GAME ON!!!!! - Phi Chapter

fhilings
SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY & SUNY-ESF
CONTENTS
1
Phi Makes an Appearance in
Homecoming Parade 2
3
4
5
10
Spreading the Phish Philosophy Abroad
Fall 2008 E-Board
Ithaca Applfest
Inductions Fall 2008
6th Annual Onodaga Creek Clean- up
12 Message from the Prez...
STAFF
PR Chair:
Catiria Vasquez
Staff Writers:
Frankie Merwin
Nicole Stanek
Daisy Cartegena
Kelly Huth
Tori Hornstein
Photography:
Facebook
Google Images
September/October 2008
ALPHA PHI OMEGA- PHI CHAPTER
apophi.org
GAME ON!!!!!
Phi Makes an Appearance at Homecoming Week
By: Frankie Merwin
Syracuse University hosted its annual Homecoming festivities during this September. The four day festivities consisted of a Homecoming showcase, the football team’s first win of the season against Northeastern University, and an appearance of Phi at the Homecoming parade!
Though this is an event Phi has never participated in before, more then
20 brothers of our chapter sported their letters and Mardi Gras beads and
marched through the streets of the university to cheer and show some APO
pride. We were placed between two large, loud sororities (Phi Sigma Sigma and Tri-Delt), but we held our own and sang verses of the Toast Song
and Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believing.” The theme for the event was “Game
On!” and Phi carried a colorful, glittery banner with a Twister theme- complete with Otto holding the Spinner Board. Thank you to Cathy and Yana!
“The parade was hilarious,” said Kate Desisto, Corresponding Secretary, junior
and member of BL. “It was a nice chance for us to show face, look happy, and show
off our Toast Song to judges who probably didn’t know what we were saying.”
During closing festivities, there was a large bonfire on the quad, and the marching
band played to hype up alumni, current students, friends and faculty. The event was
a memorable one, and a great way for Phi to get out there, and get noticed. It is sure
to be an event that we continue to participate in- and one that will show Syracuse University which organization really is the best, even if they don’t know our Toast Song.
1
LEADERSHIP
We were able to work with six different
classes, with students varying from 3rd to 5th
grade. We taught three classes in the morning, had
lunch in the cafeteria with some of the students
and taught three more classes in the afternoon.
Lunch time in the cafeteria was the most interesting and fulfilling hour of my entire experience
with the storytelling volunteer program, and one of
my favorite memories from the entire semester. The
conversations that transpired allowed the children to
practice their English while we practiced our Italian.
There were some moments when we had to draw
pictures and use hand gestures to communicate.
Spreading the Phish Philosophy Abroad
By: Nicole Stanek
During my semester abroad last spring the
one thing I knew I would miss the most (besides of
course the company of my fellow brothers) was doing service. Luckily, while in Florence I found a way
to link my love for community service with my desire
to experience the rich Italian culture. Syracuse University in Florence provided the opportunity for its
students to volunteer at Italian elementary schools
in Florence and read Because a Little Bug Went
Kachoo, an English children’s book by Dr. Seuss.
While these 7-year-old Italian children
seemed completely fascinated by two 20-year-old
Americans eating lunch with them, what they did
not realize was that they were equally fascinating
to me. I quickly realized how similar we were; they
were unsure about their English just as I was unsure
about my Italian several times throughout my semester abroad. Most importantly, the volunteer opportunity showed me how communication barriers
can be eliminated through a simple children’s book.
Over the course of the semester, I was
able to volunteer about once a week for an hour
or two with children ages 8 through 11. I began
each class by reviewing the basic vocabulary of
the story, reading the story one time through and
finally distributing props so the children could be
involved in telling the story. After the second reading, I handed out worksheets to see how well they
understood the story. I was very impressed with
their knowledge of English. Some of the eight
year olds’ English was better than my Italian!
One Friday my roommate and I headed out to
an elementary school in the surrounding Florence area for a full day of storytelling. 2
Phi’s Fall
2008 E-Board!
Corresponding Secretary
Kate DeSisto
President
Tori Hornstein
Vice President of Service
Daisy Cartagena
Secretary of Service
Katherine Pease
Historian
Diana Hernandez Flores
Vice President of Rush and Retention
Stephanie Eckelkamp
Recording Secretary
Kelsie Bouchard
Pledgemaster
Christopher Luczkowiak
Sergeant-At-Arms
Christina Nicole Saulsberry
Treasurer
Michael Ressler
ESF Liason
Micki Tulsee
Public Relations Chair
Cathy Vasquez
Alumni Secretary
Yana Tovpeko
Vice President of Fellowship
Kelly Huth
Webmaster
Scott Mastin
3
FRIENDSHIP
the seating area. You couldn’t help but see APO
sweatshirts and pledgebooks everywhere you
looked. After cheeseburgers, chili dogs and root
beer floats, it was time to head back home. One
stowaway on the trip this year, Cocoa the gorilla
said the APO Applefest is what made him want
to be the mascot for the Fall 2008 pledge class.
