Beta Theta Pi - University of Wisconsin

The People's Choice Celebrating Brother Steve Gunderson, #1502, UW 1973 O n Saturday, March 26, Alpha Pis from several decades returned to the chapter house to renew the bonds of brotherhood at our Spring Jubilee. After updates from the chapter/capital campaign and recognition of the Fraternal 25s and 50s in attendance, we honored Thomas "OB" Oberwetter '74 for his decades of service to the chapter. Bernie Verhoven '76 gave a moving tribute and read a letter from Bernard Judge '96 thanking OB for his guidance. Also announced was the establishment of the Thomas R. Oberwetter Award for Sustained Service and Dedication to the Alpha Pi Chapter of Beta Theta Pi. 6 BETA THETA PI F ormer Congressman Steve Gunderson '73 turns 71 this year, and if you think that sounds old, I was there when he came through recruitment in the fall of 1970. I remember the political science major from Osseo, Minnesota, as quiet and shy all those years ago. "I grew up in a town so small that I went to a two-room school," Steve laughs. "When I came to UW, I was an introvert, so I decided to go through recruitment. Beta taught me how to successfully meet others in a way that they became lifelong friends as well as how to interact with men from all over the nation." Following graduation, Steve went to broadcasting school in Minneapolis with the hope of becoming a sports announcer. "I had become friends with the family of Art Shannon, the treasurer of the Republican party in Wisconsin," Steve recalls. "I was at his tailgate at a Badger game in fall of 1973 when he suggested I run for the state legislature. I ran, and won, becoming the first Republican from that area to be elected in a long, long time. I was reelected twice more." Over time, Steve's brothers Nels Gunderson '82 and Matthew Gunderson '85 had become brothers of Alpha Pi, and with their help, along with that of other family members, Steve ran for Congress from his district, winning in the Reagan landslide of 1980. He would go on to be reelected eight times, retiring undefeated in 1997. "In all that time, my biggest regret is that we repealed The Fairness Doctrine in 1987," Steve notes ruefully. "This was a law that specified that the media had to present both sides of a political issue in a balanced manner. We felt that the law was too restrictive and that common sense would prevail—of course, we were wrong. The abolishment of the doctrine enabled the one- sided nature of whole news channels that we see today as well as hear much of on talk radio." His proudest accomplishment during his time in office, however, was the legislation he sponsored protecting the upper Mississippi River. "At issue was the fact that the Army Corps of Engineers was concerned with using this part of the river primarily as a shipping lane," Steve said. "My work forced the engineers to maintain the river for multiple uses, such as wetlands, habitat, and recreation." "The biggest difference between politics then and now is the amount of partisanship we see," Steve observes. "We saw our campaigning as a time to be partisan, and the rest of the time as a time to work together. We were all about governance; today, everything is all about power." Following his sixteen years in congress, Steve took senior leadership positions in education and planning, spending six years heading the Council on Foundations, and the last nine years leading Career Education Colleges and Universities. Truth be told, none of us who recruited Steve at Alpha Pi back in 1970 thought he was all that special. It's safe to say we're amazed at how much he's learned in the ensuing 52 years! Based on that, we'll give him the last word on the future of fraternities: "Those that seek the value of place-based education will want other ways, like our fraternity, to build relationships, if these ways are seen as inclusive, pragmatic, and deliberate." Yours in _kai_, Roderick Taylor, #1448, UW 1972 Nominations will be accepted by any board member at any time, and future honorees will be recognized at upcoming alumni events. Thank you to everyone who attended and helped make the Jubilee a success. We appreciate your support of the Alpha Pi chapter and look forward to welcoming you back to 622 Mendota Court again soon. Yours in _kai_, Max Lord, #1991, UW 2007 BBA President P.S. We are always looking for alumni volunteers. If you're inclined to serve Alpha Pi, please get in touch with me. (Left to Right) Bob Schnese '83 Bernie Verhoeven '76, Steve Meyer '76, Mike Imse '77, Bruce Huibregtse '76, George Moore '79, Thomas "OB" Oberwetter '74, and Dan Siedlecki '75 in the renovated Billliards room. Derek Campbell '19 and George Moore '79 in the renovated Chapter House lobby. Max Lord '07 presenting Thomas R. Oberwetter Award to the man himself, Thomas "OB" Oberwetter '74. SPRING JUBILEE UPDATES

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