Sigma Chi News

Fall 2012

Sigma Chi at BGSU

s most of you know, Delta Kappas charter was relinquished voluntarily in 2004. While the decision to disband was painful, it was the only logical choice. By voluntarily giving up the charter opposed to having the charter revoked, the door has been left open to recolonize at BGSU.

During the past several years, there have been efforts to begin the process of recolonizing but those efforts for any number of reasons stalled. One of the major stumbling points is the lack of local alumni who are able to play a major role in the process. Fraternity and sorority life has changed significantly over the years. Changes have taken place due to issues stemming from media scrutiny regarding the pledging and initiation process, as well as the increasing cost of a college education, the attitude of universities toward Greek organizations and the needs of todays students. The days of only one chapter advisor are over. Sigma Chi will not consider colonizing at any university unless there are five or six alumni serving on an Alumni Advisory Board to mentor the officers of the colony and the chapter officers. The preference of both Sigma Chi and BGSU would be that the alumni making up the advisory board be locally based and consist of Sigs from not only Delta Kappa but from other chapters as well. While it appears that the effort to recolonize is idle, it is not. Over the past two years, an alumni chapter has been re-established in the greater Toledo area in an effort to identify local alumni brothers willing to help in the colonization process and in advisory board capacities. We have identified several willing brothers, but not the numbers we need to begin the intent process with either Sigma Chi or BGSU. However, we continue to actively grow the alumni chapter, and hopefully, the numbers of brothers interested in helping at BGSU. A Sigma Chi Society has been formed with the assistance of the BGSU Alumni Association. Forming such a group will garner University support with newsletter creation/distribution and to actively promote BGSU with recruitment and fundraising activities. Hopefully, forming this group will improve the communications with all Delta Kappa brothers about Sigma Chi and the University. As a condition of becoming an officially registered alumni society we will not only publish newsletters but we are also required to host an annual reunion event registered with the alumni association. We are planning an event in either summer or fall of 2013. Brothers currently serving as officers of the society are Tim Ruff 92, Bill Backus 67, John Gest 00 and Joe Martini 63. We continue to keep in contact with the BGSU Offices of Student Affairs and Greek Life and Sigma Chi headquarters. On both fronts, we have been told we are welcome to colonize as soon as the proper Alumni Advisory Board is in place. As we continue to build an advisory board, there are several other items to consider. Most importantly, we will need to begin a major fundraising effort. Currently, we have $25,000 available to help with some immediate expenses; in the long run, many more dollars will be needed to purchase initiation regalia, ritualistic items, insurance, fund scholarships plus help support the never-ending needs of future college students. The goal is to recolonize as soon as possible but much work needs to be done. Alumni advisors are the key to a successful colonization and it is imperative to identify those willing and able to serve during re-colonization and beyond before we formally submit our intent documentation to BGSU and Sigma Chi Headquarters. If you or any brother you know can commit the time and live in Northwest Ohio, please email Tim Ruff at ruffy95@gmail.com. Remember that all Sigma Chi brothers are welcome to be involved regardless what university they attended as undergraduates.
Division of University Advancement Mileti Alumni Center Bowling Green, OH 43403

Delta Kappa Significant Sigs

Order of Constantine
Each year, the Order of Constantine recognizes a group of up to 14 Sigma Chi brothers for their commitment, dedication and service to the Fraternity. Induction into the Order of Constantine is considered to be the highest honor the Sigma Chi Fraternity can bestow upon one of its members. Delta Kappa Constantine Sigs: Joseph E. Martini 63

elta Kappa currently has several brothers who have been awarded the Significant Sig Award. Over the past three years, three of our brothers have been added to the list of Delta Kappa who have been recognized as brothers whose achievements in their fields of endeavor have brought honor and prestige to the name of Sigma Chi. Any undergraduate or alumnus may nominate a brother for this honor; nomination forms can be found at www.sigmachi.org/files/ Significant_Sig_Nomination.pdf and are due by November 15 of each year for consideration. John A. Lee 46* Charles E. Shanklin 51* Col. Donald E. Boomershine 53 James C. Young 57 Edward A. Ferkany 59 Robert K. Battaglia 60 Lary R. Scott 61 James T. Helwig 65 Robert B. Clasen 66 Robert W. Hill 71 Thomas A. Orchard 75 (*) Indicates Chapter Eternal

Chapter Eternal
The following brothers have entered Chapter Eternal since June 1, 2011. Dr. Robert Hoellrich 65 Andrew E. Housholder 55 Richard M. Salchow 59 Kenneth K. Kisselle 52 Henry Spangenberger 58 Harold J. Deviney 62 Dr. Emil E. Vavrik 54 Charles E. Share 50 Chapter Eternal 9/7/11 Chapter Eternal 9/8/11 Chapter Eternal 10/2/11 Chapter Eternal 12/6/11 Chapter Eternal 3/12/12 Chapter Eternal 3/17/12 Chapter Eternal 3/28/12 Chapter Eternal 6/7/12

If we have missed someone, please let us know by emailing the information to sigmachiDK@bex.net.

