beta chi chronicle - t. ryan yowell

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BETA CHI chronicle Spring 2012 Kappa Kappa Psi at The University of Virginia

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Page 1: BETA CHI chronicle - T. Ryan Yowell

BETA CHI chronicle Spring 2012

Kappa Kappa Psi at The University of Virginia

Page 2: BETA CHI chronicle - T. Ryan Yowell

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President

2012-2013 officers

vp of service vp of membership vp of finance vp of social affairsIan Edwards

Greensboro, NCEmily Sharp

Virginia BeachJackie Donovan

ChesapeakeEric Tyler IV

RichmondAlyssa Loyola

Alexandria

Secretary historian alumni relations officer Musicianship chairCeleste Walker

AlexandriaRyan YowellSalisbury, MD

Brian GriffinAlexandria

Kyle RuemplerAlexandria

SPONSOR: Dr. William Pease, University of Virginia Director of Bands

in this issuEBX Abroad . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4A Chi Class Journey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4The Season in Photographs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6Chi Class Step . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9Charlottesville 10 Miler . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10The Journey that Never Ends . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11NED Chapter / Iota Kappa Update . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13Current Brother Updates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14Song in Proverb . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

On the Cover: Brothers from around the Commonwealth and Maryland meet in Charlottesville for Field Day

about The chronicle The Beta Chi Chronicle is a seasonal newsletter that features articles written by current Kappa Kappa Psi Brothers and Alumni. Articles are written on a volunteer basis and are collected by the Beta Chi Historian. If you would like to write for a future issue of the Chronicle, please contact Ryan Yowell, the Chapter Historian, at [email protected].

parliamentarianCharlie Helling

Babylon, NY

NED Member at LargeSeth SacherRamsey, NJ

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fraternity creedWe, the brothers of Kappa Kappa Psi, believe that service to the college or university band program fosters responsibility, loyalty, and leadership; that a spirit of brotherhood is enhanced by the participation in a band program; that music is a universal language and truly the greatest of the arts; and that through fraternal partici-

pation, each member will strive for the highest.

about beta chi Originally founded on September 23, 1950, and active until 1962, the Beta Chi Chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi was re-founded at The University on April 23, 2005. The original chapter supplied the first President and Secretary/Treasurer of the Northeast District in 1958 and hosted the first annual District Convention that same year. Today, Beta Chi provides support for the Cavalier Marching Band and other ensembles in the Charlottesville community. The oldest active chapter in the Southern Precinct, Beta Chi has welcomed over 250 well-qualified musicians into the Brotherhood of Kappa Kappa Psi.

a message from the President

Brothers and Friends of Beta Chi,

We find ourselves at the end of another fantastic year at the University of Virginia. With the legacy left by the graduating Class of 2012 and the new energy and enthusiasm of the Chi Class, the future of Beta Chi looks bright. As we prepare to go our separate ways for summer, it is imperative that we continue to keep in touch with our Brothers, both at the University of Virginia and at other Chapters across the country. Our time and experience with Kappa Kappa Psi is an intrinsically powerful one, but it is through shared experience that we can truly strive for the highest in all that we do. Learn from each other and appreciate the company of those around you so that we can continue to cohesively serve the greatest of the arts. I wish you all the best this summer as many of you will be away from the Grounds of the University. Know that both your Brothers and Music will always be with you as you venture out into the world.

Ian Edwards Beta Chi Chapter President

Fraternity purposes

To promote the existence and welfare of the college and university bands and to cultivate at large a wholesome

respect for their activities and achievements.

To honor outstanding band members through privilege of membership extended as a reward for technical achieve-

ment and appreciation for the best in music.

To stimulate campus leadership and promulgate an uncom-promising respect through the medium of the college band

for gracious conduct, good taste, and unswerving loyalty.

To foster a close relationship between college bands and to promote a high average of attainment by

the performance of good music and the selection of worthwhile projects.

To provide a pleasant and helpful social experience for all engaged in college band work and to cooperate

with other musical organizations in any manner con-sistent with the purposes of the institution at which chapters are located.

