We are Looking for a New E-Mail "Re-Mailer", Though
Many of you have already stopped to see the Association's home page on the World Wide Web, judging from our "hit counter". A picture of the page, at http:/www-psych.nmsu.edu/~pfoltz/tep.html, is shown on the right. Pete Foltz `85, our Association Webmaster, has really done a great job in creating and maintaining it. It now contains recent Newsletters, a calendar of events, a list of alumni e- mail addresses, interesting links (including Lehigh University and LU Alumni pages) and a new photo gallery. Most articles, but not all, of newly-published Newsletters will appear "on-line", as we are somewhat sensitive of content. You can also compose an e- mail to a fellow alum with a simple mouse click while on the page. Contact Pete at: pfoltz@crl.nmsu.edu to add your photos or make suggestions for content. Some suggestions we've gotten are a "jobs available/jobs sought" board for career networking and a sign-in for alums to leave notes for other Web visitors. Users with Netscape and some other browsers also see a message scrolling across the screen that will strike a cord with 80's era alumni: "There is a pledge lineup at 10:00 pm, do you know where your dark socks are?".
Can anyone out there set up and maintain a e-mail "re- mailer" for the Association? One of our alumni has kindly maintained one for some time, but his job site changed, resulting in loss of this capability. If anyone out there is able/willing do this, contact me at: HalFrasch@aol.com.
THE SCOOP ON LEHIGH/LAFAYETTE, 23 NOVEMBER
After-game party and dinner will be at the (South Side) Comfort Suites, 3rd and New Streets --where the old bus station used to be. Banquet room will open at 4:00 p.m., but folks can hang out at the bar if they get there earlier or don't go to the game. Dinner will be served around 6:00: fruit cup, tossed salad, chicken cordon bleu, fettucine alfredo, white rice, herb-roasted potatoes, rolls & butter, dessert, coffee and tea. Let me know if you would like to have dinner; we need a firm count by 14 November. After 10:00 p.m., we will adjourn to the Comfort Suites bar, or to Tally Ho or other.
The game is at Lafayette this year. I have no information on a tailgate, yet, but I will notify anyone who I know is coming to the game or dinner if there is a tailgate.
We have a block of 20 rooms reserved at MicroTel Motel on Airport Road South in Bethlehem, at $37.95/single and $41.95/double, under the name TEP/TAK. Call (610) 266-9070 to reserve a room. Other hotels are: Red Roof 264- 5404, Econolodge 867- 8681, Comfort Suites 882- 9700, Comfort Inn (Rte. 191) 865- 6300, McIntosh (Airport Road), and Hotel Bethlehem. All numbers listed are area code (610).
To reserve dinner or if you have any questions, my phone/e-mail info is in the EDITORIAL INFORMATION box.
Our e-mail traffic has grown, as many of our alums now have access to computers and modems. Most of us are loath to use pen and paper anymore to communicate, but give us a keyboard and mouse . . .
I caught up with Craig Thomas '71 on the phone, recently, while trying to track down a few folks on our "missing list". Craig lives in Laguna Niguel, CA. He works for Merrill Lynch.
Dave Caplan '78 e-mailed to say hello. He is currently self-employed as a CPA in public practice. He says that there is nothing in the world like working for yourself. He bought a private practice four years ago and it is growing fast. Dave and wife Elyse recently celebrated their fourteenth anniversary, and have three sons (Daniel, 12, Robert, 10, and Kevin, 7). Dave's talked with Scott Frock '79, Barry Glickman '79, and Arnie Manche '76 recently. Scott is living in NH. Arnie is in NJ, but works mainly in the Poconos. Arnie and Barry were on hand in September for the bar mitzvah of Dave's son, Daniel.
Barry Glickman '79 also e-mailed in. He is a lawyer (sorry, he says) practicing commercial litigation in NYC. His wife's name is Jill. They have two daughters (Stephanie, 7, and Janey, 4) and a dog and a cat (Folly and Furball).
Marc Gravez '80 is living in Coatesville, near Philadelphia, with his wife Lauren and two daughters, who are 11 and 5 years old. He works at Bentley Systems in Exton. Marc is currently managing the translation of MicroStation into Japanese and Korean.
