Alpha Sigma Phi - University of Washington

2 Message from the Editor Jim Hammond '66 Defining Brotherhood 4 Eric White '17 - Undergraduate Spotlight 6 Mu Chapter Top Grades on Greek Row 8 Jeff Rogers '80 - Alumni Spotlight 10 A Question of Integrity 13 Young Men and Women Are Joining Greek-Letter Houses in Droves 14 Kris Axell '76 - Invest in Brotherhood and Values 15 Capital Campaign Update 16 President's Message - By Connor Kardokus '18 16 Mu Philanthropy Update - by Jack Deane '18 Inside This Issue President Connor Kardokus '18 Vice President of Member Retention Conner Ogdon '17 Vice President of Communications Eric White '17 Vice President of Finance Michael Heffner '17 Vice President of Ritual and Traditions Tanner Hanay '17 Vice President of Standards Jacob Perry '17 Vice President of Service and Philanthropy Jack Deane '18 Vice President of Growth Declan Sheidan '17 Vice President of Alumni and Family Relations Andrew Witt '18 Vice President of Membership Enrichment Sihern Han '17 4554 19 Ave NE Seattle, WA 98105 Editor: Jim Hammond hammondjames79@gmail.com CHAPTER OFFICERS Cover photo by Jay Hendrickson A lpha Sigma Phi's teachings and public creeds provide broth- ers life-changing guidelines for appropriate behavior in all circumstances, thus encouraging unity and preserving the foundational commitments upon which the fraternity is built. Men that stay true to the commitments they swore to keep do nothing from selfish ambition, rather in humility they count others more significant than themselves. It is a hard practice to follow. That is why true brotherhood is found sparingly. Yet it is a key element in the character of Alpha Sigma Phi whose commitments embrace bettering the man who is a gentleman and a scholar with a heart beneath his vest. Being bound by a private bond of a singular set of life-directing commitments based on intangible and invisible principles is the strength of Alpha Sigma Phi. We have a joint vision and a joint purpose to preserve our unity and commitment today and into the future. Common commitments, values and accountability create pride in its broth- erhood and the important work it is doing bettering the man. Brotherhood is not friendship, although friendship and hanging out is a valued benefit of brotherhood. Brotherhood is completely about commitment—a vision and joint purpose. When you cease to follow the commitment and ignore the oath you took when becoming a member of Mu, you stop being a brother even though you wear the letters. The true definition of brotherhood, as suggested by John Shertzer, Senior Director of Programs at Kiwanis International, "is a bonding of men of various backgrounds, beliefs, places and eras around a singular set of life-directing commitments. It is a unique, private bond based on in- tangible, invisible principles." It's what allows him, he says, to share brotherhood with men he graduated with, and with the men who graduated a century ago. Even if there is a disagreement with another brother, says Shertzer, the brotherhood stays intact because it lives outside of friendship and inside its shared commitments. At Mu we value friendship and hanging out. At first, this might appear to be our purpose, but we must remember that brotherhood is much more. It's bigger than any individual brother. It is a lifelong shared commitment by each of its brothers to the fraternity's principles of integrity: silence, truth, honor, purity, and patriotism. That is how we better the man. As Shertzer suggests, when brotherhood is done right it is extraordinary.

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