[Xcalibur37]

Gentlemen,

I knew when we came together in the Summer of 2000 to defend the Alfred Colony at the GA in Atlanta, that we would survive, and grow to become even greater than we had ever imagined. And the thing is... we succeeded.

It is now over 6 months later; the charter has been in our hands, and the brothers hopes have been high. We have won the highest GPA award for the last 4 semesters and become leaders in every important organization on campus.

But now in the light of our greatest successes, the university has shown it's true self, and failed us as a system. I wish I could say that the death of that ZBT brother was indeed the fault of the system; then I could justify their decision. But it is CLEARLY NOT TRUE.

We have been persecuted for believing in something far greater than those obtuse capitalists could ever fathom. The sad part is; the board is 82% greek. They should know what light LCA holds to the future for men at Alfred University as well as the rest of North America.

But now, because we can't get away will all the bullshit that they could in the past; because we live in a more P.C. world... those hypocrits have punished us for failures we are not responsible for.

This chapter has earned it's right to be among the other chapters of LCA. We have done nothing but bring in good men, and continue on making ourselves better men. But now... I can never again see my new Alfred brothers be initiated into our fraternity. I can never again have that joy in my eyes that I had before.

The politics truly do suck, but we can always make the best of it. With all their power, they still failed to take the one thing that matters most... Our Bond.

I has been my pleasure to serve the Alfred Chapter as President for the 2000 and 2001 terms, and I am not one bit ashamed for what we have accomplished. We have risen from the ashes and forged a new destiny greater than the ambitions of any trustee. Their downfall will be inevitable. With the end of our houses, the students will drink wherever they want to drink, with no one to watch over them. They will be even more irresponsible than before, making the campus a dump instead of a haven.

It saddens me to see all that I have seen, progress within the walls of AU, only to be aware that it will inevitably fall to dust. I warned President Edmondson of these things and he only brushed it off. We shall see Charles. We shall see.

I want to thank all of our brothers for your support. It practically brings tears to my eyes seeing all of you stand up for this chapter in the middle of nowhere.

As an alumn, I will do all that I can to support the active brotherhood in this fight, but I fear that there are only shadows to battle now. They have unduly processed us, and before we could take an offense it's already over. I can only hope that the law will come into play now. It's time to fight back. 92 years of history must mean something.

Now if you don't mind... I would like to recite a poem I wrote a year ago that I read at our Chartering Banquet on October 6th, 2001 during my speech:

Brotherhood

When a single gesture brings back,
a sea of memories...
When everyone comes to an agreement,
on something that makes no sense at all...

...except to us...

When a shared song in unison,
makes you forget your frustrations...
When you feel like you will fall,
only to have someone catch you...

When a singular understanding,
is shared by endless generations...
When you always remember,
the legacy you stand for...
When the best moments of your life,
lie within that bond of understanding...

...proud to be a Lambda Chi...
...proud to be me...


May we increase of the knowledge of Lambda, it's teachings, applications and possiblities.


In ZAX,

Joshua Arzt
High Alpha (2000, 2001)
AAB Advisor to the High Beta and Theta
Kappa Sigma Zeta