Chi Psi - University of Mississippi

pg. 3 Alpha Gamma W hen I think about Chi Psi at Ole Miss, I think, fraternity done well. The men who have worked hard to refound this Alpha, in alignment with the Chi Psi mission and values and the University of Mississippi Creed, have established an incredible foundation for the future of this organization on our campus. Since 2013, the men who have come together to form Chi Psi fraternity know who they are and have remained laser-focused on creating a true brotherhood that exemplifies your values. I know many of these men. They transcend self-interest and serve the needs of the larger community. They actively contribute to the university community in meaningful and selfless ways…they also nurture dignity, integrity, and maturity. In doing this, they also exemplify our Creed, by "respecting the dignity of each person, and believing in personal and professional integrity." They remain focused on academic achievement. They understand that good tradition provides stability. For many fraternities, the word "tradition" is code for bad habits or bad behavior, but for this group of young men, it means quality, respect, diversity, authentic and supportive Brotherhood...the things that bring your fraternity's mission to life. The only missing link for this fraternity has been a physical structure, called home, so today we celebrate the Lodge. We celebrate the place where these men will gather and grow. They will grow in numbers, they will grow academically, they will grow memories, and their sense of Brotherhood and commitment to the fraternity's ideals will grow within these walls. Many at Ole Miss believe that the absence of a house for a fraternity on this campus is a barrier…the men of Chi Psi have unequivocally proven them wrong. What I have observed is that the intangible foundation of this fraternity has already been established at Ole Miss. Sure, today we are going to turn dirt and the physical manifestation of that foundation will soon be evident, but the foundation that will provide long-term viability and offer deep development of young men at Ole Miss is already in place. My hope is that the new Lodge inspires the men affiliated with this organization to commit to excellence on a whole new level. Now is the time not to settle—as the dirt will inevitably do—as the physical foundation is established. Instead, I expect much the opposite. The rising of this facility out of the ground should be symbolic of a new birth, and a renewed commitment to Chi Psi and to their own mission and values, but also to the high standards that this University holds for each of you. Congratulations, men of Chi Psi, on reaching this historic milestone. We all look forward to what you will all be able to accomplish on this next level. Thank you. Dr. Brandi Hephner LaBanc, vice chancellor of student affairs (third from right), with members of Alpha Gamma and Chi Psi family during the groundbreaking ceremony on September 19, 2015 "When I Think About Chi Psi, I Think, 'Fraternity Done Well' " Groundbreaking Ceremony Remarks by Dr. Brandi Hephner LaBanc, Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs Alpha Gamma Celebration to Highlight 175th Convention in Williamsburg T he largest gathering in Chi Psi history is scheduled for August 2-7 in historic Williamsburg, Virginia, in celebration of our fraternity's 175 years of "excellence in all things." The evening of Friday, August 5, is set aside for Alpha reunions, and Alpha Gamma will host its event starting at 7 p.m. at the Brickhouse Tavern in Williamsburg. Alpha Gamma alumni and their families, along with invited guests, are encouraged to attend. "There is no business agenda, although we may have some toasts and remarks. The idea is to have FUN and plenty of it," said Eddy Neblett '76, organizer of the event. Please contact Brother Neblett at hneblett@cs.com as soon as possible for more details. For more information about the entire convention week, including the full schedule, go to www.chipsi.org/175convention. Alpha Gamma is a philanthropic leader. Last academic year we launched a campus safety/sexual assault awareness campaign that raised more than $2,500 to upgrade the Code Blue emergency stations across campus. We also participated in other Greek charity events this past academic year, winning first place in the Pi Phi Wing Ching competition, first place in the Phi Psi softball tournament, and first place in the Delta Gamma Milk and Cookies competition. Alpha Gamma is a national leader. We were a finalist for the coveted Thayer Trophy in 2014, and the first Alpha Visitor from Alpha Gamma was added to the staff in 2015. Alpha Gamma has had Educational Trust scholarship recipients every year since our re-founding, including three from 2015. In addition, we had the largest visiting delegation to the Rowe Regional Leadership Conference the last three years. Your Help Is Needed Now! (Continued from page 1)

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