5 Tips to Help You this Exam Season

Your semester is winding down and winter break is just around the corner, but before you can enjoy a few weeks of vacation, you have to get through the final stretch of exams and papers. Here are five tips from our Health & Wellness Department to keep you focused and healthy during the most stressful part of the school year:

 Organize.

Organize your study space and create an exam schedule so you know when to focus on what. Prioritize immediate deadlines, but make sure to budget time for projects that still seem far away. Studying weeks in advance significantly helps improve retention and comprehension.

Eat healthy.

Did you know foods rich in Vitamin-C can reduce blood pressure and lower cortisol? Or that the complex carbs in oatmeal help you destress and keep your energy up for longer periods of time? This year ditch the junk food to keep your body and brain functioning throughout the end of the semester. Check out this list of brain foods for inspiration.

Drink plenty of water.

Our bodies are over 60% water, and dehydration has a significant impact on performance. Lack of focus, increased fatigue or “brain fog,” sleep issues, and headaches can all be linked with dehydration. Make sure to have a water bottle handy so you stay hydrated during this exam season. Read this article to figure out how much water you should drink.

Study Smarter.

Review your material from the past semester – tests, quizzes, etc. – to prepare for what might be asked on the final exam. “Self test” by studying with flashcards or answering questions at the end of your textbook’s chapter.  

Take breaks.

This article recommends taking a study break every 50-90 minutes. This one recommends 52 minutes exactly. Whatever you decide, make sure to incorporate a couple 15-20-minute breaks into your exam prep so you stay refreshed.

We hope this exam season is a huge success for you! Share your accomplishments in the classroom with us at the end of the semester. #GoFar

Gamma Alumni Meet Off-Campus

Two weeks ago, alumni from Ohio State’s Gamma chapter held their first, and hopefully annual, away tailgate at Northwestern’s campus in Evanston, IL. More than 50 brothers and their families gathered for the Wildcats vs. Buckeyes game, representing 4 generations of Phi Taus. Ted Zaller, Ohio State ’96, who reported the event, shared that many brothers had not seen each other in over 15 years.

 We love to see brothers gather across the country. Congratulations to our Gamma alumni on a great event!

Want to share your story with us? Submit it here.  

Delaware Alum Opens NYC Restaurant

John Sierp, Delaware ’91, opened Home Base Bistro earlier this year, a restaurant in Midtown, Manhattan, where he is co-owner and executive chef.  

 He serves “kicked-up” pub grub, as he described it to the New York Post, with menu items such as pork belly tacos, Cuban egg rolls, and General Tso-spiced cauliflower. “I like food that is fun,” he said, “I like food that you can eat with one hand and one-bite food.”  

John never attended culinary school. Instead, he learned to cook from his Italian mother and grandmother and honed his skills at the Delaware chapter house, where he acted as the house chef. “We had a guy who was cooking, and he became lazy,” John told the Post, “He started catering food in from a pizza place and it sucked because it was Delaware. So, I said, ‘I can make this food for cheaper and 10 times better.’”   

John and a chapter brother from New Jersey worked together to impress their housemates with their mothers’ recipes. “These were kids from Maryland and Pennsylvania,” John said, “They didn’t know what real Sunday sauce was.” John became such a popular chef on campus, he even catered parents’ weekend. “The compliments I got from these Italian mothers were through the roof. It made my whole experience.”   

In addition to his skills in the kitchen, John is one of New York’s Bravest, a 15-year veteran of the FDNY. He currently serves in Tribeca where he cooks for the other members of the station. “Besides food critics, the toughest crowd is the firemen, without a doubt,” he shared. John’s experience as a firefighter has made him adept at handling high pressure situations. He’s competed twice on “Chopped” where he finished second each time. He’s also appeared on the “Rachel Ray Show.” But nothing compares to owning Home Base Bistro. “Every time I walk through the doors, I feel a sense of pride,” he said.   

John has consulted on menus all over the east coast. Ten years ago, he was asked to create a menu for a bar in Tribeca, where he featured his grandmother’s rice balls and pulled pork. “I started coking with my mom’s recipes in a frat house and now I have my own kitchen. It’s come full circle for me,” he said. We’re proud to have played a role in John’s career. Go Far!  

Read his original profile in the New York Post here.  

Want to share your story with us? Submit it here.  

Don and Anne Phillips Host Phi Tau Reception

Don flew the Phi Tau flag outside his home

In conjunction with the annual joint National Council and Foundation meeting, Phi Kappa Tau alumni, staff, and volunteers gathered in Chicago recently to celebrate a reunion of sorts at the home of Don Phillips, Texas-Austin ’82, and his wife Anne in Lincoln Park, IL.

