BETA BULLETINΣΣΑΑΜΜCORNELL UNIVERSITY

Spring 2006 Beta Chapter of Sigma Alpha Mu, Ithaca, NY

An Important Message From The Chapter Advisor

Strong Rush Nets20 OutstandingNew Members

Pledge Offers His Perspective On Rush

As you are probably aware, the goal ofour chapter’s alumni program is to keepyou informed as to chapter activities—aswell as provide alumni with an avenue tokeep in touch with each other and shareinformation. The program should be run-ning on a self-sustaining basis which,unfortunately, it has not since its startalmost 14 years ago.

The cost of producing The BetaBulletin, as well as other alumni mailings,has increased; postage costs and credit cardand bank fees have increased. The cost ofmaintaining our alumni records has also

increased. Calendar year 2005 provided us with

$7,369 in income from 104 contributionsfrom our generous alumni, while our costsfor running the program were $9,680.95.As is the case every year, the differencecomes out of my pocket.

To avoid any confusion, the monies Ispeak of here are just those that supportthe alumni program. They do not includethe very generous contributions to thechapter by alumni through Cornell, whichwe have designated to help maintain thechapter building.

In order to try to put the alumni pro-gram on a break-even basis by trying to cutdown on mailing and reproduction expens-es, we are going to try something new thisyear. If you would like to receive our mail-ings through e-mail, please indicate yourpreference on the enclosed newsform andmake sure we have your e-mail address.

Dennis Paese ’73Chapter Advisor

Members of Beta Chapter's senior class pose for a photo at the fall formal. From left,Matt Rogers, Alex Shapero, Scott Kramer, Josh Rog, Josh Rubin, Dan Bushansky.

These days, 10 Sisson Place is teem-ing with energy, as the pledge programfor the Sigma Lambda pledge class isnow in full swing. Our pledge class of20 has already started learning the richtraditions, history, and culture sur-rounding Sigma Alpha Mu and the BetaChapter. With each passing week, thepledge class becomes tighter and tighter,as the sacred night of initiationapproaches.

The time-honored traditions of theSammy Beta pledge program havealready started to shape our pledges intofine, upstanding young men. Like thosethat came before them, the SigmaLambda pledge class is currently in theprocess of interviewing the entire broth-erhood. These intimate 15-minute, one-on-one interviews provide the perfectopportunity for brothers and pledges tobond over shared interests. In additionto the interviews, every week thepledges learn a new piece of Sammylore—from the creed, to the BridgeBuilder, to Fast and Firm.

The members of the Sigma Lambdapledge class form a beautiful mosaic ofdiversity. We have pledges that sing in acapella groups, write articles for schoolpublications, play on club sport teams,appear on WVBR radio, and involvethemselves in many other clubs andactivities worthy of the highest preceptsof true manhood, democracy, andhumanity. Whether it is singing theSammy Sweetheart Song to sororities onValentine’s Day or helping brothersclean up around the house, our pledgesare ready, willing, and able. The broth-ers are proud to have the Sigma Lambdapledge class and we are all looking for-ward to their successful initiation.

Lee Mendelowitz ’08Pledge Master

On January 26, 2006, a group of 20young men were assembled in the candle-litchapter room of the Sigma Alpha Muhouse. Brothers of the fraternity encircledthem and chanted the fraternity’s creed,“…to foster and maintain among its sons,a spirit of fraternity.”

This moment marked the start of thepledging process for the 20 young men whoformed the Sigma Lambda pledge class of2006. As a member of the Sigma Lambdaclass, this moment reminded me of howclose the brothers of Sigma Alpha Mu areand also of the many things our pledgeclass would have to accomplish in order tobe part of the brotherhood.

One of the biggest parts of pledging isgetting to know the brothers in the housebetter. The smokers during rush week werefun, yet the conversation was mostly super-ficial due to the large amount of rushes ateach one. As pledges, we have to greet eachindividual brother in the house using a for-mal greeting that includes the brother’sfirst, middle, and last name. While this mayseem cumbersome, it has been extremelyhelpful with learning who each brother is.Also, each pledge must conduct interviewswith five different brothers each week.

Along with these weekly responsibilities,

we usually have two pledge events eachweek. These activities are usually challeng-ing and are designed for the pledges to getto know each other better by working insituations where we have to accomplishtasks such as learning each others fullnames, birthdays, favorite movies, andother questions—as well as going on scav-enger hunts and other adventures aroundCornell. At our meeting, we go over chap-ter traditions, such as the creed and “Fastand Firm.” These events have been bothdaunting and fun at the same time. Asalways, these pledging events are accompa-nied with social events and formals withsororities on the weekends, which are agreat benefit of being a member of a frater-nity.

As of this writing, we have been pledgesfor two weeks. Within the next six weeks,we will have learned the fraternity’s tradi-tions, formed a relationship with a “bigbrother” in the house, gotten to know allthe brothers, and come together as a pledgeclass by building a pledge project.

A lot lies ahead for the Sigma Lambdapledge class, and we are ready to accept thechallenge.

Jordan Fabian

BETA BULLETINΣΣΑΑΜΜSpring 2006 (continued from front)

Vice Prior Seeks Consul Position

Chapter Remains Philanthropically Strong

As the second semester of the 2005-’06year begins for the Beta Chapter, we arelooking forward to our continued growthas a chapter. With our continued growthcomes renewed efforts for our fraternity toprovide both campus leaders and commu-nity servants. As vice prior of Beta, I havemade it my goal to give as much to thehouse as the house has given to me. Thelast time I wrote for The Beta Bulletin, Iwas pledge class prior of the Sigma Thetas.Throughout my time in the fraternity, Ihave looked for new ways to improve thewell being and national standing of thechapter.

