To Promote Brotherhood • To Stimulate Scholarship • To Develop Character
Star and Crescent
PHI SIGMA KAPPA - EPSILON DEUTERON
Kappa Xi Meetings
Feb 19
March 19
April 16
Spring Retreat 2015
May 6-8
Rasta
May 9
Graduation
May 16
Alumni Weekend
May 28th - May 31st
Slimey Dimey
July 18
General Convention
August 5-8 at the
Hyatt Regency
Minneapolis
Greetings Brothers,
Allow me to introduce the newest incarnation of the Star and Crescent. My
name is Andrew Ollerhead and I’ve recently been elected president of this chapter.
Earlier this January we welcomed the newest member of our 100th fall rush class,
rounding out an associate class of 13 enthusiastic young men. I’m sure I speak for all
brothers when I say that this semester is sure to be fun and fulfilling.
As we start our 100th
year, we contemplate the
past years and the physical
and policy changes that
have made them significant.
Novel improvements to the
property include, an industrial
refrigerator and freezer,
fencing the backyard, and
updated fire escapes on both
houses. Fraternal operations
have been streamlined with
a brand new points and fines system, updated judicial board policies and a complete
bylaw rewrite. Outside of the chapter and chapter operations we’ve far surpassed
previous year’s philanthropy and public relations efforts and are poised to continue
this trend. The last year hasn’t been all successes. Challenges we’ve faced this year
include a stubborn debt to Kappa Xi Alpha (KXA), issues with the renewal of the
lapsed tax-exempt status, and bills related to property inspections. These challenges
have allowed the brotherhood to step up, mature and resolve critical real world issues.
However, what good is progress if we have nobody to share it with? As we
continue to fundraise, make physical improvements to our houses and take on new
endeavors, many alumni are left in the dark wishing that someone had reached out
to them with an update. Therefore it is my hope that by reviving this newsletter we’ll
be able to rekindle the bond between the undergraduate chapter and graduated
members of Phi Sigma Kappa. A major change from past Star and Crescent editions
is that we will use multiple delivery methods to better accommodate recent and notso-recent alumni and changes in technology. Articles highlighted in the Star and
Crescent will be geared towards helping alumni stay informed of big changes in the
chapter, familiarize them with our members, and good works.
I anticipate that this issue of the Star and Crescent is the first of many to go out
in 2015. I welcome anyone with the desire to visit the house to do so in the upcoming
year. I, my executive board, and a number of recent alumni have a few tricks up our
sleeve for this upcoming year, and by keeping up with the Star and Crescent, I hope
you won’t miss a thing. I look forward to seeing you at the highly-anticipated Slimey
Dimey event where we’ll be celebrating our 100th year at WPI.
If anybody would like to, they can contact me personally at
[email protected] with any questions. Damn Proud!
Andrew Ollerhead
Chapter President
Star and Crescent - Epsilon Deuteron Chapter
Page 2
Kappa Xi Alpha Update
Greetings brothers, I’m John Plunkett, the Chapter Advisor for the Epsilon Deuteron chapter of Phi Sigma Kappa.
On behalf of the KXA President, Steve Millet, I’d like to give a brief update on KXA affairs.This last year has been a
productive one for KXA. At our homecoming meeting we elected a host of new officers. We transitioned Matt Goetz
out of the KXA treasurer position to allow Brendan Stephen and Alan Alezker to share treasurer duties. We also
elected Tyler Wack as KXA clerk, Matt Chase as property manager and Kenneth Barnett and Kevin Garcia as board
representatives. This year KXA has helped out with several projects including paying for a replacement refrigerator,
leading housing inspections and organizing inspection related contractor work. We worked with undergrads to
organize WPI Homecoming and Reunion Weekend festivities.
Currently, we’re in the process of updating the KXA web presence (email list, website and digital document archives)
and are researching events to promote alumni involvement. Jim Borrebach, along with a committee of other alumni,
are organizing a 100th year Slimey Dimey celebration that should not be missed. I’m sorry I don’t have any treasurer
numbers to share, but the KXA budget numbers are still being worked out due to transitions. I’ll be sure to include
them in the next publication of this newsletter.
If you’d like any additional info regarding KXA or if you would like to know the date of the next KXA meeting feel free
to contact me ([email protected]) or Steve Millet ([email protected]).
John Plunkett
Chapter Advisor
Slimey Dimey - 100th Year Celebration
Dear Brothers,
In 1915, the Epsilon Deuteron chapter of Phi Sigma Kappa was established. What better way to celebrate the
100th anniversary than at the PSK Slimey Dimey Party of the Century featuring the Smoking Creebars (house
band from the early 1980s)! Mark your calendars for Saturday July 18, 2015. Proceeds from the party will
benefit the 100th Anniversary Fund and help with some much needed improvements around the houses.
