THE BEAVER SIG ALPHA THETA CHAPTER OF SIGMA CHI FRATERNITY

CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS HTTP://SIGMACHI.MIT.EDU SPRING 2008

From the Alumni Corporation A Message From Chapter receives Legion of Honor Award The Alumni Corporation In February, Shawn P. George, the demic interactions between brothers by Dear Brothers: grand praetor of Sigma Chi Internation - archiving practice exams and problem I hope this edition of The Beaver al’s North Atlantic province, unexpect - sets and creating a chapter list of all Sig finds you well. As usual, inside edly joined the active brothers of Alpha classes taken by each brother. Brother you’ll find the latest updates from Theta over lunch to inform them Jette’s continued efforts have the brothers at 532 Beacon Street, that the chapter had been awarded increased the effectiveness of aca - plus alumni news and correspon - Sigma Chi’s Legion of Honor demic communication between dence. The chapter continues to be Award. Consul Douglas Halket brothers and allowed younger healthy and strong, as you’ll read in ’09 was presented with a certifi - brothers to seek out advice and these articles. cate from the general fraternity consultation more easily from As always, feel free to contact to be framed and displayed in the senior brothers. me if you have any questions about the chapter library. The Legion The active brothers hope to the alumni corporation or Alpha of Honor Award is bestowed continue and build upon Alpha Theta in general. Wishing you and upon chapters deemed to exemplify Theta’s long tradition of academic your families the best— the highest levels of academic excel - achievement in addition to our frater - lence among all undergraduate Sigma nal, professional, and social endeavors. In hoc, Chi chapters. Karl Büttner ’87 Over the past term, efforts to fur - Corporation Board President ther the academic success of the active Guard well, [email protected] brothers have continued as Scholarship Joshua J. Campoverde ’08 Chairman Caine L. Jette ’10 fosters aca - [email protected]

Consul reports on state of chapter Dear Brothers: Fraternity has brought to them through we have had to be flexible as a chapter to This spring has been a semester of new their years at MIT. maintain brotherhood, sometimes having challenges and adventures for the chapter. The beginning of the spring term saw to move around dinner and other events to Before it began, our brothers enjoyed their the departure of two of our most involved accommodate everybody. As consul, I have IAPs in various ways: From visiting exotic brothers, Ben Pope ’08 and Chris Bukows - made it one of my goals to ensure that all countries, to taking fun classes at the insti - ki ’09. Ben graduated early and is spend - brothers can attend chapter meetings and tute, to frequenting a boxing gym, to ing the spring and summer working at events, which I believe is essential to the working at various companies for the Apple. He plans on returning next year to purpose of our fraternity. month, many people used IAP to try some - attend graduate school at MIT and has In March, we all took a three-hour thing new. All in all, IAP allowed brothers already accepted an invitation to be our drive north to Bryant Pond, Maine, for to return to the chapter not only with fresh new chapter advisor. Chris, on the other our annual rush retreat. The weather energy and determination, but also with hand, is taking it easy in Madrid, Spain, might have been cold, but spirits were high new experiences and different outlooks. for the semester with the MIT-Madrid pro - as we discussed rush strategies and took At the end of IAP, the chapter per - gram. He will also be returning next fall, time away from school to relax. Recruit - formed a successful initiation week, led by and we wish him the best of times while he ment Chair Andrew Ji ’09 led us in discus - Magister Eugene Jang ’09. We initiated is enjoying his unique experience. sions on how to have a successful rush and seven new brothers into the fraternity and The brothers staying back in Boston maintain the high level of character that renewed current brothers’ dedication to for the semester have been participating in has been associated with Sigma Chi over the chapter. Through their participation in an unprecedented number of extracurricu - the years. I-Week, the upperclassmen were reminded lar activities, including 13 involved in Throughout the spring, the chapter of what Alpha Theta and the Sigma Chi spring varsity and club sports. As a result, (continued on page three) PAGE TWO THE BEAVER SIG

