Spring 2017
Paul Bailey ’74
An Integral Part of The Old Gal page 8
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Saving the Mu Chapter House
Message from the Editor Jim Hammond ’66
What Makes A Hero?
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n our lives, we are all given the opportunity to be a hero to someone, sometime, somewhere. Yes, there are war heroes, political heroes, civic heroes, and those who throw themselves into the face of danger to help someone. These people certainly are heroes. But what about the quiet heroes? People who no one ever hears about—everyday heroes who touch hearts, help rebuild lives, bring hope and encouragement, and make people smile. Ricky Martin once said, “Heroes represent the best of ourselves, respecting that we are humans. A hero is someone who is willing to help others in his or her best capacity.” In the 1940s, there was a young sickly woman named Wilma Glodean Rudolph who lived in St. Bethlehem, Tennessee. She had been stricken with double pneumonia, scarlet fever and polio as a child. She had problems with her legs and had to wear braces. Her doctors told her she would never walk again. Her mother told her she would. She believed her mother. With encouragement from her friends and sister, she practiced walking. On her 10th birthday, she shocked her parents, dropped her braces, and walked across the room. She dreamed of playing basketball and wanted to
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be on the school team with her all-star sister. The coach said no and Wilma’s dad said his daughters came as a package; have both or not. Wilma’s dad told the coach, if you practice with my daughter every day I will give you a world-class athlete. Wilma became a basketball all-star. Then Wilma put her focus on track. Remember, this was the girl in braces. Nicknamed Skeeter for her famous speed, Wilma qualified for the 1956 Summer Olympic Games in Melbourne, Australia. The youngest member of the U.S. Track Team won a bronze medal in the 400-meter relay. In the 1960 Rome Olympic Games. After tying a world record with her time of 11.3 seconds in the 100-meter semifinals, she won the event with her 11.0 final. She broke the Olympic record in the 200meter dash before claiming a gold medal with her time of 24.0 seconds. She won three gold medals in Rome just because someone encouraged her, spurred her on with hope, and was her champion. She had heroes. A hero, says American actress Debi Mazar, is an ordinary person who is selfless, generous in spirit, and who just tries to give back as much as possible and help people. Mu Chapter offers unlimited opportunities to be a hero to our undergraduates. I have mentored dozens of Mu undergraduates and my life is immensely enriched by it. You can do it, too. But you have to come around. You have to come to Monday night dinner. You will know when you connect with a fabulous young brother who will absorb everything you share with him. Be a dream builder for the chapter. Be an encourager. Life for young people in today’s world can be difficult and complex. Be an emissary of hope. Our young men at Mu are all Gold Medal material. Yes, you can be a life-changing hero for one of them. We all have a hero inside of us…a quiet hero who can change a life forever. And that changes the world!
Micah Adams ’15 - His Amazing Journey Mu’s Scholarship Endowment’s Nearly $750K Paul Bailey ’74 - An Integral Part of The Old Gal Mu’s Scholarship Focus Demands Good Academics A Vision Of Mu Brothers That Started 100-Plus Years Ago Kris Axell ‘76 - Update on Mu’s Capital Campaign Mu’s Powerhouse Basketball Finishes 6-0 in Intramural Season A Message from Mu’s President, Sean Kron ’16 Mu Philanthropy Partners with a Plethora of Sororities
Cover photo by Bob Bronson
Musings is The Official Publication of MU Chapter of Alpha Sigma Phi at the University of Washington 4554 19 Ave NE, Seattle, WA 98105 Editor: Jim Hammond
[email protected]
CHAPTER OFFICERS President (HSP) Sean Kron ’16 Vice President (HJP) Micah Adams ’16 Treasurer (HE) Griffin Paulson ’15 Secretary (HS) William Wilson ’16 Marshal (HM) Deter Hudson ’15 Sergeant-at-Arms (HC) Carlos Silva-Zenteno ’17 Recruitment Director (HZ) Zachery Sukin ’16 Alumni Director (HP) Aidan Jensen ’15 Scholarship Director (HA) Zhengyi Chen ’15 Membership Education Director (HD) Ty Halvorsen ’16 Risk Management Director Luka Andres ’17 Philanthropy Director Kevin Ting ’17 Service Director Hunter Clancy ’17 Athletics Director Drew Stender ’15 Social Director Mitchell O’Rourke ’15 Family Relations Director Nate Fischer ’17 Fundraising Director Griffin Paulson ’15 Brotherhood Retention Director Trygve Groh ’17 House Manager Zhengyi Chen ’15 Recruitment Captains Trevor Larsen ’17 Eli Tostengard ’17 Mick Smoot ’17 Standards Board Drew Stender ’15 Eric Ishimaru ’16 Luka Andres ’17
BOB STRECKER ’78
Grand Chapter Advisor If you’re not making someone else’s life better, then you’re wasting your time.. – Will Smith The Grand Chapter Advisor job manual is almost one-hundred pages long, and every day may be uniquely different in guiding and advising the undergrads as they manage and lead their own undergraduate chapter experience. But during certain times of the year the schedule of the GCA is highlighted by writing letters of recommendation for the undergrads as they seek potential jobs, or admission to grad schools, or applying for scholarships and awards. I had the opportunity to write one such recommendation letter for an undergrad who was seeking a national scholarship recently, and I was taken aback by the significant accomplishments of this particular member of the House. Like many of the undergrad Brothers, his background included an enormous number of hours in philanthropic activities and in service to the community, both while at UW and also prior to his admission to our prestigious university two years ago. His academic record is highlighted by recognition as a member on the UW Dean’s List during every quarter that he has been on campus, and his extraordinary leadership service to the chapter as an undergraduate officer rounded out his resume. It reminded me that our chapter attracts the best and the brightest in the UW Greek system, and that our 105 continuous years on campus has been highlighted by our continued ability to embrace a fundamental culture in the chapter where leadership, service, and academic performance are at the core of what we do every day as a Brotherhood.
