Fall 2007 Philings Issue 2

Φhilin
October 2007
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Syracuse University/SUNY-ESF * Alpha Phi Omega- Phi Chapter * apophi.org
STAFF
15 Minutes of Phame
PR Chair:
Tori Hornstein
Staff Writers:
Clifford Cassis
Sarah DiGiulio
Sarina Fiero
Jenna Passmore
Courtney Pew
Special to this Issue:
Sara Covino
WITHIN
Fall Walks
PC Fall ‘07
Fall Service
Alumni Dinner
President’s message
Fall Retreat
.... and more!
Members of Phi participated in Dollar Day at the Dome. This picture was a pleasant
surprise for the chapter as the header of “SU Today,” a newsletter seen by most students,
professors, and staff members at Syracuse University. By Jenna Passmore
More than 150 members of SU’s fraternities and sororities, including
Alpha Phi Omega, collected $5,000.77 for the United Way of Central New
York at the Dollar Day at the Dome event on Saturday, Oct. 6. This event,
which kicked off SU’s 2007 United Way Campaign, took place before the
Syracuse vs. West Virginia football game.
Phi brothers who participated in the event said that they counted and
sorted money. Senior Rachel Cook said she enjoyed getting to count all of
the money, as $100 bills and Sacajawea coins were involved.
Senior Arianna Pieragostini, who also sorted the money that was
collected, said the best part of the event was “hanging out with brothers in a
confined space...things got a little goofy.”
All in all, Dollar Days at the Dome seemed to be a great time, not to
mention the great amount of money brothers collected for the
United Way.
Junior Kelly Huth also enjoyed the event. “I am definitely doing it again
next year! They gave us free shirts, breakfast, a free admission to the game,
and we all got free lunch tickets!! It was a great project. Plus, we raised
$5000.77 for a good cause- what could be better??
Arguably one of the most involved, spirited,
dedicated pledge classes to hit PHI,
meet Jana Barnello’s
ACTION
PHI
NEWS
TEAM
PLEDGE CLASS FALL 2006
by Sarah Digiulio
Name: Brenna Sacra
Family: Mafia
Big: Cheaven Roberts
Name: Michaele Webb
Family: BL
Big: Alex Johnson
Fun Fact: Has an aunt named Mike!
Name: Natalie W. Zadrozna
Family: BL
Big: Kristy Blakely
Name: Nicholas Huertas
Family: BL
Big: Nicole Stanek
Fun Fact: Played varsity lax for SU
for 2 years!
Name: Kara Gitchell
Family: Mafia
Big: Catie Ellis
Fun Fact: Is a Vegetarian
Fun Fact: Has a birthmark shaped like
an eagle!
Fun Fact: Is an asst. kindergarden
teacher!
Name: Roshni Bhambhurani
Family: HE
Big: Meng Lin
Fun Fact: Has read Harry Potter 100+
times!
Name: Jessica Rosenhaus
Family: Mafia
Big: Shannon McCool
Fun Fact: Went to Isreal last summer
Name: Yanina Tovpeko
Family: Mafia
Big: Tia Giermek
Fun Fact: Can’t really remember her
first kiss!
Name: Diana Hernandez
Family: SAL
Big: Sarah Leahy
Fun Fact: Can touch elbows behind her
back!
Name: Giselle Guadalupe
Family: HE
Big: Megan Vogt
Fun Fact: Name means ‘hostage’ in
German!
Name: Daisy Catagena
Family: SAL
Big: Nikki Vogel
Fun Fact: She and her aunt have same
first name, last name, and birthday!
Name: Catiria Vasquez
Family: HE
Big: Adam Gouveia
Fun Fact: Has a permanently fractured
left foot
Name: Arika L. Moody
Family: HE
Big: Christine Depompeo
Fun Fact: Has a scar shaped like a
saxophone on her theigh !
Name: Megan Kay
Family: BL
Big: Mariel Olivo
Fun Fact: Cuban and Jamaican with
an Irish name !
Name: Michael Ressler
Family: BL
Big: Kate Rovito
Name: Stephen Terzolo
Family: BL
Big: Jeremy Eldredge
Name: Allison Burke
Family: BL
Big: Matt Martino
Name: Melanie Leslie English
Family: Mafia
Big: Lauren Smith
Name: Matt Luciano
Family: BL
Big: Christopher Robin Luczkowiak
Name: Tiffany Chang
Family: Mafia
Big: Justin Selle
Fun Fact: Bungee jumped off the
Macau Tower (355 meters!)
Name: Geraldine A. Ramirez
Family: HE
Big: Marissa Miller
Fun Fact: She can hula-hoop for
hours!
Name: Nadia Essi
Fun Fact: Didn’t know the moon wasn’t supposed
to look fuzzy untill he got glasses last xmas!