Founders Luncheon
he 12th Annual Delta Kappa Founders Luncheon was held on Wednesday July 11, at the Bowling Green Country Club. This years attendees included 25 brothers, sweethearts and guests from both Sigma Chi HQ and the BGSU Alumni Association. The luncheon included presentations by the University, a re-colonization status report and provided an opportunity to renew friendships that have endured for over 60 years.

Back Row (L to R): Joe Martini, Ken Rider, Bill Backus, Jack Whittaker, Ron Zwierlein, Tim Ruff, Les Myers, Bob Schneider Middle Row (L to R): Janet Beers, Tina Martini, Ina Mae Wagner, Ed Kuhn, Cindy Zwierlein, Joanne Schneider, Mary Pohlman Front row (L to R): Bernie Beers, Frank Wagner, Ev Rose Kuhn, Dick Kaufman, Carlton Flegle, Neil Pohlman

University Update
If you havent visited the campus for a while, you may not recognize the University you spent four years attending. For several years the University has been in a major rebuilding and expansion mode. Over the past few years, the campus has seen the demolition of Rodgers Quad (built in 1955) and replaced with Centennial Residence Hall, which is home to 650 students. An additional 650 student residence hall, Falcon Heights, was also opened the fall of 2011 and is located north of Offenhauer Towers. The building of Centennial Hall and Falcon Heights has allowed for more modern amenities and living arrangements that can better compete with off-campus housing. The new residence halls offer single and double bed suites and a shared common living and bathroom area with up to four people in Falcon Heights and a shared double room with shared bathroom in Centennial Hall. Both new residence halls are equipped with handicap accessible rooms, have high speed wired and wireless internet service, moveable furniture, self-lofting beds and in-unit controlled air conditioning and heating. Other new buildings include The Oaks Dining Center (located near McDonald Residence Hall), the Wolfe Center for the Arts and the Stroh Center. The Wolfe Center was completed in December 2011 and is used by students interested in theater, dance, musical and film productions and serves as a venue for live performances. The Wolfe Center was constructed on the former site of the Saddlemire Student Services Building; better known as the round building. The Stroh Center replaces Anderson Arena as home to the basketball and volleyball teams, as well as serving as the site for BGSUs commencement ceremonies. It has already hosted first-round games for the womens N.C.A.A. tournament, as well as several concerts. The Stroh Center is a great venue to watch the Falcon teams take on their MAC opponents. The new arena seats 4,700 for basketball and volleyball. It can be expanded to seat 5,000 for concerts and has all the amenities of larger facilities while maintaining the intimate feel of Anderson Arena. More construction and revitalization is on the horizon. Future projects include the renovation of some of the Universitys original buildings, University and Moseley Halls. Plans include renovating the interior of these original University buildings but maintaining the original outer appearance of the structures. The Greek Village project has also been resurrected and is in the second stage of planning. Over the past couple of years, a major research and design initiative as taken place to determine how to revitalize Greek housing on campus. To date, several universities have been visited that have recently built new Greek Housing, a design firm has been hired and proposals have been submitted and reviewed. The current direction the University is moving is to replace all of the current Greek housing with new units although a site is yet to be determined. Many of the details are being discussed such as financing the project, proposing building sites and deciding what style or mix of styles in which the facility will be built. There is a website available for more detailed information of the project located at: www.bgsu. edu/offices/sa/fraternityandsororitylife/page108062.html. Our Alma Mater is undergoing a major face-lift. If youre passing through the area or have time to make a trip, stop and tour the campus. You will be amazed at the changes.

Please keep your address, email address and telephone number current with the University, Sigma Chi as well as with Delta Kappa. While it would be nice to publish and mail newsletters frequently, it is cost prohibitive. Email is the most cost effective method of keeping you current with news about the university and any re-colonization efforts of Delta Kappa. Your contact information can be updated at the email addresses below: Bowling Green State University: https://myziggy.bgsu.edu/ccon/ Sigma Chi Headquarters: www.sigmachi.com Sigma Chi Delta Kappa Chapter: Physical and email addresses to: sigmachiDK@bex.net (We plan to use email addresses when communicating time sensitive information) We also have a Facebook group page: www.facebook.com/groups/BGSUSigmaChi