Volume 1 Issue 1 Spring 2013 Omega hronicle Chapman University est. 2006 SKIT April 4th-6th Purple Tie April 7th Pig Dinner April 20th Vegas Formal May 3rd-5th President’s Address Benjamin Smith ‘14 Allow me to introduce myself on behalf of our chapter, and give you a warm welcome to the 2013 edition of The Omega Chronicle. My name is Benjamin Smith, and I am the current President of the Omega Chi Chapter of Phi Gamma Delta. I am excited to share some of the great accomplishments of our chapter during the 2012-2013 year so far. We are excited to welcome into our brotherhood the Nu Pledge class. Fifteen fine gentleman were initiated on February 15, and have since become some shining stars of our chapters. As a pledge class, they held a Movember Fundraiser which generated over $1,000 for a movement focusing on raising money for prostate cancer. We are excited to see what these emerging leaders can offer to our chapter, campus and community. The chapter continues to devote its time and efforts to both the university and to the surrounding community. Currently, the chapter has big footsteps to follow, especially after contributing nearly $30,000 in donations to organizations such the Red Cross and the Boys and Girls Club of Tustin last year. In the fall of 2012, brothers volunteered in a collective 650 hours to local organizations, which is yet another reflection of our dedication to service. We are also excited for some of our upcoming events. Our largest philanthropy, Purple Tie, has historically generated around $15,000 during a one night gala. The event has gained national recognition by the Fraternity for our chapter. This coming year will be no different; with brothers hard at work, we have set a chapter goal to raise more than $20,000 for the Make-A-Wish foundation. We are excited for some of our upcoming events. Our largest philanthropy, Purple Tie, has historically generated around $15,000 during a one night gala extravaganza. The event has gained national recognition by the Fraternity for our chapter. This coming year will be no different; with continued on page 2 \r\nVolume 1 Issue 1 Omega hronicle spring 2013 President’s Address Letters from Abroad continued from page 1 brothers hard at work, we have set a chapter goal to raise more than $20,000 for the Make-A-Wish foundation. This event will be taking place on April 7th. The Omega Chi chapter will also be hosting Pig Dinner on Saturday, April 20th. We are looking forward to celebrating our chapter, our Fraternity, and above all, our amazing Graduate Brothers from the local area. Finally, let me give the deepest of thanks to our outstanding graduate advisors and graduate brothers. BCA President, Dave Norman, and Purple Legionnaire, Steve Caine, along with our graduate brothers make everything that we do here possible. Without their support, the Omega Chi Chapter could not function as well as it does. They are a true example that Phi Gamma Delta is “not for college days alone.” Thank you on behalf of our chapter, and please feel free to contact me with any questions! By Poya Osgouei ‘13 It would be a colossal understatement to say that my life’s experiences have only played a small part in shaping the person I have become. This past semester was no different. I was very fortunate to live and work in our nation’s capital, Washington DC. Spending a semester in Washington was nothing short of extraordinary. Not only was I able to learn more about the principles that have made this country unique, but I was also able experience the day-to-day operations of the federal government and research institutions and other organizations involved within the public sector. This opportunity allowed me to learn more about my future. My main goal in life is to become an individual who can make a meaningful contribution to society. Because of this experience, I am more appreciative of the world I live in and I am looking forward to the experiences that the world has to offer. Fundraising Houston Bradley ‘15 This semester has been big for chapter fundraising thus far. Our annual FIJI Flower Grams campaign, held from February 11 through February 15, raised nearly two thousand dollars. For this Valentine’s Day centered fundraiser, the Fraternity offered hand-delivered roses for different prices and quantities to the meetings of various fraternities and sororities on campus. The buzz for Flower Grams was huge, partly due to the prize we offered to the Greek organization that sold the most Flower Grams: free standing letters, hand crafted and designed by our very own FIJI brothers. This year, the ladies of Alpha Phi sold the most flowers, and will be receiving these letters shortly. Through this event, the Chapman community noticed our chapter’s presence on campus in a very positive light, and our hand delivery of the flowers certainly reflected the Fraternity’s gentlemanly principles upon which we were founded. We will continue to carry out this campaign in years to come. As a chapter, we plan on raising the bar for how much fundraising we achieve this semester. We plan on contacting some of the famous Phi Gams as a means