Fun Fact: Her dad is from Jamaica and she’s
gone bobledding, just like cool runnings!
Fun Fact: His car speedometer hasn’t
worked in 3 years!
Name: Colin Moynihan
Family: HE
Big: Scott Mastin
Fun Fact: Saw lions mate once!
Name: Katherine Pease
Family: BL
Big: Jessica Redisch
Fun Fact: Doing thesis on economic
reform in Republic of Georgia
Name: Jason Gruenauer
Family: Mafia
Big: Tori Hornstein
Fun Fact: His hair has been every color
of the rainbow !
Name: Leslie Teagarden
Family: BL
Big: Ashley Kessler
Fun Fact: She is a black belt!
Fun Fact: Has been inside Imothep’s
tomb
Fun Fact: Swallowed a penny when she
was 2 !
The Action Phi News Team is only halfway to initiations, but already fully
embracing all the brotherhood and all it has to offer.
“It’s a lot of fun,” said Yanina Tovpeko, a freshman biology major. “I did a lot of stuff
out of my comfort zone…all this crazy stuff.”
The mafia pledge jumped in the gorges at Ithaca. She climbed high in the trees
on the high ropes course at the Cayuga Nature Center at the fall retreat. She has also
played Bingo at Segwick Heights. Although APO is different than anything she was involved with in high school, she was attracted by our brothers’ welcoming personalities
and hopes to continue to make good friends, she said.
“I absolutely love these pledges,” said Jana Barnello, pledgemaster.
(continued on next spread.)
A letter from
our President...
Dear Phi,
It might surprise you to know that we are now more than half way through
the semester. How is this possible? I feel like it was just yesterday when we were at
CPPC planning out our goals for success this semester. I think now is as good a time
as any to see how we go to this point. We have done sooooo many fabulous things as a
chapter; let’s take a look at how marvelous it has been.
In my mind, the most obvious indicator of our success is the pledges. With a
small and highly motivated pledge class of 27, they illustrate how much fun we are
having as a chapter. They have been involved with everything; from the Ithaca Trip to
E-Board Meetings to the service projects. They come to everything and have already
woven themselves into the intricate fiber of Phi.
Another way to judge our progress is the attendance at fellowships. Perhaps
you remember the Cayuga Retreat? Or maybe Ithaca? Or Greys nights? Or IM soccer? All of these events (and more) have been highly attended and enjoyed. I don’t
think that anyone can argue watching Nick Huertas shove 14 marshmallows into his
mouth and say “Chubby Bunny” was not highly amusing.
Or what about the number of service hours? We have already sprinted past our
half way point last semester. Brothers are getting service hours from a multitude of
walks, Monday projects, the traditional Meals on Wheels, and the many projects helping kids and the elderly. This semester we have Phi brothers doing service everyday of
the week.
We should also look at the highly attended chapters? I am not sure whether it’s
the promise of seeing someone in a funny costume or the fact that its only 45 minutes
long, but more brothers are coming to chapter every Sunday. At chapter they enjoy
lovely PowerPoints, homemade cookies (Thanks Kristy), and lots of fun convos. No
matter the reason, anyway you look at it, we have quorum (and more) every week.
With everything that has happened this semester, Fall 2007 has been my favorite semester (and that’s saying a lot since I have been a brother since Spring 2005- the high
phi!!!). I don’t think Phi chapter has ever been closer and I am so excited to see us
carry this enthusiasm into the coming months and the rest of the year. Thank you so
much for everything you have done to take part in Phi this semester. We surely are a
damn phine chapter. You all melt my little APO heart.
Love,
Sara “Madame President” Covino
The Action Phi News Team, continued
The fall 2007 pledge class includes 27 hardworking and dedicated pledges, said Barnello.
The pledge class will be volunteering together at a soup kitchen later this semester as their
pledge class service project. They are planning an Insomniacs Event to take place November
30 as a fellowship event for pledges and brothers. They will also cheer on the Syracuse Crunch
Hockey Team later in November. And, of course, they spend their treasured hour together every
Monday night at 10 in the Hall of Languages for pledge class.
“I’ve just enjoyed the people,” said Katherine Pease, a freshman mechanical engineering
major.
This pledge was involved in many service projects in high school and was happy to find a
service organization at SU. She found out about APO at an activity fair during orientation and
thought it sounded like a great way to connect to people and find her place on campus, she said.
“It seems like the people I would hang out with normally,” Pease said. She hopes it will help
her find ways to help out in the community and be a leader.
Sophomore broadcast journalism major Jason Gruenauer is excited about the people he has
met so far. He walked in the Crop Walk, went on the fall retreat, attends pledge class every week
and spends lots of time hanging out with his big.
