G.D. FIJI Volume CXI June 9, 2019

In This Edition: • Three Knox Fraternity Awards • Revived House Corporation • FIJI Athletes • Campus Involvement • Pledge Class • Senior Class • New Executive Board

A Special Thank You! New Beginnings We would like to give a The Gamma Deuteron Chapter is on an upturn in these last special thank you to couple of years. From rebuilding a bridge of communication graduate brothers Steve with the campus, the college, and the town of Galesburg; to Malecha (’81), Ben reestablishing the house corporation and setting up goals to Shakman (’90), and improve our chapter. In this year’s edition of the G.D. FIJI David Brackman you will be able to find the evidence of a chapter that is (’81). During our time writing this edition both looking to continue the trend of improvement that was set graduate brothers gave us up by this year’s graduating seniors. With the help of Flynn very helpful feedback in Hersh (’22) (Publications Chair) and George Gilligan making sure that we (’22) (Alumni Relations) we have made it our goal to be able could accomplish the best to thank all of our brothers for the hard work and work that we could do. This goes without saying dedication that they have given for our common goal of that Phi Gamma Delta, improvement. truly is not for College Days Alone. — Oscar Sanchez (’22) (Corresponding Secretary) P! Emerging Fraternity Best Fraternity On Campus Leader

(From lef to right) Zane Huffman (’20), Nick Piler (’21), Davin Conway (’21), and Tianna Cervantez After holding the position of Recruitment Chair in the Inter For this year’s Knox College Greek Life Awards, the Gamma Deuteron Fraternity Council (IFC), our chapter was named as the Fraternity of the Year. Much work was done chapter’s Vice-President/Treasurer for this award, such as the improvement of philanthropy activities that Nick Piller (’21) made huge was made possible through the help and leadership of brother Brady progress for the council’s goal of Sember (’20). Brady has rebooted the role of Philanthropy Chair and expanding fraternity life on campus. service hours are now higher and more consistent. During his time, Knox College fraternities saw an increase in the Most Outstanding Social Media Presence number of students that pledged for From the revitalization of the Corresponding Secretary role that was the year. Over 50 students pledged done by brother and now president of our chapter, Jason’s work was set during winter term, a number that on making sure that communication and presence of our chapter with had not been seen in the last four campus and International were one of the main priorities. As a result of years. During his time on IFC our his work and election, Jason White (’21) and the Executive Board have chapter’s Time Keeper, Davin created a Publications Chair so that our presence on social media can Conway (’21) also held a position. continue growing. Davin’s work on community engagement lead to the increase of Advisor of the Year fraternity involvement in the town of Galesburg. As a chapter our work alone can do so much on campus and in our community, but with the help of our Faculty Advisor we have been able to do much more. Tianna Cervantez has worked as our main advisor on campus and was well deserved on receiving this award. We hope to continue working hard together to achieve more goals.

2 House Corporation Revived

(From lef to right) Russ Crawford (’72), Steven Malecha (’81), Ben Shakman (’90), Joseph Morrison (’79), and David Brackman (’81)

(Not shown in picture are Steven Czerwinski (’82), Jack Templeton (’87), and J. Randal Cox (’88))

The House Corporation was revived on October 11th, 2018. The founders of the new association were Russ Crawford (’72), Steven Malecha (’81), Ben Shakman (’90), Joseph Morrison (’79), David Brackman (’81), Steven Czerwinski (’82), and Jack Templeton (’87). The reestablishment of the house corporation was achieved through the help of these graduate brothers that were also assisted by graduate brother Tom O’Neal (’77). We thank them all and look forward on working hard with them in the future. We would like to mention that graduate brother J. Randall Cox (’88) is our Purple Legionnaire. The Purple Legionnaire is an ex-officio member of the House Corporation and does not vote as a director of the House Corporation, but provides valuable input and linkages with the Chapter and International.

