The E. L Fiji Vol. I, No. 1 East Lansing, Michigan Fall, 1960 Fiji's Join Fveiyone Else In lime-Worn, Yet Sincere Greeting, 'Welcome to MSU!' Welcome to Michigan State! show the future on the basis of You've probably heard and read those words so often by now that, like "Nice meeting you," and "Thanks a lot," they're no longer three words, but one phrase in your listening vocabulary. Bear in mind, however, that everyone who uses them—the fa culty, the administration, the upperclassmen, the RA's and the merchants—^means what he says. And "Salutations upon your ar rival to the institution of higher learning known as Michigan State University" isn't much of a substitute! an incomiplete past, and the past on the threshold o-f an alreadycommitted future. Anyone can have 20-20 hind sight! You, however, have been giv en a third chance because you've transferred from another school or are considering fraternity af filiation after at least one term at MSU. If you passed up the first op portunity, don't do it again. Pause to plan the next two or tiiree years. If, after more con sideration and investigation, fra I want to ask a favor of you for a moment—something you ternity life occupies a place in wliat you want here, then I ad may already have done before, since you are all upperclassmen. If you haven't, you'll be doing yourself a favor too. Stop and think what you're going to do with yourself between now and diploma time. vise you to rush. There are two points at which a student can reflect upon his college years with nearly com plete detachment: before he be gins them, and after he finishes them. The time between will And for more information and an explanation about the Fiji Kingdom and Epsilon Lambda of Phi Gamma Delta, just turn the page. Feel free to drop around any time, especially during rush, and find out first hand what you're about to read. Sincerely, BILL DOERNER Editor \r\nPage Two SEVERAL FALL, 1960 THE E. L. FIJI OF THE brothers gather 'round to honor "Mom Mac" on the day of the chapter's installation. On the same after noon that all the eharter mem bers received their pins. Mom became the first chapter sweet heart. External, Internal Chapters Combine Into Spirited, Active Fraternal Force On (page 6 you'll see a picture qf the Epsilon Lambda chapter house. This is the external chap ter; it serves as the living quar ters, meeting place and genera] hub of Fiji activity. Inside the comfortable three story frame building, which accomodates ap proximately 25, the internal chapter of a rather young fra ternity is busy making its mark on Michigan State. The Fiji's at MSU became an organization in the fall of 1957. Within a year, they had been granted colony status by both the school and national headquarters. On May 9, 1959, the day that the above picture was taken, Epsilon Lambda became the 86th chapter of the Phi Gamma Delta. Since its inception, the chap ter has remained on an even keel in a single direction—upward. Scholastically, it ranked thirteen th and fourteenth respectively among thirty fraternities during the 'fall and winter terms of the previous year. The pledge classes, during the same periods of time, stayed within the top five. Ak of this writing the spring term figures are not available. Activities - wise, the Fiji's, working with the Alpha Chi Omega's, took second place in par ticipation in the '59 Spartcade The chapter has also received awards for 100% donations in the past two ROTO Blood Drives, and has worked with the Delta Delta Delta's and the Delta Gam ma's on the '59 and '60 Water Carnivals. One other thing you should know before visiting the house is in regard to expenses. Piedg'ng fees are $25. In order to go c tive an initiate pays $8'5, for which he receives his (pin, a life subscription to the national mag azine, and a wall certificate. Thereaifter, monthly dues amount to $13.50, and living expenses, for those who reside in the house, are $86.00 per month. \r\nFALL. 1960 Page Three THE E. L. FIJI The E. L Fiji Alum Insert Dear Alums, In a publication, such as this, designed for two audiences, it's often hard to maintain a propor tionate balance space-wise. This or more to pledge, so rush will be mainly for the benefit of uppcrclassmen. As usual, a busy fall term has time we felt the rushees had to been planned, complete with homecoming displays, (which we take priority, but we think you'll pick up some of the old Fiji flav or plus many o' the innovations by reading the other articles. hope all of you will be around to see), our annual Harvest Dance, Football, Turkey Trot, etc. Re-acclimation to studies will consume We wanted to alot some room, however, for news of interest only to you. The house has un dergone several major repairs and improvements this summer. New downstairs rugs and furni ture awaited brothers, and the return the room of the off the dining room (the one which nev er seemed to serve any purpose) has been converted into cubicled study space. A list of the brothers and their summer jobs would indicate only one generalization: diver sity! Many, however, tried to choose work related to their ma jors. Jim Ellis was engineering for Chevrolet in Detro t. Maybe we'll see a good Corvair yet! Don Creyts has the distinction of having oil invest in him— he engineered also, for Shell in Calilornia. Denis Whittington's job sounds great anyway—working for National Cash Reg ster in Dayton; our sixth senses tell us, however, that it wasn't the sev enth heaven we're all picturing— he didn't empty them! New IFC rules permit those having completed quarter of their freshman only one year the normal amount of extra time, but