The spring LU Alumni Bulletin had blurbs on three of our alums from the Class of `81. Joel Reich `81, wife Caroline, and two sons moved recently from Orlando, FL to Westborough, MA, where Joel will be product marketing director at Data General. They just celebrated 15 years of marriage. Steven Fuchs `81 was named president of Hampton Shirt Company (makers of Nautica, Rawlings). Wayne Baker `81 is national sales manager for Mark of Fitness Inc., which manufactures blood pressure monitors and digital thermometers. Wayne's wife, Anne, is manager of licensing for cards and collectibles for the NBA [can you get me Michael Jordan's autograph?]. Wayne and Anne recently came to visit me in the Washington area, when Anne ran the Marine Corps Marathon. Mike and Carrin Sicinski `81 just had child number five. At 8 pounds, Andrea Sicinski joined this world on 27 July 96.
Tony Budzichowski '83 also chimed-in electronically, to say everything was going great with his family. He and wife Lisa have two beautiful daughters, Katie and Lauren, ages five and two, respectively. Tony works for the Navy at Carderock Division, Naval Surface Warfare Center, Philadelphia. He's a group leader in the Environmental Quality Systems In-Service Engineering Branch. Lisa went back to school, graduated two years ago and is a registered nurse. Tony and Lisa celebrated their ten year wedding anniversary in June. Bart "Bucky" Smoot '83 and I tried to get together when Bart was on business travel and visiting family in the
Washington, D.C. area. Thing didn't quite work out, but we got to talk on the phone a bit. Bart is living in San Diego these days.
Lincoln (Luke) Haresign '84 is married and now the father of a one year old daughter, named Abigail. He recently bought a new house in Mt. Laurel, New Jersey. Luke works for DGM&S, Inc. (Recently acquired by Comverse, Inc.). He still keeps in touch with Roger (Roy) Gorham '84 and Jeff (Jake) Miller '84. I noticed that Jake's address changed in the database from a P.O. box to "Miller's Mountain" last year. I got curious, wondering if he had moved. I found out from another alumni that he hadn't, only that "its such a small town, the mail gets there anyway". Apparently, the Millers have gotten mail with all kind of ridiculous addresses, just as long as the town and most of the name is on there. That's the Jake that I remember! I also caught up with Huw Roberts '84 on the phone recently. Huw is married, working as an architect, and living in Bala Cynwyd, PA, with his wife, Parvine, and two kids: Dylan and Gibson. Glenn (Glinky) Wikle `84, wife Margaret, and sons Hank and Ryan recently relocated to Santa Fe, NM. Glenn states they "survived 8 years in North Jersey and escaped unharmed" in an e-mail to a fellow alum. Glenn is now working for Prediction Company, a program trading firm that uses market prediction software to drive trades on world financial markets.
Yasutaka "Taka" Sajima '85 e-mailed in from Japan. He quit Arthur Andersen in '92, left New York and joined Merrill Lynch in Tokyo, starting out in the risk control area. Since then, he helped to set up a Derivatives Group and now helps the Managing Director manage the Japanese sales force. Taka is still single, but has a steady girlfriend of eight years. He organizes and plays soccer for Merrill Lynch (even though his body tells him "you're too old for this s--t!"). His latest automotive toy is a BMW M3. Taka says that he is planning to come stateside for either our Baltimore/Washington get-together or for Lehigh-Lafayette weekend.
Bill Sokol '86 and wife and LS alum Helene are doing great. They are keeping very busy these days with two little ones, Matt (5) and Nick (11/2). Bill is working in New Haven, CT and Helene runs a nail salon out of their home. LS alum Bonnie (Ackerman) Lundy `86 e-mailed in to say hello and tell us how much she enjoys the Newsletter (flattery may not get you everywhere, but it'll sure get you mentioned in the Newsletter). She says that one of these days she plans to drag the family back for the Road Rally. She, husband Steve, son Morgan (3), and daughter Sarah (19 months) live in Endicott, N.Y. Bonnie graciously offered to host an alumni gathering up there. LS alum Theresa (Treadwell) Pagan `86 sent a data update sheet in and let us know that she and husband Michael have a proud new addition to their family. Angela Elise was born on 2 July.