Aside from Beta members running forIFC positions and applying for member-ship in the Order of Omega—a Greekhonor society—men of Beta have contin-ued to remain active throughout the cam-pus running various organizations, such asDemocracy Matters and Cornell ConcertCommission.

Most recently, I have decided to run forundergraduate consul to the Octagon atthe upcoming national convention inAugust. For those of you who don’t knowor don’t recall, the supreme council haswith it four consuls. Consuls participate inpolicy making for the national fraternityand look for ways to pursue the growthand success of the Sigma Alpha Mu frater-nity. One undergraduate is elected at the

national convention to serve as consul eachyear. I hope to become a consul for tworeasons: to make sure that Beta is neverforgotten as the eldest chapter in the frater-nity and to offer my services to ensure thatSammy remains one of the fastest growingfraternities in the U.S.

My hope is to continue the reputationof Beta Chapter as a branch of SigmaAlpha Mu that encourages its members togive something back to the fraternity I feelthat my decision to run for Consul to theOctagon was largely inspired by DennisPaese ’73. He has shown me throughoutmy time here at Cornell that no matterwhere one goes in life, one should neverforget where one comes from.

With that notion, I look forward toconvention. I look forward to letting dele-gates from other Sammy chapters knowhow I plan to contribute to making SigmaAlpha Mu policies and decisions based onwhat is good for both undergraduates andalumni. If you have suggestions for myupcoming election, or if you just feel likecatching up with an undergraduate broth-er, feel free to email me at jbt32@cornell.edu. I would love to hear from allof you. Fast and firm…

Fraternally,Jonathan Brett Tuzman ’07

Vice Prior

This year’s philanthropy seeks to buildon last year’s successes with a morediverse program. During the fall semester,Sammy threw a Battle of the Bands com-petition at the Nines in Collegetown tobenefit the Alzheimer’s Association. Sixlocal bands—including our very ownchef’s band—competed for an hour of freestudio time donated by Pyramid Studios inIthaca. Three brothers helped judge thecompetition, which included music rang-ing from metal to ska to acoustic. We suc-cessfully raised $400 at the door.

Thanks to enormous brotherhood sup-port, a blood drive with over 50 donorswas held for the Red Cross of TompkinsCounty.

Philanthropy events scheduled for thissemester include the annual Wings at

Willard Straight—set for March 7—whichwill feature live music and all-you-can-eatchicken wings. In that same vein, therenowned Greek House of Pancakes,sponsored in conjunction with Alpha ChiOmega Sorority, raised over $1,200 lastyear, and is again set for the end of thissemester. Cornellians are invited to gorgeon pancakes and other breakfast foodswhile rocking out to Cornell’s best studentbands. Another blood drive is also beingplanned in April with the Red Cross.With a stellar lineup of events such asthese, Beta chapter may have its most suc-cessful philanthropy program in recentmemory.

Eric Schafler ’08Philanthropy Chair

Reunion WeekendJune 8-11, 2006

10 Sisson Place, 845-255-6892. Welcome back toCornell! The brothers of Sammy-Beta welcome all alum-ni, families, and friends to our annual reunion weekendevents. All of our alumni are welcome to attend a cocktailreception on Friday afternoon from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m.

In addition, please come to our alumni barbecue onSaturday afternoon from 1:00 to 6:00 p.m. Come by thenew house to meet the current brothers, our advisors, andfellow Sammy alumni and celebrate another successfulyear for Beta Chapter in our 95th year. We look forwardto seeing you there. Feel free to contact Adam Schnabel’07, alumni chair, at ams294@cornell.edu or 339-224-0839 with any questions or concerns.

ALUMNIMAILBAG

Melvin L. Hirsch ’44 writes, “Bothmy son and daughter attended Cornell.I am a life member of Cornell Club ofDYC and a member of Cornell Club ofSarasota.” Write to Mel at 5282Huntingwood Ct., Sarasota, FL 34235.

Edwin M. Eigner ’53 “Since myretirement from the English departmentof the University of California atRiverside, I have been living in SanDiego and have been active in San Diegotheater as an actor, director, and play-wright. My new play, Tiresias theHarlot, will be performed at Sixth atPenn Theatre in early 2006.” Write toEdwin at 2050 Pacific Beach Dr., #303,San Diego, CA 92109.

“My new career as a musician isblooming,” writes Stuart Warshauer’53. “I am the CEO, conductor,arranger, marketer, contract administra-tor, and fiddler for the eight-pieceNaples Klezmer Revival Band. Thefinest and only klezmer band inSouthwest Florida. Check out my newlyreleased CD—Klezmer, Coast toCoast—on Amazon.” Send greetings toStu at 565 Via Vento, #101, Naples, FL34108. E-mail him at swarshauer@cinc.rr.com.

Adam M. Geller ’98 writes, “OnOctober 14, 2005, my wife, Lauren(Cornell ’98), gave birth to our firstchild. Our daughter, Ayla Rose Geller, isdoing well, and I am trying to decidewhether I am getting less sleep now thanI did when I was pledging freshmanyear! For the past five years, I have beenworking in the field of informationsecurity at VeriSign. I manage the salesengineering team for North Americaand EMEA. Although he company isbased in California, I work out of NewYork.” Keep in touch with Adam at 8Davis Dr., Armonk, NY 10504.

Betas Justin Weitz '07, Dan Bushansky'06, and Rich Rothblatt '05 pose for aphoto on a trip to Barcelona, Spain.