Tau Kappa Epsilon - Iowa State University

THE CHIMES TA U K A P PA E P S I L O N E P S I L O N C H A P T E R I O W A S TAT E U N I V E R S I T Y FA L L 2 0 2 3 W hen Elmer Kaser 1915 E-1 signed the Epsilon scroll on May 28, 1915, with advisors H.P. Flint and P.H. McGraph looking on, do you think he ever thought the Chapter would reach E-2500? Do you wonder if they thought their early leadership would lay the foundation for Epsilon's future success? Unprecedented Growth Who would have predicted nearly 11 decades of success? When Grand Prytanis Straight stepped off the train in Ames for Epsilon's 1915 initiation event, what was he thinking, I wonder? That initiation event suddenly transformed TKE from a local fraternity with four Illinois Chapters into a national fraternity with Epsilon as its fifth! Oscar Dean Davidson 1915 E-5 became the first member of Epsilon Chapter to pass away when he was killed while piloting his airplane on March 15, 1919. Since then, almost 650 additional Epsilon Fraters have followed Frater Davidson into our Chapter Eternal. Epsilon Chapter has survived these deaths, two world wars, wars in Korea, Vietnam, the Gulf, and the crushing economic depression of the 1930s. Epsilon has survived the ups and downs of changing ideas about the need for fraternities, the movie Animal House, and a few ISU presidents not keen on the Greek system. Chapter Challenges Spike Kratochvil, Drake '40 always said: "Recruitment is the lifeblood of our fraternity." More than one bad recruitment season or poor set of Chapter leaders has created frightful challenges to the survival of our beloved Chapter. Harmful cliques or divisive factions of members from time to time have challenged membership to hold together the brotherhood necessary to keep TKE a leading fraternity on the ISU campus. No matter how many massive trophies have been won for VEISHEA, Homecoming, varieties, or Greek Week, leading men must be recruited annually and trained with the Epsilon winning spirit, or failure of the Chapter could be just around the corner. Epsilon Chapter has survived the gauntlet of many challenges thrown in its face. Success Is a Group Effort Everyone who has ever signed the Epsilon scroll should consider themselves a critical and important cog in the overall success of our Chapter. Through 108 years of continuous life as a TKE Chapter, never having to surrender our national charter or go into dormancy is a rare and impressive achievement. All Epsilon members are a winning part of our 27 Top TKE awards as well. Every Epsilon member should feel they are a part of reaching the impressive milestone of 2,500 names signed to our scroll, which now stretches to 57 feet when rolled out. All members should never forget to "seek those men who have awoken from the slumber of mediocrity and whose sense of idealism has been stirred." Our mission of "better men for a better world" remains the reason why Epsilon Chapter should survive long into the future. Yours in the Bond, Roger Underwood '76 E-1239 Epsilon Chapter Alumni Advisor rogeru@riverwoodmgt.com (515) 231-0151 A REMARKABLE ACCOMPLISHMENT Epsilon's Road to 2,500 Members Spike Kratochvil, Drake '40 (right) speaks with a fellow Frater. Ethan Anderson '23 E-2500 (left) and Prytanis Dylan Anderson '21 E-2432 hold Epsilon's latest Top TKE Chapter award. S P E C I A L E D I T I O N

• Cover