Sigma Phi Epsilon - University of Colorado

SUMMER 2021 ΣΦΕ C O L O R A D O A L P H A s U N I V E R S I T Y O F C O L O R A D O S I G M A P H I E P S I L O N FlatiroN THE A s a freshman at the University of Colorado, Roger Burdick '69 lived in the dorms with John Insinger '69. While both would be initiated into the Sigma Phi Epsilon brotherhood, they didn't necessarily intend on joining the same fraternity together. "We both went through rush separately," Roger said. "Yet, we both came back from our visits and sang the praises of SigEp!" Both felt very welcomed during their visits and were attracted to the high expectations Colorado Alpha Chapter held in terms of grades, intramurals, and personal growth. Roger and John were the only two freshmen chosen to live in the Chapter House. They went from living in the dorm together to becoming SigEp brothers and roommates in the house. "When we lived together in the house, one thing led to another and John had to miss out on a year with SigEp," Roger said. "When he returned, John had just married a good friend of mine from Boise, Idaho." After living in the house for two years, Roger moved out and got married as well. Together, Roger and John would sporadically return to the house together to spend time with brothers. They shared many fond memories of their early years with SigEp, including filling up the basketball court with sand for a volleyball match, going to luau parties, and competing in intramurals with their brothers. "During my sophomore year, we held the highest cumulative GPA and were crowned intramural champions," Roger said. After graduating from Colorado with a finance major and minors in marketing and geology, Roger moved to Idaho to work for the state's Department of Finance, later attending law school at the University of Idaho. During the dean's opening comments, Roger noticed that fellow SigEp brothers John and Jim Bevis '70 were among the attendees. "You may graduate, but you will always have the support of SigEps," Roger said. "Always!" Today, John serves as chief of staff for U.S. Sen. John Risch of Idaho. Jim was a top divorce lawyer in the state until his recent retirement. Roger spent time as a public defender, prosecutor, magistrate judge, and district judge in Idaho leading up to his appointment to the Idaho Supreme Court in 2003 when Gov. Dirk Kempthorne appointed him to become the 53rd justice. During his time as an Idaho Supreme Court justice, Roger was elected chief justice by his peers on two separate occasions and just finished out his second four-year term in the position. Roger credits much of his success to his formative years with Colorado Alpha. "Many of us go to college and don't know a lot," Roger said. "It was really a wonderful experience to form an immediate bond with people who were achieving their goals. Obviously, you can choose what you want to achieve in, but SigEp gave me a wonderful starting place for my adult journey and it will continue to do so until my journey is done." He encourages active members of Colorado Alpha to embrace the concept that SigEp is a launching place for their futures. "The brotherhood offers support while you're in college thanks to the lifelong friends who will help you along the way," Roger said. Roger lives in Boise, Idaho, and can be contacted at rburdick@idcourts.net. Aiming High Roger Burdick '69 Reflects on Sigma Phi Epsilon's Impact on His Lifelong Legal Career A Tale of Two Hamsters, Part II S ometime after the demise of Ms. Silly's star-crossed would-be lover, Ms. Silly escaped. There was the usual brief commiserating, concerning to what purpose could micro-flamethrowing be put, and how did she escape. But this quickly passed and house life continued on. Then came some annual campus-wide celebration, and the Chapter House was spiffed up and interested public was encouraged to tour the house and see how fraternity men lived. Normally, having a woman above the first floor was strictly enforced with a hefty fine, but of course that was suspended so that one could show their mother or date where they lived. The doors had to remain open and all went as it should. Brother Ian showed his date his room and other parts of the Chapter House sometime after dinner. Being in an appropriate festive mood, and with a straw skimmer hat and a cane, he exuded the dapper bon vivant image to which he aspired and, squiring a coed on his arm, they walked down the second-floor hall. Suddenly, a disreputable rodent scurried forth from one of the rooms and the coed screamed, "Eek! A mouse!!" or maybe something else. Dapper Ian, channeling his inner knight in shining armor, dispatched the attacking rodent with one swipe of his cane, breaking its back and sending it against the wall with a resounding thwack! He quickly shielded his date from the dying animal and returned to whatever else he had planned for the evening, gloating about the points he surely had attained defending his date. He could tell by the increasing firmness and closeness of her now that things were really looking up. (Continued on back) UPDATE ON MEMBERSHIP REVIEW AND CHAPTER HOUSING T he brothers of Colorado Alpha had a challenging 2020, to say the least. In addition to dealing with COVID-19, the Chapter underwent a membership review in early 2020. The Alumni Advisory Council (AAC) was created by the National Board of Directors to govern the Chapter during the membership review and rebuilding process. Twenty-one members went through the membership review and were invited back to the Chapter. These returning members were instrumental in putting the Chapter on the right path for the future. One major consideration for the Chapter's success was whether it was in the best interest of all parties for the undergraduates to live in the Chapter House at 1005 Broadway during the 2020-21 and 2021-22 school years. The Alumni Volunteer Corporation (AVC) is the body tasked with managing the property. Along with input from the AAC and SigEp HQ staff, the AVC determined the best course of action was not to allow the undergraduates to live in the Chapter House at this time. This housing decision enables the reformed Chapter to focus on learning how to function as a SigEp Chapter that can adapt and thrive in the future. Fraternally, Mike Arnold, Iowa State '98 Alumni Advisory Council Chairman txmikey@txmikey.org

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