GEM FIJI SPECIAL EDITION ON STATE NATIONAL AWARDS MU IOTA CHAPTER OF PHI GAMMA DELTA AT THE UNIVERSITY OF IDAHO FALL 2023 CHENEY CUP III Awarded to the chapter demonstrating the greatest all-around efficiency in scholarship, fraternity relationships and general collegiate activities. THIRD TIME'S THE CHARM FIJI'S A look at each of Mu lota's Cheney Cups The chapter was only 16 years old and had more than 60 I living in its 11-year-old Chapter House. Finished first in men's grades for a third straight semester and boasted Rhodes 1936-37 scholar Shull Arms '36 and star athletes while leading student government and activities. FINEST II 32 years after its first Cheney, No. 2 came less than five years after the new section opened and allowed more than 70 in- house members. Craig Storti '68 was Greek Man of the Year, 1968-69 and four Fijis were Distinguished Seniors while dominating student government and activities and earning 27 varsity letters. Also won the Jordan Bowl for academic excellence. MU IOTA EARNS THIRD CHENEY, III Mu lota's third Cheney Cup, the first in 53 years, came after becoming the first Chapter to welcome new members under the Fraternity's change in bylaws. Also won its third consecutive 9 NATIONAL HONORS 2021-2022 Coon Plaque for best publication, the Owen Cup for scholastic improvement and a total of nine Fraternity honors. Fijis were Story, full coverage on pages 2-5 second in cumulative GPA (3.38) among UI men's groups. CHENEY CUP SPECIAL REPORT By Don Shelton '76 "When we got back to the house, everyone was jumping around and yelling," said Jaxon Cherry '25. "We're SO proud to call ourselves No. 1." M u Iota is the top Chapter in Phi Gamma Delta after winning the international Fraternity's highest honor, the Cheney Cup, for only the Kaden Orcutt '25 said he tried not to get his hopes up but finally could third time in its 103-year history, completing a remarkable revival. let loose when it was announced. "It's awesome," he said. "The first time since 1969. It feels really good." Idaho earned three first-place awards overall and was recognized a total of nine times-more than any other chapter. The awards were announced What Idaho Fijis accomplished is more remarkable considering the Oct. 4-5 for the 2022 calendar year. challenges they overcame. The Chapter thrived despite the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020-21 that briefly closed the house. A year later, the This is Mu Iota's first Cheney Cup in 53 years. The Chapter last won it in murders of four Greek Idaho students in November 2022 rocked the 1968-69. Idaho also was named Phi Gamma Delta's top Chapter in 1936- small campus in Moscow, Idaho. 37. The Cheney Cup is annually "awarded to the Chapter demonstrating the greatest all-around efficiency in scholarship, Fraternity relationships A different challenge came when Phi Gamma Delta quickly adopted and general collegiate activities." an early membership model in August 2022, just before Idaho's Greek recruitment week. Mu Iota became an early adopter and was the first Bruce Pitman, Purdue '71, who has been involved with the Chapter Chapter in the international Fraternity to welcome new members two since arriving as a Phi Gamma Delta field secretary in 1972, put Mu days after the start of the fall semester. Mitch Sonnen '86, president of Iota's achievement in perspective. Mu Iota's Board of Chapter Advisors, believes that was a tipping point. "It is an extraordinary honor shared by both the undergraduate Chapter "Definitely that was a foundation of our success," said Sonnen, who was and graduate brothers," said Pitman, a former Phi Gamma Delta archon runner-up for the 2022 Coulter Cup awarded to the Fraternity's top advisor. and retired University of Idaho dean of students and vice provost. "It is "We decided early to adopt, and we drove those changes ourselves. We about both. Graduate brothers have a claim in the success for winning didn't look back and second guess, and we encountered limited resistance." this award because of the effort and results they have had over the past 10 years or so. That set us up for success. But the undergraduates are the David Burns '91, another BCA member, agrees. "For a Chapter with ones who pulled it together on a day-to-day basis." an amazing history to be the first to embrace the new paradigm of CELEBRATION AT 600U brotherhood in a few days' time is truly humbling," he said. "The Cheney Cup captures both the legacy of the Chapter as well as its leap into the Most undergraduates learned the news from the Fraternity's next 100-plus years." announcement on Instagram and loudly celebrated with hollers, high-fives and hugs at 600 Mu Iota's nine awards included winning University Avenue. the Coon Plaque, recognizing the Gem State Fiji newsletter as the fraternity's best publication, for the third consecutive year, and winning the Owen Cup for the greatest (Continued on page 3) THE PHI GAMMA DELTA Above: Craig Bohman '70 (second from the left) accepts the Cheney Cup from astronaut THE IDAHO Gene Cerna, Purdue '56 (middle). Right: Phi Gamma Delta magazine splashed Idaho's first Cheney on the cover. MARCH PAGE 2 1968-69 1938 1938-39 WHAT FIJIS ARE SAYING Here's what Fijis are saying about Mu Iota winning the Cheney Cup: "So glad to learn that Mu Iota is considered in this generation the best Chapter, as my generation in 1938 was the best." -Joe Harle '42 "I'm tired of listening to how great the Chapter at Washington is. Winning this shows how a lot of hard work and participation can do great things." -Neil Thornton '52 "Winning the Cheney Cup symbolizes the quality of Mu Iota graduates and undergraduates. It recognizes the effort of many individuals who live, and have lived, in the house." -Jim Hawkins '58 "It's amazing, and it's something all Mu Iota brothers should celebrate and share in." -Jerry Schlatter '59 "The amazing story is how a bunch of guys turned the Fraternity around when it really was in dire straits. Fantastic that it can now Mu lota undergraduates celebrate lead to this." -Bjorn Bergvall '62 2022 their third Cheney Cup in front