he can accomplish. “The same as always: more poems, essays, books,” he says.
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