A recap of the accomplishments of Brother James Rhyne Killian ’29

James Rhyne Killian, Massachusetts and the Sloan School of Management were President Harry S. Truman’s communica - Institute of Technology class of 1929, added to MIT. The campus was transformed tions policy board, 1950-1952, the presi - earned an S.B. in engineering and business under Killian: Hayden Library was complet - dent’s foreign intelligence advisory board, administration. As we all know, he was an ed, Baker House was built, and Eero Saari - 1961-1963, and the general advisory com - Alpha Theta Sigma Chi and a member of nen designed Kresge Auditorium and the mittee of the U.S. arms control and disarma - the 1925 pledge class. After his graduation, MIT chapel. It was said that Killian had a ment agency, 1969-1974. Most notably, he he remained at MIT as the assistant manag - special love for the MIT chapel despite the came back to MIT in 1965 and began to ing editor of the Technology Review , the controversial design. Killian also led MIT’s work with the Corporation for Public Broad - well-known magazine of the alumni associ - movement into the era of digital computers casting to help develop public television. ation. He became editor in 1930 and helped during a time when their future impact on Killian was described as a man of envi - found what is now the MIT Press. He held the world was not so evident. As chairman able erudition who had a natural elo - the position until 1939, when he became of the corporation, Killian organized the Sec - quence and charm, a warm and gracious executive assistant to MIT President Karl ond Century Campaign. In 1960, his initial manner, and a gentle, wry humor that was Taylor Compton. Killian took over direct - goal was $66 million, but by 1963, he had never unkind. In times of dispute, he was ing MIT temporarily during World War II achieved $98 million. He also increased exceptional at resolving differences and when Compton’s involvement in the annual giving from $3 million in 1949 to achieving consensus, making advances National Defense Research Committee kept over $22 million in 1971. He was known possible. He was always courageous, and him away from MIT for extensive periods affectionately to generations of students as he spoke out at times when it might have of time. In 1943, Killian was appointed “Mr. MIT.” been easier to remain silent. His words executive vice president, and then vice presi - Killian moved on from MIT to become were always thoughtful, reasonable, and dent in 1945. He served as the tenth presi - the special assistant for science and technolo - persuasive. It is no wonder that the Sigma dent of MIT from 1948 to 1959, and then gy to President Dwight D. Eisenhower. In Chi Fraternity awarded this great man the as chairman of the MIT Corporation from 1957, he formed and chaired the President’s Significant Sig Award. We hope we can all 1959 to 1971. Science Advisory Committee (PSAC), which learn from his character and ambition and Killian supported the arts and believed later took on important roles in national make a positive difference in the world, no “that the modern research university offers educational reforms in science and technolo - matter how small. unique opportunities to cultivate many new gy and in establishing the National Aeronau - integrations between the liberal arts and the tics and Space Administration (NASA). In hoc, sciences.” It was during Killian’s years that Between 1950 and 1974, he served on Dominik Kmita ’10 the School of Humanities and Social Studies dozens of national science boards, including Chapter Editor

Alpha Theta welcomes seven outstanding men

On February 3, 2008, the Alpha Theta ened by guiding the pledges through their campus and has been an outstanding histori - Chapter of Sigma Chi welcomed seven new transition into brothers. an for Sigma Chi. Eric Roselli ’11, of Plano, members into our brotherhood. A very suc - Spencer Currie ’11, from Burlingame, Texas, has had great success on the MIT cessful I-Week was concluded with the initi - California, has emerged as an enthusiastic varsity swimming team and has taken on a ation of Spencer J.A. Currie, Garrett L. leader in his pledge class and has taken on multitude of leader’s roles in the chapter, Winther, Brandon D. Briscoe, Pall M. Korn - the position of tea master. Garrett Winther including webmaster, undergraduate associ - mayer, Eric J. Roselli, Michael J. Dobson, ’11, from Broomfield, Colorado, is a starter ation representative, and network adminis - and Matthew F. Luchette. on the MIT varsity volleyball team and trator. Michael Dobson ’11, of Houston, Throughout the pledge program, these serves as social chairman in Sigma Chi. Texas, has had a record-breaking season on young men not only learned about the ideals Brandon Briscoe ’11, from Aspen, Col - the swim team and has been a solid presence and values of Sigma Chi, but also strived orado, is a kung fu expert and also serves as in the house. Matthew Luchette ’11, of Burr toward them diligently. They were well pre - tea master. Pall Kornmayer ’11, from Ridge, Illinois, serves as kustos and corpo - pared for the challenges of I-Week, and the Alpharetta, Georgia, is actively involved in rate board representative for Alpha Theta bonds of the entire chapter were strength - building racecars with Formula SAE on and is a great friend and brother to everyone in our house. On behalf of the entire chapter, I would like to personally thank the alumni brothers who were able to attend the alumni tea to meet the newest class of Alpha Thetas, as well as those who were kind enough to assist with the ceremonies of initiation. We are certain that our new initiates will contin - ue to exemplify the ideals of friendship, jus - tice, and learning, and we are proud to call them our brothers. Left to right: Garrett Winther ’11, Mike Dobson ’11, Pall Kornmayer ’11, Brandon Briscoe ’11, and In hoc, Eric Roselli ’11 celebrate their initiation with face paint. Eugene Jang ’09 Magister SPRING 2008 PAGE THREE