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BX ABROADIt’s hard to image that five months ago I went

from being surrounded by Brothers and friends in At-lanta, Georgia at the Chick-fil-A Bowl Game to arriving just a few days later in Birmingham, England and not knowing a single student. Upon my arrival, I was in-timidated by the size of the city and University of Bir-mingham. Fortunately, I have made great friends with other internationals and students from my dorm and courses. I’ve even learned that you can consider your-self friends with the British once they start correcting your pronunciation of words like “potatoes” and the letter “z” and your spelling of “aluminum.”

During the spring semester, I traveled most weekends throughout the UK and also went to Europe before final exams began. One of my favorite trips was a long weekend in Edinburgh, Scotland. The trip was organized by the University’s international student or-ganization, so it was a great way to travel and meet a bunch of new people. While in Edinburgh, I saw the Scottish Crown Jewels in the Edinburgh Castle, went on a candlelit ghost tour of Edinburgh’s underground vaults and had coffee in the Elephant House – to name just a few things! I didn’t expect to actually see men dressed in kilts playing the bagpipes, but you could find them playing throughout the city. I was especially impressed because it was so cold out – it reminded me of the bagpipe player at Dr. Pease’s holiday dinner a few years back!

Although I didn’t join any musical ensembles, my experience abroad still reminded me of the impor-tance of music in the world. While riding on the Rome

A Chi Class JourneySlaughter gym. We knew little of what we would find at the top.

The morning began with a few ‘warm up’ ex-ercises, which essentially got us used to being “all up in each others’ grill” in order to initiate the bonding process. It’s a good thing, because things got real REAL fast. Four hula-hoops. One rope swing. One scalding hot river of lava. Approximately fourteen people. Get everyone from the first pair of hula-hoops to the sec-

metro, a trio or quartet often would hop on the train, play a quick tune, pass around a container for money and then hop off at the next stop. In Paris, a woman entered the train with an MP3 player and speakers and just began singing for spare change. While we, the Brothers of KKPsi, mostly rely on music as a form of entertainment, socializing and even relaxation, oth-ers depend on music as a last-chance source of in-come for themselves and their families. Even though these people I encountered were from different coun-tries and spoke different languages than me, they still reminded me how music connects people throughout the world.

As much as I’ve enjoyed spending this past se-mester abroad, I’ll be very excited to be back in Virgin-ia and to see all the Brothers. Good luck to everybody on their final exams and the end of the semester! Wa-hoowa!

Marbury Jacobs

University of Birmingham

Some may find it appropriate to start at the beginning, and that is perfectly justifiable, but I still won’t do it. I’ll start at the turning point. The point in time where the Chi class began to transform from a group of strong individuals into an unstoppable and unified whole.

It was an early Saturday morning when we set off for the Poplar Ridge Ropes Course, located at the peak of the treacherous mountainous terrain behind

The Road to Brotherhood

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ond pair without anyone stepping out? CHALLENGE ACCEPTED. Clothing was removed, a kind of reach-ing device was created in order to grab the rope, and worries about bodily odor along with the concept of personal space were thrown out the window. We con-fidently proceeded to throw ourselves into the bodies of our fellow Chi class members in order to assure that each of us crossed the river safely. And somehow, we did.

Next task. Go between 4 ‘islands’ (wooden platforms) without letting any of our ‘bridges’ or peo-ple touch the lava. (These people were serious about their lava.) We looked at the 4x4 foot platform and thought, impossible! After about 10 minutes, with our arms and bodies intertwined in the most ridiculous manner, we were all on that platform. Not so impos-sible anymore. We slowly progressed from platform to platform. We lost 2 boards, one of our men lost his vision, and one woman lost her arms! Again, we were tempted to say IMPOSSIBLE! But we knew better.

Finally, we were all beginning to pile onto the last platform. Many minutes passed as we brain-

stormed ways to get each of us on this even smaller platform. With those in the middle holding the weight of those in front and in back of them, there were many moments where giving up seemed necessary. An ex-istential crisis set in: are you really connected to any of these people around you? You feel your fingers being squeezed and your shoulders pulled by these people you’d only met a few weeks ago, and who re-ally cared if you could or couldn’t pack 14 people on a 3x3ft square platform? But then you realize that hand cutting off the circulation in your fingers and that el-bow protruding into your gut are the fingers and the elbows of your future Brothers. The members of your Chi Class. And you don’t give up, you never let go.

