Sigma Phi Epsilon - Oklahoma State University

F reshman Follies is a 51-year-old tradition in Oklahoma State Greek life, taking place right before Homecoming. Each year, our new members are paired with those from an OSU sorority to perform a cheesy musical and theatrical performance—all for the benefit for a charity chosen by OSU Fraternity and Sorority Affairs. This is a very impactful time of development for these students, as they are hard at work four days a week making our show as cheesy as possible. In the show, the members perform song and dance and folly around on stage as frantically as possible. For 2022's Follies, our brothers and the women of Gamma Phi Beta raised approximately $4,000 for Stillwater Fine Arts programs, benefiting the Stillwater school systems band, orchestra, choir, and theatre programs respectively. As a whole, the Follies program raised $90,000 for the benefit! Many Oklahoma Alpha alumni value and cherish the memories made at the beginning of their college careers, and the directors who facilitate the show help lead younger members into forming more meaningful relationships—not only with their new brothers, but outside of the chapter as well. Additionally, the chapter's reputation on campus is heavily influenced by our participation in the show (much like the Homecoming house decs). It is a tradition that our chapter has participated in since its inception, and we plan to keep it that way. As one show ends, we patiently await next year's new members; little do they realize that a "cheesy" journey is in their future! Oklahoma Alpha brothers and Gamma Phi Beta sisters collaborate for Freshman Follies 2022! The team's performance raised $4,000 for Stillwater Fine Arts (out of $90,000 raised from the whole show). C harlie Phillips '84 recently gathered with several of his brothers for their 42nd unofficial SigEp reunion—an event he couldn't wait to attend. Over the years, he and his friends have gotten married, raised children, and experienced all the ups and downs that life brings. "The one constant is this gathering we have every year, and I feel extremely lucky to have this group of brothers," he shared. Another event Charlie looks forward to every year is Homecoming, which he started getting involved with in 2016 after his twin daughters graduated from OSU and he found himself visiting Stillwater and the brothers more often to see progress on the new house. "There is an excitement with just being on campus," he said. "I'm very proud of the new house, and we love to meet up with my fraternity brothers and share stories." Charlie has been a barbecue enthusiast for decades, and he enjoys cooking up the classics like brisket, pulled pork, ribs, sausage, and pork belly burnt ends. Last year, he bought a 500-gallon offset smoker and started cooking for the Bedlam game against OU—something that he is now known for. "OSU Homecoming has evolved into an epic event, and I, along with my family, enjoy it so much," he shared. "The fact that I can help the SigEp house, in even a small way, just makes it all the better." Charlie appreciates his brothers like Mike Reddout '85, Darrell Pulliam '84, and Todd Donavan '86, who help with Oklahoma Alpha's success. While assisting with the event is more recent, Charlie remembers having a blast at past Homecomings. Shortly after graduating, he and some of his brothers rented a motor home and traveled from Dallas to Stillwater, where they parked on the street directly in front of Eskimo Joe's and stayed for the duration of the weekend; they had a great time. Charlie and his family live in Keller, Texas, and although they aren't able to make it back to OSU as much as they'd like, they're always excited to attend Homecoming. While they sadly couldn't make it back this year, they were proud of another win against Texas. You can connect with Charlie at chasphill@ yahoo.com to learn more about his favorite Homecoming memories. Charlie is ready to tailgate with his family! Meat You at Homecoming Charlie Phillips '84 Cooks Up Delicious Food for His Brothers A Cheesy (But Beloved) Tradition Oklahoma Alpha Celebrates Another Freshman Follies

• Cover