Vol. I, No. 2 The E.//// East Lansingr/TMiChigan ^ /Q er> 1961 Fijis ExtenutW^l^rae To All Winter RuSKcs Dear Rushee, During the next few weeks, you will be required to make what may well be one of the most important decisions of your lifetime. That is "Which college fraternity should I join?" During rush you will become aware that each fi-aternity has a personality and standards which are unlike any other. If you went through IFC's fall smokers, you undoubtedly learned this. You are faced with choosing a group of men who will be your close friends for at least the rest of your college days, many you will have contact with for the rest of your life. You must choose the group carefully. You must look beneath the surface of smiles and handshakes to find what we call Brotherhood, that intangible commodity which separates the true fraternity from the social club. We in Phi Gamma Delta have found that Brotherhood and we have grown because of it. Membership in this, as in any similar organization, entails certain financial responsibilities. I am taking this opportunity to tell you of ours. Our pledging fee is $22.50 and our initiation fee is $67. Dues for those actives living outside the house are $18.50 per month and for those living in the chapter house, $13.50 per month. For those living in the house, the rent is $35 and the board is $51 per month. This is the extent of our charges. They are in keeping with similar charges of other fraternities at Michigan State. We hope that through this publication you will gain a great er understanding of what a true fraternity is, and what this chapter, Epsilon Lambda, stands for. The booklet. My Frater nity, will help you to understand our national organization and what it means to us. The final understanding awaits you — on your initiation day. Sincerely, Jim Ellis President \r\nTHE E. L. FIJI Page Two IT MUST HAVE been a joke about a darnel Here the spirit of an animated WINTER, 1961 bull session is captured, but the quip is probably unprintable. Group Contributes to Inclivitlual As Participation of Fijis Grows The fraternity which is now Epsilon Lambda of Phi Gamma Delta had its start on the Michi gan State campus in in 1957. With in one year, the group was recog nized by both the university and the national fraternity as having achieved colony status. On May 3, 1959, a delegation composed of Fiiis from several schools in this area and national officers instal led Epsilon Lambda as the R6th chapter of Phi Gamma Delta. Since that time, the men of the MSU Fiji's have grown in num ber, know-how, and spirit. Social activities will long be re membered by the Fijis. The invi tation teams which invite the bro'thers' dates to the annual Fiji Island party have given foot-sore, weary Phi Gams something which will take its place in their mem ories. Rush parties are O'f special importance, for the brothers and the rushees have an opportunity to get to know each other in a relaxed atmosphere. The Fall term rush party was a dinner-dance at the Holiday Inn. Desserts with sororities also are a part of the campus social whirl. Phi Gams are known for their participation in campus activities. The MSU Fijis are no exception, with one hundred percent of the membership contributing to the campus blood drives for three consecutive terms. Last spring, the Fijis worked with the Delta Gammas to enter a mutually sat isfying if not prize-winning float in the annual Water Carnival. In 1959, the Fijis worked with the Alpha Chi Omegas on Sparta- cade and came up with a winning booth. As a group the Fijis are activity-minded, and so are the individuals within the group. Phi Gams are working in many organ izations here on campus and in their own communities. Scholastically, Phi Gamma Del ta was ranked thirteenth among thirty fraternities on campus dur ing the Spring term of 1960. Fig ures for the 1960 Fall term not yet available. are \r\nTHE E. L. FIJI WINTER, 1961 Page Three The E. L Fiji Alum Insert Dear Alums: Once again we're reserving this page for news of special interest to you. If, however, you glance through the rest of the stories, I think you'll find bits of relevant information in them, too. Bliss, Texas. He will report to Fort Sam Houston in April to be gin training for the U. S. Modem Pentathelon Squad for the 1964 Olympics. For you athletic sup porters, Pentathelon includes five events: rimning, swimming, fen cing, riding, (horses) and pistol AJ Graeff (Pitt '40), presi dent of our graduate association, was the guest of Renault in France early last fall. He spent several days just outside Paris at their plant, and three more on the Mediterranean at Nice, with a side trip to Monaco. Despite widespread Democratic victories throughout the state, Ralph Young (Jefferson '03) was re-elected state representative on the GOP ticket. Tom Burgoon (MSU '60) has returned to school with his wife Ann to finish up work bachelors degree. on his Sam's Air Force On November 24 the Mothers' Club and their friends took over the house for a bridge party. The funds raised, plus profits from the sale of wire sponges, will go to buy two living room planters and a table for the bay window. Speaking of the living room, in cidentally, be sure to take a look at its "new face" on page 6. True to predictions, it's been an eventful term for the Fiji's. After initiating last Spring's pledge class, fall rush began. Despite new IFC regulations which pro hibit Ray Schumacker hitches up on Uncle shooting. band wagon for six months. George Pinkerton recently unhitched his service ties, and is presently work ing in the Detroit area. Tom Rob erts is also in civies again, and is employed as an accountant in the Motor City. John Kay, another army man, is busy running his first term rushing, EL freshmen pinned the from White Star on seven outstanding upperclassmen. Something about them appears on page 5. Then, shortly after mid-terms, on two consecutive week-ends, ap proximately 400 men rushed all 30 fraternities on campus. They dad's nursery. will all go through rush again at the beginning of this term. Dick Rocker is traveling down Texas