Kevin Fasic `87 and wife Darlene, the former husband-and-wife law student "tag team", have been keeping busy since both finished law school and passed the bar (Kevin passed PA earlier and just recently DE). Kevin works for Tigue, Cottrell & Logan in Wilmington. He's doing a lot of labor law and some litigation. Dar just joined a Philadelphia law firm: Mesirov Gelman Jaffe Cramer & Jamieson. Recently they did manage to find time to have a daughter, though. Emily Fasic just celebrated her first birthday. Got a note recently from LS alum Allison Lunin '87 (CC). She lives in Lake Forest, CA and works as a Senior Nuclear Medical Technologist for Newport Diagnostic Center. She is engaged to a fellow named John Berman, who is a layout artist for Fox Television's animation hit "The Simpsons". Allison and John plan to marry in November, when they will relocate to the Brentwood/West Los Angeles area. Don't be telling any O.J. jokes down there! LS alum Connie (Wolfe) Sedeño '87 (CC) happened to stroll onto our Web page, and noticed that she was a "missing person". She e-mailed in to give us news and mailing info. She now lives in Santa Barbara, CA with her husband and two cats. Connie is now an Assistant Professor of Biology at Westmont College. LS alum Joanne (Tirjan) Loew `87 (CC) and husband David just had their second child. Nicholas John weighed-in at 6 lb 15 oz. Lil' Nick decided to make his arrival three weeks earlier than scheduled, on 14 June, rather than the Doctor's call for early July.
John and Nora Slanski '88 were expecting a baby any day now. Little Zool or Zoolette was due in October. If it's a boy, he won't be allowed to play with power tools or automobiles until age 30. If it's a girl, she won't be allowed to date any boys that have power tools or automobiles until age 30. Lou and Michelle Giacobbi `88 had a baby on 27 June. Elizabeth Nicole weighed in at 7 lbs 10.5 oz and 20 inches. Ed Thal `88 married Maureen Galligan on 13 April 1996. Ed now works for home builder Hovnanian. He and Maureen are currently having a house built in Scotch Plains, NJ. Mike Eoga `88 is due to marry Adrianne Seleski on 28 November 1997, strategically planned to avoid Lehigh/Lafayette weekend. Maybe this'll give his buddies one last chance to get him drunk and talk him (or maybe her) out of it --jes' kidding folks!
Rob Smithers '89 was wed on 8 June to Cynthia Hughes. Alumni in attendance were Greg Bury '87, Ken Jensen '88, Craig Stansbury '88, Scott Silvi '91, and LS alums Lynne Schiller '88 and Gail (Eskuchen) Morrison '88. The wedding ceremony was held in the Main Chapel at Fort Dix. The reception was at McGuire Air Force Base Officers' Club. LS alum Dawn Mastroddi '89 (CC) just got engaged to a fellow by the name of Rick Clark. They met two years ago at a Halloween party. Dawn was dressed as a nun and Rick was the Joker (fitting, Dawn says, he's a barrel of laughs). Evidently he's quite a romantic, as well. He took Dawn on a Hawaiian vacation, and proposed on the second night, down on one knee. He had already asked for Dad's blessing, before they left. Rick works for Kraft, and was recently transferred from Allentown to the Chicago area. Dawn had joined him in the Windy City. Dawn says his proposal was the only way he could have gotten her back to the mainland, as she had seriously fallen in love with Oahu and Maui. Aimee Bonadio `89 and Terry Burton got hitched in Pittsburgh on 5 October.
Eric Brown '91 and wife Jennifer are now at Vandenburg AFB on the central coast of California, since May. Before then, they were at Ft. Warren AFB in Cheyenne, WY. Eric welcomes alums who visit the area to call and look them up.
Katherine D. "Kitty" Sabol, 87, of 214 Warren Square, Bethlehem, died on 1 June 1996 in Leader Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, Salisbury Township. She was the wife of George S. Sabol, who died in 1988. Born in Seek, Schulykill County, she was daughter of the late Michael and Mary (Molcan) Mitchell. She was a member of Saints Cyril and Methodius Catholic Church, Bethlehem. She is survived by her nieces and nephews. Her funeral was held at Ss. Cyril and Methodius Church.