Photo by Will Wilson
Embracing and Supporting the Fraternity Experience
Along with the day-to-day duties of having the privilege of serving our own chapter, one of the largely unseen roles of the GCA is to interact with the advisors from the other 32 fraternities on campus. It may seem unusual that I have served in the GCA position at Washington for 31 years, but that is actually only in the mid-range of the UW fraternity advisor seniority scale. One of my fellow advisors has served his chapter for over 50 years! I count many fellow chapter advisors as among my close colleagues and friends, but in particular I have had the opportunity to work closely with the Fiji, Sigma Chi, Beta, Lambda Chi, Theta Chi, Zeta Psi, and Alpha Delt alumni leaders for decades. We have an organized and well-run Alumni Interfraternity Council which seeks to ensure and enhance the long-term viability of the UW Greek system, and we strategically interact with the UW administration on various levels. While each advisor obviously has an unwavering devotion to their own chapter, we all embrace and support the overall fraternity experience at the UW. Recently, one of our very dedicated alumni emeritus advisors, Gary Ausman of the Pi Kappa Alpha (Pike) House, even went so far as to make a personal gift creating a permanent endowment fund within the UW Foundation which will provide, in perpetuity, a unique and first-rate leadership curriculum system-wide for the UW fraternity presidents and emerging chapter leaders. The UW Alpha Sig House and the UW Greek system are as strong as ever, and with your continued support will remain the finest Greek experience in the country. 3
photo by Bob Bronson 4
Undergraduate Feature >>>
Micah Adams ’15
His Amazing Journey of Intrigue, Passion, and Purpose By Jim Hammond ’66
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or a young man not yet 20, Micah Adams ’16 has lived a life full of intrigue and purpose. Starting in high school, and now as a UW biology major, Micah has developed an attitude of sensitivity and a sense of responsibility regarding climate change and its impact on the natural world. This social consciousness has driven Micah to dedicate his life to finding ways to mitigate the problems that humans are causing. Micah was born in Garrison, New York, a small town on the Hudson River an hour north of New York City. He went to a small K-8 school of 300 students. Thereafter, he went to Millbrook School, a private boarding school in Millbrook, New York, which, in Micah’s words, was in the middle of nowhere. But, as you will see as Micah’s story unfolds, it was a very happening place for him. Kitesurfing in Spain After Micah’s freshman year at Millbrook, he lived a month in Tarrifa, Spain, a small town on the Mediterranean. He went with Lenguaventura, a summer kitesurfing camp for teenagers 14-17 designed to teach and help improve Spanish speaking skills. “It was great fun,” said Micah, “and it really accelerated my Spanish track.” Doing Marine Biology Research off the California Coast The summer after Micah’s sophomore year, he lived two and a half weeks on a boat off Catalina Island, California, doing marine biology research. “We got to pick our own projects,” begins Micah. “We had to determine how climate change impacted the ecology and environment of organisms in that area. I looked at hermit crabs to see how salinity affected their activity. With changes in salinity, would they stay active or stay in their shell.” Studying African Grays and Pandas at Millbrook and the Trevor Zoo In Micah’s junior year, attending Millbrook turned from a place located in the middle of nowhere to an open door to the world. It all began in at Trevor Zoo. Trevor Zoo is the only zoo in the United States located at a high school. Established in 1936 by Frank Trevor, the school’s first biology teacher, the zoo was created to share his love of wildlife with people, especially children. For a future biology major like Micah, the zoo was a trove of
intrigue and fascination. It houses more than 180 exotic and indigenous animals, 80 different species, nine endangered species, and is accredited with the Associations of Zoos and Aquariums. “The zoo is an amazing place,” begins Micah. “Students work in it and care for the animals. In addition to animal care, I got to prepare food and do life enrichment for the animals so they wouldn’t get bored. Enrichment can be anything that changes the normal enclosure, such as providing mirrors, spraying scents in their living area, putting peanut butter on branches, and other exciting things for animals.” “I did an independent study on African Gray parrots,” began Micah. “I studied how human vocalization affected the behavior of these amazing parrots. They are very smart birds. I found out that it doesn’t really matter how you interact with the parrots, rather, it has to do more with how familiar the parrots are with you. I experimented with a variable of different vocalizations— whispering, shouting, and normal talking to determine how adverse the parrots would be with me in the exhibit. There was no correlation on how I spoke. The parrots had less of an adverse reaction to vocalization the more they got used to the experimenters. Initially they shrieked up a storm, but, as they got used to us they interacted calmly.” “I worked two years in the zoo,” continued Micah. “I took one animal at a time. In my junior and senior year, I was made a student curator, which means I was in charge of an entire section of the zoo. I would have North America or Australia or another area, for example. This was a job with real life consequences because if I didn’t do my job right, the animals wouldn’t get food. My favorite animal was the red pandas. I had a connection with one named Nicholas and got to feed him by hand. We had red panda cubs born while I was there. I think red pandas are the cutest animals in the world, so their babies were almost too much to handle.” Onward to Mongolia “Between my junior and senior year,” started Micah, “I applied for a research project to go to Mongolia for a month with the former head of the Millbrook biology department, Dr. Barry Rosenbaum, who was heading research for the Denver Zoo. He came back to Millbrook each year offering students the chance to do research with the zoo. I was the only one who applied. I guess no
