WHAT IT MEANS TO BE The A BROTHER OF ZBT

Over the course of this semes- ZBT means being a leader in the E ter, the brotherhood at Edgecliff Cornell community as many has flourished with the addition brothers partake in many clubs of 18 new and dedicated broth- and other programs Cornell ers. Morale is at a high as a offers, such as the varsity golf D result of a productive rush and team, symphonic band, Cornell strong representation in the Ambassadors, SHAG, Cornell Cornell community. Tradition Fellows, and orientation Academically, Kappa ranks leaders. among the top three fraternities The outlook for ZBT could not Over the course of the next g every semester in overall house be better as the brotherhood is semester we will continue to GPA. Our social events have strengthened with each passing introduce new brotherhood activ- been outstanding as turnout and day. The proof of this are the ities, such as paintball and other quality of events have been truly many tight-knit relationships fos- outdoor sports and events that e phenomenal. tered by our fraternity, which we will help to bring our brother- Our relationship with other all hope will last long after our hood even closer than it is now. fraternities and sororities on cam- days at Edgecliff and Cornell are Being a brother in ZBT is syn- pus has been fostered through over. There is a compassion and onymous with success, good c the A.D. White Greek Leadership genuine concern for each brother times, strong relationships, giving Conference held on Valentine’s that makes our house great. This back to the community, and Day. The ideas cultivated and bond among brothers is the above all else, the pride and lessons learned from this leader- essence of the ZBT experience. honor of being in ZBT. ship conference have already The future success of Kappa is l been implemented in all aspects secure, and further expansion is Lee Pepper ’06 of the house. Being a brother in a primary goal for the chapter. President

i KAPPA BROTHERHOOD: A MODEL OF EXCELLENCE

For the good and welfare of have a few laughs with all busi- the men who have since become Kappa: That’s the way that we ness aside. With the addition of brothers themselves, we have f start our good and welfare dur- the newly initiated brothers of come to understand better than ing chapter meetings. Good and the Kappa Chapter, the brother- ever what it means to have 70- welfare is a time when all the hood of the house has never felt plus people we can rely on and brothers in the house are around so strong. The new class is a trust. We have put on many f for the chapter meeting, and great addition to the house and great brotherhood events and everyone in turn talks about ensures that the Kappa traditions have hosted many visiting broth- something that happened to him will live on long after our time at ers from other chapters of Zeta in the past week. It is a way for Cornell is over. Beta Tau. And as the seniors, the brothers to take a break from Since rush week, when the who have led the way during work or the stress of tests and brothers came together to meet their four years here with us, leave and continue down their N paths, we can look back and thank them for all their contribu- tions, for teaching the younger members about what the house means to them, and for allowing e the house as a whole to witness brotherhood in its finest form. And as we started the article the way we begin our good and wel- w fare, it will end with the way we finish: It’s great to be in Kappa.

Jason Posner ’05 s Brotherhood Development Director spring/summer Left: 2004 The brothers dressed for a formal. THE HISTORY OF FRATERNITY

From the website of the ZBT National Fraternity: http://www.zbt.org.

Zeta Beta Tau Fraternity was ory and in practice to eliminate Despite ZBT’s best efforts, haz- inspired by Richard J. H. sectarianism as a qualification ing continued and increased in Gottheil, a professor of lan- for membership. frequency and severity. ZBT guages at Spearheaded by the growth concluded that all efforts to and a leader in the early of state and municipal universi- reform the institution of pledg- American Zionist movement. ty systems, hundreds of new ing had failed; pledging was the On December 29, 1898, institutions were opened in the problem. This was because Professor Gottheil gathered quarter-century following World pledges were considered sec- together a group of Jewish stu- War II. By the 1960s virtually ond-class citizens, with no dents from several New York every American had an oppor- rights and no chance to refuse City universities to form a tunity to attend college. From even the most outrageous Zionist youth society. The soci- 1945 to 1969, the number of demands of a brother, unless he ety was called ZBT. ZBT chapters increased from 30 quit the fraternity. In 1989, in a During this brief period, the to 80 units. last-ditch effort to eliminate society came to serve as a kind The history of mergers in the hazing, ZBT eliminated pledg- of fraternal body for college stu- Zeta Beta Tau brotherhood fol- ing and all second-class status dents who, as Jews, were lowed a pattern of linking com- from the fraternity. In its place, excluded from joining existing mon traditions. In 1959, Phi ZBT established a brotherhood fraternities because of the sec- Alpha merged into Phi Sigma program, with minimum stan- tarian practices which prevailed Delta, and in 1961 dards (brotherhood quality stan- at the end of the nineteenth merged into Phi Epsilon Pi. In dards), as well as programs of century in the United States. 1969-’70, and education, bonding, and earn- The continuing need for a Phi Epsilon Pi merged into Zeta ing one’s brotherhood status Greek-letter fraternity open to Beta Tau. that applied to all brothers of Jewish students prompted ZBT Traumatic experiences were ZBT. to change its raison d’etre, generated by the polarization Today, the merged Zeta Beta structure and emphasis and to over the Vietnam conflict. The Tau brotherhood is some become Zeta Beta Tau in 1903. American fraternity system, 110,000 brothers strong, and Zeta Beta Tau expanded rap- including Zeta Beta Tau, was ZBT chapters and colonies are idly. By 1909, it had estab- subsequently affected by the established at over 80 campus lished 13 chapters throughout great wave of anti-establishment locations. Through good times the Northeast and a 14th at feeling that was pervasive and bad, ZBT has been in the at New throughout the country. Many forefront in pioneering new Orleans, thereby taking on a of the chapters which survived concepts—as evidenced by its truly national dimension. In this period of turmoil did so in very founding, its elimination of 1913, it established its first a weakened condition. During sectarian membership practices, Canadian chapter at McGill the late 1970s and the early its acceptance of mergers, its University in Montreal. Five 1980s, there was a renewed elimination of pledging, and its years later, it founded its first interest in fraternity life, result- ability to solve enormous prob- West Coast Chapter at the ing in increased initiation statis- lems when others abandoned University of Southern tics, revival of many dormant the effort. California in Los Angeles. At the chapters, and expansion to new ZBT continues to maintain a 1954 National Convention, the campuses. tradition of leadership and delegates amended Zeta Beta During the 1980s, every respect in the interfraternity Tau’s constitution, ritual, and Greek-letter group continued world. internal procedures both in the- their efforts to stop hazing.