Flash forward. 1 week before Third Degree. What? We have ‘flava’ in the Chi Class? People who have bodily coordination want to organize a step in order blow the Brotherhood away? Let’s meet ev-ery single night leading up to Third Degree! And we did. Chem 411 was the Chi Class hangout for almost 7 nights, along with an early AM rehearsal before we “crossed the burning sands.” Derpin’ was a plenty, but so were the laughs, and we all committed to memoriz-ing the Creed of the Fraternity we were about to give our hearts to forever.

After we crossed over, we all knew there was no better time than then to show the Brotherhood the progress and growth we had made as a Class. The Brothers took their seats. The Chis lined up. Our words echoed off the walls of Jeff Hall as we recited

Above and Bottom-Right: Chi Class at Poplar Ridge Ropes Course (Credit: Stefani Bell)

Continued on Page 9

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the season in photographs

Above: BX lookin’ fine after First DegreeBelow: Murder Mystery Party in Runk Green Room Bottom: Brothers share the love on Bid Day morning

Above: Brother Ruempler helps paint Beta Bridge (Credit: Alyssa Loyola)Below: The Chapter and alumni at Rotunda Dinner

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Clockwise from top: Beta Chi meets the Pi Chapter from Auburn in Atlanta before the Chick-fil-A Bowl; The Tau class at Rotunda Dinner; The Chapter on Bid Night; Five generations of Astro House; Nigel surprises Brother Higgs; Ionic House Brothers at the house din-ner progressive

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Clockwise from top: Beta Bridge is painted for the Chi Class; Brothers and Sisters from BX and IK enjoy Guys in Ties, Girls in Pearls lunch; The 2012 departing Broth-ers; Brothers from around Virginia and Maryland meet for Field Day at Lambeth Field; Beta Chi celebrates Brother Choi’s birthday during the house dinner pro-gressive; Beta Chi and Mu Nu Brothers at Field Day

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edly serving and improving this Fraternity, along with the band and community it serves. We have looked to our Bigs and veteran Brothers for support and guid-ance, and now we take on the challenge of participat-ing as active Brothers. Keep strivin’ Chi Class, and re-member Beta Chi, X gon’ give it to ya.

Stefani Bell Chi Class President

the Creed. But that was not it, our fabulous Fourth Year started off the step we had worked so hard to put together. Our feet stomped and our hands clapped in unison, our hearts and souls played together in har-mony.

We have just entered into a Brotherhood that is much larger than any one of us, but the Chi class is prepared to take on the responsibility of wholeheart-

Continued from Page 5

Chi CLass Step

speaks volumes for the dedication of every member of the Chi Class to the Fraternity, and a desire to strive for the highest.

Despite the success of creating a step, there was a problem: it seemed ridiculous to only have a thirty second step to show for a week’s worth of work. A group decision was made to include the Kappa Kap-pa Psi Creed at the beginning of the step. Initially, we included it only so it could add another element of surprise to our step- the brothers would not know we created a step if we began with the creed. But, as we recited the creed in Jefferson Hall as new Brothers, I believe every Chi embodied its message, and will con-tinue to do so in our coming years.

Any worries we had about the brothers liking our step disappeared as soon as we began the first move (excited yells are evidenced by the YouTube vid-eo. Check it out!) And of course, the most important result of our step was the coining of our class motto, courtesy of Mindy Root: “Chi Class, break it down!”

Leah Naidorf Chi Class Historian

When Leah Garofalo mentioned the possibil-ity of creating a class step on the Chi Class Facebook page, the immediate response of all the MCs was one of excitement. Such excitement, of course, did not guarantee action. It took almost a full month of the MC process before this possibility of an original step became a reality. In the two weeks before Third De-gree, MC Kristian Robinson became well acquainted with YouTube step videos and found one with moves feasible for the, overall, less than coordinated Chi Class. Several MCs attended a probate at the Rotunda; seeing a step in person only increased the excitement of surprising our new brothers with a performance. On the Sunday before Third Degree, Chemistry room 411 became our temporary class home for a week as we tried to create a routine that could become a legacy of the Chi Class.

