March 2015
Alpha Sigma Phi
tomahawk
Newsletter
MAKING AN IMPACT
TO BETTER THE WORLD
Delta Pi (Delaware) participated in UDance 2015, an annual campus-wide event to raise funds to fight childhood cancer.
Zeta Kappa (Whitewater) took the opportunity to support the LGBT
community by sponsoring a recent event.
Epsilon Theta (Otterbein) gave back and volunteered to
cook a meal for a local fire house.
Fraternity Notes and Reminders
Recent Events and Their
Impact on Alpha Sigma Phi
Sigma Alpha Epsilon - University of Oklahoma
Alpha Sigma Phi abolished discrimination in 1950 at our
National Convention and reaffirmed in 1990 and 2004,
through Position Statements that we prohibit any form of
discrimination.
UPCOMING DEADLINES
Awards & Scholarships
DEADLINE: APRIL 15
Time is running out to nominate a brother for his dedication
to the Old Gal. Take a look at the following list of awards and
scholarships and nominate a worthy candidate today!
“Racism is counter to everything that Alpha Sigma Phi stands
for. It does not encourage bonds of friendship based upon
individual merit and achievement. It does not demonstrate
leadership.”
- Excerpt from 1990 Position Statement
“Our constitution states that no chapter shall permit
discrimination in membership selection, initiation, chapter
operations, or other activities of the Fraternity based on any
individual’s race, color, creed, religion, disability or sexual
orientation.”
- Excerpt from 2004 Position Statement
While it would be easy to single out the incident at the
University of Oklahoma as an isolated incident, Alpha Sigma
Phi is committed to ensuring that all of our chapters embrace
our Position Statement and through continuing education, we
will continue to Better the Man, regardless of race, ethnicity,
sexual orientation or religious background.
Kappa Delta Rho – Penn State University
In 2013, Alpha Sigma Phi was proud to be the first Fraternity
to partner with RAINN (Rape, Abuse, Incest National Network),
the country’s largest non-profit organization founded to combat
sexual assaults. At the 2014 Grand Chapter, Alpha Sigma Phi
passed a Position Statement against Sexual Assault.
“Our Fraternity’s Code of Conduct states that each member
will respect the dignity of all persons, and therefore, I will not
physically, psychologically or sexually abuse any human
being.”
- Excerpt from 2014 Position Statement on Sexual Assault
Alpha Sigma Phi was proud to be a leader on this issue, well
before it became popular and captured the attention of the
national media. April is Sexual Assault Prevention month, so
look towards next month’s issue to see what our chapters and
colonies are doing to raise awareness on campus.
Alpha Sigma Phi will continue to do our part to demonstrate
that, consistent with our Values, we are a fraternity that does
not discriminate, welcomes all potential members and treats
all brothers with respect and dignity. We will continue to be a
leader in the campus community as we work to ensure that
Alpha Sigma Phi members are viewed as gentlemen and our
houses are viewed as the safest place on a college campus.
Zeta Omicron (South Florida) pose with their Manigault Citation
Click award/scholarship category for application
ALUMNI AWARDS
UNDERGRADUATE AWARD
SCHOLARSHIPS
Elevate Registration
DEADLINE: APRIL 15
Click here for registration options
Alpha Sigma Phi will take over
downtown Columbus, Ohio this
summer as part of Elevate:
International Leadership
Conference at the Renaissance
Columbus Downtown Hotel.
Having the opportunity to
gather and share in
brotherhood with Alpha Sigs
from across the world is an
inherent benefit of being a member of an international
fraternity. At Elevate, specific tracks are offered to make the
experience as relevant and applicable to everyone attending.
Your $225 registration fee includes three nights at the
Renaissance, meals, participation in the Ritual
Exemplification, and tickets to the Cardinal and Stone Award
Banquet.
Additionally, any alumnus brother in good standing with the
Fraternity is welcome to register and attend Elevate. If you are
an alumnus, click here for registration information.
Tomahawk Newsletter | March 2015
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Philanthropy: Big Brothers Big Sisters
Alpha Pi Hits the Lanes for BBBSA
Each year, Big Brothers Big Sisters of America (BBBSA)
hosts a “Bowl For Kids Sake” event to raise funds for
the continued support of young people, their families
and volunteers. The men of Alpha Pi (Purdue)
participated in their local BBBSA’s edition, “Shake,
Rattle and Bowl” in efforts to help BBBSA of Greater
Lafayette (IN) reach its 2015 goal.
