m MOMS COME HOME TO RJIS Affer being defunct for nearly 14 years, the Mary McCarty Mothers' Cli^ is back at the Fiji house. It might have been the tales of past graduates of their mothers sleeping In the rock rooms: perhaps it was the emphatically-stated desire of the Alpha Phi alumni board to have mothers bock in the thick of it at 707 Ox ever the reason, interest at the house perked up enough to have the Mothers' Club reinstated. The first meeting ^ was rather informal, occurring in the midst of Parent's Weekend in the Spring of 1978. Things picked up at the second meeting on December 2nd. The brothers had their mothers up for a luncheon on Saturday followed by the Mother's Club meeting in the afternoon. Following the meeting, most of the brothers chose their mothers as their date for the eve- ""ning., j-aking them to dinner and in many cases to a show feTidwing dinner. A third meeting look place during thV April Parent's Weekend. The Fiji mothers intend to help with fund raising and the redecoration of the common rooms. In a few years, they hope to hove reached again the prime importance they once held in the running of things at 707 Oxford. Special thanks goes to the successive Mothers' Club chairmen. Art Albin '79 and Steve Conn '78. PHI GAM SPORTS REVIEW This year in sports, went very well for our chapter. An expecially satisfying highlight of which was the fact that we had one hundred percent participation from all of the brothers—in house and out. Competition in the l-M league, which includes approximately thirty five fraternities, ranged from early- morning battles in rtie table tennis, to midnight Fiji Islander hockey games at the Yost Ice Arena. And after all the different sports concluded, we placed in fourth position. The outlook for the future is very bright indeed, because of two fruitful rushes. Many talented athletes were initiated, and as a result we are considered by many to be a formidable power in the l-M for the next few years. RUSH: MAINTAINING EXCELLENCE The Alpha Phi chapter of Phi Gamma Delta enters the 1979 foil term with a house full of new members following two exceptiorxilly strong rushes. Fifty three percent of the house will be occupied by members of these two pledge classes. The 1978 fall rush was universally agreed to be the strongest in recent memory. Under the direction of then-Rush Chairman, Tony Pollera '80, the U of M Fijis welcomed sixteen new members into its fold. But the merits of this pledge class lie not in quantity, but quality. The group is full of talent, represents a variety of interests, abilities and backgrounds,(56 percent of this group are from out of state) and are expected to provide much of the needed leadership in the future. The winter'79 pledge class was even bigger, comprising twenty members and is distinguished by the same attributes that mark the class before it, as well as being, in the words of one of our neighboring Alpha Phis, "the handsomest Flfi pledge class ever." Jeff McAllister '80 can be credited with much of the success of this rush, as the hard-working Junior served as both Rush Chairman and Pledge Trainer for this pledge class. Though the loss of the outgoing senior class is sorely felt, the quality of the two latest pledge classes bolsters confidence in the prospect of theAlpha Phi Cha|>ter in the year, and years to come. \r\nTHIRTY YEARS IN THE FRATERNITY By: Al "Wildcaf" Wall & Chris Cortwright It: Scheduled publishing dote: Someday Subfech Length: Style: Camaraderie "I'm at home here." asserts Cat, and 1 look Unending on the fellas as younger brothers." The Authors' characters: Verbose Unreproochoble "Yea, I've been considering the idea past thirty-plus years has led to the ac cumulation of one hell of a big family for Al "Wildcat" Wall. His "family", be they actives or alumnus, find it a treat of writing a book quite seriously." soys "Cat" to stop on down and talk awhile with (as he's often coll^.) "You know I hear a Wildcat (and have a drink or two of course). When entering his small, dark room (the Den lot of pros and cons about fraternity life as I've traveled , out to Denver,Wyoming and around, on whether it (frat life) Improves or of Iniquity) located Just below the kitchen, one can't help but to notice the clutter...er retards a young man's college career. My ...mementoes. His bed is situated in the association with the fraternity has shown to me middle of the room, standing as an island that it definitely is in a man's favor to belong." Taking a sip from his ever-present gloss of in a sea of debris. There isn't an inch of cotch ("heart medicine"), he continues: "Living together for four years as they do, they (the brothers) get to know each other personally. They bring their parents in and they(the parents) get to know each other and the brothers end up with real friends they con visit over the years. If anyone knows what he's talking about concerning Phi Gamma Delta living, it's Wildcat. He first came to 707 Oxford in 1946, "iust to help out for a few weeks," and has been a permanent fixture of the Alpha Phi Fiji house ever since. Cot recalls how it all got started. "The guys were having their Gross Skirt party, as I remember, and they needed some enter tainment. So 1 stood up with my ukelele (still a frequent companion for the Alpha Phi Gam elder spokesman/crooner) and got 'em all goin' in 0 sing-along. 