Cocoa spent the day taking pictures
with brothers throughout Ithaca. “Although it
wasn’t as good as my personal favorite, Bananafest 2000, I enjoyed Applefest because
I got to monkey around with my friends.” Well
there you have it, folks. A completely neutral account of APO’s roadtrip from a unbiased source who lacks opposable thumbs.
Ithaca Applefest
By: Kelly Huth
Black skies and thunderclouds
couldn’t keep APO away from the 2008
Ithaca Applefest. Despite the stormy weather on Sept. 28, more than 75 brothers and
newly inducted pledges made our first official roadtrip-fellowship to the Ithaca Commons for Applefest. Vendors offered apple
pies, cider, pumpkin funnel cakes, candied
apples, apple butter, applesauce and not
to mention fresh-picked apples from all
over New York State! Everyone spent the day hopping from
old bookstore to vintage shops while munching on the apple treats. We even got to spend
some time with our friends from Gamma chapter. After everyone had their fill and got some
much-needed interviews done, we loaded everyone back in the cars and headed to our next
stop in Cortland, the time-honored A&W restaurant. We filled the restaurant and took over
4
Inductions Fall 2008
By:Catiria Vasquez
Please join me in welcoming Phi’s largest
Fall pledge class of 48 individuals. On September 21 Phi gathered in Grant Auditorium where
we welcomed once again new Phi pledges. The
largest Phi pledge class left the Brothers distraught after causing a hectic start to the
ceremony. With the assistance of cell phones
and lite candles Phi was able to gather the
pledges and match them up with their Bigs.
And thus began the ceremony. The ceremony was filled with memories from the past as
well as excitment for the journey to come.
The new pledges carry the name of
the Monty Phithons with Mr. C. Robs himself
as the pledgemaster. They are quickly becoming Phi’s most active pledge class, creating various gatherings not only between
the pledges but among the Brothers as well.
The future of Phi is in good hands,
for when the seniors graduate in the Spring, it
is a comforting feeling to know that the chapter willl continue to thrive. Welcome Monty
Phithons and hopefully the journey of pledging
has been as rewarding and fulfilling as it has
been for other Brothers.
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Brian Disher
Big: Kelsie Bouchard
Family: Mafia
Erin Kinsella
Big: Mickey Tulsee
Family: Mafia
Sean Dotson
Big: Nicole C. Saulsbury
Family: Mafia
Ann Koh
Big: Micheale Webb
Family: BL
Allie Duggan
Big: Kira Rice
Family: HE
Jill Feigelman
Big: Yana Tovpeko
Family: Mafia
Zoraima Figueroa
Big: Catiria Vasquez
Family: HE
Elissa Lechtenstein
Big:Melissa Haacker
Family: HE
Zaida Lenci
Big: Corenia White
Family: Mafia
Katie Lewinski
Big: Melissa Baran
Family: BL
Whitney Lincoln
Big: Courtney Jones
Family: Mafia
Katrina Harrison
Big: Julia Collier
Family: HE
Jennifer McCaffrey
Big: Amanda Slaybaugh,
Family: Mafia
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Amhar Ahmed
Big:Ed Winston
Family: Mafia
Emily Allen
Big: Andrea Rosko
Family: BL
Firdaus Arastu,
Big: Anthony Fatta
Family: BL
Amelia Bienstock
Big: Kira Rice
Family: HE
Brooke Belke
Big: Kim Ndombe
Family: Mafia
Samatha Birsen
Big: Carly Fox
Family: BL
Katie Budd
Big: Katherine Pease
Family: BL
Bev. Caspersen
Big: Mike Ressler
Family: BL
Vanessa Chang
Big: Nya Wilson
Family: SAL
Kelly Cheatham
Big: Royce Russell
Family:HE
Chasity Cooper
Big: Nicole Stanek
Family: BL
Linnea D’Amico
Big: Colin Moynihan
Family: HE
Janae DeRusso
Big: Jessica Redisch
Family: BL
Erin Devine
Big: Lauren Muscato
Family: HE
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Arjun Mishra
Big: Mike Scholtz
Family: HE
Sami Mohr
Big: Melissa Haacker
Family: HE
Meredith Nackley
Big: Daisy Cartegena
Family: SAL
Dan O’Brien
Big: Scott Mastin
Family: HE
Mackenzie Osypian
Big: Ali Rubenstein
Family: HE
Claire Pacey
Big: Hannah Dean-Wood
Family: Mafia
Jennie Pikowsky
Big: Laura Mostek
Family: BL
Mary Ryan
Big: Claire Stumbras
Family: BL
Nikhil Samuel
Big: Manny Santana
Family: BL
Katie Sciandro
Big: Pammy Franklin
Family: BL
Carl Shapiro
Big: Matt Luciano
Family: BL
Holly Sostock
Big: Steph. Eckelkamp
Family: BL
Morgan Striggles
Big: Corenia White
Family: Mafia
Lucas Taccardi
Big: Frankie Merwin
Family: BL
Laurie Tewksbury
Big: Kate DeSisto
Family: BL
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Vescera, Ben
Big: Justin Cole
Family: BL
Tiffany Viruet
Big: Prena Abbi
Family: Mafia
Bo Wang
Big: Aaron Knight
Family: HE
Samantha Wilder
Big: Nicole C. Saulsbury
Family: Mafia
Megan Woods
Big: Kelly Huth
Family: Mafia
Lauren Zalepeski
Big: Royce Russell
Family: HE
Jennifer Zhao
Big: Jodilyn Roger
Family: HE
9
SERVICE
6th Annual Onondaga Creek Cleanup
By Daisy Cartegena
It was a sunny morning; September
13th and September 20th when a few brothers decided to clean a neighborhood creek.
