Phi Kappa Theta - Iowa State University

I owa Xi Chapter gratefully announces the receipt of the initial payment from the estate of Brother Jim Victor '68. This is the single largest donation in the almost 100-year history of our chapter. Jim's bequest establishes an endowment that honors his memory while promoting Phi Kappa Theta's five areas of development––leadership, fraternal, intellectual, social, and spiritual. To establish the Victor Endowment, the Iowa Xi Alumni Board appointed a committee to make recommendations. Its members include Mike Canney '75, Greg Stolp '84, Jim Flanigan '88, Jon Hicks '02, Nick Van Berkum '05, Cory Millmier '12, and undergraduate observer Jake Stratton '21. This group of volunteers comes with a wealth of experience in non-profit foundation and charities, as well as serving as Phi Kappa Theta leaders at the chapter, Alumni Board, and national levels. The committee began formalizing recommendations for the conditions and processes for providing grants, managing funds, and establishing a governance structure. It aims to conclude its work by April 2021. Three main ideas are shaping the committee's deliberations. The first being the Victor Endowment would be a permanent asset for Iowa Xi. A portion of investment income would be available for disbursement each year while maintaining the principal. The second is all Iowa Xi alumni would be encouraged to contribute to the endowment, either through a direct contribution or as a planned estate gift like Jim. The third idea is disbursements from the endowment, or grants, are considered investments. These program investments will be used to advance the five pillars or areas of development of Phi Kappa Theta undergraduates and alumni. Program investments would also be used to recognize the personal attributes that Jim demonstrated throughout his life as noted by his family: study, hard work, philanthropy, friendship, and fun. It is no surprise that Jim's personal attributes are very similar to the five pillars. Jim epitomized the Phi Kappa Theta motto of "Give, expecting nothing thereof." He inspires us with his generosity, professional accomplishments, and passion to serve society, fraternity, and God. As we approach Iowa Xi's 100th anniversary in 2024, we encourage brothers from every class to considering investing some of your time, talent, and treasure in Iowa Xi. On behalf of the Victor Gift Committee, we would love to hear from you! Fraternally, Joseph Rude '81 Victor Gift Committee Member joseph_Rude@hotmail.com CLONE PAGE 2 THE VICTOR GIFT COMMITTEE WEBSITES: www.isuphikaps.org | www.pktalumni.com • INSTAGRAM: isuphikaps • TWITTER: @ISUPhiKap FACEBOOK: Phi Kappa Theta Iowa Xi Alumni | Iowa Xi-Phi Kappa Theta 100 | Phi Kappa Theta-Iowa State University FOLLOW US ONLINE A Brief History of 2110 Lincoln Way B uried on page seven of the July 28, 1933, issue of the Ames Daily Tri- bune-Times surrounded by a wire story titled "Gang Character Slain by Gunman," an ad for the Red Ball Food Store, and an ad for the Rushing Food Market was the local story announcing "Acacia Fraternity Sells to Catholics." This story documents the purchase of 2110 Lincoln Way by the men of Phi Kappa. It was stated that George Decker, an Amician Club member who had joined the Iowa State College (ISC) faculty, signed on behalf of Phi Kappa. The house that generations of Iowa Xi men have called home was the home to Acacia fraternity beginning in early 1920. It is known that Acacia occupied the house by early 1920 as it held a memorial service for a deceased ISC faculty member. The Ames newspaper reported that services were held for the faculty member on February 15, 1920. The house is a Tudor style home that was common as part of a Colonial Re- vival popular in the United States. It is a three story structure with a center gable. Brick comprises the first two stories and stucco and half-timbering are used on the exterior of the third floor gable. On the east side is the two story brick feature for cold air dormitories. Open air sleeping was promoted for health purposes and comfort through the 1910s. An August 22, 1912 article titled "Sleeping in the Open Air" in the Independent magazine emphasized that many modern homes allowed for sleeping porches. Cold Air dormitories were the standard at many colleges through the 1990s. At Iowa State, Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority was one of the few houses to abandon unheated, group sleeping quarters before 1990. The 1982 ISU Bomb reported that "no cold air dorms" made the Kappa house a popular choice. The depictions of the house in 1920 are nearly identical to the house today. There were a few significant renovations over the decades. In 1983 the dining room on the main floor was moved to the basement and the basement walkout (the Pit) was added. In 2013 the second floor cold air dorm (CAD) was converted to study rooms, the third floor CAD was reduced in size, and the bathroom on the second floor was enlarged. While somewhat unrecognizable today, the house retains several features that were common in 1920: the coal chute in the boiler room, the tele- phone closet on the main floor, the 3-season porch on the east side of the main floor, and the dumb waiter closet on the main floor that was used to transport food and dishes to the basement kitchen. A discovered feature of the house is "The Hole." Accessed from a door in the northeast corner of the basement dining rooms, it was a crawl space under the former 3-season porch. It was apparently created by some enter- prising Phi Kaps chiseling through a foundation wall. The Hole has been used for storage, as a workshop, a dance floor, and a place for members to tag the wall in spray paint with their nickname. For almost 87 years, 2110 Lincoln Way has been a site for Phi Kap mem- ories from top to bottom. Most importantly, it was, and is, our home. Fraternally, Leo Landis '87 Iowa Xi History Team

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