Brothers support each other in sports

As a senior graduating in June, I have truly special to see brothers take some time especially well-played point. Today, there started to think back on the most memo - out of their personal lives to come support are seven actives on the volleyball team, and rable parts of my college experience. Of the team and their brothers. as we rush more and more volleyball play - course, I remember my tests and classes (at As a freshman, I was the only volleyball ers, the brothers’ support and excitement least some of them), but one thing that will player in the house, and I remember the joy about the team only increases. This support stay with me forever is volleyball and the I felt when the rest of my pledge class came is so overwhelming that during our senior- support that the brothers of Alpha Theta out for my first game. Over the years, night match when we beat Harvard, a Divi - have given me and the rest of the team. I whether it was an easy home game or a big sion I program, for the first time since 1999, have been a member of the volleyball team Saturday morning match, there were always dinner was spontaneously cancelled because for four years now, and I can hardly remem - friendly faces from my pledge class there to too many brothers had decided to go to the ber a home game without a Sigma Chi in heckle the opponents and cheer on MIT. game instead. The support has even extend - the stands. This may not seem like a big Fast forward to my senior year, and it ed beyond actives, as alumnus Herb Mower deal, but with all the problem sets and tests still makes me smile every time I hear a ’65 has been spotted cheering us on. that students at MIT have to deal with, it is brother yell my name with pride after an I am also happy to report that this sup - port can be found anywhere a brother com - petes. At the recent NEWMAC swimming championship, the stands were filled with active brothers to support the three swim - mers in the house. The house was especially honored to cheer on two of the brothers, Luke Cummings ’10 and Mike Dobson ’11, as they qualified to go to nationals. Likewise, when Ian Wolfe ’08 solicited brothers in the house to donate money for a new ski timer, many actives stepped in with - out hesitation to help him out. It is great to look around and see all the support the brothers give to each other within the house, and I expect that this will continue for many Left to right: Jack Field ’08, Joe McCarter ’10, Eric Roselli ’11, Thatcher Clay ’09, and Josh Campoverde ’08 generations of Alpha Theta brothers. all cheer on Ryan Dean ’08 and the volleyball team at the senior-night game against Harvard. In hoc, Ryan Dean ’08

Consul reports, cont.

(continued from page one) has been as close knit as ever. Even though the brothers are busy and almost everybody has commitments around campus and beyond, we still find time for all of the small things that our chapter values. Whether helping one another out with problem sets, playing pick-up games at the gym, or just hanging out in the library, our brothers still show the same level of devotion to the house and to each other as they would were Sigma Chi the sole focus of their lives.

In hoc, Doug Halket ’09

The Beaver Sig

News and photos are always welcome and should be sent to: Alumni Records Office, Alpha Spencer Currie ’10 and Eric Roselli ’10 play in the snow at rush retreat. (See consul’s report on page one.) Theta Chapter of Sigma Chi Fraternity Inc., P.O. Box 390528, Cambridge, MA 02139-0006. PAGE FOUR THE BEAVER SIG

Alumni Send News From Far And Near

John E. Simonds Jr. ’42 writes that years in various electrical engineering Tufts, and his son, Peter, is looking at he married Dorothy Clayton in 1940. posts with the city and county of San schools in the Northeast. The Burrows “Dorothy just died on December 28, Francisco,” writes Winchell T. Hayward moved in January 2008 and now reside 2007. I lived at 532 Beacon Street. I did ’46 . “My activities presently include: the at 5121 Mirror Lakes Dr., Edina, MN not graduate because of WWII and fami - Retired Employees of the City of San 55436. Drop him an e-mail at mb5121@ ly financial problems. I will never forget Francisco group; the Mission Presbyteri - comcast.net. walking across the Harvard Bridge to an Church, in which I have been active reach MIT. My daughter, Linda (never for about 30 years; the California Alpine “I just bought a house,” announces married), helps me maintain the bushes Club; two historic preservation groups; I Michael A. Kahan ’03 . “And I recently in my yard, etc. She went to UCLA and play the piano for a singing group at a got engaged to Minniette (Beth) Fergu - was copy editor of The Daily Bruin . She local hospital and for my church; the son. We’re to be married in October was always ‘student of the year’ in all Federation of Western Outdoor Clubs 2008 in Round Rock, Texas. All in all, schooling from first grade on. Our son, (past president); and I attend symphony, life is good.” Mike works as a quantita - John, almost did not graduate from high opera, and ballet performances. Regret - tive analyst at Penson Financial Services school—barely made it. He now owns a tably, I never did find my Sigma Chi in Austin. Send him congratulations at 900-acre mountain in Montana. He and sweetheart, so I’ve been a bachelor all 3984 Lord Byron Circle, Round Rock, I make four or five trips a year to check my life. But I’ve had a lot of fun, and San TX 78664; [email protected]. on his property. I enjoy watching him Francisco and this area is a great place to play with his toys—a back hoe, two live.” Catch up with Win at 208 Willard DECEASED trucks, etc.” Send condolences to Jack at North, San Francisco, CA 94118; We regret to announce the deaths of: 1419 Fulton Rd., San Marcos, CA [email protected]. 92069. Franklin P. Parker ’36 Jeffrey M. Burrows ’79 reports that Bruce H. Mayer ’44 “I retired in 1992 after about 34 his daughter, Casey, is a freshman at Joseph Brazzatti Jr. ’54 Brother writes about his ongoing experiences in Madrid

