Fall 1951 Omegaphone
The President Report
As in the past, this first issue of the Omegaphone is for the expressed purpose of extending a personal invitation to you for the Homecoming festivities, scheduled for October 20th, the weekend of the Michigan State game.
This year more than ever before, we are counting on an overflow crowd because things are "looking up" at Omega.
The most significant improvement was made in house scholarship. Last semester we rose twenty places in the fraternity ratings - from forty-ninth to twenty-ninth. We all are quite proud of this achievement, which was due mostly to the efforts of Larry Giancola and Graig Rupp, the old and the new scholarship chairmen, respectively, who instituted some new concepts into the scholarship policy of the house. With the help of our new pledges, who were picked with more emphasis on grades than in the past, we hope to raise our standing to an even higher level for the coming year.
Upon returning to school this fall, we, here at Omega, were pleasantly surprised to discover that, although we lost eight good men through graduation, the draft did not take its toll on the remainder of the undergraduate body.
With some twenty-eight men returning, we had only to pledge twelve men in order to have the house filled to capacity. This task was successfully completed at the close of rushing week when we presented pledge pins to twelve prospective Theta Chis. We sincerely
believe that upon completion of their pledge training, these men will assume their rightful places in the house and will enrich with the “rising” spirit which has been prevalent over the past few years.
Our summer housing programs, under the very able direction of Ralph Stuck, was a success since we have something to show for our effort. During the summer we purchased new dining room chairs, to replace the old ones which were in dire need of repair. Other physical improvements in the house include new lamp shades and curtains purchased by the Mother’s Club and a new fraternity flag purchased with the funds donated at our Father’s Day Stag. This year’ affair, which we hope to make into an annual event, will tai enlace on the weekend of October 27th.
Merely writing about our progress, in my opinion, is not sufficient. We want to show each one of you just what we have accomplished during the past year. We cannot do this unless you give us a chnce. So plan now to attend the Michigan State game on October 29th and the good time which follows at the House. I’ll be looking forward to seeing you all then…
Fraternally,
Jim Phillips
Alumni News
Last week at a local alumni meeting it just came to me that from the hundreds of alumni of this chapter that I knew only a handful. I feel that it is a real shame that so many of you are unable to return at one time or another throughout the year. I know that all of you would like to come back to your Alma Mater once again and see all the boys you knew so well and perhaps even recount a few tales about the things that happened in '03. We would be just as glad to have you as you would be glad to be here.
For those of you that will be unable to get here for Alumni weekend, here are a few odds and ends about some of the newer alums.
Dick Nicholas, although he did not complete his graduate work, will be teaching Physics at the Eire Center. Dave Doan is still roaming around the Pacific, Dave Evans is now in Milwaukee, with whom, you'd probably never guess. Its the FBI.
Even though Bill Hanley didn't finish his undergraduate work, he is still holding down a very enviable position with an engineering firm in Pittsburgh. Owen Maclntrye is also working in Pittsburgh with the Sun Oil Company.
By way of the grapevine, we understand that Bill Clark also found his way into Pittsburgh and has joined Stan Whitman and Theo Collins at. the US Steel plant there, With a gang like that working there, don't be suprised if someday soon the name is changed to Theta Chi Steel, those boys could probably swing a deal like that.
Along with a few of last year pledges and a couple of the brothers, Angie Spinazzola found his way into the protective custody of Uncle Sam.
Larry Giancola has entered into the time-honored vocation of selling insurance. Old faithful, Paul Brecht is staying on with one of State College’s better known enterprises, Ethel Meserve’s. I guess Paul has found a him win State College.
Bruce Gerhig won a scholarship in Architecture through a nationwide contest; the boy must really have something in State College.
That’s it for now, but I hope to be able to fill this column with the names so many of you haven’t heard since your college days, after the coming Alumni Weekend
Mel Bickel
Rushing News
Our fall rushing actually started last spring. By the end of last semester we had pledged five men. I am sorry to say that two of those men did not return to State. over the summer invitations were sent out to prospective rushees to visit the house during rush week. Cards were also sent out to alumni to be returned with the names of good prospects. The ones that have been returned have received consideration and those we were unable to reach will be rushed this Spring.
Rush week was a nightmare to all concerned as many of you know. In the end we had pledged eleven men, just one short of filling the house. This vacancy will soon be filled with another pledge. We think he have a pretty good bunch of neophytes and we are looking forward to a good year t Omega.
“Presetting the New Pledges”
George L. Walz Jr Petroleum Eng. - Oil City
Eugene R. Raup Journalism - Carlisle
George H. Eyrich. Animal Husbandry - Mt. Lebanon.