These evening sessions, to be completely hon-est, looked rough at the beginning. Even with a group of people that dance and march while playing instru-ments all of their first semesters, rhythm is not ap-parently a given. Nevertheless, repetitions of the step and time spent individually outside of the rehearsals caused it to slowly improve over the course of the week. This project made the Chi Class realize that we wish we had gotten the chance to get to know our fel-low MCs better during our process towards brother-hood. Every MC finished their task book, completed an interview, and wrote a letter of intent, but a group effort was necessary to execute a synchronized step routine. Our ability to communicate with one another improved drastically over the course of a week. If any MC was confused about the routine, every other per-son at the practice was eager to help. The fact that there was a majority of MCs at each nightly meeting

Above: Chi Class practices stepping (Credit: Leah Naidorf)

View the step at http://youtu.be/epU953irVGA

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For those of us who awoke at o-dark-thirty to play for the Charlottesville 10 Miler, enthusiasm was very low. I think a lot of us assumed it would be just another event where we played some stand tunes for people that were only marginally interested in our presence, which tends to happen from time to time. Paired with the impossibly early-for-a-Saturday call time, we all showed up wishing that we could still be in bed. Still trying to wipe the sleep from our eyes, we set up outside of the AFC and waited for the first runners to pass by our small band at the 2 mile mark. When I saw the looks on the faces of the first few runners however, I could tell that this event would be different.

We started with a few school songs and to our surprise, people actually responded to our music. I could tell that the runners enjoyed our presence by the smiles on their faces that appeared shortly after the beginning of The Hey Cheer. I was amazed even further when a multitude of people joined in with us for the cheer and some even raised their arms to spell out U-V-A, even while running their race. From there on out, it was a joy to play for the runners of the Charlottesville 10 Miler. So many people waved to us or shouted thank you as they passed that I truly felt like our music was doing them a service. Whether the songs that we played were school related or from past halftime shows, it seemed as if the runners were happy just to have us there providing them with a pleasant

experience. My excitement grew with every outward sign of appreciation, and even the subtle head nods from the more concentrated runners were enough to keep me happy about playing for the race. Even though our Chapter prides itself in staying behind the scenes, I think that this event was one of my favorites because it was so directly beneficial to the runners and I could see firsthand the happiness that our music was creating.

I also felt like I was using music to carry out the purposes of the Fraternity, which is something I don’t get to do very often. Especially since I am not the most technically proficient musician, playing for people who simply appreciated the presence of music was particularly rewarding. After the event was over, I walked home feeling fulfilled. Not only had I been reminded of the great benefits that music can provide to large groups of people, but I was also reminded of how good it felt to be the one making it happen. It wasn’t a particularly hard event to carry out, after all we play the same songs for a much larger audience at most sporting events, but it will always be one of my favorites.

Playing at that event will always remind me of the importance that music has in our lives and the even the most simple effort to share it is worthwhile.

Marley Ogden

Charlottesville 10 Miler

I think I’ve told this story 148759 times (just roughly), but it really never gets old. The first time I really met Kyle was at the Salvation Army bell ringing service back in the Fall. He had signed up for some ri-diculous number of hours, but it certainly didn’t show when I came for my shift. This kid was enthusiastic and happy to be there. Needless to say, I was impressed by his dedication. We rode the Northline back from Bar-racks, and got talking…enough that I missed my bus stop. But I was glad I could talk to this tall spirited red-head, and from that moment, I knew that I wanted to be his Big in KKPsi.

Being a big

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As fate would have it, he not only rushed and was given a bid, but I was given the responsibility of being his Big Brother. Responsibility isn’t even the right word though. Sure, I guided Kyle, but I would call it more of an opportunity and privilege. He taught me so much in just the first week. Whether he was excited about his history of jazz class, raving about some crazy saxophone piece, or thinking deeply about First De-gree, Kyle couldn’t stop talking about music and the Fraternity (in a good way!). While his guesses about some of the symbolism weren’t always 100% spot on with what I had learned, he was seeing things of which I never would have thought, and that’s what the pro-cess is all about really: discovering new things about music and about yourself.

I knew I wanted a Little from the get-go; some-one I could share KKPsi moments with while my Big was studying abroad (hi Marbury!), and someone that would help me find my place in the Fraternity. After I was told who my Little was, I quickly made the stan-dard secretive gmail account: [email protected]. I was cool enough to use that, right?