Before coming to college, I knew that I Even in Spain, the harsh and scrublike trees Spain has its famous Serrano ham, which is would be studying abroad. Although MIT and rocky soil surrounding Madrid give sliced off the leg in front of you, chocolate doesn’t have much to offer in the way of a way to groves of olive trees dotting the hill - con churros—fried dough that you dip into study abroad office, it has been making an sides as you arrive in the southern cities of a thick chocolate drink, almost like choco - effort to improve through various pro - Cádiz and Granada. The language changes late sauce—and the tortilla (potato and grams such as the MIT-Madrid program. from the more pure Castilian to the lispier egg, with the option of additions like Being a student in the Spanish language, I and faster version spoken in the south. Or onion). And that’s just a small amount of decided that Madrid would be the ideal travel east to the coastal town of Valencia what’s offered in Spain. location, as I could receive credit for class - and see the Castilian change to Catalan, a And of course, there are all the new es, improve my Spanish, and travel sort of mix between Spanish and French people you meet. Unfortunately, most throughout Europe. especially popular in Catalonia and its cap - youngsters in Madrid are pretty closed. What a fulfilling experience it has been ital of Barcelona. They’ll be friendly enough to talk for a bit, so far. I take only three classes, and the Perhaps my favorite part of traveling is but none seem interested in friendship. work required of me is a final in each class the food. While the sights are breathtaking, There are a few who I hang out with every plus a paper for two of them. This leaves from the giant Moorish fortress of La now and then whom I know through me with plenty of time to travel and Alhambra in Granada to the natural beau - rugby, but for the most part, I hang out explore. And since classes are in Spanish, it ty of the Italian coast juxtaposed with the with other foreigners. There are networks has forced me to try and interact with bright colors of Mediterranean houses in for foreign students in the universities that some of the students so that I can better Cinque Terre, I have a special spot for make it easier to meet up with others and understand what is happening. Not only regional delicacies. Tapas is a popular tra - get to know other Spaniards. People head does my Spanish get some work, but I’ve dition in Spain involving barhopping with out to bars around 11:00 p.m. or 12:00 become a little more outgoing as a result. friends to chat while drinking a caña (small a.m. and stay until 2:00 or 3:00 a.m. Then Europe is so diverse and has so much beer) or wine and snacking on tapas. Tapas it’s off to the nightclubs, which close to offer that it’s difficult to decide where to range from shrimp to ham to croquettes around 6:00 or 7:00 a.m. go. I have taken trips to Cádiz, Jerez (home (little balls of meat fried like a jalapeño There’s so much more to talk about, of sherry), Granada, Salamanca, Toledo, popper). Of course there’s paella (rice and like sports, politics, mentalities, cultural Segovia, El Escorial, Cuenca, and Valencia an assortment of other foods, normally differences, fashion, hairstyles (the mullet is in Spain; Dublin and Cork in Ireland; Paris; seafood), which hails from Valencia; coci - in for teenage boys), and the list goes on. In Cambridge, England; plus Milan and some do, a type of stew with chickpeas and truth, to really learn about it all, you’ll just small coastal cities in Italy. It’s amazing meat, from Madrid; and marzipan, a soft have to experience it for yourself. how much difference in culture, language, cookie-like dessert made of almond and and scenery there is in such a small area. sugar, from Toledo. Then of course, all of Chris Bukowski ’09