Download - Phi Mu Delta's "Astonisher"
The Astonisher MU ALPHA CHAPTER OF PHI MU DELTA
Susquehanna University 514 University Avenue, Selinsgrove, PA SPRING 2013
MESSAGE FROM THE
PRESIDENT
Hello from the Mudhouse! We know it has been several years
since you have heard from us, but we return with exciting news!
Since recolonizing in 2007 we have grown to be the largest frater-
nity at Susquehanna and the largest chapter of Phi Mu Delta na-
tionally. Our current membership is made up of the best and
brightest minds at Susquehanna. In the past few years, Mu Alpha
won several of Phi Mu Delta’s national awards, including the cov-
eted Chapter of the Year award in summer 2011.
No award we have received can stand up to the accomplishment
we have most recently earned. It is with pride that I share with
you today that we are the recipients of the 2013 North-American
Interfraternity Conference (NIC) Chapter of Distinction
Award.
Given to only five NIC chapters a year, this award recognizes
only the best fraternity chapters in North America! That is out of
over 5,500 active fraternity chapters! Former Chapter President
Ethan Sentz ‘13 and former VP Finance Teague Emery ‘13 ac-
cepted the award in St. Louis, MO this April alongside SU Greek
Life Coordinator and alumni brother, Joe Thompson ‘08.
- Jeremy Hargest ‘14, President
BROTHERHOOD REPORT
This year we initiated 26 new members, bringing our membership
to 66. Not only are we the largest fraternity on campus, Mu Alpha
proudly boasts a 3.46 GPA. Seven brothers earned a perfect 4.0 in
the Fall semester. We also lead the fraternity community in ser-
vice hours and have a very positive reputation on campus. Since
2007 in fact, three brothers have even been Student Government
President and three others have been Interfraternity Council Presi-
dent.
We have had brothers on several athletic teams, including soccer,
track & field, lacrosse, baseball, golf, ice hockey, football and ulti-
mate frisbee. Brother Dan Sosa ‘13 helped the soccer team make it to
the National Sweet 16.
This April, brother John Rehm ’15 was selected from a national pool
and traveled to Washington, D.C. where he met with members of
congress and lobbied for the Collegiate Housing & Infrastructure Act.
In Summer 2012, brother Teague Emery ’13 received the National
Phi Mu Delta Outstanding Undergraduate Award and this spring just
received Susquehanna’s Greek Man of the Year Award. As you can
see, our brothers have worked very hard these past few years.
- Hunter Hoffman ’14, VP Membership
SERVICE
“I believe in Service…service to the college; service to every group
organized for the common good; service to the individual.” As one of
the three main ideals of Phi Mu Delta, service continues to play an
important part in our fraternity. In the fall 2012 semester, 42 brothers
performed over 1500 hours of volunteer work. Some of the events
that semester included fall orientation team and helping to move
freshman into their dorms, “Fall Fest” at a local park, ushering for
plays on campus, and our first Phi Mu Delta 5K. With a beginning
goal of 1000 hours, the brothers went above and beyond, exceeding
our goal.
As for the current spring 2013 semester, brothers have had the oppor-
tunity to attend service events weekly since the start of the semester.
Events have included a trip to Haven Ministry—a homeless shelter in
Sunbury, cleaning horse stalls at Farpoint Animal Rescue, and play-
ing Bingo with residents at a local nursing home. The biggest event
of the semester occurred on April 13th, when a group of 20 brothers
traveled to Union Beach, NJ to work with Susquehanna alumni to
help clean up the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. We have already
begun to work on this fall’s costumed 5K for St. Jude Children’s Re-
search Hospital, which will take place the weekend leading up to
Halloween.
- Skyler Deitrick ’14. VP Service
Our advisor, Dr. Michelle
DeMary receiving the Phi
Mu Delta National Advisor
of the Year Award in 2012
HOUSE RENOVATION
In other news, thanks to the efforts of Alpha Sigma Omega, our
beautiful chapter house was given a total renovation and expansion
this past summer. At the entrance of the house, a wall was built that
proudly displays our name as you enter. Behind the wall we have
turned the foyer into a room for our new pool table.
The former dining room is now our new lounge and meeting room,
with a large flat-screen TV and several couches and chairs for broth-
erhood bonding. The barroom has a new kitchenette area with sinks
and mini-fridges for social events, along with a large flat-screen TV
as well and a shuffleboard table.
As the brothers now eat in the SU dining hall, our commer-
cial kitchen was no longer needed. Some of that space is now part
of the lounge/meeting room, and the rest is a more residential kitch-
en brothers use when not eating on campus. Our beloved former
cook Terrie Reich still visits us on occasion -- brothers attending
Homecoming 2013 will witness a ceremony naming the new kitchen
in her honor.
The second floor porch has been enclosed to create a new library
and study room. As it replaces the old computer room that bore his
name, this space will be dedicated to our brother and long-time advi-
sor Dr. Tom Walker -- also during Homecoming 2013.
A new side porch has been built on the patio -- creating a new en-
trance facing campus and an outdoor space where brothers can hang
out together.
We could go on forever about the other enhancements, but you will
just have to visit and see for yourself! Remember, Homecoming is
just around the corner!
- Derek Butler ‘15, VP Housing
ALUMNI RELATIONS
A special thanks must be given to those alumni who have put their
time and energy into the house remodeling project, especially that of
Alpha Sigma Omega Vice President, Jim Harris ‘87. Thanks Jim!
This house means a lot to our chapter and we are forever thankful.
With our first years of renewal behind us, we are happy to re-
establish our connection with you, our alumni brothers across the
country, without whom we would not be who we are today. It is
with great pride that we are able to again send to you “The Aston-
isher”.
Even with the Astonisher, we have big news. This will be our last
paper edition of the alumni newsletter, so make sure you keep it
(collectors edition!). Beginning this fall, we will be moving to an e-
newsletter that will be housed online and emailed out several times
throughout the year. This will allow us to do newsletters more often.
If we do not have your updated email address, please contact the
chapter at: [email protected] to update it.
Alpha Sigma Omega, our Mu Alpha Alumni Association also has a
group on Facebook. It is private group, so please Facebook message
Jim Harris (Harry) to be added!
We hope you will join us on Saturday, October 19, 2013 for Home-
coming!
- Evan Nelson ‘15, Alumni Chair