Phillips graciously opened his home for the evening, where over 60 guests were welcomed with appetizers and drinks. Don Phillips has been featured extensively by Phi Kappa Tau throughout his years. Don is the former CEO of Morningstar, Inc., a massive investment research firm. He is now in semi-retirement as a Managing Director. 

As a donor and Distinguished Trustee, Don has historically been gracious and good natured in giving his time to Phi Tau. A winter 1999 feature in The Laurel profiled Don after he was appointed CEO. The article reads:

Morningstar’s CEO Don Phillips, Texas-Austin ’82, had two goals when he joined the Chicago-based company’s staff of two as its first mutual fund analyst in 1986: “One was not to do any public speaking and the other was not to have to fly,” he said.  

Thirteen years later, as President and CEO of the world’s leading provider of mutual fund information, with more than 375 employees, Phillips said, “Now I do about 100,000 miles a year and I speak all of the time. So, I’m an abject failure as what I set out to do!”

Left to right: CEO Tim Hudson, host Don Phillips, and National Vice President Dale Holland

Twenty years later in the spring 2019 edition, he was featured as an outstanding example of Phi Tau leadership. He spoke to some of the lessons he’s learned in the finance world, but of his time with Phi Tau he said, “My experience with Beta Alpha chapter and Phi Tau were unanimously positive. The role models I met, the people I met, the people I continue to be great friends with – this wasn’t just an excuse to have a party. We were cognizant of trying to be better men of character.”

Nine months later, Don & Anne were happy to host brothers and friends.

Left to right: Foundation Chairman Wes Fugate and National President Bill Brasch

Among the guests were local alumni, as well the National Councilors, Foundation Trustees, and staff who were in the Windy City for meetings Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. National President Bill Brasch, Louisville ’67, and Foundation Chairman Wes Fugate, Centre ‘99 shared a few words about the organization’s successes. Chief Executive Officer Tim Hudson, Truman State ’97, thanked the attendees and the hosts for providing a memorable evening.  

 Often these events are about reconnecting with brothers you haven’t seen in a while. Chief Operating Officer Travis Robinson, Eastern Kentucky ’98, had the opportunity to reconnect with a few brothers he recruited at the Indiana University expansion in 2003. Years later, all in vastly different stages of their lives, these men had the opportunity to talk about how the group will celebrate the 15th anniversary of their re-chartering in 2020. Director of Philanthropy Charlie Ball, Miami ’82, spoke to various Miami alumni about the upcoming return to campus and how excited they are to see Alpha chapter restored. 

Houston Ray, Louisville ’17, traveled to Chicago as a member of the Undergraduate Advisory Board, a committee that advises the National Council from an undergraduate perspective. He participated in his first National Council meeting over the phone last month, but this was his first-time meeting with the group in person. “It’s going to be exciting to share what undergraduates are thinking,” he said, “I want to establish a role for the UAB with the National Council. I’ve come here to present what we want it to be.”

Left to right: National Councilors Michael French, Ricky Bailey, and Bob Ragsdale

The National Council meets monthly over the phone, but several of the members explain why meeting in person is meaningful to them. Michael French, Kent State ’88, said, “It’s for the brotherhood and the fellowship, it’s to see alumni from all parts of the country. It’s vital for us to do our jobs, we can’t just exist in our own little world.” Ricky Bailey, Florida State ’03, added, “We’re not a closed group and this proves it. We want to go out and impact as many lives as we can.”

All of our National Councilors and Foundation Trustees live busy lives. Bob Ragsdale, Georgia ’66, shared why he makes time for the National Council. “I have an obligation to this Fraternity because of what they did for me as an undergraduate. You have to make sure you provide the same opportunities you were given.”

Thank you, Don and Anne for opening your home for the evening and to all of our guests who attended! The National Council and Foundation look forward to another meeting in the spring of 2020.

Want to share your story with us? Submit it here. 

Mount Union Alumnus Bikes to End Cancer

Alex Koehler, Mount Union ’07, completed a 45-mile bike ride in August with Peltonia, an organization that raises money for life-saving cancer research. Since its founding in 2008, Peltonia has raised over $207 million. In 2019 alone, riders, volunteers, and supporters have generated over $23 million. 100% of Peltonia’s proceeds are directed towards research at Ohio State University’s Comprehensive Cancer Center.

 This is Koehler’s first-time riding for the organization, and he has raised nearly $2,000. Brothers from across the country contributed to his effort, for which he says he is “extraordinarily grateful.”