way as a salesman for Pittsburg Plate Glass Company. Epsilon Lambda's homecoming dLsplaj% along with the MSU foot ball squad, made a valiant bid for Skip Dowd C60) was commis sioned on Dec. 6, and is attending the prize of the day. But luck did Officer Orientation School at Fort year. n't seem to be with either this \r\nROW 1, Larry Ford, (P); Denny Whittington, corr. sec.; Anson Lovellette, rec. sec.; Jim Ellis, pres.; Mrs. MacGillivrav Don Creyts, treas.; Bill Docrner, hist.; Bob Waters; ROW 2; Mort Rahimi, (P); Dean Morehouse; Bruce Patzer; John Steen;' Herb ramp; Bob Gill; Bob Johnston; Art Gubernick; Ron Zink; ROW 3; Ken Shaw; Jim Eaton, (P); Dan Hasley; Bob Schhiter- Bill Weagly; Dick Bennett, (P); Fritz Aichelc; Bill Hammond; ROW 4; Jim Bentley; Don Young, (P); Clare Darlington; Bill Cook; Mike Sumera; Bruce Zorman; Dick Lorenz, (P); Dave Cueny; Jprry Elder; Jack Vincent, CP); Jim Lau; Dick Galeta- Bill Barker; Tom Eardley; A1 Matousek; Bob Toth; Skip Dowd. \r\nTHE E. L FIJI WINTER, 1961 Pledge Program Eliminates Scars Epsilon Lambda is presently striving to produce a better cal iber active instead of a battle scarred pledge. The oledge has only two set rules that he must follow. First, he must wear his pledge pin at the proper time and second, and most important, he is to maintain a small notebook. This notebook is a record of how well he is doing in his classes. All his grades are to be entered and are to be available for inspection by the active chapter. The pledge scholarship is en couraged by the presentation of the Alton Graeff Award. This award consists of a large paddle with the names of the pledges with the highest grade-point av erages in their pledge classes. The pledges may also seek help with their studies from their big broth Page Five Fall Class Makes Debut The seven smiling Knights of the White Star, whose names are followed with a (P) in the picture on the opposite page, comprise the Fall Term Pledge class—of varying backgrounds, but very capable and Fiji timber all. Jack Vincent, "6 feet 6 inches and still growin'" (you bet he plays basketball) is a food sci ences major from Oak Park. A junior, he transferred from Wes tern Michigan. Dick Bennett, a sophomore majoring in business services, lives in Flint, where he attended the local JC last year. Jim Baton, a junior from Cayuga, N. Y., is majoring in radioTV, and comes to us via Auburn Community College in New York. Dick Lorenz, an elementary ed ers whose purpose is to aid and ucation counsel. spent his freshman year at Ferris major from Chicago, Institute. The pledge class elects its own officers and conducts a secret, meeting. The pledges plan their own projects and need only the approval of the pledge trainer to Don Young, a police ad major from Long Island, N. Y., attended St. John's University in New York City his freshman year. Larry Ford, a junior majoring carry them through. As part of the pledge work, there is the Sat urday morning work session. At in social science, hails from Colo- this time, repairs are made and at U. of M. new projects are started. It is our belief that we will ben efit as an active chapter by re garding our pledges as a more in tegral part of the chapter. watcr. He spent his freshman year The chapter picks ud a flavor of irjtemationalism with the ad dition of Mort Rahimi. an elec trical engineering major from Teh ran, Ircin. Mort spent the two pre vious years at Hope College. The outmoded and useless "Hell Week" has been abolisbed and re placed by "Fiji Week", a help week program. During this period of time, which takes place during the registration week following the term of pledging, the pledges are kept busy working for the betterment of the house, studying fraternity and local chapter his tory, and working on their pledge project to be given to the house. Fiji Claus dropped a copy of the "Sengs of Phi Gamma Del ta" down the chimney of every sorority house on campus this Christmas. Sooner or laiter, we're planning to organize a mass scale song fest by syn chronizing each house's player and producing the most unusual stereo system yet. \r\nTHE E. L. FIJI Page Six WINTER, 1961 Phi Gamma Delta Organization Men BLUE KEY: Bill Barker, Jim El lis, Anson Lovellette GREEN HELMET: Bill Barker, Don Oreyts, Bill Doerner, Anson Lovellette PHI ETA SIGMA: Bill Barker, Don Creyts, Bill Doerner, Anson Lovellette, Mike Sumera IFC: Jim Ellis, member-at-large; Jerry Elder, Greek Week co- chairman; Anson Lovellette, publications chairman; Dean Morehouse AUSG: Bill Barker, Treasurer; Don Creyts, Anson Lovellette VARSITY WRESTLING: BELIEVE IX OR not, it's the same living room. Only the furnishings are Bob Schluter WOLVERINE: Anson Lovellette, associate editor; Dave Cueny, engraving editor STATE NEWS: Bill Doerner, copy What Is A Fraternity? By Newton D. Baker A fraternity is an association of men, selected in their college days by democratic processes because of editor LES GOURMETS: John Steen HOTEL ASSOCIATION: Bob Gill STATE SINGERS: Jerry Elder MARCHING BAND: Herb Camp their adherence to common ideals and aspirations. Out of their as sociation arises a personal rela tion which makes them unselfishly seek to advance one another in the arts of life and to add, to the formal instruction of the college HONORARIES HONORS COLLEGE : Bill Bark er, Don Creyts, Bill Doerner, Anson Lovellette BETA GAMMA EPSILON (Busi ness): Anson Lovellette, vicepresident curriculum, the culture and char acter which men acquire by con tact with great personalities, or when admitted to partnership in great traditions. A fraternity, too. is of such character that after men have left DELTA PHI EPSILON (Foreign Service): Dave Cueny college they delight to renew their own youth by continued associa PI MU EPSILON (Mathematics): Bill Barker, Don Creyts tion with it and to bring their richest experiences back to the younger generation in part pay PI TAU SIGMA (Mechanical Engi_ neering): Don Creyts, Jim Ellis themselves to owe to the frater TAU BETA Don Oreyts formative PI (Engineering): ment of the debt which they feel nity for what it gave them in their years.