g{x bÅ|vÜÉÇ V{tÑàxÜ Éy P HI G AMMA D ELTA S PRING 2007, I SSUE O NE S ERVING C HARLOTTESVILLE SINCE 1858 O NLINE : WWW . UVAFIJI . ORG I N T HE N AVY N OW … In the words of David Walrath (2005): I know it’s been a while since most of you have heard from me, so I figured I’d let you know what I’ve been up to. I have been in flight school since July of 2005 and I am on track to finish and receive my “Wings of Gold” this March. Flight School was a sixweek program where the first four weeks consisted of academics and water survival. We had to take six courses on subjects like Aerodynamics, Weather, Navigation, etc, and every third or fourth day we took a test on what we had learned. Some of the stuff they taught us was pretty cool (basically, there was a lot about what kinds of things can get you killed in an aircraft), but reading and studying Navy publications for twelve hours a day was not the most interesting activity in the world. In the last two weeks of API, we were able to get into some of the really fun stuff. They put us in a pressure chamber that simulated a flight up to 36,000 ft MSL and then had us take off our oxygen masks so that we would become hypoxic. We did this so that we would know what it feels like to become hypoxic if it happens to us during flight (it kinda feels like you are drunk, actually). I also got a ride on the “Spin and Puke,” which is the trainer the Navy uses to teach pilots about spatial disorientation. In the last week we got to do the live helo hoist in the freezing w a te r o f P e n s a co la Bay. Basically, they dropped us into the water and we waited for a helicopter to come and hoist us up. The final training evolution we did was Redneck Parasailing. They strapped a parachute to my back and hooked me onto this really long cord that was tied to the back of a pick-up truck. As the truck pulled forward, I was taken up into the air about 50 feet and had to land without breaking something. Yes, believe it or not, the US Navy uses your tax dollars to pay for this. By late August, 2006, I finished up the Primary phase of flight school. It was by far the hardest thing I have ever done in my life. I accumulated a little over 110 flight hours in the mighty T-34C, a multiengine Navy trainer aircraft. After I finish my next stage of training, I will be assigned to a fleet squadron and will fly the P3 all around the world in defense of our country. ****** R ECRUITMENT N EWS Omicron Fiji recently completed another successful Spring Rush! Through events centered around the Five Values, we recruited 17 new lings. Each of these men has already left his mark on the University through involvement in activities from club sports to volunteering to high scholastic achievement. We are excited to have them, and know that they will contribute to Omi- cron’s future success. As we look toward our next recruitment period, we will begin to compile a list of potential recruits. If you know of a current or incoming first-year that you feel would make a quality Phi Gam please send his name and contact information to our new Recruitment Chair, Zach Rowen, at zlr4k@virginia.edu. Douglas Hill (Chesterfield, VA) —Legacy David Backer (Delray Beach, FL) Michael Bartlett (Allentown, PA) Tiago Bezerra (Cincinnati, OH) Matthew Dickey (Cleveland, OH) Kevin Dowlen (Houston, TX) Bradley Guest (St. Louis, MO) Mark Haggerdorn (Mclean, VA) Andrew Harrison (Whitefish, MT) David Kao (Roanoke, VA) Todd Mattocks (Fairfax, VA) Sandeep Pilutla (Chantilly, VA) James Powell (Ashland, VA) Kevin Russell (Manassas, VA) Daniel Schear (Cincinnati, OH) Eric Scofield (Ashburn, VA) Joseph Vergara (Virginia Beach,VA) \r\nSTAMP Phi Gamma Delta 128 Madison Lane Charlottesville, VA 22903 NAME Primary Address Address Line 2 Address Line 3 B EACH W ALK P ROJECT West Palm Beach, Florida, February 7, 2007Stein Kretsinger and Robert Weinman will begin a 1600 mile, 130 day walk/kayak journey up the eastern seashore from Miami, FL to New York, NY on February 10th. The team will remain in touch with cell phone, camera, and website updates with interested media and their sponsors along the way and plan to bring many children and coastal communities together through their journey. The team is collaborating with Waterkeepers Alliance (www.waterkeeper.org) and will use the publicity and public awareness the trek generates to raise funds and increase public support for clean water and protected habitats. The Walking Classroom is a segment of the project in which the Kretsinger and Weinman will be meeting with local school groups, community organizations and press to discuss the importance of environmental stewardship with specific focus on our nation's coastlines. We wish them both the best of luck in their trek. ****** 2007 EXECUTIVE OFFICERS President Eric Howlett (2008) Treasurer Matthew Good (2008) I NDIVIDUAL G RADUATE N EWS Jarrett Spencer landed a small role in the 2008 HBO Mini-series "John Adams" produced by Tom Hanks. He will be playing a Redcoat on trail for the Boston Massacre defended by John Adams (Paul Giamatti). The Wolfeman along with Habib and Fraus continue development of Finca Popoyo oceanfront resort and future FIJI enclave in Nicaragua. Having recently reentered, bachelorhood he has moved into a new palace (the new "Hogwood Estates") in Annapolis, MD. In his day job he is Deputy Director of Northrop Grumman Special Operations Division. Devlin, Cooper, and Cole are still rocking the DC/NOVA Trifecta of Beanfulness in Ballston. Successful anti-fish missions [going off repeatedly] are being completed with Garrahan, Outten, Sledd, Wright, Hickox, and Anderson. Nick Feakins, Kyle Recording Secretary Fuschetti, and Matt Cook all play on the same dodge ball team, where they are Purple Team. Kevin Cross, Mike Chester, Patrick Edmunds, and Bill Jeter are also living in Richmond, although they aren't up to rocking the purple jersey. Brad McConnell is still holding down the fort in Charlottesville while completing a Master's in biology and publishing multiple papers. He leaves for the military on March 1 Christopher Megaw (2009) Corresponding Secretary Michael Headley (2008) Historian Joel Swider (2008)