January 2004
Some Pictures from Rush:
Buddy XI
December 2003
Gents:
Just sticking my head up for a breath of fresh air, between trips in Asia and Europe, and thought that I would update you on news from the Hanover plain. The fall term has been a success so far, as we have completed more work on the house, taken another step closer to full recognition, and positioned ourselves well for the upcoming rush period.
With respect to the physical plant upgrades, work on the drainage system around the house has been completed, which has stopped some leaks that appeared in the basement. Also outside, the lower lot has been re-graded, before the onslaught of winter and some of the woodwork has been replaced. Inside the house, the main fireplace has been repaired and pipes in the basement have been serviced and re-insulated for the cold season.
Our major health and safety project for the term, the second means of egress off of the back of the house, will be pushed off until the spring. The design has been finalized, however, the prolonged process for permit approvals has caused us to delay the construction, and waiting until spring will avoid the uncertainty of the harsh weather in the winter. Instead, we are moving up our window replacement plans and should have the first floor completed by the end of this term. Energy efficient windows should do wonders for our heating bills, as many of you may recall that the current windows have been little more than screens for the wind and the cold.
With regard to the progress made toward full recognition by the College, we are on target with some of the key deliverables for the fall. The Constitution and By-Laws, as well as the Adjudication Process, Risk Management Policy, and Crisis Management Policy have all been re-written and reviewed by the undergraduates and the Corporation Board. These, along with the operation documents for the Phi Delta Alpha Corporation, will be submitted to the Office of Residential Life before the end of the term. The ORL has provided guidance on previous drafts of these documents, so we do not anticipate any issues for their concurrence with the content.
"There will be no fun of any kind!" -Dean Vernon Wormer, Faber College.
Another challenge for the undergraduates was proving to the ORL that they could host successfully a registered social event, with alcohol being served. The rules and regulations governing these events are quite complex, with formulas for number of kegs or drinks allowed per anticipated guest, requirements for certified servers of alcohol, requirements for amounts of non-alcoholic drinks and food to be made available per anticipated guest (a package of lunchmeat on the bar no longer suffices), and guidelines for screening under-aged guests and segregating them from areas where alcohol is served. I understand the pressures that the College is under, but this is social engineering gone mad. For example, if you want to serve beer, you cannot serve mixed drinks (no punches allowed at all). If you serve beer, it can only be one type, i.e. no mix of kegs and cans, if all cans, they all have to be the same brand. In total, there can only be 24 kegs or their equivalent in cans registered on campus at any one time. It is an administrative nightmare, and has more in common with customs procedures in a small Latin American country than with a viable risk management process.
Still, even with these considerable hurdles, which would drive most logical individuals to eschew registered events all together, it was important for the '05s to hold such an event, especially with rush on the horizon. I am pleased to report that they came through it with flying colors. No incidents transpired, and they had a great turnout for the party which featured a band. According to Graham Rasmussen, the fall term president, people were lined up down Webster Avenue to get in the door. It apparently was THE social event of the term. I know, dancing smoothies at the Palace have never sat well with the Phi Gods, but it is their show and they are thrilled with the results and the responses from the prospective '06s. However, I have threatened to cut off financial support if they even contemplate holding a formal. After all, you can only push the Phi Gods so far.
Which brings us to the topic of rush. The boys have been doing a great job of meeting key members of the class of 2006, and have been working with Board member Chris Huff '84 on some targeting strategies for less penetrated campus cohorts. There is a comprehensive list of potential candidates, gauging levels of expressed interest, and an action plan against targeted individuals. Tonight, December 3rd, the house will hold a pre-rush event at 5 Webster Avenue. Similar in decorum and style to the actual rush process, but less formal, it will give the '05s the opportunity to meet a broader group of potential candidates and help us assess overall interest.
Formal rush runs from January 12-14, 2004. I cannot overstate the importance of this period for the organization. Through a lot of hard work and a bit of luck, we landed a tremendous inaugural class last year. We need to do it again, to maintain our momentum and keep our growth plan on track, as well as to prove to the College that last year was not a fluke. Our continued success in attracting new, high quality members has a significant financial value for the organization, and contributes toward our goal of being a leading fraternity at Dartmouth College. From the ORL's perspective it will confirm that we have institutionalized standards and best practices in the organization and can consistently attract quality and scale. With a successful rush, followed by a proper pledge induction and education period, we can be considered for full recognition in the spring term.
Here is where our alumni come into play. Last year we had 50 alums on campus over five days to whip the Palace back into shape and launch the inaugural rush process. Many undergraduates said that the commitment of the alumni and the atmosphere that their presence provided, was a key factor in their decisions to join Phi Delt over other houses that they knew far better.
Due to the quirks of the Dartmouth Plan, we only have 10 '05s on campus this winter. We need to provide them with the level of support and involvement that made rush a success last year. It should be considerably easier; we will not be hauling 10 cubic yards of refuse out of the place, nor replacing toilets and ceiling panels just hours before the rush kick off, like we did last year (in about 10 feet of snow, I might add). But we will provide them with an atmosphere in which they, and by extension we, can be successful. The quality and enthusiasm of our alums comes through whether they are gathered for a structured event like rush or just congregating together in the basement. That was evident last rush and again during reunions. That is what we need to recreate for this watershed period in January, as we meet and influence the next generation of Phis.
Please try to join me in Hanover sometime between Monday, January 12th and Wednesday, January 14th. Naturally, all are welcome the weekend before as well, starting Friday, January 9th. We will send out a schedule of events a bit closer to those dates, but hopefully a significant number of you can block some time to be in Hanover. Last year was a blast, and I am confident that this year's rush can be just as much fun and just as satisfying, but more importantly, you will be helping to ensure Phi Delta Alpha's future viability. It is yet another critical milestone in our quest back to recognition, but one that I am sure we can achieve.
I look forward to seeing you in Hanover. Thanks for your continued support.
ITB,
Gig George Faux '84
Phi Delta Alpha
Corporation President
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