1 knew quite a few of the college songs back then, you know. Well, they liked that, gave me a five dollar raise and asked me to stay on....and 1 did." That was the wisest five dollar investment that the Alpha Phi chapter of Phi Gamma Delta ever made. wall space without a picture of Cot or a brother, or a yellowing news clipping about either. Every thing in the room has a history. Just like Cot the tales he can tell are amazing. Like the one about the unauthorized party in the '50's which was rudely broken up by the police. Two brothers managed to sneak out the bock with the beer keg, while Cat handled the police. But even Cot couldn't help the two, when they mistook the unmarked car for Wildcat's, putting the keg in the carl "Did 1 tell you the one about when I was shootin' at some squirrels in the attic, and the plaster came down in good ol'e gentleman Jim's rock? Ho!...." He's got one on everyone and hasn't forgotten a ont. An olumn can stop in anytime and Wildcat will recognize him right off the bat Cat has never forgotten a brother. Among the many things he prizes, is his endless array of books. He loves to read. "That's one of the things 1 came here for. With all of the types of books here, 1 figured 1 could give myself an Abe Lincoln education." ^continued on next page) \r\nHe's remarkably well read, expeclally inclement weather armed with gallon iuas of up on the latest developments In the ceremony featured Brother Mayer'sTxotic in the medical sciences. "...Always wanted to be a doctor..." He's always medical field. "I've studied up to advanced first aid now which mokes me next to a paramedic." he states, beaming with pnde. " I can help the boys when fhey get injured here and also can help when I go out to Cook City (Montana, where Cat spends his summers and where he IS a local celebrity). "Why, I can set a broken bone and be a midwife too, and been both, on account of the hospitals being so far away out there." All T®'! of a Jock of All Trades. Duringsomething the '50's besides more or less running things at 707 Oxford, Cat act^ in campus theatre and was there with his ukulele to play at the Union and the League for all-campus parties. He's even cut an album of his favorite bawdy rodeo songs. As a Fiji, it is particularly gratifying to me to see him show off "his star—his Phi Gam ring, with so much pride. "In '75, they presented me with this Fiji ring and made me an honorary brother." His eyes radiate as he says the words. "Thirty Years With the Fraternity" should prove to be the Pulitzer Prize winner for warmth (if and) when it comes out. But I suggest a title change: How about; "Eighty years-plus of brotherly love." Chris Cartwright'79 GRASS SKIRT 79 Once again the Senior class of '79 upheld tradition by sponsoring the annual •|i Grass Skirt Party. As expected, this year's party was a huge success, with two hundred party-goers including alumni from as far back as the Class of '76. This year's festivities began with the tapping" ceremony on Wednesday evening. Hhough faced with snow and freezing rain, over forty Phi-Gams trecked around campus to deliver beckoning cants to their Jucky dates. King Bohonkas (Tom Mayer '79) led his brave warriors through the beer and rowdy Fiji Spirit. The tapping chantmgs and the howling war chants of The main event, the party itself, began Saturday evening at 6:0i pm and continued ^ well past 3:30 the following morning. This year s bar featured a variety of tropic drinks such as pina coladas, tia marias and the soon-to-be famous Fiju Volcanoes (as invent^ by Bob Sheehy '79). As in the nis Fi|i warrior clan. past the entire house was decorated to simu ate the tropical Fiji Islands, with this year s accent placed on elaborate caves tunneling throughout the house and dis creetly placed passion pits. Wildcat's Hut was just beyond the foyer waterfall, and many a Phi Gam bartered with the wily 'ol trader to earn fheir date a Hawaiian orchid. A delicious dinner fo clams, honey-baked ham, Cantonese Chop suey and banana cream pie was followed by festive drinking and dancing to the locally popular band Ma^uerode, who wos on leave from o recenf stint ot Second Chonce. The party was made complete by the moving verses of the fdmous crooner Al "Wildcat" Wall and the slapStick comedy of the Senior Skit. As expected, the party's success was due to the hard work of the Senior class coordinated by chairman Phil Bianchini'79 and Chuck Joseph '79. Working with a budget of almost $3000 and the fine cooperation of all the Brothers and pledges, the Grass Skirt party easily maintained its reputation as the best party on campus. A final note which would bring smiles fo the Alpha Phi Graduate Board: the cleanup for the party was complete by 6:00 pm on the next day, leaving no trace of the wild event that rocked the house the night before. Chuck Joseph '79 \r\nFROM ARIZONA TO MICHIGAN A FIJI COMES NORTH It was a dork and stormy night(which from an engineer's point of view is the way all good ioumolism starts) back home in Tuscon: I lay in bed filled with the intoxication of having crpplied to that powerhouse of the Midwest, the Uni Differences do exist between the two chapters and campuses.' Never had I seen a ROTC before coming here. When I heard that Niedermayer (Jeff Whittacre'79) was on his way, I nearly messed my pants. I went from worrying about stepping in dog versity of Michigan. By the time I sobered up, it was too doo-doo to watching out for Fred's kitty late to turn bock: I hod already been language difference, the Arizona and accepted. One problem remained: Where Michigan chapters do not speak the same dialect. I gave up saying "nacks," "Sig-Epish" (anti-coliege prep), "cool dudes," "Zobes" (pledges) and "crusin'," to live once I got to the land of the Maize and Blue. The obvious choice was