Sigma Phi Epsilon - University of Oregon

p. 2 OREGON BETA HEARTBEAT L ike all good stories, details are a bit murky, but one thing is for certain: For decades, SigEps at Oregon Beta Chapter conducted one of the most talked about and outrageously fun parties, known as Swamp Stomp. Believed to have started in 1952, this annual event was a spoof of another fraternity's Sweetheart Ball. Conveniently located near the Mill Race, it was only natural to term it as the Swamp Stomp. It was a costumed party that, over time, became the highlight among the Greek community. Members spent hours decorating the Chapter House in a variety of fashions including vines, leaves, moss, branches, flowers, and water features. One anonymous member mentioned that he felt good about conducting community service by helping the City of Eugene remove invasive species of plants at Hendricks Park. But, for many years, the centerpiece of the party was the slide. What once started as a 10-foot slide from an apple tree evolved into a massive wooden structure built by 20-year-old non-engineering students. The slide was a multi-storied nightmare created with scaffolding and a death-defying drop into the dining room of the Alder House. As Blair Hook '96 remembers, "The brothers who were supervising the construction seemed like unlimited founts of knowledge. They were able to direct the building of something that I had never even seen put together, and just when we would run into some problem, another member would show up and offer a solution, then direct us in how to execute it. I think at some point, it even started to rain, but this proved a temporary obstacle because the slide wasn't going to build itself!" Blair went on to add, "The culmination of the build was lifting and attaching the two sections of the slide itself. With about 30 members gathered around, from freshmen to seniors, we started hoisting the slide into place. This memory of being surrounded by guys who would hopefully become my friends and brothers, all working toward a common goal, is something that I will cherish forever. There have been many times since then that I have had the opportunity to be part of a team working toward a common goal and had the fantastic feeling of accomplishment, but this memory of working together, inclusion, and feeling of value and worth is the foundation of my experience." While the slide was an attraction, who could forget the countless hours in creating the maze of tunnels and in later years, the creation of an actual swamp pool in the living room, complete with steamy fog and hanging vines? It took efforts from everyone, from the pledges to the seniors, to pull off such a memorable event. We'd love to hear your recollections. What was your favorite Swamp Stomp story? REMEMBERING AN ANNUAL FALL TRADITION––SWAMP STOMP T he day before Raj Shah '20 received the J. Edward Zollinger Outstanding Senior Award, he had no idea he was being considered for such an honor. "The day before it was announced, the guys lied and said I was in the top three for some award and invited me out," he remembers. "Then they told me what I had won, even though it was supposed to be a secret!" Raj felt truly respected and humbled by his Oregon Beta brothers, who felt that if anyone at the Chapter deserved it, it was him. Helping Brothers Reach Their Potential Award-Winning Senior Raj Shah '20 Credits Success to SigEp (Continued on page 4)

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