Sigma Phi Epsilon - Kansas State University

Sigma Phi EPSilon • KanSaS BEta ChaPtEr KanSaS StatE UnivErSity • SUmmEr 2015 t h e H O O P o f S T E E L O ver the summer, the AVC addressed some of the normal wear and tear areas of the Chapter House that needed attention. With the exception of one area, there were fewer repairs needed than we've seen in past years, which was welcomed. The one area we are still addressing at this point is the flooring in the individual rooms. Flashback to last fall, a couple of days before the men were to move in, it was discovered that the normal carpet cleaning that had been done a couple weeks prior had left moisture in the carpet and the rooms had been closed up with no air movement or dehumidification. This created a mold situation, and it was decided to remove the carpeting that had been installed 10 years prior in our major house renovation. We had the house inspected by mold experts and the good news was we didn't have any major inherent problems. But it was clear we needed to assess a longer-term flooring option in the rooms given that liquids and food get spilled and 18-21 year olds don't necessarily clean up their carpeting as well as those of us who own our own homes. We carpeted the upper and lower halls but left the rooms with floors exposed while we evaluated the situation. Once the men moved out in the spring, we began testing removal of the old glue and mastic that held the carpeting down and are now considering options on the final floor. We decided on a solid surface that is easy to clean and doesn't hold in moisture, which will also help alleviate mold issues along with better dehumidification of the house. In mid-June, members of the Chapter came back to join a few alumni to help clean out the house, which included removing some of the remaining old carpet and preparing the rooms for cleanup and repairs. The upcoming year will be one of change on many levels for the Chapter. To begin with, many of the upperclassmen will be living out of the house, so the majority of those living in will be freshmen and sophomores. While at first glance this void of upper-class leadership is concerning, the good news is this sophomore class is very strong and holds numerous important executive positions already. Almost all attended the SigEp leadership summit in Oklahoma last spring and are committed to driving the types of change needed to build a culture of excellence. We have a real commitment to fully implementing The Balanced Man program, revamping the new member experience by accelerating the initiation timeline, and exhibiting respect for one another and the facility. Chapter President Tyler Struckhoff '16 is a fifth-year senior who has demonstrated excellent leadership. However, our concern is numbers. We will be below the normal in-house capacity, which will impact our overall finances. We've made a decision as an alumni board to endure at least one semester of lower manpower to ensure we don't sacrifice quality for quantity in recruiting new members. We need the right individuals as members who are committed to living the ideals of Sigma Phi Epsilon. We've made some difficult decisions over the last year with regard to membership and ensuring those in the Chapter are here for the right reasons, and will continue to apply a high standard in this regard. We trust you would agree with that approach. In case you didn't realize, our Chapter will turn 100 in 2018. The freshmen and sophomores will be upperclassmen then, and our collective goal is to showcase an elite SigEp Chapter to all those returning to Manhattan to help us celebrate this momentous occasion. In the meantime, if you have comments, suggestions, or would like to somehow help, we would welcome the assistance. Fraternally, Dan McEntee '86 Kansas Beta AVC President danm@kc.rr.com Summer Updates Bring New Life to Chapter House Alumni Support Needed–How Will You Get Involved? Thanks to the teamwork of Kansas Beta undergraduates and alumni, members moved into a renovated and clean Chapter House this fall. CareerEp Shapes Undergraduate and Alumni Experience Q&A With Casey Sanborn '98 Q: Can you tell me about yourself? A: I grew up in various small towns in central and eastern Kansas. I went to high school at Shawnee Mission South in Overland Park, Kansas, and graduated from high school in Branson, Missouri, in 1992. I attended College of the Ozarks in Point Lookout, Missouri, for one year then went to Kansas State and joined SigEp in 1994. I graduated with a B.S. in electrical engineering in 1998. Q: How were you introduced to the Fraternity? A: A couple of guys I went to school with at Shawnee Mission South, Brian Sulser '97 and Isaac Graves '98, were SigEps and urged me to join. Brent Lorenz '94 did a great job recruiting me as well! Q: What positions did you hold in SigEp? A: At SigEp, I was VP of brotherhood, chaplain, social chairman, and kitchen manager. All of these positions entailed making important decisions, working with and developing others, and setting an example. (Continued on page 2)

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