Collectively, the event raised over $67,000 for the local
campaign, as some 250 participants - including the
brothers of Alpha Pi - came out and made their impact
felt.
Next year’s aspirations for Alpha Pi include getting
more greek organizations involved in this event,
according to Secretary Andrew Page, Purdue ’14.
“Giving back to the community is a great thing,” he
said. “We love seeing what we can do to make a
difference and how events like these have a lasting
impact on the people that we do them for.”
Alpha Pi (Purdue) does their part in BBBSA’s “Bowl For Kids Sake.”
ABOUT BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF AMERICA
As the nation’s largest donor and volunteer supported mentoring network, Big Brothers Big Sisters makes meaningful,
monitored matches between adult volunteers (“Bigs”) and children (“Littles”), ages 6 through 18, in communities across the
country. BBBSA develops positive relationships that have a direct and lasting effect on the lives of young people.
Mission: provide children facing adversity with strong and enduring, professionally supported one-to-one relationships that change their lives
for the better, forever.
THIS MONTH IN ALPHA SIG HISTORY
Chapter Founder Days
3/2/1979: Delta Zeta, University of North Carolina - Charlotte
3/13/1937: Beta Rho, University of Toledo
3/25/1996: Delta Phi, Grand Valley State University
3/26/1988: Delta Xi, Plattsburgh State University
3/27/1909: Iota, Cornell University
3/28/1931: Beta Theta, Rutgers University
3/29/2014: Zeta Rho, George Mason University
March Milestones
Thirty-one men at California State University, Chico
became new members to Alpha Sigma Phi on March 8,
2010. The colony was later chartered as the Epsilon Psi
Chapter on January 22, 2011.
On March 13, 1965, the Gamma Zeta chapter at
Bowling Green State University was re-chartered. Grand
Junior President John L. Blackburn, Missouri Valley ’49,
was keynote speaker at the re-installation banquet.
Executive Secretary Ralph F. Burns, Ohio Wesleyan ’32,
Grand Treasurer Ray Glos, Illinois ’22, Grand
Councilor Gardner Mason, Michigan ’17 and Grand
Province Chief Al Wise, Baldwin Wallace ’42, attended
the re-chartering.
Tomahawk Newsletter | March 2015
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Donor/Volunteer Spotlight
Name: James (Jim) McCornock
Chapter and Initiation: Purdue ’57 (Alpha Pi)
Education: BS, Chemical Engineering, Purdue University ’61
MBA, University of Michigan ’71
Hometown: Iron River, Michigan
Fraternity Positions: New Member Education
Volunteer Positions: Treasurer - Lowcountry Developmental Center, Dataw Island United Way Committee,
Board Member - United Way of the Lowcountry
When did you graduate? What did you decide to do with your career?
I graduated in January, 1961 from Purdue University and also commissioned as an Ensign in the US Navy. I spent eight years as a Naval
officer serving on both a destroyer, USS Willis A. Lee, (DL-4) and a fast attack nuclear submarine, USS Permit (SSN-594). Resigned Navy
Commission in October 1968 and attended University of Michigan from January, 1969 until June 1970 graduating with a MBA with
Distinction. Worked for Owens-Illinois, Inc. from July 1970 through March 1988 with last job as Vice-President, Finance, Plastics and
Closures Group, a $1.6 billion plastics business. I became CFO of Toledo Molding and Die, Inc. in April, 1989 and retired in March, 1998. I
then moved to Dataw Island, South Carolina in September, 1999. When I left the Navy in 1968, I decided I wanted to be in a financial
position rather than an engineering position. So, my career evolved in the financial area but my strong technical background of Chemical
and Nuclear Engineering were strong aids along the way.
How has being a part of the Fraternity helped you in your professional career?
My experiences as part of the Alpha Pi chapter of Alpha Sigma Phi were very satisfying . I learned how to get along well with a diverse group
of brothers and formed many long-lasting friendships. These friendships are still very active as I am part of a group of Alpha Pi brothers that
having been getting together annually since 1996 in places all over the United States. This group has been come to be known loosely as the
Alpha Pi Alumni Reunion Club. Brother Don Morgan and myself hosted the first of these events in 1996 in Toledo, Ohio. Every time we meet
as a group it seems just like we were back in West Lafayette enjoying each other’s company at the chapter house.
What is the most rewarding part of working with the Fraternity as an alumnus volunteer/donor?