of collecting merchandise, signed memoribilia, etc. to auction off at our Omega Chi exclusive Pig Dinner being held in April. Also, the chapter will raise a significant chunk of fund- Delta Gamma with their Flower Grams 2012 prize. ing through the sale of FIJI apparel and swag both in and outside of our chapter. The money raised will go towards various parts of the chapter, including scholarships, social events, and philanthropies. We’ve had a great start to the semester, and plan to continue this momentum as the year continues. page 2 \r\nOmega hronicle Cabinet Introductions Volume 1 Issue 1 spring 2013 President Benjamin S. Smith ‘14 (K) Treasurer Robert M. Adamson ‘14 (I) Moraga, CA Business Administration (Marketing), Leadership Studies Minor San Diego, CA Accounting & Business Administration FIJI has fostered my personal development from a young man into a passionate leader. I would not have remained at Chapman University had it not been for the brothers of the Omega Chi chapter. It is rare for a young man to enter college and leave with more than 100 men that he may call brothers, but I have been one of the fortunate few who have found their place in the Fraternity of Phi Gamma Delta. In five years I hope to be working and traveling as either a Foreign Affairs Officer for the United States Government or pursuing my passion in a marketing position at a Fortune 500 firm. Historian Patrick B. Schoenberg ‘14 (I) Newport Beach, CA Communications Major In five years, I want to be just out of grad school, finding some place to become a professor. FIJI, aside from the obvious plethora of new tank tops, has given me too many things to mention. From a group of brothers that provides me with a bottomless well of support to gather from, to a multitude of positions that I can put on my resume, FIJI has given me enough experiences and stories to go on for the rest of my life. This summer I will be engaging in an audit internship with Ernst & Young. I hope to sign with the firm full time post graduation and pass my CPA within my first year of working. Fiji, more so than anything else, has made my college experience special. It not only gives me a network that has helped with everything from study groups to internship opportunities, but also a true brotherhood and support system unlike any other. Fiji has given me my best friends and my best memories to go along with them, which I wouldn’t trade for anything. Recording Secretary Corresponding Secretary FIJI has definitely helped my personal and professional development in a big way. Personally, I have come out of my shell and have developed into a better leader, friend, and overall person. Professionally, I have an entire network of lifelong friends who will always have my back and provide great connections into the real world. In five years, I’d like to be represented by a respected agency so that I can look for work as a screenwriter in either film or television. In 5 years, hopefully I will be working as a Clinical Pharmacist with a graduate degree from some accredited university. Initiation into the Fraternity was probably one of the best nights of my life. It ultimately solidified my membership into an organization that I was very emotionally invested in. All the hard work, endeavors that I overcame, and devoted persistence finally paid off. Steven M. Holster ‘14 (I) San Carlos, CA Screenwriting Major Adverstising Minor page 3 Jordan L. Adajar ‘14 (I) La Crescenta, CA Biological Sciences Major Psychology Minor \r\nVolume 1 Issue 1 Omega hronicle spring 2013 Rush at Chapman FIJI Ξ Pledge Class Benjamin Sornsen ‘15 The Fraternity of Phi Gamma Delta at Chapman University just recently ended the 2013 Spring Rush season, and we pulled together one of our strongest pledge classes yet. Of the 53 men that came out to our various rush events throughout the week, we selected thirteen of the best gentlemen. All are men whom we envision will embody principles of Phi Gamma Delta to the highest degree. As a whole, the entire FIJI community at Chapman University felt that the spring rush process was one of the smoothest we have ever had as a chapter. During a time in Spring semester which everyone is normally very stressed, the Phi Gams and our rush process seemed more relaxed than usual. Everything felt very organized and at ease. Though the process did seem smoother than usual, there is always room for improvement when it comes to Rush. In the future, I would like to show more chapter unity when we are at rush events. Often times, I believe that rushies have a hard time locating brothers because they are hard to identify when if they are not wearing their letters. I plan to implement brother dress code and attendance policies so that brothers will be present and easy to spot when the rushies are trying to make the decision could greatly influence their entire future. All in all, the 2013 Spring Rush Class was a tough one to pick, but in the end, the process was a huge success! We look forward to what the Xi pledge class will bring to the table in all of their future endeavors. Garrett Aanestad ‘16 - Temecula, CA Brian Bressinger ‘15 - Poway, CA Jake Cleland ‘15 - Manhattan Beach, CA Jason Cohen ‘16 - Seattle, WA Brandon Demerest ‘15 - Scottsdale, AZ Bryson Eastwood ‘14 - Anaheim Hills, CA Nickolas Gates ‘16 - Irvine, CA Omar Khawaja ‘16 - LaCanada, CA Daley King ‘15 - Honolulu, HI Sam Miller ‘16 - Carlsbad, CA Stephen Neil ‘16 - Escondido, CA Cormac O’Connor ‘15 - Santa Barbara, CA Michael Wan ‘15 - Woodside, CA Ben Sornsen Recruitment Chairman 2013 Pleasanton, CA Sophomore Business Major Rush Recommendation? Rush Chair President Ben Sornsen (925) 519 8988 ben.sornsen@yahoo.com Ben Smith (925) 286 4378 smith385@mail.chapman.edu page 4 \r\nVolume 1 Issue 1 Omega hronicle spring 2013 Pledge Education Ryan Huffman ‘13 My name is Ryan Huffman, and I am the Pledge Educator for the Omega Chi chapter’s Xi pledge class this Spring semester. Being that I am a senior and have been in this chapter for four years now, pledge education is something that I have always wanted to be a part of. Even though I am graduating in less than three months, I took on this position because it gives me the opportunity to give back and still be involved with the chapter. At the same time, since I have seen a good amount of pledge educators pass through this chapter, I feel like I am really able to develop a strong pledge education program from everything I have observed. With that in mind, I am confident that this pledge class will be one of the best this chapter has had. Dustin Lester is helping as the Assistant Pledge Educator, and I am really looking forward to working with him this semester. We have a lot of plans for this pledge class, and are really focusing on increasing brother and pledge relations. In the past, pledges have said they sometimes feel disconnected from initiated brothers in the chapter, so Dustin and I have been working hard to bring both our younger and older members together to be a part of this process. Last Tuesday, for example, we were able to have a Taco Tuesday brotherhood at Austin Huffman’s house, and it was a huge success. Both brothers and pledges were able to relax and eat some good food, all while getting to know each other better. Additionally, we have introduced a modified interview process that allows pledges to meet brothers, hear hilarious stories from past pledge classes, and ultimately get more insight into the benefits and strengths of this chapter. The Xi pledge class had their first meeting as a pledge class this previous week, which included their pledge class elections. Since the pledge class is on the small side, everyone has a Cabinet or cair position, so all can do their part to contribute to their pledge class. Additionally, each pledge is required to meet with the brother that holds their position in the chapter so they can learn how our fraternity operates. The first meeting went very smoothly, and it is clear that the Xi’s will be very successful throughout the remainder of the semester. Overall, Dustin and I are really excited to be working with these new pledges and are confident that this class will really grow together and someday, make great additions to our chapter. Pledge Educator Ryan Huffman ‘13 San Diego, CA ryanhuffman91@gmail.com Assistant Pledge Educator Dustin Lester ‘15 Yorba Linda, CA leste105@mail.chapman.edu page 5 \r\nVolume 1 Issue 1 Omega hronicle spring 2013 Rock Solid Brotherhood By Steven Wilcox ‘13 Chapman FIJI has continued its high standard of quality brotherhood amongst Chapman University Greek Life. The Omega Chi Chapter has won the award for Brotherhood of the Year at the Chapman University Greek Awards Ceremony two years in a row, one in 2011 and the other in 2012. These two awards were largely due to the many activities we do throughout the year that help us develop a strong brotherhood. One example of brotherhood in action is our softball team, The Lone Rangers, which plays every Sunday at Hart Park. Another factor leading to the achievement of our awards is the continued recognition of brothers for their excellent service to the chapter through Brother of the Week. The Chapter has continued to have great turnouts at Brotherhood Retreats. This year Chapman FIJI had the fall semester Brotherhood Retreat at Dana Point, and in the spring, the took place at Lake Perris, a location we have always favored. Many brothers hiked the local mountains and some even brought mountain bikes to ride together. This year, we have brought back some old traditions and even started a few new ones. A couple things we have brought back to the Omega Chi Chapter is FIJI Feast and The Purple Napkin Award. These were two events that had slipped under the radar, and bringing them back has provided great opportunities for brothers to spend time with one another outside of the typical weekend social gathering. The newrdy tradition we are proud to announce is that this last Fall, Chapman FIJI held its first annual FIJI Dads Day. On this day, Omega Chi invited their fathers to share in their collegiate and fraternity experience. This event allowed brothers to meet the parents of their best friends and discover more about one another and what makes each