Mrs. Sabol was longtime neighbor to the Chapter. She will be remembered as a sweet and lovely lady, a caring friend, and a very considerate neighbor.
I've mentioned that we do not sell or give our database to "outside parties", including Lehigh University. Many people don't like being hassled by unwanted solicitations, etc. I've gotten requests, and am considering publishing the database for distribution to our group, possibly for a donation. I'd like to know your opinions on this. I haven't gotten the chance to publish this, yet, as it takes a bit of work to put together.
I am also considering providing our information to TEP National, if there isn't a lot of objection. I don't expect that there will be. I would presume this is "group business", in general, and National is very good about providing data to us on our group, so it is a big benefit to us. If anyone is bothered with that idea, let me know. As far as I know, National does not sell their data to junk mailers.
Also, I am planning to send LU's Alumni Office a letter with a list of names of folks who, for some unknown reason, are not --but should be-- affiliated with our group in LU's database. For instance, many folks who lived off-campus during their senior year show no TEP affiliation. Since LU's database is a good source of address updates for our own database, especially when we temporarily "lose" someone, it is important for them to show correct affiliation. If any Little Sister alumnae would like to reflect a TEP affiliation, let me know. I will request a change to your data, as well, if you ask me to.
By the way, anyone planning a wedding or party, or just trying to catch up with an old classmate, let me know. I'll be glad to furnish you with the information.
If anyone has old Association Newsletter copies filed away, I'd love to get copies of them. I'm making an archive of all available issues. If you have any, please contact me through the info in the EDITORIAL INFORMATION box.
CHANGES MADE TO RESIDENTIAL LIFE POLICIES
[The following is an article reprinted, with permission, from the 9/6/96 Brown & White. I will state, up front, that the two administration officials interviewed sound very defensive to me. Other articles I've read in the B&W indicated that chapters are strident in their opposition to this policy, and feel that its only purpose is to reduce the number of fraternities at Lehigh.]
by Sarah Zabrenski
Editor-In-Chief, LU Brown & White
The Residential Environment Report, which was passed by the Lehigh board of trustees in January 1996, is now in its implementation phase of development.
The report, which involves the new Greek Review Process, housing changes and social policies, has sparked a great deal of controversy among students, faculty, parents, and alumni.
This fall, an implementation report detailing the changes has been released, focusing primarily on the new Greek Review Process.
The Review Process is based on a point system for Greek organizations, allotting points for academics, participation, membership, behavior, active oversight , housing and facilities and finances and a 20-point bonus for an approved live-in adviser. Houses are eligible for a total of 100 points.
Mark Erickson, dean of students, said the implementation report is a way of engaging a broader group of students and faculty in the new changes and to provide a greater understanding of the process of change.
"We identify all the things that need to happen", Erickson said. "We set up all these different committees to look at how we're going to get from where we are now to where we need to be."
"The Residential Environment Report Implementation deals predominantly with a lot of unanswered questions that relate to the Greek Review Process because that seemed to raise the most questions", he said. "We sent it out to presidents of houses as well as their alumni advisers and faculty advisers, so as we start out the fall semester, everybody understands what's going on."
According to the Greek Review Process, all Greek organizations will be evaluated each semester based on a the number of points each house receives.
A minimum of 70 points is required for a passing grade, and any house with a score below the minimum standard will lose the right to hold social events with alcohol for one semester. Houses that fail to maintain a yearly point total above the minimum for two consecutive years will lose their housing and university privileges.
John Smeaton, assistant vice president for students affairs, said misperceptions about the process when the report was first released created some conflict.
"Understanding the process [is] probably the biggest hurdle that we have," Smeaton said. "Once people take the time to really read it and understand both the intent and the specific details, it's much clearer what we're trying to accomplish."
Erickson also found a lot of misconceptions about the report when it was released in January.
"What I found last spring when I visited some of the Greek houses and residence halls was there was so much misinformation," Erickson said. "The rumor mill was turning like crazy, and a lot of the information that was getting churned around was not accurate."