3 FIJIs in Sports

Baseball

E.J. Roncone (’22) - Newcomer of the Year Andrew Ponce (’20) - Al Conference

Kobe Shutter (’20) - Al Conference Dalton James (’19) - Al Conference

The 2019 Prairie Fire season was full of ups and downs, but it is needless to say that none of those successes throughout the season would have occurred without members of the Gamma Deuteron Chapter. Freshman newcomer, E.J. Roncone (’22), won Midwest Conference Newcomer of the Year by posting a 1.92 ERA and striking out 43 batters throughout the season. Three Gamma Deuteron members also were named Midwest Conference South Division All-Conference Team. Those members were: Andrew Ponce (’20), Dalton James (’19), and Kobe Shutter (’20). Ponce was a key member of the pitching staff and posted a 2.01 ERA and struck out 27 batters. James led the team with a .359 batting average and also led the team in stolen bases with 19. Shutter led the team in homers with 3 and runs with 24. Among new members of the Gamma Deuteron chapter, seven of them are also on the baseball team. This gave the chapter a total of 20 Knox FIJI baseball players for this year.

4

Duncan Wheeler (’19) - Individual Midwest Conference Winner Noah Manzo (’21) - Newcomer of the Year

The 2019 Prairie Fire Golf season was a success for the team and members of the Gamma Deuteron Chapter. Brothers George Gilligan (’22), Duncan Wheeler (’19), Jack Culbertson (’22), Noah Manzo (’21) and

Jason White (’21) were all members of the team. Wheeler won an individual Midwest All Conference title by having the lowest score three-day score in Midwest Conference history. Wheeler also won 1st place at the Blackburn invite, while Gilligan placed 5th. Wheeler also took home 2nd at the Loras Invite. Manzo won Midwest Conference Newcomer of the Year as well as being All Conference by placing 6th at the conference meet. Four members of the Gamma Deuteron chapter represented the Prairie Fire at the Midwest Conference meet this year. Expect great things for the future for the Gamma Deuterons members of the Knox golf team. FIJI Athletes

Kobe Shutter (’20) - Al Conference

In Football, tight end Kobe Shutter (’20) won Midwest Conference All Conference honors during the 2018 Season. Shutter caught four touchdowns for 288 yards. In Soccer, Jake Totty (’22) and Santiago Medina (’21) helped the Prairie Fire Soccer Team to win the 2018 Midwest Conference Championship. In , Oscar Sanchez (’22) helped out the Knox men’s tennis team finish their season with 2 wins for the first time in almost 2 years. Sanchez won 3 singles matches and 1 doubles match on his first collegiate season. In , Sungmin Jin (’22) finished his first collegiate season with 18 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 steals. Jin converted six of eight shots from the floor and made three of six free throws.

5 FIJI Involvement Active Bystanders The new executive board participated in the Active Bystander event during the Take Back the Night week. The event focused on proactive ways in keeping a safe environment for all people. During this event the executive board engaged in activities and scenarios in which they were taught how to respond and handle them. With this event the executive board now looks on better ways to host registered events and act as active bystanders on campus.

Lincoln-Douglas Debates Documentary Graduate brother Eric Newnham (’90) was back at Knox working on a project; his patriotic film was Pro- Lincoln, Pro-Knox, Pro-Illinois, and Pro- Galesburg. Eric worked with Professor Doug Wilson, Historian Owen Muelder, Professor Fred Hord, and Knox President Teresa Amott to create his film. This film was written and directed by a GD Fiji and was a great opportunity to show what Fijis do at Knox College before and after graduation.

Take Back the Night All members of the Gamma Deuteron chapter went out to stand in solidarity with survivors of sexual assault at the Take Back the Night event on campus. Brothers took part in a vigil for the victims and also partook in a march around campus to spread awareness. Brothers volunteered at the fair before the vigil took place. Volunteers strove to educate members of the community about the issue of sexual assault and interpersonal violence. Brothers experienced with the community; a powerful night as we took a stand against sexual assault.

6 This Year’s Pledge Class

(From back row on lef to font row on right)

This year’s pledge class was a total of 12, all pledges were freshmen and all pledges became initiates. This year’s pledge class will become fully active brothers of the chapter during this coming school year.

