The Hoosier Fiji Indiana University ‐ Zeta Chapter of Phi Gamma Delta Fraternity ‐ Fall 2012 Edition COMING SOON - DANCE MARATHON! On October 26, Indiana University Dance Marathon (IUDM) will be hosting its 22nd year annual dance marathon benefitting Riley Hospital for Children. In its first year, IU Dance Marathon raised $11,000 for Riley. Since its humble beginning, IU Dance Marathon has become the second largest student run philanthropic event in the nation and largest Children’s Miracle Network marathon to date. Last year, Indiana University Dance Marathon raised a record-breaking $1,801,207.20 for the kids at Riley Hospital. Indiana University Dance Marathon is run entirely by students who unselfishly give their time and dedication to ensure the success of the organization. Over 500 stu- dents work year round to fundraise, hold events for the Riley families, and plan the marathon. The hard work culminates in a 36-hour marathon every fall. During the marathon weekend, over 1000 dancers choose to remain awake and standing for 36 hours in honor of those children who are unable. Zeta Chapter has over 80 brothers participating, with seven brothers on Executive Council, including the VP of Internal and Events. Collectively brothers raise money after a year long of fundraising, meetings, campus events, and attendance at high school marathons throughout the state of Indiana. The Zeta Chapter has been continuously recognized as the top fundraiser for IUDM over the past 15 years. The success of this event would not be possible without the donations of family, friends, and graduate brothers. Corporate sponsors cover the cost of hosting the marathon, which enables all money raised by the participants to directly benefit the children at Riley. Donations are crucial because Riley does not turn down any child regardless of financial need. This event truly makes a difference in the lives of so many children and families, and your support would be greatly appreciated. If you’re interested in supporting the Zeta Chapter’s efforts, go to iudm.org and click on the donate button or make checks payable to Supporting Riley Children Inc. For more information about IUDM, please visit the website at www.iudm.org. Thank you in advance! SCHOLARSHIP EXCELLENCE With its proud tradition of academic success, the Zeta Chapter considers scholastic excellence to be one of the most important qualities of an active undergraduate brother. Recent success in the academic department, for example, illustrates Zeta’s commitment to scholarship, as the chapter maintained the second highest overall cumulative grade point average among active fraternities in both the fall 2011 and spring 2012 semesters. room. The most evident of these is the distribution of scholarship checks, ranging from $250 to $500, each semester to members receiving cumulative semester grade To ensure the continuation of points higher than a 3.30. Furthis success, the house’s schol- thermore, Zeta also rewards arship committee has instithe pledge class receiving the tuted a variety of initiatives to highest cumulative grade point incentivize success in the class- average with a complimentary social function. In contrast to these positive incentives, the house also preserves punitive measures for members who do not meet minimal expectations. A 2.5 grade point average, for example, is required of active members each semester to retain residence in the house. When a brother fails to meet this rela(Continued on page 2) \r\nThe Hoosier Fiji Page 2 INTRAMURALS - PARTICIPATION IS THE KEY! The 2011-12 season was an easy intramural campus championship for the Zetas. After doing the math, it turns out if brothers would not have participated in any of the spring semester sports we would still have won the championship. Like always, our strategy is to have brothers participate in as many intramurals as possible. Participation is the key reason why we have won the campus championship for consecutive years in a row. Unfortunately, we weren’t able to win any key team championships. We should have won intramural football, but barely lost to Beta in the semifinals on a controversial ball spot. The Betas ended up winning the championship. We had the same luck for our intramural basketball team. They lost in the semifinals to the basketball managers who also ended up winning the basketball tournament. and the Betas refused to reschedule for us. This year our goal is to win all the major team championships as well. Luckily, we had Grant “Tweak” Gordon (2013) who took home championships in singles and doubles tennis, as well as racquetball. We are looking for Grant again to take home those championships this year, as he has already advanced to the finals in tennis singles this fall. Last year’s indoor soccer team was a major success. The team advanced to the finals led by senior Jason “Sewrat” Seward (2012), Steven “Angel” Lindley (2013), and Scott “Snorlax” Gaughan (2014). Unfortunately, we had to forfeit the championship game as we had a previous social engagement booked, This year we are seeing major changes in the intramural landscape. There is no intramural football this year because of construction on the previous years’ fields for varsity baseball