VITRUVIUS CHAPTEROF ALPHA RHO CHIReport to the 70th National Convention

The active Chapter (as of Fall 2016) posing for a family photo to conclude the semester.

320 S. Fraser St. State College, PA 16801

Chapter Update:Over the past year, the Vitruvius Chapter of Alpha Rho Chi has continued to work hard at improving our fraternity and the brothers we have become. We have still looked to increase our membership by using a variety of methods, and our past two recruitment chairs (Brothers Andrew Bean and Zachary Bloomgarden) have been quite successful during each of their recruitment periods. Fortunately, interests in joining Alpha Rho Chi have not come from solely active brothers reaching out to fellow classmates. As our numbers have increased since last year, so has the interest of many first-year students as well as upperclassmen. Even with our increased numbers, we have continued to stay very active with the Penn State community. There are high hopes for the future of the Vitruvius Chapter of Alpha Rho Chi.

There have been no major changes to our Constitution and Bylaws. Last year, we need to make an amendment specifying that “Pledges” were to be addressed as “New Members”, and the “Pledgemaster” was to be addressed as “New Member Educator” as enforced by the IFC, which we currently are a part of. We have continued to follow this new change, and it has added a sense of professionalism to the entire pledging process. Being referred to as a “New Member” is much more professional than “pledge”.

The biggest issue surrounding our Chapter at the current moment is actually an issue we have been facing and discussing for quite some time now: leaving the IFC. For years now, our Chapter has brought up the idea of leaving the IFC for a multitude of reasons, yet nothing was ever persued. However, due to recent tragic events that have occured earlier this semester at our university involving other fraternities, the thought of leaving has become more and more convincing. While the incident had no direct connection to Alpha Rho Chi, all fraternities under the supervision of the IFC faced the same penalties. The major punishment that affected us the most was the termination of our current new members for the Spring 2017 semester. All fraternities were to defer their current New Members, which meant we could no longer have a pledge class of 7 (one of the larger ones we have has since the Fall 2015 semester). Our Chapter has thought a lot about the benefits of no longer affiliating ourselve with the IFC. No actions have been made just yet because we want to make sure that we weigh all of our options and hear from other members of Alpha Rho Chi to see what their opinions are.

At this year’s National Convention, we will have one active brother represent our Chapter. Due to the fact that the location of the convention is on the West coast, along with school work and other prior engagements, more representatives were unable to attend. However, since next year’s National Convention will be in Maryland, we have high hopes that more members of our Vitruvius Chapter will be able to attend.

Professional Luncheon:On November 5th, 2016, our Vitruvius Chapter hosted a Professional Luncheon at the Nittany Lion Inn. Thanks to the extensive work done by our Professional Co-Chairs, Brothers Frank Mader and Zachary Bloomgarden, we were able to have a very successful get together with established faculty in the College of Arts and Architecture whom were also alumni of Alpha Rho Chi. In attendance were all of our active Brothers and New Members, now brothers. Our special guests included Dr. Loukas Kalisperis, Dr. Denise Costanzo, Dr. William Bahnfleth, and Dr. Thomas Boothby. It was a great experience for all members of our Chapter to be able to sit down and have multiple conversations with faculty outside the classroom/studio setting. We appreciate everyone who was able to attend and specifically our special guests for taking the time our of their busy schedules to speak with us.

The active Chapter and New Members (as of Fall 2016) standing with Dr. Loukas Kalisperis, Dr. Denise Costanzo, Dr. William Bahnfleth, and Dr. Thomas Boothby at the Nittany Lion Inn.

320 S. Fraser St. State College, PA 16801 320 S. Fraser St. State College, PA 16801

Recruitment:Over the past year, we have continued to use the same methods and tactics during the formal recruitment period to attract the attention of potential new members. Such events include holding information sessions at the Stuckeman Building where the Architect and Landscape Architects have their studio spaces. These two majors make up the majority of our Chapter, so it made sense to reach out to the area where many potential new members would be. However, we have gained interests from other majors of the allied arts. Other recruitment events included movie nights and bowling. Even though we no longer have New Members for the Spring 2017 semester, the recruitment period was very successful. In the past year, we have seen the number of New Members in each pledge class grow increasing our total number of brothers to numbers this Chapter has not seen in a few years. Compared to the Fall of 2015, where there were only seven active brothers, our numbers have increased exponentially, and it is all thanks to our successful recruitment events.

