[AlphaSigOU]

My undergraduate experience was kind of limited and I dropped out of college shortly before the chapter folded in 1986.

In 1996 I'd heard that the fraternity was recolonizing at OU and I offered to volunteer whatever support I could to make sure that Alpha Sigma Phi could be reestablished at the University of Oklahoma.

Of course, I had to get used to new and different rules expected of Greeks today, meaning the days of unlimited keg parties and Animal House-like abandon I experienced during my undergrad years were long gone and relegated to 'war story' material.

I designed a decent web site for the fraternity and that helped the colony grow as more people became interested in Alpha Sigma Phi.

And one night in November 1997, I was as proud as any parent to welcome fifty new members into the Mystic Circle of Alpha Sigma Phi, and the following night to see them receive their charter again.

Unfortunately, that's when the slide downhill began.

Having reached their goal of rechartering, they made several fatal mistakes (rush, for example) that eventually hastened their downfall. The few dedicated alumni that gave a damn tried to help but were essentially rebuffed by the undergrads; the other alumni were just simply content to donate money or furniture to the house and go on.

Nearly three years later, with most of the rechartering group having already graduated, the chapter folded.

Whether another opportunity will arise to recolonize the chapter in the next few years is unknown, but I know for a fact that the next time we're not going to fall victim of the same mistakes again. Not if I can help it.