Phi Gamma Delta - University of Kansas

PI DEUTERON CHAPTER OF PHI GAMMA DELTA AT THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS • FALL 2021 I start this fall message with a question: "What advice can the 30th President of the United States give us during times of struggle?" Well, when the 30th President of the United States shares the common bond in Phi Gamma Delta, his message is simple: "Persistence." In fact, the final sentence of that famous Coolidge quote is, "The slogan 'Press On!' has solved and will always solve the problems of the human race." In 2021, we may not need to solve problems of the human race, but we do have a problem to solve at Pi Deuteron. Brothers, our Chapter has been placed on a Graduate Trustee status with the International Fraternity related to hazing violations in fall of 2021. The proceedings of the charges are following rules outlined in the Fraternity bylaws. Our Graduate and Undergraduate Brothers are following standard protocols. Although times are tough, the Graduate Trustees (all Pi Deuteron Brothers) are working toward a positive outcome. This process should be completed by the end of the fall semester, and we will keep all alumni informed on the findings. Although we are in a Trusteeship, there is positive news at the Chapter House: an excellent pledge class of 35 with a strong legacy presence. Our Chapter GPA is 3.4, we have consistent philanthropic engagement, and we are expanding leadership roles at the University. Finally, Pi Deuteron has had much success with Rock Chalk Revue in recent years. We're heading in the right direction. Brothers, we will always have obstacles and setbacks in our lives. Our success or failure will be defined by how we REACT to those situations. If persistence is part of the reaction, we will be successful. Fraternally, Doug Draper '92 BCA President dougdraper1@msn.com Perge! "Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan 'Press On!' has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race." –Calvin Coolidge, Amherst 1895 Keeping Brothers Informed and Accountable Pi Deuteron Finds Both Sanctions and Success in 2021 W e are delighted to inform you that a rare piece of KU FIJI memorabilia has made its way home! On August 29, our Chapter was informed of the existence of a special cup owned by one of our founders, John Dice MacLaren, M.D. 1886. The cup arrived in the mail shortly after, and the story behind it is quite interesting. It was found in Houston, Texas, at an estate sale by a friend of Mark McLaren (not related to John Dice MacLaren), and Mark held onto it for some time. Mark did some research down the MacLaren family tree with the thought that one of them would want it. It remained with Mark for several years before he made the connection and tied the symbols on the cup to FIJI. The cup is quite a spectacle considering it is over 100 years old. There is a carving of MacLaren golfing, and an etching underneath that reads: John Dice MacLaren Watkins Glen Springs New York 1907 On the other side of the cup, there is the FIJI Diamond symbol with etching underneath reading: To Founder: Pi Deuteron, Phi Gamma Delta Dec 20, 1881 A Pioneer in Science John Dice MacLaren, M.D. Born 16 September 1860 Finally Resthaven, Eugene, Oregon Our current President, Will Draper '23, informed our Chapter of its arrival, and many Brothers have since come to view it. It is not every day we receive an item like this in the mail, and the significance behind it is incredible. The cup is in very good shape despite its age, and it now rests in our trophy case in front of the FIJI library. –David Brockman 23 A Long-Lost Piece of Pi Deuteron History

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