Richard E. Fronko Metallurgy - Monaca
Robert E. Will Vocational Ed. - Erie
John T. Richards Animal Husbandry - Wexford
Richard H. Osier Geology - Meadville
Harold N. Wells Electrical Eng. - Pittsburgh
Warran L. Horns Civil Eng. - Reading
Charles V. Meassick Mechanical Eng. - Venetia
Joseph T. Parker Business Ed. - Philadelphia
Sportscope
Here we go off on another year of intramural sports. Bill Clark’s shoes are going to be hard to fill for Bill did a very good job last season as athletic chairman. We weren’t the best team, as a matter of fact we finished 29th, but Bill generated a lot of interest and all the boys had a lot of fun, which of course is the main thing. Boxing and touch football seemed to be our best sports. Bill Hanley, boxing, and Ed Noyes, Tom Ward, Angie Spinazzola, and Larry Giancola in the softball field are going to be hard to replace.
We have held our first touch football practice with twenty men competing for starting berths. Dick Johnson, a transfer student from Wesleyan, offers great promise both in football and tennis. A good portion of last year’s football team will be back to aid him. Herb Kurtz, George Bope, Bob Handwerk, John Leister, and Jim Phillips will be a mighty hard combination to beat in I.M. golf this semester. Jim’ been spending so much time ups t the golf course that we went up to see if they had installed a 19th hole. We have a very good prospect in pledge George Walz for swimming. The bowling team should be strong again this year it is captained by Ralph Stuck, twice I.F.C. high average bowler, who is supported by veterans Mel Bickel and Fred Fieni.
Turning to varsity sports, Jackson Horner is going great guns for Penn State’s C-country team. Ineligible last year, he;s number three man for the team at the present time. Bill Wendel, one of Charlie Speidel’s boys, hopes to corner the 123 lb. wight in varsity wrestling. Bill’s toughest obstacle will be making the weight. Joe Parker, a pledge, is again out for the Lacrosse team. Joe had quite a varied sports background in Uncle Sam’s Navy.
The Nittany Lion has come to roost at ye olde chapter. Al Gregal has been given the nod to don the lion’s garb at the football games this year. Why not come and see him preform at the Michigan State game. That’s Alumni Weekend and should be the best game of the year.
Jim Nelson
Old Jobs, New Faces
Since the last printing of the Omegaphone there has been quite a turnover of the positions in the house. Jim Phillips, our new president, has already proven to be a capable leader. His strong character plus his ability to make good quick decisions have so far made him a very effective president. Jim's sence of humor often comes to the rescue at a critical, tense moment. For vice president we have a man who is a hard conscientious worker and can get things done when needed. Everyone likes Craig Rupp, who now holds the job that is so often the stepping stone to the presidency. In addition Craig is scholarship chairman and will play a big part in any more gains we make in this department.
Larry Van Gorder, the admirable admiral with his military exactness, has taken over the job of secretary as if it were the most natural thing in the world. We all know Larry will do his best in the job that can make or break the house in its relations on or off the campus. Lloyd Deitrich was the most logical choice for the job of treasurer. Besides being tutored by Ed Noyes, he has his own traits which fit him to the job. Lloyd who does part time work to get through college, knows the importance of being money conscious. We are sure that the money being spent will be used wisely. In the face of the rising cost of living, Lloyd has kept the $75 house bill, which makes every-one happy.
Our new house manager, Tom Morton, has the inscentive of a beaver; day after day he is fixing things in the house. He also has many ideas to improve the house efficiency. Sven Schiff, who was elected as our fall Pledge Marshall has given pledge training a new twist which we think will make it more effective and make much better brothers of the pledges, Sven knows how to mix severness and leinency so as to get the most out of the boys.
House Hi-Lights
This article was thought up by the editor to take care of all news not assigned to a specific column, a simple, and somewhat lazy way. So in the style of Walter Winschell here goes. Flash!!! The efforts of Ralph Stuck and Paul Brecht are responsible for the beautiful new Whitney chairs that grace our dining room. They were gotten at a bargin price and have arms saving our male Emily Posts from leaning on the table...Boquets to the last pledge class for the beautiful job they turned in on the new rustic steps on the south side of the house; rumor has it, that an equally rustic lamp post will occupy a place of honor at the foot of the steps....The front lawn is bearing the fruits of our efforts; finally grass has begun to peak its head out into the sunlight after being subdued by crab grass and weeds, during the summer. This has been acheived by Bar 2 Kerwin and company.
Several rooms have that new look that comes from clean windows and a coat of paint. New drapes and blankets adorn the guest room, thanks to Bill Elmore...Our latest edition to the house is Kevin Darman, an English grad student from Leeds University in Yorkshire. Kevin is one of three Englishmen here at Penn State, all of whom are staying at fraternity houses. Flash Scholarship lumped from 49th to 29th, a jump of .26 grade points. At present we are in the running for the improvement trophy. Most encouraging....our sophomore class was the 11th best of all the fraternities.
Larry Van Gorder
You will probably remember the 14-14 tie that was played between Penn State and Michigan State the last time these two teams met at Beaver Field. Well, we expect another game of the same caliber this October 20th and if you are interested in football this is one game you will not want to miss. The Alumni Association has planned a fine schedule for the returning "Alums", that included an Alumni Luncheon before the game and a Cider Party and dance after the game. Also that weekend the Thespians are giving one of their original productions, called "Bottoms Up". For tickets to the game or the Thespian show, write to the Alumni Association.
Thank you to all those brothers that shared their news.
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