You can view his Peltonia profile here.

Want to share your story with us? Submit news here.

Colorado State Alumnus Recognized as 40 Under 40

Aaron Harris, Colorado State ’02, has received the BizWest 40 Under 40, an award recognizing individuals who are shaping the future of Northern Colorado.

Harris is the Senior Recreation Supervisor for the city of Fort Collins. He oversees the city’s recreational programming, as well as building rentals and STEM programs. He improves and entertains the community by planning events like the Fourth of July parade, Hogwarts Halloween, and the Father’s Day 5K, all of which are either free to the public or benefit non-profits.

Harris is a 2016 recipient of the Phi Award and has more recently received the “World Class Person” award from the city this year, among other awards for risk management and education.

Before his position with the city of Fort Collins, Harris spent eight years as Assistant Director of Club Sports at Colorado State. During his time there, Harris volunteered for CSU’s Cans Around the Oval, a local food bank, where he personally collected over 30,000 lbs. of food.

Congratulations to this man of distinction!

Read the original press release here.

 Want to share your story with us? Submit news here.  

Ohio State President Pays Gamma a Visit

The Ohio State University President Dr. Drake paid the Gamma chapter house a visit on October 14th in recognition of winning both the Maxwell Trophy and Ohio State’s IFC Chapter of the Year.  

From Gamma Chapter President Ryan Beard, Ohio State ’17:  

Gamma Chapter was excited and honored to host The Ohio State President Dr. Drake at our chapter dinner on October 14th. It gave us a great opportunity to not only tell him about our chapter’s success, but also show President Drake the benefits and value that the Greek community adds to OSU’s campus. Following dinner, President Drake had a chance to speak to the chapter as a whole about the recent success of Ohio State and his vision for our campus in the coming years. It was an amazing experience for Gamma chapter to host and meet President Drake and we hope to see him back soon.  

Dr. Drake was able to see up close some of the good Gamma does by witnessing the preparation of Gamma’s annual pumpkin sale, a fundraiser that has raised upwards of $10k in recent years to benefit SeriousFun. 

Hosting Dr. Drake was lauded by facility as well. Kate Butler, the Associate Director Sorority and Fraternity Life on Ohio State’s campus, praised the chapter by saying, “The chapter did an amazing job representing our community and it seemed like Dr. Drake had a wonderful time.”  

Dr. Drake is the 15th President of The Ohio State University and began his role in 2014.  

Congratulations to Gamma on this honor!  

Want to share your story with us? Submit news here.

Recruitment Roundup

Formal recruitment is over, and, with it, Phi Tau is tallying the count of our newest members. In total, Phi Taus across the country have added 1,134 men to their ranks, making for an impressive recruitment year.

Alpha Lambda’s record breaking associate class.

Alpha Lambda at Auburn, home chapter of National Recruitment Advisor Barry Mask, Auburn ’79, set a Phi Tau record this fall with their massive 65-man associate class. Barry hosted a recruitment seminar at this past July’s Conclave, where he shared best practice tips on meeting potential new members (PNMs), hosting exciting events, and his cardinal rule - don’t rely on formal recruitment to meet people. He also recently shared his best tips for spring recruitment, which you can read here. Other facilitators include Sam Medley, Transylvania ‘94, Mike Gabhart, Georgetown ‘95, and Travis Robinson, Eastern Kentucky ‘98.

For a class this large, recruitment has to start early. Alpha Lambda Recruitment Chairman, Zach Woodruff, Auburn ’18, shared what made them successful over the summer. “We started making a list of guys in April by getting all the brothers to reach out to their high schools to see who was coming to Auburn. By May 10th, we had a list of 40 names. Our summer goal is to have 30 guys ready to accept a bid by July 31st. This year we were at 33 on July 31st.” Over the summer, Auburn focuses on small events to make new friends. They host bonfires, attend Atlanta Braves games, go rafting, and deep-sea fishing. This strategy started in 2015-2016 with past Rush Chairman Taylor Johnson, Auburn ’14, who set a previous record of 46 men.

This success continued into the fall, but Zach didn’t reveal to anyone how well they were doing. “Until you can accept bids you really don’t know where you are anyway,” he said. They lined up events the week before classes started, including help with move-in, to keep the men they got over summer engaged and meet new faces on campus. By the time IFC recruitment week rolled around, they already had 59 accepted bids. “We use formal recruitment to close bids – not to meet guys,” Zach explained. Now, mid-November, their planning and hard work has paid off with a large associate class and 90% retention rate.

