[PhiPsiRuss]

Monday, December 22, 2003

Brothers,

I was in Snow-covered Oneonta, New York, the “City of the Hills,” for the colony induction ceremony for our brand new Oneonta Colony at Oneonta College. The ceremony was on Friday, December 5 at the Hunt Student Union, and there was a retreat on Saturday and Sunday at the Colleges campgrounds. As part of Phi Kappa Psi’s Speaker’s Bureau, I spoke with the colony on Saturday, before my first attempt to go home, about the importance of becoming good alumni. I decided to wait a few weeks before submitting my report so that I don’t sound excessively optimistic about this new group.

Well, I departed on my 4+ hour bus trip from Manhattan at 7:00am on Friday. It drove up the Hudson Valley, and then west through the Catskills Mountains. I arrived in a picturesque town, and some time later, I was able to meet up with Eric Parker (Iowa Alpha, 00) and Josh Perrin (Penn Gamma, ’01.)
That night, Eric and Josh conducted the colony induction ceremony for 15 gentlemen. They were assisted by Brett Topche (Penn Iota, ’00.) Brett is the cousin of Evan Rakowski, the colony’s vice president, and it is this connection that brought us this outstanding group of gentlemen. Afterwards, we had a modest banquet that also included 4 freshman prospects (1st semester freshman may not join fraternities at Oneonta,) school officials, and several ladies.

I spoke with Dr. Steve Perry, the VP of Student Affairs, about our group, and about the state of the Oneonta greek system. The greek system at Oneonta, today, is one of the worst in the nation. Several years ago, there were a half dozen or so chapters of national fraternities. They all lost their charters for severe risk management policy violations. They all went local, and got even worse. Phi Psi is the second recognized fraternity to recently join the Oneonta community, following Chi Phi (also a colony.) Both groups are non-hazing and act responsibly. Dr. Perry is particularly looking for Phi Psi to help lead the emergence of a responsible greek. Dr. Perry noted the large percentage of student leaders in Phi Psi, such as the Student Body President and the Student Body Vice President. The Oneonta Phi Psis also have several RAs, and members of the swim team. It seems very promising, and I talked to Dr. Perry about the support structure that we have for our chapters and colonies.
On Saturday, we headed up the campgrounds at about 11:00am. Eric and Josh led the way group building exercises. Then there was a tackle football game in 6+ inches of snow. I then spoke with the group before what I thought would be my return trip home. I told them about my experience as a former colony member, and that they are fortunate to be part a national fraternity with our superior level of chapter and colony support. I also told them that no matter how successful they are as active members, if they don’t become active alumni, their efforts won’t be sustained. I passed around my Order of the S.C. badge, told them about the Order, about GACs, and about how much fun they are. Then, at about 4:15, I headed back to Main Street to catch my bus back to New York.

Blizzards are a funny thing. Despite all of the snow in Oneonta and New York City, Buses were running from Oneonta to all points west, and everything was moving in the Hudson Valley and New York City. I thought that I was heading home. I was wrong. 18” of snow in the Catskills Mountains made skiers happy, but left the roads very dangerous. No one was answering their cell phones, so I took a cab back up to the campgrounds and stayed the night. I’m glad that I did, because I got to talk with most of them, participate in some more group building exercises, and sit in on their goal setting session.

I managed to get a bus back to New York on Sunday. I realized that we have a truly outstanding colony and that it may not be long before they are contending for the Grand Chapter Award. I also realized the opportunity at hand in the SUNY system. If this group lives up to its potential, and I believe that it will, Oneonta will soon have a dynamic greek system that it can be proud of, with Phi Psi at the top. From my discussion with Dr. Perry, he talks with his peers in the SUNY system on a regular basis, and the SUNY colleges (not the 4 universities of Albany, Binghamton, Buffalo, and Stony Brook) seem to share similar problems with their greek systems, and they all want reform. We could get additional opportunities to expand, with the full cooperation of college administrations, at some of these schools, purely based on our impending success in Oneonta.

I enjoyed my stay up there, and I look forward to their chartering.

Fraternally,

Russell Warshay... (Florida Alpha, '87)
Director of Alumni Affairs Area Coordinators
Phi Kappa Psi Fraternity