the Michigan Alpha Phi Fiji chapter. I litter box. There also is on incredible sent off a preliminary call to then-presi exchanging them for the multitude of dent Rob ^yth '79, the phone coll proved "Bonoisms" that constitute the for more to have come too early—3:30 pm, and elaborate Alpha Phi Phi Gam vocabulary: "Smytty" wasn't yet fully awake and y/as "clicks," "Phi-Deltish" (obnoxious), "shockin'," "dolls" (boring), "B.O.G." (Breaks of the Gome) and a host of other •^ther incoherent. Breathing deeply, I braced my self for leaving my veritable Islander paradise under Tuscon's western ^les, to head north-easterly to the for- terms. Despite such culture shock, it was ®'gn unkown-cold turkey, I was pulling heartwarming to find that Michigan was up my roots. Man was I scared I No more of the otherwise a lot like home. They still have 9ood old days of cold cocks (which look drinking nights (with the Bay Horse Saloon in Tuscon being supplanted by the incompa rable Paul Bunyan 's (PB's) , hay rides, and ^®ry much like the name suggests) No more, I thought, of all those wonderful little bro's, composife raids, pledge fraternal activities like serenades, orange even some amazing resemblances between fights, panty raids, toilet papering raids, some of my new Michigan brothers and thos«> rock raids, cement raids on the D-Chi voll and those other forms of inter- fraternity tactical warfare. And what I feared most arxl learned to lament the most, oo more good looking women! Damn! As to this last phenomenom of U of M. living, the reason for its occurrence es^®Pes me completely. I mean, Michigan 9irls should be every bit as pretty as Arizono gfrls, right? But, in the immortal ^ords of my brother Johnny Carson: "Wrong, Buzzard Breath I" You know, what with the highly- developed science research programs at the Maize and Blue, with the miracles of modern medicine, one would think that the Wolverines could produce a legitimate, attractive female. I mean, they put a man an the moon, couldn't they have taken the ^orst of the Michigan Beasties with them? I left behind at the University of Arizona. The more things change, the more they stay the same: This Michigan chapter, my former Arizona chapter and all other Fiji chapters always seem to strive for perfection. This U of M chapter seems to be heading in the right direction. And of course, Fijis from Detroit meet Fijis from Arizona in the common ritual, which bonds us all. Fraternally Brian Rees '80 \r\nA FINAL NOTE Ofher than the difficulty of barely being oble to peer over the presidential Bill will be a top runner for the Alpha Phi Phi Gams as well. The Marathon is podium (I'm 5'5"), I discovered, almost immediately upon taking office, that I was up against a host of problems of which, before being initiated into the slated for September 29th, and all is "running presidency, I was largely unaware. Of course, like every Fifi [Resident that has come before me, I immediately armed myself with my illustrious cabinet, and we're pleased and excited to hove the Mary McCarty Mothers' Club back with us. smoothly" thus far. TTie Heart Foundation looks to be our pick as our charity. As stated elsewhere in the newsletter, It sure seems like an enthusiastic bunch of over fifty brothers in the house, set out to conquer these problems. moms we've got, they are really interested in doing things for our house. Mine only wishes she could fly in from Long Island to But again, like my predecessors, I quickly attend the meetings... discovered that being president was not going to be easy: the job is a terrific re sponsibility, filled with many though choices. Top on the list of problem areas, and one that has plagued the house for several yeors, is our consistent lack of a viable community service program. Such a program would not only provide needed help to the Ann Arbor community, but also would serve to spread the name of "Fiji" around campus, and we definitely feel we're worth hearing about. This time around, we have some Next term the Fijis will pick up two activities the house has shunned in the recent past. We're going to have a Little Sisters Program again, and the Fijis are even going to build a Homecoming Float! As recent graduates can attest. It has been a while since the Fijis joined the other major fraternities in this annual ritual, but co- chairmen Jeff McAllister '80 and Sam Morgan '81 are already in the planning stages we're going to do it. Naturally, we already consider ourselves to be the best Fraternity here at this Michigan concrete proposals to eliminate this campus, and our strong rushes show that at inadequacy. A great deal of hope is least some of the right people are getting being placed on the September Marathon Race, being run against the Western Mi chigan Phi G ams. The race will pit the distance running skills of the two chapters, along with the Alphi Phi sororities from both campuses, on a course between the twp schools. The runners will collect sponsor money pledges from both businesses and individuals, with the revenue being donated to a charity. The idea was first put to the chapter by Field Secretary Tom Gosho and instantly kindled enthusiasm. Architect student Bill Hartman '80 will apply his meticulous attention to the organization of the Marathon, and has al ready done a commendable job in laying the foundation for the event. the word. Next year, the word is going to spread I Fraternally Tony Pollero '80 \r\nAlpha Phi of Phi Gamma Delta Bulk Permit *67 707 Oxford Road Ann Arbor Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48104 Michigan rAvKVTdTn