The EDGECLIFF NEWS

Published regularly by the Kappa Chapter of Zeta Beta Tau at for its members and friends. News items and pictures are welcome at all times and should be sent to Zeta Beta Tau Fraternity at Cornell, Alumni Records Office, P.O. Box 876, Ithaca, NY 14851-0876. The Edgecliff News Page 2 Spring/Summer 2004 HELP US FIND KAPPA CHAPTER KEEPS THESE “LOST” GETTING BETTER

ALUMNI! Rush could not have gone Getting these new members much better than it did this into the house has revived the We have labeled the follow- year for Kappa. The newest enthusiasm that others have for ing brothers as “lost” because we semester has brought in a great this house as well. Everyone is no longer know how to reach new crop of brothers to Zeta quite excited to get to know them! If you can provide a postal Beta Tau. We have added 18 these spirited kids even better, or e-mail address for any of these new members to our brother- and we have confidence that alumni, please write to us at hood. These kids are amazing these 18 new members will Zeta Beta Tau Fraternity at people and will be good broth- make ZBT stronger and better. Cornell, Alumni Records Office, ers. I am looking forward to P.O. Box 876, Ithaca, NY 14851- spending the rest of my Michael Ispass ’06 0876. Thank you! Cornell years with them. Vice President

George Falk ’32, Albert Phillips ’34, Arnold Blackstone ’36, Irwin Harris ’37, James Kaplan ’39, Richard Sloss ’39, Richard HOUSE IS IN GREAT SHAPE Rothman ’40, Reuben Garner ’42, Alan Augenblick ’46, Eugene Nagel ’49, Jerome Winston ’49, After one semester, the works, too. These will open Tom Cornsweet ’50, Alexander house is in great shape. The the way for some capital Bernitz ’52, Harold Stone ’53, house has been extremely improvements over the sum- Donald Zundell ’53, S. B. Benioff clean and has required less mer. ’54, Thomas Nobil ’54, Gerald maintenance than usual. This is Next year, the house will Stone ’54, Alfred Aronson ’55, a result of the brothers’ genuine be in the best condition any- Stuart Braun ’56, Joel Silverberg affection for the house. Live-ins one has ever seen for awhile, ’57, Morton Metzler, Jr. ’58, love the place they call home giving us something extra to Burton Siegel ’58, Howard Stein and care about the condition of look forward to at Edgecliff ’58, Donald Katz ’59, Frederic their living quarters. next year. We are very pleased Sukoff ’59, David Friedman ’60, There is a lot to look for- with these continuing improve- Boris Goldstein ’60, David ward to this semester. The ments, which should make the Griedman ’60, Michael Abrams brothers have chosen to take freshmen more excited than ’62, James Greenberg ’62, Eric on a project of redoing the ever to be living in the house. Morrison ’62, David Fisher ’64, chapter room. They plan to Lawrence Feinberg ’65, Martin Ecker ’66, Robert Hatcher ’67, sand and repaint the walls and Sal Giglio ’06 Paul Levine ’67, Paul Bloom ’69, to replace the carpet. Other House Manager Steven Kanner ’69, Jeff Katz ’69, minor projects are in the Peter McCabe ’69, Douglas McKenzie ’69, Douglas Roberts ’69, William Rubenstein ’69, Ely Zimmerman ’69, Reed Bye ’70, Peter Cooperman ’70, Eric Parks ’70, James Smith ’70, Richard Vanschuabel ’70, Mark Cordover ’71, Robert Fisher ’71, Steven Treston ’71, Richard Turner ’71, Steve Crozier ’73, Brian Shiffrin ’74, Stanley Bray ’75, William Kurland ’77, Warren Weiner ’78, Petur Hansson ’80, Joseph Dimilia ’84, Steven Lewengrub ’89, Blaine Riggle ’89, Marc Landau ’90, Andrew Tumpowsky ’90, Kevin Watson ’93, Greg Cohen ’94, Gregg Fisher ’94, Lee Goldberg ’94, Raymond Nelson ’94, Richard Weinerman ’94, Matthew Allen ’96, Adam Chase ’96, Alex Gershenhorn ’96, Julian Gomez ’96, Todd Kashdan ’96, Matt The Edgecliff News Middleman ’96, Jason Cohen ’97, Page 3 Daniel Levinsohn ’98, David The new brothers pose for a picture during Valentine’s Date Night. Travin ’98. Spring/Summer 2004 A•L•U•M•N•I • W•R•I•T•E

