Tiaer-nii DEPAUW Published by Lambda Chapter of the Fraternity of Phi Gamma Deita at DePauw University V^wvTory GREENCASTLE, INDIANA UNIveRSlTY FALL 1999 A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT Dear graduate brothers. You are all aware that Lambda Chapter is the longest continually ex isting chapter of Phi Gamma Delta in the world. We have been at DePauw since 1856, when 10 students with high ideals decided to forge their shared values into a fraternal brother hood. You and I have benefited from their decision. We have gained experiences that have shaped our lives—experiences that will continue to shape our lives as long as we re member Fiji and hold it in our hearts. Whenever I have the pleasure of meeting a graduate brother, I can only imagine how it feels to know DePauw only in one's memories, for our alma mater's meaning to lie in the past. As an undergraduate brother, I'm still immersed in a sea of classes and pro fades into memory, fraternal life does not. Brothers who became graduates as little as three years ago might forget what it feels like to fill out a blue- book during a three-hour exam, but brothers who graduated as far back as 50 years still know what it means to be a part of something greater than them selves—something that has tied gen erations of DePauw students together for 143 years. The ideals that our 10 founders shared, the same ideals shared by six students at Jefferson College eight years before them, have been permanently instilled in over 1,000 men through the Lambda Chap ter of Phi Gamma Delta. I sincerely hope they will still be a part of me long after I close my last textbook. I hope they will always be as immedi ate and important to me as they were the day I became a Fiji. If you are still privileged enough to feel every day what it means to be a part of Fiji, I invite you to read the articles in this newsletter regarding re cruitment changes and other chapter activities. I also invite you to visit the chapter house and meet some of the most recently initiated brothers. Your interest and support is an example to us. Even if your bond with the frater nity has faded with time, look over the news of other graduate brothers; you may recognize some of the names. Hopefully, they will spark memories and remind you of the essence of Phi Gamma Delta. "Not for college days alone," but for the rest of our lives. Fraternally, President Richard S. Kebrdle fessors and mid-term exams. It's hard to comprehend how suchthings could lose their significance and immediacy, but I know that one day they will. One day I won't be concerned with grade point averages and thesis papers, any more than most of our graduates are. Although academic life at DePauw Our Mission Statement Lambda brothers (1-r) Mark Holloway '02, Nathan Hubbard '02, Mike Robinson '01 and Sara Whitmore '00 at the Fiji Leadership Academy. The Lambda Chapter of Phi Gamma Delta is a brotherhood of diverse and exceptional individuals with common values and high stan dards of character. We strive to in corporate these values—leadership, scholarship, service, responsibility and unity—into the DePauw experience through the fostering of lifelong friendships. , s ! y Graduate on Champion Baseball Team Gordon H. Dixon '67 is a pediati'ic dentist in private practice. He is chair of Children's Dental Health Month, coaches youth baseball and volunteers at the San Diego Zoo. He writes, "I am a member ofthe Over-40 World Series Baseball Champion Teamfrom San Diego. I have three children (Biyce, 19, and Hillaty and Stephanie, both 18) at the University ofCalifornia—please send donations! "Fiji allowed me to appreciate my mother's cooking and having my own room. " Gordon enjoys gardeningand Indian-stylecooking. He and his wife, Cathie (UCLA), a dental hygienist, live at 791 Barbai'a Ave., Solana Beach, CA 92075. \r\nPage 2 Fall 1999 TIGER-FIJI Lambda Chapter Enjoys Busy Fall The fall semester finds Fiji participating in several activi ties at DePauw which will improve the chapter and fulfill our responsibilities to the campus and the community. Last summer, three active brothers, Sam Whitmore '00, Mike Robinson '01 and Nathan Hubbard '02, and one pledge, Mark Holloway '02, attended Fiji Academy. All four acquired leadership skills which they will apply throughout the academic year. Other brothers took time out of their summer breaks to come to the chapter house and build a new brick grill in the backyard. The school year started with an all-day retreat on August 21 in Indianapolis. The retreat was led by Ed Gabe (Hanover '90), director of Chapter Services at International Head A new mission statement was also created, which will serve as a model for what the chapter and its members should constantly strive for. In the coming months. Lambda Chapter will devote more energy to philanthropies than in recent years. The chapter is working closely with Habitat for Humanity to raise money, recruit campus volunteers and provide manpower to build a new home for a Greencastle resident. More than $20,000 must be raised, and although we are raisingmore daily, contributionsfrom graduate brothers can be crucial. It could mean the difference between building the new home this fall or being forced to wait until the spring. The undergraduate and graduate brothers in attendance focused on recruitment and how to adapt to DePauw's new rush system. A three-year plan was developed for Lambda As always, Fiji's doors were open to graduates returning to campus for Old Gold Weekend (September 22-24) and Monon Bell Weekend (November 12-14). Remember to watch your mail for news regarding the Frank Norris Pig Chapter to reach 60 members. Dinner to be held next spring. quarters. Fiji Faces Changes to Rush System Last year, in an attempt to enhance the freshman year experience, the DePauw administration permanently moved formal rush from the early fall Fiji, which has been decreasing in numbers in recent years, faces a unique challenge and opportunity. Al Graduate brothersupport is crucial. Your financial support enables us to publicize our philanthropies, buy T-shirts and other materials to pro years, and students were concerned though the current active brothers are a group of fine individuals who strive to live up to Fiji's ideals, the chapter needs to increase its pledge class size. that the decision would hurt DePauw's Deferred rush allows more contact Greek community. The change forced the Interfraternity Council (IFC) and Panhellenic Council to carefully reconsider the regulations and guidelines for inter with freshmen on an individual basis. We believe that this is the most effec send us regarding newly enrolled Your support can help ensure that the new rush system works to our ad action between students before formal tive way for us to transmit a true sense of Fiji's benefits. The changes also shift the focus of recruitment away from simply providing freshmen with rush. a place to live and socialize. to the beginning of February. Rush had occurred during the fall for many In prior years, freshman were not With more time to demonstrate real allowed on Greek property until after rush, which meant upperclassmen and fraternal values, Fiji will have an op portunity to recruit quality pledges freshmen had to wait for about a based on its best and most fundamen month before being able to socialize freely. With rush deferred until February, tal aspects. many students felt that an entire se mester was too long for freshmen to avoid Greek property. After much debating, both IFC and Panhel agreed that the rules from prior years would remain mostly un changed, but that they would be effec tive for five months instead of one. The new system deeply affects many fraternities and sororities, but However, the changes also pose challenges. This year, more than any other, it is important for Fiji to make significant contact with a large num ber of freshmen. We have already es tablished several connections through philanthropy, campus involvement and everyday interaction off of Greek property. Still, every brother must struggle to make more contact and to spread the word about Phi Gamma Delta. mote Fiji's name, and hold successful events such as cookouts that freshmen can attend. As always, we gi'eatly ap preciate any recommendations you DePauw students. vantage. Tiger-Fiji is published regularly by the men of the Fraternity of Phi Gamma Delta at DePauw Univer sity for members and friends.