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one else wanted to eat boiled goat for a month. So the whole trip it was just me and Dr. Rosenbaum.” “This is one of my favorite stories. We traveled for two days from New York to L.A., then from Beijing, China, to Ulaanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia. Then, we took a two-hour flight to Western Mongolia and drove 13 hours to our research area in the Bayan-Olgii region on the Russian border. We were in the mountains that were a minimum of 10,000 feet. It was in the 60s and 70s during the day, but very cold at night.” “When Dr. Rosenbaum and I got to Osgar, the herder we were staying with,” continues Micah, “our host took us to a flock of goats and said, ‘Which one do you want?’ We deferred that to him and he picked out our goat for our meals for the next three weeks we would be with him. His family slaughtered and prepared the goat for us. AND, they eat and use everything—the blood, the pelts, the horns—everything! Some was hard to eat, but I ate it. The locals were impressed when they saw me eat the fat and all.” “Our job was to put tracking collars on four argali sheep. This was to help determine where the animals spend their time so the Mongolian government could set up boundaries of protection for these animals. We spent two and a half weeks determining where the sheep go. Then, we installed a series of nets held up by wooden stakes. As the flock moves the first get caught in the net. This is all done humanely and no animals are harmed. The tracker is put on them and they are immediately released. Argali sheep get easily overheated when stressed which could kill them or disorient them so that they can’t find their flock, so we used water to cool them down while we attached the tracker to them. We spent two and a half weeks tracking the sheep, four days setting up, and 10 minutes with the animals. Yes, just ten minutes with the animal and it is over. Kind of surreal!” “We also did tracking of snow leopards to set up protective zones,” continues Micah. “I collected the memory cards in the cameras and we caught a snow leopard on film. It is still my cover picture on Facebook. This was a major highlight of my life.” When asked why he became a biology major, Micah said, “I have a passion for animal behavior, and I want to do research on large wild animals for reserves and conservationists that rehabilitate animals and release them quickly. I want to improve the lives of animals and help protect them. I am very adamant about climate change and the impact it has on the natural world around us, and want to do what I can to mitigate the changes that humans are causing.” Micah, His Professional Family and Lots of Travel Micah Adams comes from a line of professionals. His mother, Linda Tafapolsky, and father, James Adams III, met while attending Princeton. Linda is a clinical psychologist. James is a statistician who had spent a large part of his life in the 6
advertising industry in New York City. Today, he commutes weekly to Tampa, Florida, where he works for the Laser Spine Institute. The Institute does sophisticated non-invasive laser back surgery that allows the patient to be up and walking the day after surgery. Micah’s older brother, Andre, is a senior at Columbia University studying political science and statistics. “As a family,” begins Micah, “we have had an endless number of memorable family vacations. Some families get a boat or a summer house. We travel!” “We have gone to Barcelona, Spain, twice. This is one of my favorite cities in the world. I personally run on a Spanish schedule, which is being productive then taking a nap. I am a great proponent of the nap. And, I love the Spanish language and culture. The food is great. Late dinners and staying up late works for me.” “We’ve traveled to France. My mother speaks French. As a family, we have been all over France from the Riviera, to the French Alsace wine country, to Paris, Normandy, and Versailles.”
My philosophy is always being opened-minded to new opportunities and to not be afraid to let go of what’s familiar. photo by Bob Bronson
“We have traveled to Denmark, England, and Switzerland, and to Istanbul and Anatolia in Turkey. We have also traveled to Japan visiting Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, and other interesting cities.” “In the U.S., we travel to Boston a lot because my mom is from there and to Tampa because my dad works there. But we have taken family vacations to San Francisco, where my uncle and his family live.” Why the University of Washington? It Is So Far Away! When asked why he chose to go so far from home to go to school, Micah said, “I was looking for a great biology program. UW has one of the best in the country. I got accepted immediately to the UW Honors Program that gave me a four-year undergraduate Purple and Gold Scholarship because of my resume. They knew my major was biology. UW is very focused on the major you take. The Honors Program provides an interdisciplinary approach to completing your major with a broader liberal arts base. “Being so far from home was an adjustment,” said Micah. “I like it here (Seattle), but it is definitely a slower pace than New York. And the weather in Seattle is not as nasty as winter in New York, despite what Seattleites would tell you about their winter. No one in Seattle
really knows what it means when it snows…and when it is REALLY cold.” Rush and Alpha Sigma Phi and My New Family “When I showed up at UW, I started in the dorms, which were prepaid,” started Micah. “I didn’t like it there. It was too quiet and too strict. So I started recruitment. Neither of my parents were Greek, so I was the first. When I went through recruitment for Alpha Sigma Phi, Recruitment Chairman Tony Serna ’14 connected me with Bob Strecker ’78. Bob really took an interest in me. He helped make it possible for me to pledge and live in the house, despite paying the dorms. If it wasn’t for Bob, I likely would have pledged elsewhere. Bob made me feel really welcome. I picked the house for the people, because they impressed me immediately. Ben Nogawa ’15 told me that balancing the house and the Honors Program was doable. He knew because he was in the Honors Program. I pledged with Sy Ruiz ’16, another incredible man. He impressed me then and impresses me now.” “I loved Mu Chapter. I came to Washington not knowing a soul. I now find myself a year and a half later with a family that I never could have hoped for. That is how I feel about the guys in the house. People invite me to their homes for a weekend and for holidays like Thanksgiving. They welcome me with open arms. They truly are my family away from home. I know this is not the case for most of the guys in the house because they live in driving distance. I am at the house all of the time. The way the guys have taken me in has made my life very complete being so far away from home.”
Big Money for Undergrads
Mu Chapter’s Scholarship Endowment’s Nearly Three-Quarter of a Million Dollars
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ot many fraternities in the nation can boast that they have nearly three-quarters of a million dollars in scholarship endowments—and none of the 31 other fraternities on the UW campus came anywhere close to the claim that Mu Chapter can claim. Plus, because these funds are endowed, in the very near future they will reach the $1 million mark. Now that’s impressive. At the 2016 Founder’s Day, 16 awards were granted to undergraduate brothers totaling $33,000. This was a lifeline that kept many brothers in school. Pretty amazing accomplishment! So where did all this money come from? Our Mu alumni. Mu presently has seven scholarship funds:
“I am honored to be the house vice president (HJP). I was sorority relations before this, right after I was initiated. I ran for vice president because it is a way I can give back to everyone for what they have done for me. My goal is to work toward having a full and happy house. What more can you ask for?” Onward to National “I am very excited about participating in Elevate this summer,” commented Micah. “I have not experienced any other Alpha Sig Chapters and I am very eager to meet brothers from over 150 chapters across the nation.”