“You get to hang out with lots of cool people,” he said.
Overall, APO lives up to its beliefs
of friendship, leadership and service,
according to Gruenauer.
“It’s really what it says it is,” he said.
Welcome pledges! We’re so happy to
have you.
A Walker’s Log...
September 30th, Breast Cancer Walk
Time: 10 am!
Place: Clinton Square
People: APO brothers and pledges!
October 14th, First Frost AIDS Walk
By Sarina Fiero
As our two cars full of
people unloaded at the 8th
annual First Frost AIDS Walk
on October 14th in Watertown,
New York, we knew we were in
for an afternoon of excitement.
How could we not be excited
to begin the 5K walk with a
local radio station’s giant green
frog entertaining the walkers, a
brilliant balloon arch marking the
start and finish, and food…Panera
food?
But there was no time for
dilly-dallying. We had to join
up with the walk through the
Thompson Park Zoo. Our group
consisted of pledges, brothers
walking the AIDS walk for their
first time, and veteran walkers,
joining together to raise over
$150.00. With a total fundraising goal of $25,000, the walk
ended up raising over $35,000 to
go towards providing direct care
to families and individuals living
with AIDS, and to help support
Adolescent Prevention Programs
in area middle and high schools.
It was a great day for a
walk—a perfect fall day. The walk
was both a time to catch up with
those you were walking with, but
also a time to reflect and become
educated by the informative facts
posted along the walk’s route.
Whether we were walking to
honor someone, or simply walking
to spread awareness, it was nice
to be apart of the cheerful atmosphere of the biggest AIDS event
in Northern New York.
October 14th, CROP Hunger Walk
By Clifford Cassis
Sometimes I get so annoyed
and tired of eating the same deep
fried French fries and grilled
hamburgers in the dinning halls
everyday. Shaw, Graham, and
Haven all seem to serve the same
food night after night. Why
can’t SU ever offer something
different to eat? I torture myself
everyday in these halls from the
long lines, garden salads, and the
interesting shaped pizzas that
come out of the oven. It is not
the fact that I hate the foods that
are being served in the halls, but
after eating the same thing every
day you start wasting your meal
plans. Plate after plate I tossed
into the dish room from my half
eaten pizzas, turkey
wraps, and bowls of
fruits. I felt no regret
at the times knowing
that my parents were
paying for my meal
plans. It wasn’t until
I participated in the
CROP walk with my
fellow APO brothers
and pledges that
I learned the true
meaning of hunger.
On Sunday, Oct.
14th SU students, supporters, and
I came out to Hendricks Chapel
to join a walk to help raise money
and awareness about
hunger. Hunger
is defined when
people do not
receive enough food
to provide nutrients
needed for an active
and healthy life.
Participants geared
up for the long
walk by hearing
from Ariik Thon
Nyok one of the Lost Boys of
the Sudan. He led the walk from
Hendricks to the inner city streets
of Syracuse. I felt that this walk
helped to open my eyes to value
foods like Sbarros pizza and
grilled chicken because many
countries are not as lucky as I am.
Nearly 1 in 6 people on the planet
die of hunger and 1.2 billion
people in this world go hungry.
Walking for the CROP Walk
helped raised money to fight
hunger in such a small effort, but
makes a big difference for many
countries.
CAYUGA NATURE
W
e’ve all heard the infamous question, “What
is your favorite APO moment?” And now, for the
group of pledges, brothers, and advisors that
headed to the Cayuga Nature Center October 20th, the answer is clear. The overnight retreat was
the first of its kind for Phi, and it’s sure to be the first of many.
Students at SUNY-ESF knew all about the nature center, located near Ithaca, because they
attended retreats there as freshman. ESF liaison Matt Martino organized the trip. He spent
countless hours, starting last summer, to make the amazing retreat come to fruition.
After a scenic drive through the wine region of Central New York, the brothers arrived to the center.
The main lodge brought back sleep-away camp memories for many and everyone was excited as
Jana Barnello’s car, carrying the lunchtime ham and cheese, rolled in an hour late after she took
a wrong turn! With bellies full, the games began.
The retreat started with team-building exercises for the
fraternity led by the nature center’s staff. Then the
brotherhood broke into random teams to attack a low
ropes course. Trust-building exercises, communication,
and teamwork were essential to completing the tasks
on the small ropes course, and it was an excellent
warm-up for the main attraction: the high ropes!
CENTER RETREAT
B
rothers who didn’t want to take their chances
in the tree tops were fabulous supporters for the
group’s Tarzans. The rain held off and PHI flew high,
traversing the tightrope, scrambling across swings
and taking the leap of faith. The personal victories
and support from all were inspiring.