everything in the fall gathers momentum, wiiich prevents any lost time at all Winter Term. Jim Ellis, Bill Barker, and Jer»y Elder recently returned Irom Washington, D. C., where they represented Epsilon Lambda at the Wilkinson Ekklesia. With out trying to out-scoop "Scoop's" successor. Brother Jim Hudson, who will no doubt publish a complete account of the four day "Fiji-thon" in the next issue of the Phi Gamma Delta, be it known that all three came back literally inflated with antedotes, ideas, and summaries of the problems facing fraternities. They drove the long trip, and with true cannaballstic primitivism, camped in state parks overnight. The spring term pledge class assembled at the house early in Welcome Week, and spruced it up a bit during Fiji Week. By this time they're looking back on their "pledge-brother" days as ancient history, and are ready to take the second, and most im portant step in the pledge-active-alum progression of the fra ternity. \r\nFALL, 1960 THE E. L. FIJI Page \r\nFALL, 1960 Page Five THE E. L. FIJI Pledge Program Stresses Growth Live-lt-UjJ-vilie Also On Itinerary A pledge assumes his status at a formal cei'emony at the end of rush. The Fiji pledge pin is the shining white star with the One of the primary reasons for a fraternity's existence is to pro vide a basis for social activity. The fraternity serves as both the stapping stone and the com five points worn only on sweat plete ers and suit coats. important area of college life. span of a bridge in this The pledge program of Phi Gamma Delta is based upon the rejection of outdated hazing and paddling practices, and the em phasis of growth—intellectually and socially. Every pledge is in vited to all social functions, and is urged to spend as much time as he wishes at the house. The program's primary consid eration is scholarship; supervised study sessions are conducted in the library, and test files and tutoring (from brothers who have conKpleted particular cours(^s ■have proved extremely helpful to those experiencing difficulty. Within the first two weeks, the pledge class elects its offi cers. They conduct the weekly meetings, at which the pledge trainer also quizzes his class on material from PILGRIM, our Instruction is THE PURPLE pledge given manual. in songs, chapter history, etc. The pledge and the chapter jointly decide upon a "big brother." Each Saturday morning the 12 for work sessions. In addition, one pledge is required to spend about an hour each day keeping class meets again from 8 to the house in order. The class ro tates in this duty. The pledge program is cli maxed, usually during registra tion week of the following term, in Fiji Week. This time, major repairs and services are per formed on the house, and, soon afterward, the class is initiated. THE FIJI CANNIBALS, having mellowed somewhat at the re quest of their dates, linger on at the annual Fiji Island party. Where was this basement of taken? the In the house! The fraternity exerts a de finite influence socially through out college years. The Fiji's usu ally sponsor at least two costume parties each term, in addition to numerous after-the-game, postshow, and other informal gettogethers. The house regularly holds desserts, and co-sponsors various floats, etc., with differ ent sororities around the campus. The highlight of the social cal endar comes late in the spring, when the entire campus eclipses during the nationally-famous Fiji Island party. Ferocious "canni bals" and their dates dine and dance, in matching sarongs, amid all the splendor of the fa bled South Seas. \r\nFaU, 1960 THE E. L. FIJI Fiji Organization IVIen BLUE KEY: Bill Barker, j;m Ellis GREEN HELMET: Bill Barker, Don Creyts, Bill Doerner. Anson Lovellette PHI ETA SIGMA: Bill Barker, Don Creyts, Bill Doerner, Anson Lovelette, Mike Bu rnera. IFC: Jim Ellis, member-at-large; Jerry Elder, past IFC Sing Chairman; Anson Lovellette. Publications Chairman AUSG: Bill Barker, Don Creyts, Anson Lovellette THE FIJI HOUSE, located 334 Michigan Avenue. VARSITY FOOTBALL: A1 Hill VARSITY WRESTLING: at Bob Schluter VARSITY FENCING: Skip Dowd eloquence shows through in this STATE NEWS: Bill Doerner classic definition of a fraternity. * HONORARIES HONORS COLLEGE: Bill Bark er, Bill Doerner, Anson Lo vellette because BETA GAMMA EPSILON (Busi ness): Don Creyts, Anson Lovellette, vice-president DELTA PHI EPSILON (For eign Service): Dave Cueny PI MU EPSILON (Mathematics): Bill Barker, Don Creyts PI TAU SIGMA (Mechanical Engineering ): Don Creyts, Jim Ellis TAU BETA PI Don Creyts (Engineering^: * * * A fraternity is an association of men, selected in their college days by democratic processes, of their adherence to common ideals and aspirations. Out ct" their association arises a personal relation which makes them unselfishly seek to advance one another in the arts of life and to add, to the formal in struction of the college curricu lum, the culture and character which men acquire by contact with great personalities, or when admitted to partnership in great traditions- A fraternity, too, is of such character t Is A Fraternity? by Newton D. Baker NOTE: Newton D. Baker, that after men have left college they delight to re new their own youth by contin ued a Fiji, was Secretary op: War un der President Wilson. Adlai Ste venson recently referred to his Elpee'ch supporting the League of Nations as the most moving h'' had ever heard. Some of that association with it and to bring their richest experiences back to the younger generation in part payment of the debt which they feel themselves to owe to the fraternity for what it gave them in their formative