All funds are IRS-recognized 501(c)(3) public charities
When asked what he thinks about being part of one of the nation’s foremost social fraternities, Micah replied, “I pledged one chapter and knew nothing of the rest. Going to National Elevate is like finding a treasure trove of cousins I don’t know yet.” Micah’s Philosophy in Life As said earlier, Micah has lived an intriguing and interesting life. He has seen much and done much. It is no wonder that his philosophy in life is full of wisdom and great advice. Micah says, “At 19, my philosophy is always being openedminded to new opportunities and to not be afraid to let go of what’s familiar. I learned that in Mongolia. I certainly learned that. And, the boiled goat wasn’t that bad the first five days.”
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photo by Bob Bronson 8
Paul Bailey ’74 An Integral Part of The Old Gal
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any alumni reflect on their years in Alpha Sigma Phi as some of the best years of their life; Paul Bailey ’74 is no exception. “My experience in Mu Chapter was truly one in a million; I will always remember pledging Alpha Sigma Phi in August 1973 as one of the best decisions of my life,” he says. “I instantly connected with the older members in the fraternity, and some of these brothers are still my best friends today. During my time at UW, the men of Alpha Sigma Phi demonstrated high integrity, moral values, and were amazing, genuine people. Mu Chapter was the one that stood out from the rest and was the best place to call ‘home.’ A favorite part of my undergraduate experience in ASP was the physical structure itself, The Old Gal. The facility’s appearance was nothing short of magnificent, and this was primarily due to the Chapter members taking care of the house as if it was their own.” Attending a university with approximately 54,000 students, roaming the large campus and getting connected with students and organizations can be overwhelming and impersonal. Luckily for Paul, Alpha Sigma Phi made the university not seem so large and provided him with a house full of brothers to instantly connect with. “Everyone hung out at the ASP house and they all took care of each other. I was a townie at the time—if it wasn’t for Mu Chapter, I wouldn’t have felt nearly as connected to the university.” This welcoming, family-like atmosphere made Paul comfortable getting to know more people and being part of a larger group of people. “I went from having a few friends to having countless friends who I am proud to call my brothers. They always wanted to see me succeed and excel in all aspects of my life; this is something that very few people have the privilege of experiencing in their lifetime, and every day I am blessed to be part of Alpha Sigma Phi’s elite, thriving membership.” There are several memories in Mu Chapter that have stayed with Paul over the years, including the Talisman Rose Queen Ball held every year just after winter break and the mentorship he received from former Chapter President Craig Banner ’72. “Craig really had a lasting impact on not only my fraternity experience but my UW experience as well. He was the one who encouraged me to pursue microbiology in college, which helped me to build the successful career I have now. I would share some more memories, but unfortunately I can’t put those in writing,” Paul jokes.
Paul’s once-in-a-lifetime experience in Alpha Sigma Phi inspired him to return the favor as an alumnus by volunteering on the House Corporation Board. Serving as the House Corporation vice president for the past three and a half years. In the capacity of facilities manager, Paul championed funding for numerous projects and worked with contractors to implement many of them. Some of these projects include: fixing the decaying façade and decking above the entry and the solarium; helping Grand Chapter Advisor Bob Strecker ’78 get the funding to finish the hardwood floor, which hadn’t been refinished in years; replacing the carpet; completing smaller-scale renovations to the bathrooms, including fixing leaks in the showers and ground water leaks into the chapter room; replacing every door in the house; and various other physical plant tasks that usually involved leaky old pipes and faulty wiring. “There are always projects to tackle with the facility; I believe these projects have really made an impact on the physical appearance of the house and morale of the Chapter. The Old Gal is a 100-year-old house that has 100-yearold plumbing and wiring, so as an active alum of Mu Chapter, I strive to do everything I can to keep the facility clean and safe for brothers of all generations to enjoy. One simple task the House Corporation has implemented recently is to educate young men to take care of the facility and treat it like it’s their own home. This will undoubtedly make a world of difference for future generations of brothers who pledge ASP and have the privilege of living in the Old Gal.” Although Paul has completed a substantial amount of physical work for the facility, there are still many projects that need attention. Paul is hopeful that alumni will help do their part in bringing all facility projects to completion by donating to the Securing the Future of Mu Chapter campaign. “I want to show our undergraduate brothers that alumni truly care about ASP and want to make a difference. The fraternity started to improve once more alumni became involved with the House Corporation; today, Mu Chapter’s membership stands as one of the best and ASP ranks among the top tier of fraternities at the UW.” “Alpha Sigma Phi is comprised of incredible young men. The members’ grades have improved immensely; there is a renewed sense of pride being an ASP member; and there has been a huge attitude change within the membership as well. These men truly 9