and softball. However, the Zeta chapters are in good hands with intramural chairmen Scott “Hundo” Hedges (2014), John “Sunshine” Trudeau (2015), and Matt “Swag” Seward (2015). Trudeau and Seward are new members of the Intramural Council that meets to decide the future of intramurals on campus. We are looking forward to the upcoming intramural season! SCHOLARSHIP EXCELLENCE continued... (Continued from page 1) tively lofty expectation, he is placed on probation for one semester during which we must achieve a cumulative higher than a 2.5. If we fail to do so, we lose privilege to live in the house the following semester. To prevent this rather harsh punishment, the scholarship committee has recently instituted an academic monitoring system. This program requires all active members who receive a semester grade point average below a 2.75 to hold weekly meetings with a scholarship chair to provide an update on their current academic standing. A final component of Zeta’s scholarship program is its mandatory study tables for new members during their pledge period. Monitored by at least two scholarship chairs, these study tables Bike Team before the 2012 Little 500 provide new members with the opportunity to complete homework and receive individual tutoring from some of the most academically successful active brothers. With these programs in place, Zeta expects its academic success to continue well into the future. Senior brothers at Fiji Isle \r\nPage 3 The Undergraduates of Zeta Chapter of Phi Gamma Delta at Indiana University would be honored by your presence at our 120th Annual Frank Norris Pig Dinner on the 17th day of November, 2012 Special Guest Speaker Mark “Scoop” Massa (Indiana 1983) Indiana Supreme Court Judge 3:30 pm – 4:00 pm – Check-in – Beechwood 4:00 pm – 4:45 pm – House Corporation Town Hall Meeting – Beechwood 4:30 pm – 5:00 pm – Begin Walking to Indiana Memorial Union 5:00 pm – 5:45 pm – Cocktail Reception --IMU 5:45 pm – 6:00 pm – Undergraduate Chapter Update –IMU 5:45 pm – 7:30 pm – 120th Annual Frank Norris Pig Dinner – IMU Meet brothers old and new at Fiji’s finest annual tradition. Please return the form below by November 10 to: Matthew Andress, Corresponding Secretary, 631 E 3rd St, Bloomington, IN 47406 YES, I plan to attend this year’s Pig Dinner! Enclosed is a check for $____________________. This check includes costs for: Pig Dinner ($30) Donation NO, I cannot make it to Pig Dinner this year, but please accept my donation of ____________. Name:__________________________________ Address:________________________________ _______________________________________ Home Number:__________________________ Cell Number:____________________________ NO, I am unable to attend. Please make checks payable to Zeta Chapter - Phi Gamma Delta. \r\nNonprofit Org Phi Gamma Delta Fraternity 1201 Red Mile Road Lexington, KY 40504 US Postage Paid Lexington, KY Permit # 540 WELCOME PLEDGE CLASS 2016 Although still adjusting to the college atmosphere, the newest 27 residents of Zeta FIJI are quickly establishing themselves within the culture of the house. Collectively known as the pledge class of 2016, they share many of the same qualities with brothers both past and present, and truly seem to understand just how blessed they are to have the opportunity to become Zeta Fijis. ness, two high school valedictorians, and a number of 4.0 students, the pledge class has earned a cumulative high school GPA of 3.77. And although they are only a few weeks into their collegiate careers, they have wasted no time asserting themselves in the classroom, allotting a great deal of time to their schoolwork and maintaining their academic fervor from high school. Of the current 27 members in the pledge class, 11 are Zeta legacies and eight are from out-of-state. Also, with the exception of one sophomore, they are all freshmen choosing to forgo the dorm experience in favor of living in the cold dorm and training to become the newest members of Zeta Fiji. As the formal rush process begins, we intend to enhance the quality of the pledge class even farther by adding a few more high-caliber individuals and thus rounding out the group. However, because of house capacity issues, there will likely only be 2-3 additional members. We anticipate filling the last few spots within the next week and having those who earn bids move into the house shortly thereafter. While a number of factors went into the selection process, scholarship took a backseat to none. Comprised of 11 Direct Admits into the Kelley School of Busi- 30 individuals will be able to call themselves members of PC ’16. And although it is somewhat upsetting to see the process come to an end, there is no better feeling than watching a group of individuals earn their right into Zeta FIJI. All members of the current pledge class come from excellent backgrounds. They all excel in the classroom and they all excel on the field, but most importantly, they are coming together like every other pledge class before them, and it is clearer than ever that the future of Zeta FIJI is in great hands with PC ’16. At the conclusion of the rush process, 29- Design, printing and mailing services provided by the International Fraternity of Phi Gamma Delta.