For the past several years I have been working with the National Fraternity to push for the development of a fund for the Alpha Sigma Phi
Foundation from our Alpha Pi Alumni Reunion Group. I feel the Foundation’s efforts in both chapter growth and chapter improvement have
been outstanding. Most recently, with the restart of the Alpha Pi chapter, it has been my desire to direct this potential fund primarily as an
Alpha Pi chapter endowment fund administered by the Foundation to benefit the long term financial stability of the Alpha Pi chapter.
As an alumnus, why did you decide to donate to the Foundation?
My initial intent was to direct my donations to the Foundation. With the change mentioned above, I concluded that the Alpha Pi chapter
could very well use some improved financial support . My many happy times at Purdue at Alpha Pi were instrumental in this change of
direction. I have made a financial commitment of $50,000 of which $5,000 is for the Foundation and $45,000 is for the Alpha Pi
endowment. Of this, the $5,000 for the Foundation and $20,000 has already been made in cash and the remaining $25,000 will be an
estate gift. I have been very impressed with the Foundation work in expanding Alpha Sigma Phi nationally and also amazed at the quick
response of the Foundation in it’s help to restart the Alpha Pi chapter so quickly. All our Alpha Pi chapter alumni should become fully
informed of this great transformation and think about assisting the Alpha Pi chapter’s continuing success with a donation to the Alpha Pi
chapter endowment fund.
What do you hope your commitment does for Alpha Pi and the Fraternity at large in years to come?
First, because of my bias for the Alpha Pi chapter’s success, I am hoping that the Alpha Pi chapter endowment fund will grow large enough
to become a significant factor in providing for educational benefits to the undergraduate members in the form of scholarships and
leadership, and other training programs available from the Foundation and continuing educational related improvements to the chapter
house. Secondly, because of the obvious Foundation’s good works, I hope to have helped stimulate improved giving to the Foundation by my
actions.
Tomahawk Newsletter | March 2015
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Bettering the World
Every Mile Matters A Solute to Service
Epsilon Delta (Maryland) has been
heavy on the trail of giving back,
volunteering and going the extra
mile. Brother Jason Besser,
Maryland ’12, will go a couple extra
miles - 4,000 to be exact - when he
takes part in the Ulman Cancer Fund
for Young Adults’ 4k for Cancer this
summer. The cross-country haul
begins in San Francisco, California
and concludes in Baltimore,
Maryland.
Brother John Matthews, Marietta ’85, has served several
tours in Afghanistan and Iraq. Brother Dean Haine,
Marietta ’59, reached out to Matthews prior to a reunion
at Marietta in 2008, but Matthews was on a tour and was
unable to attend.
The Ulman Cancer Fund for Young
Adults is a non-profit organization
committed to enriching the lives of
young adults with cancer through
lending support, education and
connectivity with their families.
Matthews’ pride for his Marietta brothers has not stopped
there. Upon reading of the Chapter’s recent involvement in
a campaign with Homes for our Troops in Marrietta’s latest
Chapter Newsletter, The Triangle, Matthews wanted Haine
to send a message to his undergraduate brothers.
It was at that point the alumni of the Delta Chapter of
Alpha Sigma Phi decided to fundraise and send school
supplies to his unit for children in Jalalabad. The gesture
was well received by Matthews, as he returned to Marietta
at a reunion in 2010 and presented the Chapter with a flag
he’d flown over his base the day of the reunion in 2008.
His quest will be a dedication to friends and family affected
by cancer, Besser said.
“I have dreamed of a coast-to-coast run for a long time
now,” he said. “Being able to support young adults affected
by cancer makes this dream more impactful than I could
have imagined it to be.”
To learn more about Besser’s aspirations and goals for the
4k, click here.
Alpha Sigma Phi is featuring 30 chapters and colonies in the
30 days of April, highlighting what it means to be an Alpha Sig.
Send us your chapter’s or colony’s success stories during the
2014-15 academic year to be featured. These success stories
could include philanthropic or service triumphs, individual
academic achievements, brotherhood events, and literally
anything else you and your chapter/colony are proud of. Send
your photos and descriptions to Ian Fraser, Assistant Director of
Communications, for inclusion in the “Alpha Sigma Phi 30 in 30”
social media campaign.
“Homes for our Troops is a great cause,” Matthews said.
“Next time you talk with Sigs from Marietta College, let
them know how proud I am of them for helping this cause.”
Delta dedicated the month of March to raise funds for
Homes for our Troops by collecting cans on campus and
engaging in penny wars between sororities on campus.
For more information on Delta’s campaign with Homes for
our Troops, click here to view The Triangle.
Tomahawk Newsletter | March 2015
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