"There was a lot of mis-perception about what the purpose of the process was and what the specifics of the process were," he said. "I hope that by getting out to the houses, people will understand what the report is and what it isn't the hopes that there will be a better, broader understanding of what we're trying to accomplish."
Erickson hopes that students and faculty will also concentrate on the residential environment as a whole, including faculty involvement, increased housing and permanent sororities on the Hill."
"Another thing that's important is how to get people to understand the big picture," Erickson said. "There are all these different pieces of the puzzle, and I think there are some pretty neat things already happening as a direct result of the report."
"For instance, Alpha Phi sorority is now permanently on the Hill this fall," he said. "The fact that the board of trustees has finalized plans for a 150 person residence hall on the Hill is pretty exciting. This year's freshman class is the first freshman class that will be guaranteed housing for its first two years."
Smeaton said people should look at the long-term benefits of the report rather than just concentration on specific parts.
"Unfortunately, some people focus on one or two dimensions and get so bogged down that they fail to see the bigger picture," Smeaton said. "The report is something that we hope will result in enduring positive benefits for current students and for generations to come. This is an investment in the future."
One issue that arose [from] the report was enforcement of the BYOB policy [in] that it just has not occurred or has occurred sporadically," Erickson said. "Out of this process, the University has made a commitment to assist the fraternities by making it a University policy.
"We are realistic that it can't happen overnight, and our goal is to really empower and help chapters in successfully making this transition," he said. "Our concern is less the short term than it is the long term."
Erickson said fraternity members should consider this semester a learning period regarding the BYOB policy.
"We're going to assist them every step of the way," Erickson said. "If they stumble and make mistakes, we're not going to be out there with judicial sanctions. We're going to sit down and figure out how we can make it work right."
Smeaton said excessive drinking is the main reason for the BYOB policy.
"That's the kind of behavior that leads to incidents," Smeaton said. "The only change to the BYOB policy is the umbrella going from the IFC to the University.
"The origin of BYOB was because of insurance reasons," he said. "The nationals require it. It's not being created. It's a misunderstanding that somehow the institution has decided to impose the BYOB policy. Now it's a shared responsibility."
Smeaton said the University is not trying to destroy the Greek system at Lehigh.
"I think there is a sentiment among some who were misinformed that this is an effort to punish the fraternities, to wipe the system out or dry out the campus," Smeaton said. "We hope that by becoming better aware and more informed, people will understand the true purpose of the program."
"If you think about other schools that have dealt with their Greek systems, many have taken much more strict approaches," he said. "A strong Greek system is important to Lehigh, but a strong Greek system is one that contributes to the quality of the living environment on campus."
Spring Road Rally
2nd Annual Baltimore / D.C. Party
On 20 July, a pack of fearless souls descended on the Bethlehem area for yet another running of our infamous Road Rally. While this one was a little on the long side, most everyone stuck with it, and everyone eventually ended up at the picnic site at South Mountain Park --just over the hill from campus. The usual picnic followed, with tasty fare, including: beer, soda, hot dogs, salad, hamburgers, and snacks. A few folks hiked around on South Mountain a bit and enjoyed the beautiful weather, others played volleyball.
On 21 September, Mike and Shannon Saldi `85 hosted the second annual Baltimore/Washington D.C.-area get-together in their beautiful Potomac, MD home. A group of local alumni and friends gathered for a great meal, a few beverages, and some good conversation. Despite a bit of rain later on, Mike stuck with the original plan of barbecuing dinner outside. Later in the night, Mike encouraged a few of us to stoke up some after-dinner cigars in his basement/home office. I'm not sure that the lingering smell has yet completely cleared.
The Annex is in great shape. Since we don't like to give away all of TEP's secrets to the world, you can find out more details about the Annex and the finances in the edition that is mailed to you.
If you would like to comment on anything in the newsletter, update us with your address / phone / e-mail
information, or send in news for the next publication, please contact me:
Hal A. Frasch
5500 Holmes Run Parkway - Unit 316
Alexandria, VA 22304-2851
Home: (703) 823-5847 HalFrasch@aol.com
Work: (703) 845-7203 hfrasch.wash@veda.com