Transitioning Into New Roles:With the turn of the new year, the Vitruvius Chapter welcomed a lot of new faces to our Executive Board. Currently, there is only one fifth-year on our Executive Board: Brother Kristen Cole (Worthy Advisor). The rest of the board consists of second-year brothers ranging in majors from Art History to Graphic Design. These new faces of the Executive Board include Brother Andrew Bean (Worthy Architect), Brother Frank Mader (Worthy Associate Architect), Brother Gabby Benjamin (Worthy Estimator), and Brother Frank Kleinsorge (Worthy Scribe). It is pleasing to see that even in just their second year of college, members of our fraternity are taking interests in such high level positons. Other newer brothers have taken the same interests and have become involved in other chairs.

THON:The weekend of February 18th and 19th is a very important weekend for the Penn State community and is a weekend every Penn Stater looks forward to every year. This the weekend when the IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon, more commonly known as THON, takes place. THON is a student run organization, the largest in the country, the raises money for the Four Diamonds Fund at Penn State Hershey Medical Center. The Four Diamonds Fund supports pediatric cancer research and provides extensive emotional and financial support for families affected by pediatric cancer. THON weekend consists of a 46 hour dance marathon where students do not sleep or sit for the entire time and have a good time with friends and family. All of the excitement leads up to that to the very last when they reveal the total amount of moeny we raised. This year, THON raised a total of $10,045,478.44.

Our Vitruvius Chapter takes pride in participating in such a fun event that fights for a good cause every year. This year, we were proud to support two of our very own dancers once again. Brothers Frank Mader and Natalie Duerr represented Alpha Rho Chi and stood for the entire 46 hours straight. Fellow brothers cheered for them up in the stands of the Bryce Jordan Center, and some were even able to come down to the floor to spend a couple hours with them. While those hours seemed short compared to the entire 46, they were precious moments that kept their spirits up. As a brotherhood and family, we look to show or support for one another every way possible. We are so proud of them, and we cannot wait to have dancers represent Alpha Rho Chi in the future.

Pictured is (from left to right) Brother Jeff Wertheim, Nolan Quell, Brother Natalie Duerr, Brother Frank Mader, and Brother Frank Kleinsorge at the Bryce Jordan Center during THON 2017.

New Worthy Architect, Brother Andrew Bean (left), shaking hands with former Worthy Architect, Brother Andrew Marshall (right), as he accepts his new role.

Pictured (from left to right) is Brother Gabby Benjamin, New Member Natalie Duerr, Brother Kristen Cole, New Member Alex Hopple, and New Member Nick

Leuser canning to help raise money for THON.

320 S. Fraser St. State College, PA 16801 320 S. Fraser St. State College, PA 16801

Actives:

Joesph Beam Kristen Cole:Worthy Advisor

Nicholas Leuser Trey Williams

Gabriel Benjamin:Worthy Estimator, Sergeant at

Arms

Nicholas Fudali:Activities Chairperson

Andrew Marshall:Studying Abroad

Joshua Tubay:Activities Chairperosn,

THON Chairperson

Bryce Brucker Kiriana Jobson:Chapter Development

Chairperson

Andrew Bean:Worth Architect, House Manager, Fundraising

Chairperson

Natalie Duerr:Philanthropy Events

Chairperson

Frank Mader:Worthy Associate Architect,

Professional Events Chairperson

Maria OlsenZachary Bloomgarden:Professional Events

Chairperson, Recruitment Chairperson

Alexander Hopple

Brendan Burke Frank Kleinsorge:Worthy Scribe, Technology

Chairperson

Jeffery Wertheim:New Member Educator

320 S. Fraser St. State College, PA 16801 320 S. Fraser St. State College, PA 16801