one of us such outstanding people. Fathers flew in from all around the country for the event, and it was a great success. We are expecting an even better turnout next year! Another tradition Omega Chi has started are pledge and brother dinners. Taco Tuesdays and Wing Wednesdays are becoming a regular thing within the chapter, and both pledges and brothers are always invited to enjoy good food while simply hanging out and socializing with their friends. These dinners are held at brother’s homes and it gives Chapman FIJI a brief look at what having an actual fraternity house would be like. 30-40 brothers and pledges eat and gather around to watch NBA basketball Games and Sometimes the odd NHL match. We are hoping to stay at the top of the totem pole this spring at Chapman University Greek Awards, but Chapman FIJI understands that brotherhood is not about shiny trophies. Instead, it is really about the trust and respect each brothers has for one another, and having a good time through the best years of our youth. page 6 \r\nVolume 1 Issue 1 Omega hronicle spring 2013 Philanthropy Purple Tie 2013 Forrest Bagley ‘14 One of Phi Gamma Delta’s five founding principles, Service, is exemplified by the brothers of the Omega Chi chapter on a frequent basis. Mary’s Soup Kitchen, only a few miles from Chapman’s campus, serves as a weekly spot for many brothers to meet up and prepare meals for the homeless and impoverished, while still having a good time with brothers. Recently, several also brothers participated in the semiannual Greek Day of Service. Hosted by the university, this event allows the Greek community to participate in dozens of projects ranging from working at children’s daycare centers, to completing the educational Coastkeeper Garden. Furthermore, the global cancer fundraising event, Relay for Life, will be taking place at Chapman on April 26th and 27th, and the Omega Chi chapter will again be participating with our own team, led by Brother Kyle McGanty, throughout the entire twenty-four hour process. However, our largest philanthropy and service event is our annual Purple Tie gala, hosted in the spring to raise money for a specific charity chosen each year. Last year, the beneficiary was the Boy’s and Girl’s Club of Tustin, and through generous contributions by various donors via silent auction, we raised over $15,000 for the foundation! Additionally, brothers volunteered at the Club all yearlong, and a few even served as mentors to the children, providing educational and personal assistance at least once a week. Josh Berris ‘15 and David Gindi ‘15 This year Chapman FIJI has decided to host its annual Purple Tie Affair for the Make-A-Wish Foundation in Orange County. This benefit includes a three course meal, silent auction, live band and entertainment, and raffle where more than 250 people attend. The Omega Chi chapter is immensely proud of this event, and invites relatives, alumni, faculty, and anyone of interest. This event will take place on April 7th from 6:009:00 at Chapman University’s Sandhu Conference Center, during the weekend of Skit. If any alumni or graduate brothers wish to visit the chapter, this would be a great weekend to do so! Each plate costs $55. To RSVP or for further sponsorship details, please contact our Purple Tie Chairmen. Josh Berris (310) 595 5786 berri106@mail.chapman.edu David Gindi (949) 632 2191 gindi100@mail.chapman.edu Dean’s List Class of 2013 Class of 2014 Class of 2015 Class of 2016 Chris Joondeph (3.88) Chris Babcock (3.91) Connor McCarl (3.94) Tim Marks (3.73) Josh Walker (3.884) Colby Yoshimura (3.67) Danny Lee (3.6) John Kostick (3.67) Steven Holster (3.5) Colton Kirkegaard (3.84) Evan Lee Loy (3.84) Ben Sornsen (3.75) Ryan Richards (3.7) Alex Comfortes (3.5) Tucker Gilles (3.5) page 7 Bijan Givechian (3.737) Nick Hikita (3.68) Edric Ruiz (3.6) \r\nNonprofit Org US Postage Paid Lexington, KY Permit # 540 Phi Gamma Delta Fraternity 1201 Red Mile Road Lexington, KY 40504 Special Thanks To NORRIS B. PIG DINNER James Marria ‘14 This year, the brothers of Chapman University will be hosting its first Pig Dinner separate from the University of California at Irvine Chapter. Pig Dinner will be held at Aliso Viejo County Club on April 20th. We are very excited to begin a new stage in the growth of the chapter. In the past we have participated in joint Pig Dinners with UCI, but felt with a growing graduate base that it was time to host a Pig Dinner exclusive to Chapman graduates. Pig Dinner will be MC’d by Miles Acker (SDSU 1987) and the Exiles Toast will be performed by Jeff Downey (UCLA 1983). We are thoroughly excited for this years Pig Dinner and think it will be a great success. If there are any questions please do not hesitate to contact James Marria at james.marria@ gmail.com. Gardner Royce Newsletter Chairman Class of 2015 Takoma Park, MD Journalism Major For collecting all the articles for this newsletter and ultimately making our first edition a success. Theta Cabinet at FIJI Academy with Purple Legionaire, Steve Caine. Any questions, comments, concerns, or change in addresses contact: jordan.adajar@gmail.com page 8