The Astonisher MU ALPHA CHAPTER OF PHI MU DELTA

Susquehanna University 514 University Avenue, Selinsgrove, PA SPRING 2013

MESSAGE FROM THE

PRESIDENT

Hello from the Mudhouse! We know it has been several years

since you have heard from us, but we return with exciting news!

Since recolonizing in 2007 we have grown to be the largest frater-

nity at Susquehanna and the largest chapter of Phi Mu Delta na-

tionally. Our current membership is made up of the best and

brightest minds at Susquehanna. In the past few years, Mu Alpha

won several of Phi Mu Delta’s national awards, including the cov-

eted Chapter of the Year award in summer 2011.

No award we have received can stand up to the accomplishment

we have most recently earned. It is with pride that I share with

you today that we are the recipients of the 2013 North-American

Interfraternity Conference (NIC) Chapter of Distinction

Award.

Given to only five NIC chapters a year, this award recognizes

only the best fraternity chapters in North America! That is out of

over 5,500 active fraternity chapters! Former Chapter President

Ethan Sentz ‘13 and former VP Finance Teague Emery ‘13 ac-

cepted the award in St. Louis, MO this April alongside SU Greek

Life Coordinator and alumni brother, Joe Thompson ‘08.

- Jeremy Hargest ‘14, President

BROTHERHOOD REPORT

This year we initiated 26 new members, bringing our membership

to 66. Not only are we the largest fraternity on campus, Mu Alpha

proudly boasts a 3.46 GPA. Seven brothers earned a perfect 4.0 in

the Fall semester. We also lead the fraternity community in ser-

vice hours and have a very positive reputation on campus. Since

2007 in fact, three brothers have even been Student Government

President and three others have been Interfraternity Council Presi-

dent.

We have had brothers on several athletic teams, including soccer,

track & field, lacrosse, baseball, golf, ice hockey, football and ulti-

mate frisbee. Brother Dan Sosa ‘13 helped the soccer team make it to

the National Sweet 16.

This April, brother John Rehm ’15 was selected from a national pool

and traveled to Washington, D.C. where he met with members of

congress and lobbied for the Collegiate Housing & Infrastructure Act.

In Summer 2012, brother Teague Emery ’13 received the National

Phi Mu Delta Outstanding Undergraduate Award and this spring just

received Susquehanna’s Greek Man of the Year Award. As you can

see, our brothers have worked very hard these past few years.

- Hunter Hoffman ’14, VP Membership

SERVICE

“I believe in Service…service to the college; service to every group

organized for the common good; service to the individual.” As one of

the three main ideals of Phi Mu Delta, service continues to play an

important part in our fraternity. In the fall 2012 semester, 42 brothers

performed over 1500 hours of volunteer work. Some of the events

that semester included fall orientation team and helping to move

freshman into their dorms, “Fall Fest” at a local park, ushering for

plays on campus, and our first Phi Mu Delta 5K. With a beginning

goal of 1000 hours, the brothers went above and beyond, exceeding

our goal.

As for the current spring 2013 semester, brothers have had the oppor-

tunity to attend service events weekly since the start of the semester.

Events have included a trip to Haven Ministry—a homeless shelter in

Sunbury, cleaning horse stalls at Farpoint Animal Rescue, and play-

ing Bingo with residents at a local nursing home. The biggest event

of the semester occurred on April 13th, when a group of 20 brothers

traveled to Union Beach, NJ to work with Susquehanna alumni to

help clean up the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. We have already

begun to work on this fall’s costumed 5K for St. Jude Children’s Re-

search Hospital, which will take place the weekend leading up to

Halloween.

- Skyler Deitrick ’14. VP Service

Our advisor, Dr. Michelle

DeMary receiving the Phi

Mu Delta National Advisor

of the Year Award in 2012

HOUSE RENOVATION

In other news, thanks to the efforts of Alpha Sigma Omega, our

beautiful chapter house was given a total renovation and expansion

this past summer. At the entrance of the house, a wall was built that

proudly displays our name as you enter. Behind the wall we have

turned the foyer into a room for our new pool table.

The former dining room is now our new lounge and meeting room,

with a large flat-screen TV and several couches and chairs for broth-

erhood bonding. The barroom has a new kitchenette area with sinks

and mini-fridges for social events, along with a large flat-screen TV

as well and a shuffleboard table.

As the brothers now eat in the SU dining hall, our commer-

cial kitchen was no longer needed. Some of that space is now part

of the lounge/meeting room, and the rest is a more residential kitch-

en brothers use when not eating on campus. Our beloved former

cook Terrie Reich still visits us on occasion -- brothers attending

Homecoming 2013 will witness a ceremony naming the new kitchen

in her honor.

The second floor porch has been enclosed to create a new library

and study room. As it replaces the old computer room that bore his

name, this space will be dedicated to our brother and long-time advi-

sor Dr. Tom Walker -- also during Homecoming 2013.

A new side porch has been built on the patio -- creating a new en-

trance facing campus and an outdoor space where brothers can hang

out together.

We could go on forever about the other enhancements, but you will

just have to visit and see for yourself! Remember, Homecoming is

just around the corner!

- Derek Butler ‘15, VP Housing

ALUMNI RELATIONS

A special thanks must be given to those alumni who have put their

time and energy into the house remodeling project, especially that of

Alpha Sigma Omega Vice President, Jim Harris ‘87. Thanks Jim!

This house means a lot to our chapter and we are forever thankful.

With our first years of renewal behind us, we are happy to re-

establish our connection with you, our alumni brothers across the

country, without whom we would not be who we are today. It is

with great pride that we are able to again send to you “The Aston-

isher”.

Even with the Astonisher, we have big news. This will be our last

paper edition of the alumni newsletter, so make sure you keep it

(collectors edition!). Beginning this fall, we will be moving to an e-

newsletter that will be housed online and emailed out several times

throughout the year. This will allow us to do newsletters more often.

If we do not have your updated email address, please contact the

chapter at: PMDMuAlpha1918@gmail.com to update it.

Alpha Sigma Omega, our Mu Alpha Alumni Association also has a

group on Facebook. It is private group, so please Facebook message

Jim Harris (Harry) to be added!

We hope you will join us on Saturday, October 19, 2013 for Home-

coming!

- Evan Nelson ‘15, Alumni Chair