care about the fraternity and the physical structure, and they are devoted to carrying on our Chapter’s powerful legacy long after graduation. These undergraduates truly embody what it means to be an Alpha Sigma Phi, and for these men to continue being successful, we must do everything we can to ensure they continue to have a safe, updated, and comfortable facility to live in.” “The Securing the Future of Mu Chapter campaign will ensure the future of Alpha Sigma Phi for the next 100 years, but we need the support of every alumnus. The Old Gal has stood the test of time for the last 100 years, but unfortunately will not stand much longer without necessary updates and renovations. There is so much to do to get the facility where it needs to be, but once it gets there, you will be forever thankful that you supported this monumental project. The facility is a gorgeous, old structure that needs to go back to its original glory; decades earlier, when you walked through the UW campus wanting to pledge a fraternity and you saw The Old Gal, you would think, ‘Wow! That is truly something.’ In addition to his involvement with the House Corporation, Paul makes it a priority to attend ASP alumni events whenever possible, especially Founders Day. Paul looks forward to reconnecting with brothers at the 2017 Founders Day celebration on May 20th, which will be held at the ASP fraternity house. A few brothers Paul maintains close connections with today are House Corporation members Mark Nordlie ’70 and Pat McNamara ’69. Paul has worked as the sales and marketing manager for Infometrix Inc. for 29 years in Bothell, Washington. The company develops chemometrics software tools and solutions for end users and analytical instrument companies. Its solutions are used in the petrochemical industry, oil and gas exploration, geochemistry, environmental assessment, pharmaceutical manufacturing and clinical, food, flavor, and fragrance applications. As the sales and marketing manager, Paul manages sales agents and marketing teams to sell products in the US and internationally. Paul mentions that Fortune 100 companies are Infometrix largest customer base. His long-term career with Infometrix has afforded Paul the opportunity to travel throughout the U.S. and internationally. “I enjoy saving people money so that whatever they are manufacturing it is made right, that way they avoid having to throw away product and start over,” he says. Aside from his professional career with Infometrix, Paul has been involved with various charities and organizations, including the Boy Scouts of America. Paul says, “My experiences in the Boy Scouts helped me gain outdoor, life, and morality skills, many of which I’m able to utilize in my everyday life. Giving back to the Scouting program as an adult and teaching those life skills to kids was very rewarding. If I could keep up I would probably still be involved as an adult Scouter.” When the weather permits, Paul enjoys gardening and doing yard work at his home in Snohomish, Washington. Paul and his wife, Lynn, met when they were 14 years old and were married at the age of 26. They have two children: Chris, who works for a marina as rigger and salesman and he is married with one child; and Chandra, who is a pharmacist, is also married, and has two children. Chris lives locally and Chandra in Southern California. Paul and Lynn look forward to retirement so that they can spend more time with both families. You can send Paul an e-mail at paul.bailey10@ frontier.com. 10
Mu Chapter Demands Good
Will Wilson
Scholarship Focus Academics and Expects Top Grades from Brothers By Scholarship Chairman Zhengyi Chen ’15
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ood scholarship for all brothers is important at Alpha Sigma Phi. The present GPA of Mu Chapter is 3.3. We are ranked as one of the top four academic fraternities at the University of Washington. As many would recognize, the GPA of the Mu Chapter is at a 50-year all-time high for the past several years. This tremendous increase in GPA within the Chapter shows the rise of attention of brothers in the house toward their academic success. As the scholarship director of the house, I personally believe in lead by example. I show brothers that a successful academic career requires consistent hard work. Some might call me a nerd because you frequently find me in the library studying. As a result, it is very common to hear after dinner, “Do you want to go to the library?” Goals Are Important to Maintain Scholarship Another principle I believe in is that one must have a goal to work toward. At the beginning of winter quarter of 2017, I asked each individual freshman in the house to talk to their advisors about their academic goals at the University of Washington, as well as plan out potential schedules for the next couple of years. By doing this, it shows the house truly cares what each brother is aiming for at UW. After all, each one of us is in school to better ourselves and to increase our chances to have a brighter future. Study tables are the Chapter’s main program for the pledges. Every day they are required to study between 6 to 8 p.m. Even if they have no homework or a test to study for, they are still required to be in the library because this enforces studious mentality. Unfortunately, we do not have personal tutors in the house; however, because of the academic diversity within the house, all different majors can be found within the Chapter. Therefore, help is literally next door. Initiation Depends on Good Grades. Period! The strong emphasis of the importance of studying starts with the first tour of the house that pledges take during recruitment. Our recruitment team always highlights our academic achievement in the recent years and explains the reason for such high accomplishment. After pledges move into the house, brothers show by example the urgency of studying. It is seriously stressed to pledges that if they do not achieve a 3.0 or higher, that they will not be initiated after pledge quarter. That person will have to pledge again. Once again, this stresses the point that to have a successful academic career, studying is a main focus of the house. New members of the house will always be welcomed by dedicated brothers who want to learn and excel in all different aspects of life. This is the legacy of Mu Chapter to the future. The house will continue to be inherited by outstanding individuals, like those who raised the house GPA from 2.7 to 3.3+ in recent years. Because of what we are doing, the house remains on its path to greatness and every brother in it is becoming the better men they were always meant to be. 11
A VISION OF MU BROTHERS THAT STARTED 100-PLUS YEARS AGO By Jim Hammond ’66
Capital Campaign to Rebuild Mu Chapter House Approaches $1 Million and Brings to Light Great Stories
