SPECIAL EDITION THE MIDWAY FIJ IGRAM NEWSLETTER Pub I i shed by Chi Upsi lon Gra-duate Assn. of PHI GAMMA DELTA 5^615 South University Avenue Chicago, I l l inois 60637 August, 1965 Dear Brother Fiji : At the Annual Meeting of the Chi Upsi lon Graduate Assn. held at the Pig Dinner on June 12, 1965 the Board of Directors announced plans to raise and spend approximately $14,000 for refurbishing and refurnishing the Chapter House. The members of the Board have closely studied the phy sical needs of the House over the past year and report as fol lows: The House at 5615 University Ave. is basical ly an attractive faci l ity-wel I located and I ikeIy to become even more central to Col lege I ife as current plans for University-deveIopment are imp 1emented. It is a handsome bui lding fi l led with al l of the value which long use and senti mental attachment can give it. It seems unl ikely that we would be able to raise the funds necessary to bui ld a new House that could match the basic qual ity of our current House. On the other hand, there are a number of reasons that have lead the Board to bel ieve that we should or must improve the qual ity of our faci I ities. Your Board members feel that Phi Gamma Delta has a future at Chicago and bel ieve that the Graduate Association has a responsibi l ity to ex press its confidence in that future. We bel ieve that recent improve ment in the tone and administration of Chapter l ife must be encouraged by assistance of the graduate Brothers. Our Fraternity has tremendous reservoirs of strength in its independence, its fundamental commit ments, and even, we bel ieve, in its smal lness; but these resources wi l l not bear fruit in squal lor. Whi le there have been many areas of im provement, al l of you who have visited the Chapter House in recent years know that there are some aspects of the basic physical plant and furnishings \^hich have deteriorated sadly in recent decades, notwith standing expenditures from annual dues and the 5615 Bui lding Fund of ten years ago. Modernization has become more crucial now that the University is planning additional attractive dormitory faci l ities which wi l l further encourage an already-blossoming Col lege house program. A Fraternity wi l l have to be at its best--both in faci l ities and in tone-'Td^SATrwTve su'cTT compeTi tToTi m"~a form~w^ (te~srre. — The House Corp. bel ieves that we must raise and spend about $14,000 to keep the Chapter House in a competitive position. The Board has worked with the undergraduate Chapter to encourage sound administration that wi l l make proper use of the faci l ities. In making its plan, the Board has been guided by 2 primary considera tions: renewal of House property must proceed hand in hand with de velopment of Chapter tone and administration; and secondly, the renewal must improve the physical level of l ife in the House over what was known in former years if we are to remain competitive. Fol lowing are our specific needs: 1 . KITCHEN AND DINING ROOM: A new stove and commercial refrigerator are a must if the kitchen is to continue operating. The current stove is a grand old instrument whose annual repair bi l ls are far out of l ine with the cost of replacing the stove. Two smal l , old, used residential \r\nPAGE 2 SPECIAL EDITION THE MIDWAY FIJ IGRAM NEWSLETTER AUG. 1965 type refrigerators have been "stop gap" replacement items for too many years. We also need new flooring and new work counter space and 16 dining room chairs. Cost $5,000 2. WASHROOMS: Three of the 5 washrooms need drastic repairs; new flooring and waterproofing, new showers, plastering, medicine cabinets and fixtures. Cost $3,400 3. FURNITURE FOR INDIVIDUAL ROOMS: For years the Chapter has made do with "junk" furniture in the study rooms. This simply isn't good enough. The Board does not propose completely to furnish the upstairs rooms but to obtain some major items to be apportioned among them, supplemented in each case by the undergraduates. The 2 primary items are durable and attractive rugs and 1 1 lounge chairs. We also need 4 new bureaus, 5 bookcases, and 3 floor lamps. Also required are 5 l ight woight desks to serve as an alternate to the present bulky, old-style desks.. Cost $3,500 4. BASEMENT ROOM: The room in the basement formerly occupied by a resident house man has been declared inappropriate for regular resi dence by city authorities. The House has been offered a television set; and the room could be made a comfortable, if smal l , supplementary lounge faci l ity Cost $ 350 5. CARD ROOM: It and furnished. As ance is one of the and for Brothers. folding door. has been years since the card room was decorated one of the publ ic rooms in the House its appear most important in setting general tone for visitors We hope to refurnish and redecorate and add a Cost $ 600 6. STAIRWELL AND FRONT HALL: The front stairs have sagged causing cracking of plaster. Shoring up is necessary. We wi l l also tighten and rehabi l itate the balustrades on the stairs and imp rove front hal l closet space uti l ization. Cost $ 250 7. LAUNDRY ROOM: Conversion to gas heat has opened up the old coa'l room as a very suitable location for the clothes washer and dryer. This frees the old laundry room for several better uses. Cost $ 400 8. UPSTAIRS ROOMS AND DORMITORY: Some carpentry and painting is required in upstairs rooms and dorm. The dorm has been unnecessari ly drab, especial ly as a room that must be shown to rushees. Venetian bl inds and used ex-l iving room drapes wi l l be put in dorm. Cost.....$ 9. LIVING ROOM DRAPES: 225 Drapes appropriate to the handsome decor and furnishing of the room. Cost.....$ 350 10. LANDSCAPING: Evergreen plants and bushes for front of House. Improvement of lawns. Cost $ 250 Total prel iminary cost figures: $14,125.00 Work has already begun in several of the above areas in the hope that many projects wi l l be underway or .finished when school begins and that al l wi l l be completed by the end of 1965. Your attention to the en closed envelope is appreciated. FraternaI Iy, Cifi Upsi lonCraduateAssn. Directors \r\n. -CHI UPSILON CHAPTER PHI GAMMA DELTA MIDWAY FIJIGRAM INFORMATION SHEET Please return this form with your dues payment, if possible, or send to EDITOR, THE MIDWAY FIJIGRAM, 56l5 So. University Ave., Chicago, 111. 60637NAME CLASS OCCUPATION FIRM ( .) RESIDENCE ADDRESS ; ( ) BUSINESS ADDRESS Indicate if address is new. 1. What's-new with you, the family, job, hobbies, adventures, etc.? 2. What do you hear from the old gang? (List any new addresses, new arrivals and accomplishments that a modest Fiji Brother might not mention.) 3. What features or subjects would you like to see in the FIJIGRAM? DATE FILLED OUT: _ Dear Brother Fiji: The FIJIGRAM comes out regularly. You are just as newsworthy as would like form to hear before pubiicat^n ofthe ournext nextfellow, issue. and The we back of this is from blank.youUse it if necessary. Hope to hear from youl