Jake Totty— St. Louis, Missouri; Francis Howell High School, Business Major

Ben Rogina— Joliet, Illinois; Joliet West High School, Business Major

Chase Thies— Stewardson, Illinois; Stewardson-Strasburg High School, Pre-Med

Ej Roncone— Lindenhurst, Illinois; Lakes Community High School, Economics Major

Chris McTeague— Salt Lake City, Utah; Judge Memorial Catholic High School, Pre-Med

George Gilligan— Falls Church, ; High School, Business Major

Matt Shover— Barry, Illinois; Western High School, Undecided

Jack Culbertson— Wilmette, Illinois; New Trier High School, Economics Major

Oscar Sanchez— Lake Villa, Illinois; Grayslake North High School, Psychology Major

Flynn Hersh— Glenview, Illinois; North Shore Country Day School, Political Science Major

Joey Salazar— Denver, Colorado; Regis Jesuit High School, Political Science Major

Sungmin Jin (Not Pictured)— Buffalo Grove, Illinois; Adlai E. Stevenson High School, Chemistry Major

7 A Thank You and Congratulations to our Seniors!

Chilembwe Alex Peck— Julian Wicks Djassi Asante Graduated with a — Graduated — Graduated major in computer with a major with a major in science and a minor in secondary computer in chemistry. Alex education and science. Chili will will be working at a major in be taking a gap Boeing as a software english. Julian year. engineer, specializing will be in flight training deciding his systems. future location to work as a teacher.

Dalton James— Graduated with a Duncan Wheeler— Graduated Jack Barreca— Graduated with a major in environmental studies and with a major in economics and a major in political science and a a minor in business. Dalton will be minor in physics. Duncan will be minor in history. Jack will be taking spending time with his family taking a gap year and decide on a gap year and plans to travel during his gap year. participating in a PGA tournament. abroad.

Logan Thake— Graduated with a major Van Johnson III— Graduated Spencer Bauer— Graduated with in elementary education and a minor in with a major in theatre arts and a a major in political science. Spencer history. Logan will be working as a K-5 minor in african studies. Van will will be attending Marquette Law physical education teacher at the Stark be taking a gap year and spend School and working part time as a County Elementary School. time with family. technician.

8 Our New Executive Board

(From lef to right) Oscar Sanchez (’22), Chris McTeague (’22), Jason White (’21), Nick Piler (’21), and Davin Conway (’21)

After our chapters elections, our new Executive Board Members will be Jason White (’21) (Chapter President), Nick Piller (’21) (Treasurer), Davin Conway (’21) (Time Keeper), Oscar Sanchez (’22) (Corresponding Secretary), and Chris McTeague (’22) (Historian). On behave of all the Executive Board Members, we would like to thank all of our graduate brothers for keeping up with our chapter. We would like to thank all members of the House Corp for the job they have done and the jobs that are to come. There is nothing better than knowing that there are graduate brothers that want to see us succeed. Our future work lies in our determination to continue striving for excellence, this can not all be done now but we promise to give our all now. We also thank our undergraduate brothers for working toward this common goal. Much progress has been made and much more is to come, through the unity of brotherhood we plan to reach our goals and hopefully leave this undergraduate chapter knowing that we have left it better than it was.

We would like to invite all graduate brothers to join us in building a better communication system with you!

Jason White - Chapter President: [email protected]

Nick Piller - Treasurer: [email protected]

Davin Conway - Time Keeper: [email protected]

Oscar Sanchez - Corresponding Secretary: [email protected]

Chris McTeague - Historian: [email protected]

George Gilligan - Alumni Relations: [email protected]

Flynn Hersh - Publications Chair: [email protected]

Follow Us! Twitter: @GDfiji Instagram: knox_fiji Facebook: Knox College Phi Gamma Delta

Send us your comments and story ideas to [email protected] or visit our website here: https://tinyurl.com/y35rsr2d

9