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u Chapter has had a long history of amazing landmark accomplishments. Its 105-year-old history is accented with an impressive list of successful and well-known brothers, decades of support to the community through its philanthropy programs, endless recognition from the University of Washington for student leadership on campus, and unprecedented building programs that have created a home for nearly 2,000 brothers at 4554 19th Avenue Northeast. The decision to begin a major $2 million capital campaign to preserve and upgrade the Mu Chapter House is yet another example of the willingness of the alumni brotherhood to take on another major endeavor. But, again, as I insinuated above, major endeavors are not new to Mu. In the late teens of the twentieth century, only eight years after Mu came into existence, 21 brothers collected nearly $24,000 to build the Mu Chapter House with a corporate match of $24,000. Today, Mu has over 2,000 alumni with three quarters of them still living the Alpha Sig life. Today, the potential of fundraising $2 million from such a large and generous group created a secure confidence that such a campaign will, again, move forward with great success. In just a few months, the campaign is approaching its first million dollars with over $800,000 collected…and the donations are coming in across all eras of the brotherhood. So How Did This All Start? A group of 13 men started a local fraternity at the University of Washington called Zeta Nu. They lived in a small rented house at 5522 University Blvd. On January 8, 1912, the group petitioned Alpha Sigma Phi for a charter. Concurrently, Wayne Montgomery Musgrave, recognized as the second founder of Alpha Sigma Phi in 1907, began a movement to expand Alpha Sigma Phi to the west. He enlisted the assistance of Edwin Morey Waterbury, a young educator from New York, who helped implement the expanded rebirth of the fraternity. Waterbury became acquainted with Zeta Nu at Washington quickly after the national headquarters received the groups’ petition. Going to Seattle was a big stretch for the fraternity because there was no presence of Alpha Sigma Phi west of the Mississippi. Zeta Nu at Washington was
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colonized and installed as Mu Chapter of Alpha Sigma Phi on May 20, 1912 and is the oldest continuous Chapter of Alpha Sigma Phi nationally. The original Chapter House built in 1920 didn’t exactly look like the house that we know today. Mu has gone through many metamorphoses. The original house was built under the supervision of Louis Janeck ’19, a young graduate from Mu. He contributed $2,500 to help build the house, which was a fortune in those days. The Janeck version of the house looked the same on the outside as we know it today, with its dynamic colonial columns fronting the house. Inside the layout was similar on the main floor with the repeat of the colonial columns in the entry, the double stairway going upstairs on both sides of the large mantled fireplace, and the single stairs going downstairs. All the main-floor rooms were the same; however, there was a fireplace between the two doors of the solarium. That was removed as part of the basement project. Alas! The basement or lack of basement more specifically. The stairs that go downstairs from the main-floor entry went solely to the Chapter room. The stairs did not continue to a basement. There was no basement to go to, just the Chapter room. The entrance to the Chapter room was a small door to the left at the base of the stairs. This was a long-forgotten entrance that had been sealed up and painted over. Its existence came to light in 1971 when Brother Craig Nordlie ’71 and I were working in the basement one summer. I was measuring and the numbers didn’t come out right. There was a 6’ x 6’ space that was unaccounted for between the base of the stairs, the Chapter room, the boiler room, and behind the closet where the robes are kept. Curiosity got me, so I punched a small hole in the wall at the back of the robe closet. To my amazement, there was a small room with a light cord and bulb hanging from the ceiling. I was plenty excited and yelled for Nordlie, saying I had found a secret room. Well, upon opening the wall more so we could fit through the opening, we saw a switch on the wall and to our shock, when we flicked it on, the light came on. It was obvious; we had found the original Chapter room entrance.
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So why was it closed off and a new double-door entrance added? Again, because there was no basement. Access via the front steps to what we know now as the basement stopped at the Chapter room. The space was not connected to the back stairs. The in between space was undeveloped crawl space. The space from the back door went to the boiler room and storage rooms, a bathroom that has since been removed, and living quarters for houseboys and the cook (and some think a housemother).
Chapter House. When the trophy case was removed during the remodel, the space was converted to a storage closet. The right side of the storage closet was a boarded up opening that was hidden by the trophy case. The builders of the basement boarded this space up. Did they know what was on the other side of the space they boarded up? Of course. It was probably then that the myth of the tunnel to the Alpha Phi house jokingly was started, thereafter turning into Alpha Sig legend.
The Great Basement Expansion of the 1950s The basement, as we know it today, was another amazing endeavor of Mu brothers who went into a funding campaign to build the basement under a massive house that already existed. The structure was there but plans, architects, and funding had to be acquired. The project was alumni-backed and changed the interior of the Mu Chapter House forever. The basement project is why the fireplace between the solarium doors had to be removed and rebuilt in the new basement using the existing chimney. The space included a large glassed-in trophy case adjacent to the fireplace, a TV area, a pool hall, and the best party room on Greek Row.
So what is behind the boarded space and where does it go? About six or seven years ago, some inquisitive undergraduates saw the boarded up wall in the storage closet and decided to pull the boards away to see what was behind them. To their astonishment, there was a boardwalk that went into a very dark space. At a later point, they showed me the space and I went into it like they did. With light, it was easy to see an underground concrete room to the left of the boardwalk that went down pretty far. It was definitely too creepy to inspect that area or to travel along the boardwalk beyond a couple of dozen feet, but the space did continue all the way across the street. Destination Alpha Phi house? Did the original basement builders know what they found? Most likely. They found utility tunnels that connect the Greek houses on all four corners of 19th and 47th. From this grew a myth.