But the work hasn’t stopped, Zach and the other chapter members have already gotten a head start on spring recruitment. “We have had a tradition the past few years of starting spring recruitment in November. Think about it – November is to spring what June is to fall. So, we have all of our associates start giving us names now. We use our remaining events in November as recruitment events for spring. We like to bid guys before exams and let them go back over the holidays in December and hopefully come back in January and accept their bid. It works well.”

Alpha Kappa chapter with their new associates.

Across the country at Washington State, Alpha Kappa had a similarly successful year. This group has been steadily growing for several years . Now they boast over 100 brothers, and according to Tommy Kane, Washington State AM, have had “terrific success” recruiting large, solid classes during fall. But Tommy admits that, despite their accomplishments in formal recruitment, they struggle with spring and summer. This year to combat the problem, they made a strategic decision to place an emphasis on branding and marketing during informal recruitment.

This began with the creation of their recruitment Instagram, @phi_kappa_tau_rec. They were able to communicate their chapter’s culture and identity through the branding of this page and give PNMs a feel for the Alpha Kappa Chapter, even if they had never been there or met any of the members in person. This was also an opportunity to promote the chapter house. Content creation came easily by promoting their new turf backyard and recently installed deck, as well as dropping snippets of the semester’s recruitment video. Alpha Kappa wanted to show the chapter house was one of the upper-end houses on campus and demonstrate that, as a group, they could take care of their home and keep the property clean.

They also took advantage of Instagram’s paid advertising tool, a cost-effective method that lets Instagram work in your favor by marketing your posts towards a target audience. This was especially helpful when they advertised their summer recruitment graphics and schedule of events. Alpha Kappa took their branding past the digital level by making t-shirts and jerseys that matched the digital aesthetic. Tommy shared these were the nicest jerseys on campus and they got PNMs excited and made the group recognizable on campus. Tommy hopes the chapter will continue to focus on branding and marketing for future recruitment classes. Alpha Kappa was the only group on campus that focused so much on digital marketing and it really set them apart. All in all, this hard work earned Washington State 26 new members.

A recruitment event at Cal State-Long Beach’s Beta Psi chapter.

Beta Psi at Cal State-Long Beach, a 2018 Founders Four chapter and winner of the Angelo Award for Most Improved Chapter, reported 55 accepted bids from their fall recruitment efforts. Vice President Dom Pham, Cal State-Long Beach ’18, shared that the group took a lot of Barry Mask’s Conclave advice to heart, especially his cornerstone rule. Rather than waiting on the campus recruitment period, Beta Psi got out and volunteered at move-ins, as well as other events where Fraternity and Sorority Life (FSL) members were encouraged to promote Greek life to the new and transfer students on campus. This was a success and Beta Psi met many new students who they became friends with while they helped them acclimate them to campus, find classes, and navigate the area – all before formal recruitment started.

During formal recruitment they hosted events like bowling, dodgeball, and game night, but their most successful event by far was Taco Night which brought 68 PNMs to the house, the group’s pride and joy. Unlike the other events where everybody’s attention was drawn to the activity itself, while they were grilling tacos Beta Psi could socialize with the new members and get to know them on a personal level with minimal distractions.

One of Beta Psi’s biggest advantages is the group’s diversity. “We have people from all sorts of backgrounds, whether they’re athletes, skaters, musicians, dancers, etc. You name it, we have it,” said Dom. This has been a huge asset in making PNMs feel at home and introducing them to other members who have similar interests. It’s also useful for a tool Beta Psi recently implemented called “bumping” – something they learned from local sororities. If a brother is talking to a PNM but they aren’t in sync, they will introduce the PNM to another brother who shares some common interests so they can get to know one another. Dom reports that this has been very useful in making brothers feel at home as well as projecting the diversity of the group. If their numbers are any indication, it’s very effective.

Psi at University of Colorado in front of their chapter house.

Last year at the University of Colorado’s Psi chapter, they had 48 men on bid day, a good number for a large state school. A week later later they had 40. 28 took part in the association process, but at the end of recruitment only 16 initiated. “Those are terrible numbers!” Board of Governors Chairman Sam Medley quips over the phone.

 Psi has always taken the idea of “character-driven recruitment” to heart in a way few other chapters do; by creating a list of ideal characteristics for new members, they are intentional in recruiting men who will only meet the highest standards of what being a Man of Character means. Each year this list is discussed and refined by adding or removing a characteristic, but the spirit remains the same. They are looking for a group of engaging and intelligent men who want to make a positive impact on their campus.  