I gave out some clues: two truths and a lie, my love of Reese’s and Starbucks, my job at the Music De-partment, etc. Little did I know that my penguin poster would reveal me through some intense stalking…but it was kind of a relief that he knew who I was mid-week. I could just focus on having fun with the clues and being his friend, rather than sneaking into his dorm again…

I will say that I was a bit nervous about being

a Big. While Marbury had been a great example for me to follow – as someone who was always there for me, KKPsi-related or not, and had a smile to share – I couldn’t really talk to her all that much during the process, and my fellow Phis were just figuring things out too. However, Kyle really made me comfortable with the process from the start. I may not be the best for deep conversation and understanding symbolism, but we could work through things together, and that made it all the better for both of us in my opinion.

I guess I just want to encourage you all to take on this honor of being a Big if you get the opportu-nity. While you are your Brother’s keeper, and that comes with duties and responsibilities, there is no reason why the role should be tedious and challeng-ing. So far it’s been nothing but a blast. I got to see Kyle play quidditch, travel to District Convention with him, share numerous youtube links, play super smash bros while accidentally burning some muffins, and so much more. And most importantly, I got to be right there while he and his awesome class traversed the star and became Brothers. This experience has been one of great growth for the both of us, and probably the most rewarding thing I’ve ever done.

Thank you Chi Class for pulling through some rough patches and exceeding our expectations ten-fold, and thank you Kyle for always striving for the highest. I know you’ll continue to make me and this Fraternity proud.

Kyle Ruempler

Amidst all the finals and soaking up the last days of undergrad, I thought it would be good to sit down again, one last time and reflect on my four years. After an emotion and wonderful Departing Brothers Cer-emony, where so many kind words were exchanged, after taking it all in and shedding some tears, I have to reflect one last time. What has made this journey so great? What will I remember the most? The Beta Chi Chapter Kappa Kappa Psi is in the front of my mind. This Chapter has consumed my thoughts this past se-mester and it has made me realize that the journey of being a Brother has no end…we are always learning,

The Journey that never endsalways growing, and most importantly always striving.

My journey began 3 years ago, when I received that call from Rodney Jones to come outside and pres-ent myself to the Brotherhood. Met with cheers and a chant I received a bid. If you would have told me then that I would make friends of a life time and grow so much from all the twist and turns, the good and the bad of being a Brother, I probably would not have believed you. After the fastest couple months of my life, on April 4th, 2009, I along with 13 of my fellow Taus heard Josh Richards say that he greeted us as full

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Brothers of this Fraternity. The Tau class had crossed and the journey did not end there….

Throughout the years we grew up, saw the Xi, Pi, Rho, and Sigma classes graduate, but also saw the Upsilons, Phi, and Chi classes become Brothers of our great Fraternity. With each passing year we gained more knowledge, strengthen our Chapter in its ac-tivities and our bonds of Brotherhood. I could not be prouder to be a part of this Chapter and to know each Brother who has been in it.

With the blink of an eye, fourth year came and is now about to leave. I will admit that this year has been the most challenging and rewarding for me as a Brother. After being elected as the Vice President of Membership, I had no idea how exactly things would turn out. However, with the support of this Chapter, my Brothers, I knew that anything could be accom-plished. And it was on April 22nd, 2012, 18 membership candidates became Brothers of the Beta Chi Chapter.

Chi class I could not be prouder of all you. It was an honor to be your Guiding Spirit; my memories of your process is something I will cherish for my en-tire life. Love you all. I cannot wait to see each of you continue your journey as Brothers.

Throughout this journey I have learned many things:

“I am my Brother’s Keeper”- This has inspired me throughout my journey as a Brother. Always re-member your responsibility to each other and no mat-ter what be there for your fellow Brother.

“Strive for the Highest”- This is more than just a motto, but it is a way of life. We as Brothers of KKPsi not only strive in the work we do through this Frater-nity to serve Music, but in our daily lives. Always give everything you got in all that you do and if you do that

you will have done the best and all that you can; you will have lived life to the fullest.

Foster the bonds of Brotherhood outside of our Chapter- This year as a Chapter we have reached out and met other Brothers. I was surprised myself of the power of the Brotherhood and how it extends outside of our own Chapter. Learn from your fellow Brothers from other Chapters. Keep those bonds alive because learning from others is one way to improve yourself.