People had sore muscles where they didn’t know
muscles existed. A hearty pasta dinner and
interview party was a great wind-down. But brothers
got their second wind and leapt into intense games
of “Pretty Pretty Princess.” Ben Stephens built a
roaring bonfire, and helped brothers explore the
Nature Center’s multi-storey tree house. The night
ended with a fabulous talent show, and pledge Nick
Huertas ran away with the “chubby bunny”
marshmallow stuffing competition.
After a crisp night, the next day dawned bright and
clear. A solid pancake breakfast gave the
brothers energy for a morning hike to nearby
waterfalls. Tired, dirty, and happy, the brothers
eventually piled back into their cars and bid adieu to
the Nature Center. Many thanks go to all the
brothers who helped make the retreat such a
memorable night!
Service Center
Your updates on the brotherhood’s Fall projects,
October Projects, and Projects yet to come!
APO Brothers...
Changing Children’s Lives
Kindergarten at MLK
by Courtney Pew
Imagine that you are walking into your first day of kindergarten and you can not recognize
the letters in your own name or distinguish between the colors blue and green. This image is a
reality for the students at Dr. Martin Luther King Elementary School. Now, imagine that you can
volunteer at MLK and make a difference in the lives of these children. This image is also a reality.
Volunteers are not only welcome, but they are also encouraged!
Each week, on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, I volunteer at MLK with
other Syracuse University students through a program set up by the Public Affairs Department in
the Maxwell School. We meet at 3:15 outside of Brewster, Boland, and Brockway and then take
a ten minute walk to MLK Elementary. While at the site, we tutor and interact with two classes of kindergarten students
helping them develop their mathematics, writing, and social skills. On a typical day, we first sit “criss-cross applesauce”
on the carpet and participate in story time. Next volunteers and students break up into groups and perform an activity that
coordinates with the theme of the book. They can range from making a graph of sorted leaves to learning how to print first
and last names on dry erase boards. Volunteers are free to develop their own ideas for an activity and lead the tutoring
session.
Other than a great way to get community service hours, Dr. Martin Luther King Elementary School helps volunteers become connected with the Syracuse community. The children love meeting new people and any help is appreciated. Words can not describe the difference that even just one visit can make in their lives. If you have any questions please
contact Courtney Pew, clpew@syr.edu, or 716-208-7221.
International Young Scholars
by Tori Hornstein
The city of Syracuse is known for its history with the Erie Canal. It’s known for its history in the salt industry. And
it’s known for it’s great sports legacy. But now, Syracuse is finding a new place in history as the home for thousands of
displaced refugees from war-torn nations around the world.
Many of the refugees are from the African countries of Sudan and Somalia.
These families have been placed in Syracuse by the United States Government
because of the availability of housing, education, and jobs in the area.
Even though the families have made it out of their countries alive, each day is a
challenge as parents work to make ends meet financially. Everyone must learn a
new language and for the children of these families, days at school are sometimes
exhausting and scary.
That’s where International Young Scholars comes in. Each Thursday from 4-6
pm, student volunteers along with APO brothers meet with the refugee children
at Hendrick’s chapel to play, learn, and love. Students work on their english skills,
reading, and homework. Tutors lead games, scavenger hunts, art and music workshops, and field trips. Often, guest professors and performers come to share their
skills.
For the children, it’s a time to play, relax, and just be a kid. For the tutors, it’s
humbling to realize what it means to touch someone’s life. The bonds made
have an influence on everyone. For more information, contact Tori Hornstein,
thornste@syr.edu or 413-329-4670.
AlumnI
Dinner
oct 13
2007
This fall’s homecoming
weekend was a special one for
Phi. Besides seeing one of our
own on Homecoming court (we
still think you should have won,
Nick Huertas!) current brothers
and pledges alike got to meet the
Phis of old at a delightful alumni
dinner.
Alumni Secretary Caitlin
Kelley planned the event, which
took place at the Spaghetti
Warehouse. The freezing cold
and rainy night made it a perfect
one to enjoy the steaming
plates of pasta and the warm
atmosphere of the restaurant.
Advisor Lynne Mowers
joined the festivities and it was
exciting to see our brothers doing
so well in the real world!
HAPPY HALLOWEEN!
What are our brothers of Phi planning on being this year?
Clifford Cassis finds out.
Name: Jason Gruenauer
Major: Broadcast Journalism
Family: Mafia (Pledge)
Costume: Vanilla Ice
Name: Clifford Cassis
Name: Marissa Miller:
Major: Environmental Biology
Family: HE
Costume: Jimmy Macelroy
Major: Television, Radio, and
Film
Family: Mafia
Costume: Dr. Preston Burke/
Grey’s Anatomy
Name: Erin Murphy
Major: Natural History and
Interpretation
Family: BL
Costume: Chazz Muchael Michael