1980s Bring More Change to the Basement and an Amazing Revelation The new basement stayed untouched for nearly 30 years when the undergraduate Chapter and alumni funded a total remodel of the basement, which added a men’s and women’s bathroom, new paneled walls, and other needed repairs. It was during this remodel that the trophy case was removed, making way for an amazing discovery about 20 years later—the mysterious, but never found, secret tunnel to the Alpha Phi house. Was there really a tunnel to the Alpha Phi house? For years, this mythological tunnel was talked about by the undergraduate brothers. Did it really exist? It does exist. But it’s not exactly a secret tunnel. Why did it take 20 years after the trophy case was removed to discover this? Curiosity! But first, you need to understand the architecture. The trophy case was built in a space that feeds utility pipes to the Chapter House below the entire length of the patio area in front of the
The joy in all of this is that we have great stories from generations after generations of Alpha Sigs spanning 105 years…all the way from Zeta Nu on University Boulevard in 1911 to Mu Chapter in 2017. Yes, today we have 2,000 brothers who have built life-lasting and life-changing memories, because a handful of men at the beginning of the 20th Century BELIEVED that building a fraternity house at 4554 19th Avenue Northeast, in the heart of Greek Row, was a worthy endeavor that would preserve a place in history for Mu Chapter for perpetuity. A hundred-plus years have passed, but the vision and tenacity of Alpha Sig alumni has stayed the same. Alumni are making certain that the $2 million goal to save the Mu Chapter House will be met. Why? Because it matters! 13
Update: Securing the Future of Mu Chapter
By Kris Axell ‘76 Mu Capital Campaign Chairman
[email protected]
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am happy to report on the progress of the Securing the Future of Mu Chapter capital campaign. Since our public announcement in October 2016, we have raised almost $204,000 in new gifts and added 48 new donors, putting us at over $859,000 raised and well on our way to our $2 million goal. I hope that all of you have had time to review our proposed project plans for the Old Gal. Project plans can be found in the campaign brochure, which can be viewed on our website, www.alphasigmaphi.com. Mu Chapter alumnus Torjan Ronhovde ’75 heads the renovation building committee and they have a fantastic plan in place to address the long-term viability of our beloved house. Many of you have seen firsthand the current wear and tear of the physical plant. While the House Corporation has been working diligently over the years on maintenance and upkeep, the time has come for major renovations and upgrades to the Chapter House. At this time, the House Corporation does not intend to begin construction until the dollars necessary to complete the project have been raised. It is our hope that we will be able to begin construction in summer 2018. In order to make this construction start date, we must raise more funds. When you combine the powers of our 88 early donors and the giving potential of our 1,078 active alumni, there is no reason we shouldn’t be able to reach this benchmark. If we have support from alumni of all classes and can reach 20% participation, we will achieve our $2 million goal. As a member of the Mu Chapter brotherhood, you can recall the friendships, leadership skills and values you obtained when you lived at the Old Gal. Now is your time to give back. Make your pledge and see our great fraternity continue to thrive at the University of Washington. Here is how you can contribute to our campaign: - Pledges can be spread out over five years and paid at intervals that work best for you - Use the enclosed pledge form to determine your gift and payment schedule - Tax-deductible gifts of at least $25,000, as well as corporate matching gifts, can be made to the nonprofit Mu Chapter Foundation - All other gifts can be made to the House Corporation (Mu Chapter of Alpha Sigma Phi, Inc.) I look forward to seeing our donor list grow as more brothers join this worthy cause. Together we can secure the future of Mu Chapter. I appreciate your support.
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$859,120 and Counting... Campaign Status at-a-Glance $2 Million Goal; $859,120 Contributions; 88 Contributors As of May 1, 2017
We are deeply grateful to the 88 early donors for committing $859,120 to the Securing the Future of Mu Chapter capital campaign. Commitments are still needed from the rest of our alumni to achieve our goal and complete this major project. Please take advantage of the ability to spread your gift out over five years. Second Founder Society $250,000 and above Mu Chapter Patron Society $100,000 to $249,999 Charles F. Conner ’75 Phoenix Society $50,000 to $99,999 Alpha Sigma Phi Undergraduate Chapter Tor-Jan Ronhovde ’75 Mark D. Still ’75 Jeffrey E. Roe ’84 Michael C. Nelson ’87 Purple and Gold Society $25,000 to $49,999 C. Marvin Still ’47 Jack H. Seeley ’51 Michael G. Russell ’68 Eric G. Lund ’72 In honor of Providence Richard L. Graf ’75 Keith H. Hanson ’78 Andrew L. McDonald ’78 Robert B. Strecker ’78 Craig T. Bowen ’81 Husky Society $15,000 to $24,999 Kris D. Axell ’76 W.C. Oppfelt ’77 Mike Humphries ’78 Douglas W. Jordan ’78 1912 Society $10,000 to $14,999 Scott G. Kuhn ’76 In memory of Tom G. Tift ’76 Neil Corcoran ’78 Blake Hoefer ’78 Ken Horn ’78 Robert A. Ratliffe ’79 Brian E. Fellon ’94 Stuart P. Linscott ’96 In honor of Kevin J. Garvey, Westminster ’75
Old Gal Society $5,000 to $9,999 Burr D. Cline Jr. ’51 Richard E. Ramsey ’53 Arthur Buerk ’56 Hadley E. Chamberlain ’67 Paul Karkiainen ’67 In memory of Bob Kiefner ’67 Theodore M. Therrieault ’67 Lawrence Everett ’70 Paul J. Bailey ’74 Robert L. Berg ’76 Lawrence Sexton ’76 Steven J. Hawkins ’77 Jeffery D. Andrews ’78 Daniel J. Kovarik ’78 Steve A. Greenbaum ’79 In memory of Bob Shelts ’79 Kevin M. D’Olivo ’10 In memory of Riley McCarthy ’10 Richard H. Weyrich ’10 In memory of Riley McCarthy ’10 Cardinal and Gray Society $2,500 to $4,999 Engall A. Olson III ‘56 Robert W. Batty ’65 Robert W. Kutz, UC Berkeley ’67 Dean A. Bachmayer ’76 John J. Salsburg ’76 Timothy M. Tobin ’76 Ted Davis ’79 Dr. John Moen ’79 Michael J. Moroney ’80 Gregory K. Parish ’80 Jeff Rogers ’80 Kevin D. Keierleber ’81 Jeffrey D. Cleator ’85 Michael O. Boese ‘86 Curt Fischer ’86 Donors of $1,000 or more will be recognized in appropriate giving categories in all publications and donors who give $2,500 or more will be displayed at the appropriate giving level on prominently displayed signage in the Chapter House, unless otherwise requested. If an error has been made in recording your gift, or your name has been mistakenly omitted, we sincerely apologize. Please advise our campaign coordinator at (785) 843-1661 or
[email protected].