The journey in the Brotherhood never ends. Though we might part for some time, we can always return. Beta Chi is a Brotherhood, it is a family and with one simple knock, the doors can be open and be welcomed back with open arms. Never forget to stay in touch and never forget you can always come home.

Beta Chi, this is what I leave you, one final les-son….remember to be passionate about this Frater-nity- do not be afraid to try new things whether in re-gards to membership, service or music. To plan and even plan ahead is the way to carry out your goals and to create strides of success. Remember that it is your responsibility to serve this band, this community, and music. That fellowship will always bring you together and strengthen the Brotherhood from within. And that you love this Fraternity, its ideals and purposes, you love this Brotherhood and all those in it, and most of all you love music, which is truly the greatest of the arts. This journey is never over, it is an endless knot. We will always be connected; these bonds will never be broken. Thank you all so much for everything. Stay in touch and come visit (37 West Range).

“I am my Brother’s Keeper”

Christina Mattaliano Vice President of Membership 2011-2012

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NED CHAPTER UPDATEand District Convention, we have also visited chapters such as Beta Chi and Mu Nu. Field day at the Univer-sity of Virginia was a blast! Getting to hang out with brothers from Beta Chi, Gamma Xi, Mu Nu, and Kappa Psi was certainly the highlight of our travel season.

This semester we had nine membership can-didates that made up the Beta Omicron Class. They were initiated into the fraternity on April 15, 2012. Now that they are brothers, we are excited about the contributions they will make to the brotherhood. With twelve of our brothers graduating this semester, the HO-BOs have big shoes to fill. In addition, we initiated Dr. Marilou Johnson, Associate Dean of the College of Visual and Performing Arts, and Dr. George E. Sparks, Dean of the College of Visual and Performing Arts, as honoraries of our chapter this semester.

The HOs are excited for the future of our chap-ter. Our new executive board and our new brothers show potential for another successful year. Keep an eye out for the brothers of Eta Omicron as we con-tinue to strive for the highest!

Jonathan Rivas Eta Omicron Chapter Secretary

The Eta Omicron chapter has had a very suc-cessful semester. It feels like every weekend we’ve been busy with service events, concerts, and traveling. Since hosting the NED District Convention last year, the HOs have been keeping busy by continuing to sup-port music on campus, fundraising, and strengthening the bonds of brotherhood.

We have continued to help at the Forbes Per-forming Arts Center by ushering for concerts and par-ticipating in instrument petting zoos. We have also used these opportunities to strengthen our ties with other musical organizations on campus, such as Tau Beta Sigma, Sigma Alpha Iota, and Phi Mu Alpha Sin-fonia. In addition, we helped setup and tear down for the VBODA All Virginia Auditions, hosted by JMU an-nually.

Fundraising has been one of our priorities this semester. We hosted a Valentine’s Day fundraiser, a Coldstone Fundraiser, and a You Made it! (Pottery/clay studio) fundraiser. After a successful semester of fund-raising, we hope to continue finding new and creative ways to raise money.

Our chapter has done a lot of traveling this semester. In addition to attending Southern Precincts

Eta Omicron, James Madison University

Iota Kappa update It has been an eventful semester for Iota Kappa of Tau Beta Sigma! The sisters have been engaged in a number of service projects. We have continued to compile a digital catalogue for the CMB’s CD library as well as ushering and supporting various events by the music department. In April, a group of sisters par-ticipated in the university-wide Cavaliers Care Day and spent the morning volunteering at a nursing home. We are very excited about our four newest members of the Epsilon class, including the first two Mister Sis-ters in our chapter’s history!

The first publication of our newsletter, In the Know, is still in the planning stages, but we hope that it will be out by year’s end.

Iota Kappa is proud to have the opportunity to

work with BX in planning next year’s precincts, and, in the meantime, we hope you all have a fantastic sum-mer!

Haden Cross Iota Kappa Corresponding Secretary

Above: Iota Kappa’s Epsilon class and their bigs (Credit: Bethany Straub)

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Current Brother Updates• Brother Robinson is excited to be an

Orientation Leader!• Brother Griffin will be doing cancer

research at Yale!• El Hermano Ruempler aprenderá

español este verano.• Fratello Bell studierà a Siena, Italia

quest’estate!• Brother Walker will be working for

Ashland Chemical, Inc. in Texas City!• Brother Graham will be saving the

planet as an intern at the Piedmont Environmental Council here in Charlottesville.

