Sigma Phi Epsilon - University of Missouri

The N e xt 100 Years MissouriAlpha • 2 • TheSigEpTigerHeart I n April, we gathered to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Missouri Alpha Chapter. In our typical fashion, it was hard to say exactly how many attended as alumni dropped in at the reception on Friday night, attended the luncheon at the football stadium on Saturday afternoon, and the dinner on Saturday night. However, the number of alumni participating was fantastic and many brothers who had not been seen for a while made surprise appearances. Missouri Alpha was quite prominent in the spring 2014 edition of the SigEp Journal. We were ranked 21 among all the 231 chapters in manpower with a membership of 121 (our current membership is 138). We were ranked 9th in recruitment with 54 new members added in the 2013-14 academic year. Lastly, we were ranked 10th in most improved recruitment with an increase of 16 new members (54 versus 38). In the all-important area of academics, the chapter achieved a GPA of 3.056, which was better than the all-fraternity average of 3.037 and the all-male average of 2.929. We still have a ways to go to catch the top SigEp chapter at Yale with a 3.72. Special congratulations go to John Hartman '61. John was honored by Sigma Phi Epsilon for his contributions to the Ruck Leadership Academy and Team Hartman was permanently established as part of the Ruck Academy with a sizeable endowment from many brothers who have been touched by John's contributions over the years. John should also be recognized for his leadership at the University of Missouri as chairman of the Fraternity Consortium, which works closely with University leadership. His work is paving the way so that fraternities and sororities will increase their importance at the University and exist for another 100 years. The brotherhood remains alive and well at Missouri Alpha. Please join us next year for tailgate activities at the chapter house. The parking lot is always full of alumni brothers of all ages, and while there are some regulars, new faces always appear from game to game. Fraternally, Dave LaRusso '76 AVC President dlarusso@mpgtandem.com This summer, the Founders Walk was completed thanks to annual giving by Missouri Alpha alumni. This new sidewalk on the east side of the house will act as a gathering place for Missouri Alphas. John Hartman '61 and the newly elected chapter officers are extremely thankful for alumni's generosity in making this project happen. Welcome, Mamma Michelle! D espite many aspects of Missouri Alpha that are resistant to change, change does occur each year, and this year, one of the biggest changes at Missouri Alpha happens to be of the female sort. We are pleased to announce that on August 8, Michelle Stadler began her role as Missouri Alpha's first housemother in 52 years. Michelle comes to Columbia by way of Westwood, Kansas. She attended KU, where she was a member of Alpha Phi and received a degree in journalism and advertising. After working in advertising for seven years, she decided to join the Navy and worked in the intelligence field. After proudly serving for five years she returned to civilian life, where her career took her into the Joint Forces Warfighters Simulations as a technical writer/editor and trainer. That job took her to Fort Lewis, Washington; Fort Leavenworth, Kansas; Orlando, Florida; Hurlburt Field, Forida; and Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. After a major drawdown in the DOD, she made the decision to return to Kansas. After returning to the Overland Park area, Michelle became inspired to be a housemother after a conversation with an Alpha Phi sister. Soon, Michelle found herself walking in the red door at 405 Kentucky. As the first housemother in 52 years, Michelle knows there are challenges to face. "Both sides are getting accustomed. There are some challenges, and I know they can be met, just not overnight. We are working together well, but I look forward to having improved communication with the boys and the executive board, and just working on improving and changing some things. My main goal is to make sure that the reputation of the house stands and that we stay respected." From working with the kitchen staff to running errands, buying supplies, inspecting day-to-day house cleaning tasks by the members, and assisting with organizing exchange dinners with various sororities, Michelle enjoys her varied roles as housemother. She especially enjoys mingling with the boys and loved her first Missouri tailgate, where she got to see the boys relaxed and having fun, meet parents and alumni, and hear their stories. One of her first encounters with an alumnus came when Donald Funk '55, chapter president from 1953-54, and his wife came to town. "They wanted to walk through the house. They stayed for probably two hours as we talked and reminisced. It was wonderful to hear his stories." Come by the house on your next visit to Columbia to meet Michelle and share your Missouri Alpha stories with her. Our new housemother, Michelle, helped the new members prepare for their serenades.

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