Mu’s Powerhouse Basketball Finishes 6-0 in Intramural Season By Sports Chairman Drew Stender ’15
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his year, Mu Chapter was well represented in the intramural realm. We participated in intramural basketball and saw high levels of success, not just in winning games but growing as leaders. The regular season went very well for the team, finishing with a record of 6-0 and a win differential of (plus) 20 points per game. The team roster consisted of Eli Tostengard ’17, Sam Ghoads ’14, Deter Hudson ’16, Eric Ishimaru ’16, Ngawang Choephel ’13, James “Crust” Cook ’16, and Drew Stender ’15. Team statistician, Deter Hudson, recorded historic seasons for two players in particular. Eric Ishimaru had an extraordinary season, averaging 12 points, 11 rebounds, and 16 assists per game. When asked about his West-
brook-eques season, Eric replied, “I credit my teammates for everything that I accomplished. I just passed the ball and everyone made shots. Cook was a sharpshooter and Drew ate in the paint all day long.” Along with Eric, Drew Stender averaged a ridiculous 28 points and 26 rebounds per game. Drew said, “It just felt right, I loved getting deep into the ‘D’ and going to work. I pride myself on being an elite rebounder and scoring just comes easily. We had one heck of a season.” However, the team success was more than just two players. Veteran (senior) guard Ngawang Choephel led the team with his experience and leadership. He was instrumental in holding the team composed and was a key piece in their deep playoff run. In regard to the playoffs, the team made it all the way to the semi-finals before ultimately falling. The team persevered through a gruesome injury to sophomore guard Eli Tostengard. During the opening game of the playoffs, Eli hurt his right knee, ending his season. But his spirits remained high. He said, “I know this team can continue to win; I trust them and love these guys… they are my brothers.” The team’s thirdfourth placing was a great improvement to last year, where they were eliminated in the first round. We only look to build off this last season’s momentum and continue to improve each year. While falling short of the championship may not have been the desired result, Mu Chapter is proud of the team’s perseverance and overall tenacity. Their development as leaders aligns with our mission to “Better the Man” and continue to develop well-rounded young men. When asked about the basketball team, Vice President Micah Adams ’16 said, “I am so happy for those guys. Watching them grow as men and leaders in this house is truly rewarding. I am proud to call them my brothers.” This spring quarter, we have teams in soccer and softball. Historically, our softball team has done very well, winning the championship the last three years. We look forward to finishing the intramural season strong! 15
By Sean Kron ’16
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oming out of high school in the Seattle area, I chose to attend St. Louis University in Missouri. After being in the same environment my entire life, I wanted to get out and explore a different part of the country. Even though I knew early in my freshman year that St. Louis University wasn’t the best fit for me, I made the most of it. I picked up skills in creating connections with unfamiliar people and a desire to get involved during my college years. This prepared me to be president of Alpha Sigma Phi. After returning to Seattle to attend UW my sophomore year, I pledged Alpha Sigma Phi. Going into my junior year, I knew that I wanted to give back to the Old Gal by serving as president. It is exciting to get to work with my executive team for the remainder of my term. One of my main emphases is the incoming pledge class. With the total renovation of the Old Gal beginning within the next couple of years, bringing in strong, consistent pledge classes year after year is vital to maintaining the strength and standing of the house through the whole process. We are thrilled with the addition of another strong class moving
in this spring, which will push our numbers living in the main house well over 60! Additionally, our executive board wants to focus on raising money for our philanthropy program and increasing brotherhood events. Last year was a strong philanthropic year for the house, as thousands were raised for the Ben Towne Foundation and Strong Against Cancer. As we turn our focus to Strong Against Cancer again this year, we want to raise more than last year’s $4,000, which is a high bar to aim for. Our annual Talisman Rose Queen competition has already raised nearly $3,500 this year. We want to add more brotherhood events that include brothers living in, and out, of the house. Interacting and learning from some of the older members in the fraternity fosters an environment where the younger guys can network with those juniors and seniors. It’s an exciting time at the Old Gal, as the renovation is just over the horizon and we continue to celebrate over 100 years of history.
Mu Philanthropy Partners with a Plethora of Sororities Photo by Will Wilson
Photo by Will Wilson
MESSAGE FROM CHAPTER PRESIDENT
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Brothers Accomplish Amazing Work By Philanthropy Chairman Kevin Ting ’17
his year, we have supported sorority philanthropic events that have funded organizations such as St. Jude Children’s Hospital, the Treehouse Foundation for Foster Care, and the Make-aWish Foundation. As Alpha Sigs, we cherish the times we participate in the women’s philanthropic events. In the last few months, we have competed in Alpha Gamma Delta’s Mr. Greek competition, Kappa Delta’s Shamrock Shootout, Delta Gamma’s Anchorman competition, Alpha Phi’s Alpha Phifa soccer tournament, and Pi Beta Phi’s Arrow Games. Through our participation in Alpha Gamma Delta’s Mr. Greek Competition, our contestant, Ronak Ved ’17, competed against 17 other men as they vied for the title of Mr. Greek. He was able to show off his fantastic singing voice in a talent contest at the Neptune on 45th Avenue. He also raised funds for the Treehouse Foundation through his GoFundMe. Kappa Delta’s Shamrock Shootout let us flaunt our basketball skills while also supporting Seattle Children’s Hospital program for
Preventing Child Abuse. During this philanthropic event, we played in a basketball tournament and valiantly got ourselves to the semi-finals. Delta Gamma’s Anchorman competition is a lengthy, multi-month philanthropic event that former Mu President Benjamin Nogawa ’15 participated in. Anchorman supports Delta Gamma’s philanthropy of Service for Sight, which aids children who are visually impaired. Ben also raised money for the philanthropy on Member Planet. In April, we competed in Alpha Phi’s of Alpha Phifa competition, which benefited the UW Medical Center’s cardiology department. We honed our soccer skills while helping the women Alpha Phi raise funds for heart research. Moreover, we have been buying into sorority feeds at a rate of about once a week and supporting sorority philanthropies. These feeds often involve the sororities buying bulk amounts of food and then distributing the food for a price. Through these feeds, we have been able to support Tri Delta’s philanthropic cause of St. Jude, and Chi Omega’s cause of Make-a-Wish Foundation.