Some months ago, author and Stay in touch with EDWARD Please note this new address playwright PHILIP H. FREUND A. PERELES ’61 at 640 Pine St., for SANKET A. AKERKAR ’94: ’29 was interviewed on the BBC Suite 100, Philadelphia, PA 222 E. 34th St., #821, New in London (also broadcast in the 19106. York, NY 10016. U.S.) about a book he’d written 69 years ago. In 2003 he had ••••• ••••• two books published in England and the U.S., Myths of Creation JULES B. KROLL ’63 resides at “We just had our third child, (a new edition) and Stage by 18 Parsonage Point, Rye, NY Emma, in July 2003,” writes Stage: The Birth of Theatre. Two 10580. ERIC C. RESNICK ’94 (30 Clancy more volumes are to be issued Lane, Rancho Mirage, CA this year. Philip’s name, and that ••••• 92270; [email protected]). of his sister, Regene (Freund) “Our oldest son, Michael, is Cohane (founder of the national HOWARD SCHLEZINGER ’64 four; daughter Allie is two. We sorority , which is general manager at Unico are enjoying living and working had its origin at Cornell), are Alloys and Metals in Columbus, in the Palm Springs area of inscribed on a marble slab Ohio, where he lives at 1640 Southern California. Please con- installed on the Cornell campus. Coppertree Rd. (43232). Send tact us if you are ever in the Philip lives at 1025 Fifth Ave., e-mail to Howard at hschlesh@ area.” New York, NY 10028. aol.com. ••••• ••••• ••••• JOSHUA A. BRETSTEIN ’95 is When we last heard from A professor of radiology, director of the legal division of HUBERT M. ARONSON ’44, he MICHAEL E. SIEGEL ’64 can be First Choice Staffing in New York was hoping that many of his reached at [email protected] City. Write to him at 345 E. 80th classmates would make it back or at P.O. Box 3913, Rancho St., Apt. 4H, New York, NY for their 60th reunion in June. To Santa Fe, CA 92067. 10021, or at jbretstein@ find out how it went, drop him a firstchoiceny.com. line at 12 Brookview Dr., ••••• Pleasantville, NY 10570. ••••• JEFFREY S. KONVITZ ’66 lives ••••• at 12660 Mulholland Dr., Bever- Stay in touch with MATT ly Hills, CA 90210. Send e-mail FLORIN ’98 at backeastTV@ Retiree SEWELL J. SHUGER to Jeffrey at [email protected]. aol.com or at 121 Fleet St., #B, ’46 makes his home at 8002 Marina Del Ray, CA 90292. Brynmor Court, Unit 301, ••••• Pikesville, MD 21208. ••••• GREGORY R. GORDON ’80 ••••• is pleased to report that his son, Steven, will be a freshman at “Eleanor, my wife of 47 years, Cornell this fall. “Now I really DECEASED passed away on November 10,” feel mature!” Greg would love to writes ISRAEL S. HURWITZ ’52. hear from brothers of his era at We regret to report the death “Fortunately, I have great support [email protected] or at 22 Bridle of the following alumni: from family and friends. It’s still Path, Holland, PA 18966. a lonely life, even though I keep MERRILL D. GROSS ’34 busy. I’m in my office one or ••••• March 4, 2003 two days a week practicing office orthopedics. I’m also CRAIG F. SCHREIBER ’81 JARED H. JOSSEM ’64 doing some volunteer work. I’d works in IBM’s corporate head- April 21, 2003 love to hear from any of the quarters, and his wife, Mary, is brothers from 1949 to 1959 who the head of the music depart- ROBERT C. SCHALLMAN ’46 remember me—the one who fed ment at Rye Country Day May 29, 2004 them those great meals at School. They make their home at The Edgecliff News Edgecliff for $1.55 daily.” Our 15 Burbank Ave., Bedford Hills, JACK B. TAMARKIN ’53 address for “Bud” is 205 Nobscot NY 10507. December 2003 Page 4 Rd., Sudbury, MA 01776; [email protected]. Spring/Summer 2004 •••••