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December 17, 2002
Consul: December 17th, 2002
Brothers—
Marcus Aurelius, the great Roman emperor and philosopher, wrote in his Meditations that a man could not lose either his past or his future, for he does not own either. Instead he must concern himself with the present—for that is what he ‘owns’.
It’s not necessarily a call to forget about the mistakes of old or the promise of what lies ahead, but rather a message to bring focus to that which we can control and affect. We can look to take ownership in the present in which we live.
Making the most of our ‘present’ here on campus, we have taken great strides in making philanthropy an everyday part of our lives, with different opportunities taking place each week. A month ago it was leaf-raking for the elderly and assisting a church in its disaster relief fund. For Christmas we’ve chosen to ‘adopt’ a few local families in hopes of providing a brighter holiday season for those less fortunate than we while also taking our turn ringing the infamous little bell for the Salvation Army. Small acts to be sure, but nevertheless reaffirming our commitment to our ritual and the values we hold so dear.
In addition, brothers continue strong involvement throughout the university community. Pro Consul Brent Byrd was recently elected the new Inter-Fraternity Council president and sophomore (and cellist) Nate Osterbur continues to excel in the University Symphony Orchestra. Seniors Bryan Callahan and Michael Morrison were part of a team that presented a report to the Boeing Corporation on its business ethics while sophomore Rick Baue plays an enthusiastic role in Residential Campus Ministry, just to name a few. In the spring, the chapter, in conjunction with Valpo Greek Life and the Sigma Chi Educational Foundation at Valparaiso University will be sponsoring a speech and workshop led by Ed King, a well-known Sig who gives presentations on Greek rituals and their foundational importance to Greek communities.
This weekend five senior Sigs finished their work as students of Valparaiso University and undergraduates of the Iota Sigma chapter of Sigma Chi. Raji Alatassi, Bryan “Boomer” Kaisk, Todd Schweihs, Mark Seeber, and Eric Strom collected their diplomas and now prepare to begin new chapters of their lives. Raji, our beloved Syrian served as Webmaster and DJ for most of his tenure here. Boomer was an infamous ‘Derby Daddy’ and resident China expert. Toddy attended Grand Chapter and served as the Northern Indiana Province delegate to Grand Council. Mark served as Webmaster and Quaestor. And Eric has become an Iota Sig legend, the wise old man who could always tell us the way it was done in the ‘old days’ while lending a helping hand at every task at hand. Their presence will be missed but their contributions not forgotten.
We wish you all the best this holiday season as you gather with friends and family.
Guard well,
David Martens
drmartens99@yahoo.com