• Brother Sacher will be staying in Charlottesville to do research with the Physics department at UVa.

• Brother Ogden will be working as a counselor at the Triple C camp in addition to practicing her cowboy skills at a Dude Ranch in Montana during a family reunion.

• Brother Barrow looks forward to taking summer classes in Charlottesville.

• Brother Clements will be learning how to skateboard.

• Brother Edwards will be a Project Engineering Intern at Balfour Beatty Construction in Fairfax, VA.

• Brother Jacobs will be getting used to cars driving on the right side of the road.

• Brother Smearman is likely driving for UTS this summer!

• Brother Jorge plans to live it up in Miami, and who knows, maybe finally get that haircut!

• Brother Faires will be in C-Ville working at WUVA radio station and cheering on TEAM USA!

• Brother Schmidt looks forward to working with middle school students this summer.

• Brother Donovan is working on cancer research this summer in Charlottesville.

• Brother Sullivan is looking forward to continuing undergrad research over the summer in the Pharmacology Department.

• Brother Tyler will be working with the Laurie Laboratory in the U.Va. Cellular Biology department.

• Broyola’s super pumped to be going to the Philippines this summer!

• Brother Khorsand will be acting in a renaissance faire!

• Brother Higgs will be ruffin’ it at camp in Riner Virginia!

• Brother Bickley will be orienting new students and families into U.Va. Go Hoos!

• Brother Root is looking forward to guarding the lives of elementary and middle school age children while simultaneously becoming ridiculously tan.

• Brother Comer looks forward to starring in The Saltville Wave Pool Shore. GTL. Gym, tan, lift drowning kids out of a pool.

• Brother Arager will be working at Busch Gardens.• Brother Sharp will be an intern at the U.S. Embassy

in Madrid.• Brother Naidorf will be a swim team coach this

summer. Just keep swimming!• Brother Dong will be doing Neuroscience research

and taking a summer class this summer, so feel free to drop by and visit at Shamrock 109 anytime.

• Brother Goldstein will be working in a research lab for diabetes technology this summer.

• Brother Yowell will be a Community Planning Intern at the Volpe Center in Cambridge, MA.

The Brothers of Beta Chi Expect a Rewarding Summer of Work, Travel, Leadership, and Education

Above: Beta Chi and Iota Kappa after a game of Broomball

Page 15: BETA CHI chronicle - T. Ryan Yowell

15

Aλφα Eψιλοv Aλφα

Song in ProverbThere is no height, which man can reach. For that which he desires to touch and he sees to be greatness, is only but a limit to his known sky.

A choir of one, is but soprano, alto, tenor, or bass only.

“Strive for the highest”, yet we do not know how alone, for one is only one and when exponentially increased upon itself without ceasing, still only one.

“Strive for the highest”, yet we do not know how to alone and we find ourselves here, together. Brotherhood.

Have we yet found an answer? A choir of many, may find the range to make true harmony, but does not always.

“Strive for the highest”, each may reach but all have yet to grasp the stars.

A choir may consist of many, but when all have sung the same part, it is like hearing a choir of one.

For if each man thought like the other we would all reach for the same thing, the limit being as if such men were all alone, but yet we find ourselves here, together. Brotherhood.

“Strive for the highest”, though many men have tried at height not all were meant to soar straight upwards.

A choir of the loudest voices receives no praise, for it has settled at a point and listeners will say “it is all the same”.

For if man forgets that the highest is both tall and short, deep and shallow, wide and thin, shy and bold, then there is no growth.

A choir of many is one thing in itself yet its melodies are both old and new, soft and loud, soprano, alto, tenor, bass, not just one, but many, many melodies at the same time.

“Strive for the highest”, though many will sing, many will not understand, but those who do will seek the depth around them in all directions, they will sing the part that is their own, that which no one else has yet written, they will build upon the melodies of the brothers at their side, they will find silence when their notes are not meant to shine, they will find themselves here, together. Brotherhood. They will say, “we are linked by the strings within our hearts”, forever deep they will say, “the mind is but a lasso in the dark”, forever seeking they will say, “we have stood upon their shoulders”, forever tall and when they reach out they will begin to grasp the stars.

“Strive for the highest”, sing from the heart.

Amelia Nystrom