A few of these characteristics are non-negotiable: good academics, sound finances, and, to see if they are good team players, if they have been part of a group or team before (Sam shares that more often than not this is a sports team, but they also have members who have been involved in academic or business groups). The more flexible characteristics they look for are things like brining something unique to the chapter, socially capable, a good understanding of brotherhood, and the ability to maintain a good image on campus. In past years when Psi has struggled either financially or with maintaining membership, they have looked for as few as 2-3 of the characteristics they list. Now that they are a solid and competitive group, they expect as many as 7-8. If a man is not strong enough in one of these areas, they hope he is exceptional in one of the others.

 Because of this, Psi has always done an exceptional job in recruiting men of distinction. However, to combat the retention problem, this year they added a bit of homework. Framed as a “membership pitch” to alumni, Psi assigns new members a 1-page paper asking the new associates why they want to join the chapter, what they will bring to the group, and what fraternity means to them. “If they’re not willing to take 45 minutes to write a page they’re not going to be the type of member who shows up to community service or the study table,” Sam explains. This logic held true – following the assignment a handful of men eliminated themselves by not completing the paper. The association period at Colorado is still not over, but now just past the halfway mark they still have 32 of the 36 men they extended bids.

All 4 of these chapters have taken advantage of their available recruitment resources and shown how chapters can succeed with a little bit of creative planning and hard work.  Congratulation to the above groups as well as the rest of chapters on a great recruitment season. We look forward to seeing more results in the spring.

Barry Mask is hosting an all-inclusive recruitment webinar this Sunday, November 17th, at 7pm ET. All are welcome to join. Follow the zoom link here.

 Go Far!

Want to share your story with us? Submit news here.

Colorado State Hosts Homecoming

Alumni and undergraduates gather

Alpha Sigma alumni returned to Colorado State’s campus in early October for a chapter homecoming. Guests gathered at the chapter house which was described by guests as warm and hospital to celebrate brotherhood. Alumnus, Ed Arnold, Colorado State ’61, was honored for his generous contributions to the chapter’s Cornerstone Campaign, an endowed fund that covers expenses related to attending National Programs that are typically paid for by undergraduates. In addition to the festivities, alumni talked to the chapter about Phi Tau scholarships, many of which are unclaimed. 

Ed Arnold (left) receives the Certificate of Appreciation from Mike Rosser

Distinguished Trustee Mike Rosser, Colorado State ’61, said of the Alpha Sigma group, “These men are very mature, polite, and dedicated to our cardinal principles.  I hope you will pass on what a fantastic group these men are and how well Phi Kappa Tau is represented on the CSU campus.”  

Want to share your story with us? Submit news here. 

Cheers to One Hundred Years!

The November 1928 cover

This November marks the 100th anniversary of the Laurel, the exoteric magazine of Phi Kappa Tau.  

Today we commemorate 100 years of Phi Tau storytelling and everything that has gone into it – approximately 322 editions, 24 editors, and countless hours dedicated to its production. This magazine has lived through much: The Great Depression, World War II, Vietnam, 9/11, and now into the first quarter of the 21st century. It, like Phi Tau, has overcome every challenge the last century has presented, and that is worth celebrating.  

 The Laurel has had the honor of celebrating men who have sacrificed their life for their country, dedicated their lives to philanthropy and education, and advanced the world through their dedication to science, public service, and the arts. In addition to the ritual, the Laurel, and its celebration of Phi Tau membership, is one of the most celebrated traditions Phi Tau has to offer.  

 The following is an excerpt of CEO Tim Hudson’s letter to readers in the upcoming centennial edition of the Laurel:  

Tim in his first Laurel appearance, 2001

 Brothers,  

I want to thank you for reading this special edition of The Laurel. All milestones are important to celebrate, and throughout this issue we have highlighted the best our magazine has had to offer throughout its 100 years of publication.  

To be in print for 100 years is no small feat. This magazine has profiled individual heroism, chapter accomplishments, business success, great acts of charity, and thousands upon thousands of alumni events. Countless births, marriages, engagements, job transitions, and other celebrations of life have been announced here through the years. I hope that we have done a successful job in marking our Men of Distinction. 

The Laurel is a reflection of the history and lifeline of Phi Tau. It has documented the joy of charterings and the unfortunate closing of chapters. It has been there through every step of existence for many of our groups, and it’s our intention for it to be there to share the lives of our brothers for many years to come. 

 Cheers to 100 More Years! 
Tim Hudson, Truman State ’97  
CEO  

Look for the special 100th anniversary edition coming out early December. If you are not on the mailing list, you can still sign up here.