THE O X G.D. F/J/ TAUXUTAIN Volume LXXIV No. 2 Galesburg, Illinois Spring Edition 1982 Rush Nets Seventeen Rush season came to a very successful close for credits the personalized and unified effort of the entire Gamma Deuteron in the second week of January this chapter for the overwhelming success. year. We pledged 15 outstanding young men formally The pledges themselves are a very diverse group, and picked up two more informally during the next representing three classes and several different in- week. This year was a crucial one for our rush terests. Among the group are members of varsity program, as 12 seniors will graduate this spring. With athletic teams, the union board, the Knox Student, and the addition of this year's pledge class the chapter will many other campus organizations. The new pledges once again number over 40 following initiation in the are good scholars also, most of them ranking in the spring. Tom Minick '82, this year's rush chairman, upper quarter of their high school graduating class. The pledge class has displayed a strong and promising attitude thus far, and the men show every indication of becoming exceptional Gamma Deuteron Phi Gams! Bradley University Newest Fiji Colony In March of 1981, Gamma Deuteron Fijis were delighted to learn that they would soon have a neighboring chapter less than one hour away. Interna- tional Headquarters had decided to colonize at nearby Bradley University in Peoria. Field Secretary Brian G. Dunster (British Columbia '80) invited Knox Fijis Tim Rickert '82 discusses some "fraternal con- to a rush function in Peoria. The initial atmosphere cerns with Field Secretary Peter Gray prior to the was tense and uncertain, but after several days, the Knox Fijis had helped to select nearly thirty young start of the Norris Pig Dinner at last summer's men for our newest colony. Knox Fijis were the only Academy. undergraduates involved in the selection process, as several area graduates helped in the selection also. We were truly proud to play such an integral part in Dave Yount leads the forming of new chapter of Phi Gamma Delta. A few months later, the Knox Fijis invited the facsinating career Bradley colony pledges to a Fiji party in Galesburg. As the old cliche goes, "A good time was had by all.' In September, new Field Secretary Peter S. Gray David Yount '56 has had an interesting and some- (Oregon '80) brought the entire colony to Galesburg for a retreat. Knox Fijis were just returning for the what diverse life since leaving the Phi Gam house 25 new school year, however these three days were years ago. As many who knew him then may recall, invaluable to colony members in many ways. Group David was assigned to keep fraternity members out of discussions, leadership seminars, goal-setting, and trouble by assigning penalties and disciplining or agenda-setting occupied most of their time, but there offering counsel to them. He took a leave of absence was still plenty of time for good food, beer, softball, during the winter term of his senior year to live in a basketball, and other leisure activities. monastery. After graduating in the spring, he went to seminary and eight years later became a Catholic Now, just over a year after those tentative rush priest, a position where his counseling abilities were plans were put into action, we look forward to the day when we can greet our Fiji colony members as our put to good use. nearest Fiji Brothers. Continued on Page 8 g.d.fiji A Letter From the President Treasurer's Notes Dear Brothers, Dear Brothers, Gamma Deuteron has had quite an eventful year. I am happy to relay that the Gamma Deuteron The year began with seven brothers returning from chapter is financially sound. However, we have run the 17th Fiji Academy. These brothers brought back into several financial problems stemming from the many new and useful ideas to incorporate into our low number of returning chapter members. Careful already thriving chapter. financial management and budgeting have enabled us Classes had not yet started last September when our to make the most efficient use of our limited re- new Bradley colony visited 218 South Cedar for a three sources. The problem of low membership has been day leadership retreat. The close brotherhood be- solved by the pledging of seventeen fine young men tween our chapter and the new colony members which should make more funds available for the helped strengthen our commitment to our own rush operational expenses of the chapter. effort this year. Most of our time and effort during fall During my term in office I have completed a term and early winter term was focused on rush. A changeover to the more efficient accounting system pledge class of seventeen was the result. All are fine suggested by our International Headquarters. Much young men and worthy of becoming Fijis. We all look credit is due to brother Dave Brackman '81, who forward to the approaching pledge service week which initiated the transformation last year. I have also culminates in initiation. started a cash journal which has been tremendously Now with over 40 members (including the pledge effective in monitoring the cash flow of the chapter. class), the chapter is once again able to conduct such This year we have completed the sixth annual round regular activities as exchanges with sororities, house of negotiations with the Galesburg Fire Department parties, house maintenance, a fully operating chapter concerning the required modifications of the chapter administration, and a completely functioning commit- house to comply with building safety codes. The fire tee system. This means you will again be receiving marshal strongly recommends the construction of a regular issues of the G. D. Fiji. walk-down fire escape as well as the enclosure of the The wide variety of interests of the chapter's inside stairwells with steel fire doors. He also recom- members have kept everyone busy during the year. mends that we install a new fire alarm system which Scholarship has improved. Fijis lead all Greeks in can be connected directly to the fire department. intramural standings. Several house improvements Overall, 1981 proved to be an enjoyable and suc- have been made. cessful year for the Gamma Deuteron chapter. I am I feel very confident in the qualifications and desire confident in the successful financial future of the of my successor, Ken Cornell '83. Serving as president chapter and the abilities of the incoming treasurer, has been a valuable and rewarding experience. It is Steve Sutker '83. one I shall never forget. Fraternally, Fraternally, Jim Murphy '82 Tim Rickert '82 Chapter President Chapter Treasurer Perge! Perge! From the Editor's Desk Our last efforts were extremely popular with every- one. The Coon Plaque committee awarded us third place at the 1980 Nashville Ekklesia for the G. D. Fiji, Dear Brothers, the most recognition we have received in any of the awards competition in over 10 years! We are proud of The G. D. Fiji is back! that award, and are committed to winning the Coon After far too long a period of silence, we greet you PLaque, awarded annually to the best chapter news- with another G. D. Fiji. We hope it is the first of a letter. regular series of newsletters. We regret that we have We express our gratitude to John Pritchard '79, who not flooded your mailbox with news over the past has afforded us full use of his newspaper facilities in year; suffice it to say we were busy with other things. Galva, Illinois and at The Galesburg Register-Mail. Most important, we want you to know we haven't John has been helping us produce G. D. Fijis for many forgotten about our graduates because we know you years now. Dave Brackman '81, a former G. D. Fiji haven't forgotten about Gamma Deuteron. We've editor, has also been a big help in all aspects of been down but we were not out for the count. production. Our staff is made up of several Our chapter is larger now. Added members make it sophomores, so we will be here for a few years trying easier for us to put together a quality newsletter once again. We are proud to bring you the G. D. Fiji again. Continued on Page 3