In addition to the Slimey Dimey, planned events include an Out-of-Towner’s Get Together, Saturday morning work
party to create the Houlihan Memorial Beer Garden as well as other needed repairs around the house, Bar-B-Q
and Sunday Morning Breakfast. The cost is only $125 ($25 for active brothers),
which includes the catered bar-b-q, liquid refreshments, a Bloody Mary breakfast on
Sunday morning, and a glass mug inscribed with the party logo. All proceeds from the
event will be donated to the house. We are seeking to raise $10,000 from the event –
we need your help to reach our goal.
More details will be forthcoming in the Spring Star and Crescent, including where and
how to sign up and send your $$. For now, mark the date. It’s going to be a great
event and we are hoping you will attend.
Even if you can’t make the festivities, your help towards the 100th anniversary fund is
sincerely appreciated. We hope to see you on July 18 and respectfully request your
help in making this event a success.
Hoo Hah!
Damn Proud,
Jim Borrebach ‘81
YFFPOTCC
Page 3
Star and Crescent - Epsilon Deuteron Chapter
Philanthropy Update
We started this school year with a far stronger focus on
Philanthropy and community service than in previous
years. A few events that we’re especially proud of are:
September 22nd-26th
We paired up with Sigma Pi for our annual Guitar-A-Thon
fundraiser. Over the course of the week, brothers from both
houses performed songs, from classic rock to modern pop
music, by request at the fountain. A raffle was held for a
guitar, generously donated by Union Music in Worcester,
and tickets were sold for $5. In total, we raised $600 for
the Amazing Day Foundation, a foundation which strives to
raise suicide prevention awareness.
October 6th-10th
The brothers table sat in the campus center with a banner
for the “Pledge to End The R-Word,” sponsored by the Best
Buddies and the Special Olympics. In total over 100 people
signed the pledge, and over $100 was donated.
November 15th
The brothers held a Battle of the Bands concert, where 3
groups performed at the Goat’s Head. In total we raised
over $300 and all proceeds were donated to the Special
Olympics.
B-Term 2014
We started working with a local middle school after school
tutoring program and brothers have been volunteering
at Forest Grove Middle School. For four hours a week,
brothers attended this program and helped the middle
school students with their homework and afterwards played
sports with the students.
Fraternally,
Anthony Campagna
First Semester Philanthropy Chair
Phi Sig Boston Meet-ups
Did you know that there is a regular meet up of PSK
alumni in Boston? For the past two years, brother
Dave Norcott (‘05) has been holding events for
Boston-area Phi Sigs from Epsilon Deuteron. And if
you haven’t heard of this yet, now’s your chance to
be part of it!
The meet-up events take place once per season
and generally involve gathering at a bar or restaurant in Boston or Cambridge after work. With so
many Phi Sigs in the Boston area it’s a great way to
keep in contact with old friends and meet brothers
from across the years.
Many of the meet ups take place over dinner and
drinks, but sometimes we venture out for different
activities such as disc golf. Plans for future events
include indoor rock climbing this winter and possibly
a Red Sox game in the summer.
All alumni and undergrads are welcome to join. For
more info on the next event and to join the mailing
list, contact Dave Norcott
([email protected]). Hope to see you there!
“Spanish word of the day:
caña (KAHN-ya). A small
beer served with small
food (tapas). Costs about
1€. Usage: ‘dos cañas,
por favor!’”
-David Norcott
Star and Crescent - Epsilon Deuteron Chapter
Page 4
Spring Retreat 2014
Retreat has always been known for its ability to instill brotherhood in us all - from the late night fires and
many conversations that make each and every one of us Damn Proud. As fun as retreat is, this year many
brothers in Epsilon Deuteron felt it was time for something new. Taking cues from other Fraternities and organizations at WPI, this committee developed and organized a 3 day outing at a 1.2 million dollar compound in
Handcock, Massachusetts.
All brothers of Epsilon Deuteron (undergrad and alumni) were encouraged to attend. Roughly 25 brothers
and alumni attended. Brothers prepared all the food during the retreat including breakfasts and a giant BBQ.
The outside air cleared our heads and gave us the opportunity to reflect on the past year.
The retreat contained programming for the daytime to aid in our reflection. We spoke about the positives
and negatives of the past year including topics such as how to overcome apathy, living the ritual, and how
to be a positive bystander. The retreat concluded with strategic plans to better the chapter in the 2014-2015
school year. The senior class also passed on some final wisdom and reconnected with everyone one last
time before graduation. This retreat was an invaluable experience for the brotherhood. It was so popular that
we intend to implement this style of retreat for years to come and continue making every brother at Epsilon
Deuteron Damn Proud of our brotherhood.
Brendan Stephen
Alumni Class of 2014
If you would like to continue receiving physical copies of the
Star and Crescent, please contact our Vice President at
[email protected] Due to monetary restrictions, future issues
will only be sent out via email, unless otherwise requested.
To join the alumni email mailing list, visit: http://eepurl.com/9bFvP
Want to post an update or story in an upcoming issue of the Star and Crescent?
Submit any articles to [email protected]! We are always looking for alumni input.