Onondaga Creek runs through Tully Valley
as it enters Onondaga Lake, south of Syracuse. It is not the prettiest of creeks and yet
there is a certain beauty that Cornell’s Cooperative Extension, Alpha Phi Omega brothers, Creek Rats and other locals see that
brought us together to clean up some of the
trash and litter found in and around the creek.
With a canoe, some volunteers picked up bicycles, tires, computers, strollers, bowling
balls, lamps and carriages from within the lake.
Meanwhile the land teams dug out, tires,
full bicycles and television sets from around
the creek. A pre-cleanup scouting trip by Cornell’s Cooperative Extension revealed that the
section between Ballantyne Bridge and South
Avenue was lacking in garbage so future efforts will be moved to another part of the creek.
Brother, Melissa Haacker, who as a
Nib helped drive brothers to the project and
ended up getting punctured by a tree branch
kept her head up high and inspired the rest of
us to continue working despite the unexpectedness of the cleanup. Also brothers, Andy
DiMezza and Nicole Stanek fully embraced
the creek by accidentally falling into it, while
helping the locals take some of the garbage
out of their canoes and into the dumpster.
Although the labor was unexpected,
we cherished the laughs and brotherhood
formed by leaving dirty, wet and satisfied.
We finished our morning with boxes of pizza,
fruits, and cookies and not to mention the raffle of cookie cakes, water bottles and tickets
to a Syracuse Museum. If it were not for the
Cornell Cooperative Extension, APO would
have never learned how much fun it is to help
clean one of the filthiest creeks in New York.
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Message from the President
gorilla tagged along, and last I knew the
ape-napper is still at large! What fun times.
Greetings Phi!
As I sit and write this, I’m looking out
my window and enjoying the last few days of
sunshine on the fall leaves. It feels like that
this semester has HURDLED by us! It wasn’t
long ago that my apartment was stifling hot
and I was eating popsicles by the dozens.
Now, my electric blanket is hooked up, hot
coca has replaced the popsicles, and we all
shuddered to watch the first snowstorm of
the year tease us before Halloween arrived.
But while the semester may be passing at an alarming rate, it also occurs to
me just how much the Chapter has accomplished this year. When I ran for president, I wanted to focus on ABC- Accessibility, Brotherhood and Community. And I’m
happy to say with the help of my amazing
e-board that I’ve seen all three in action!
Brotherhood is strong and we’ve really had a smashing semester of fellowship.
I’m still in awe of Kate Desisto’s Chubby
Bunny feat at the lock-in. My heart rate hasn’t
gone down since Fright Night. And wet but
happy memories of Applefest still make me
smile. Through it all, Cocoa the pledge class
We’ve engaged the community this semester in new and tremendous ways. One
new accomplishment for Phi was joining the
festivities of Homecoming! Talented brothers
gathered to make a killer banner for the parade, Otto showed up for a photo shoot, and we
were approached by the University to help facilitate the Homecoming service project. It was
a real honor and speaks highly of our reputation at Syracuse. We also built a stronger relationship with Habitat for Humanity, showing
up big at the first-ever Shack-A-Thon. The list
goes on, with Scouting, the United Way, and
the Ronald McDonald House among others.
It’s a great feeling to know that we’re making
real and tangible difference in our community.
With Thanksgiving fast approaching
and elections around the corner, soon it will be
a new semester. We will have a bright, shiny
new set of nibs joining our ranks, and we’ll
continue doing what Phi does best: serving
the campus and the community, creating lasting friendships and memories, and making the
world a better place with every hour we give.
The Relay for Life will take the limelight in the
spring, and I can’t be more excited for the future of Phi. Here’s to everything we’ve accomplished, and all the work and play still to be had!
Tori Hornstein
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