MTSU Greek Alumni Newsletter
Volume 1, Issue 1
Special Homecoming Edition 

MT Welcomes Back Alumni with "Mixer on Middle"

MTSU is preparing to welcome its Greek alumni back to campus for Homecoming 2006 with the “Mixer on Middle.”

Uniquely inspired by the now infamous “Parade Watching Parties” once hosted at the home of Dean Judy Smith, the Mixer on Middle will be an opportunity for MTSU alumni to come together in Blue Raider spirit and enjoy food, fellowship and lots of old stories.

The Mixer on Middle will begin at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, November 4 on the lawn of the brand new Alumni House located at 2259 Middle Tennessee Blvd., across from the President’s home.  

“I’m glad to see MTSU bringing back the parade watching party,” said Tim Strobl, an MTSU alumnus and member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon.  “This is a great way to catch up with old friends and network with new ones.  The parade watching parties of the past were legendary, and I hope to see the tradition continue.”

The Mixer on Middle will include a free continental breakfast, Bloody Marys and Mimosas (available with a $10 wrist band), and the best view of the homecoming parade available.  MTSU’s own Chip Walters, himself an alumnus of Kappa Sigma, will be serving as the parade announcer broadcasting from the front lawn of the alumni house.

“This is something that our Greek alumni have asked for, and we want to let them know that we appreciate the many contributions they make to MTSU,” said Joe Bales, Vice President for Development and University Relations.  “We hope this is a new beginning for an old tradition.”

For more information, and for a full schedule of Homecoming festivities, visit www.mtalumni.com or call the Office of Alumni Relations at 1-800-533-MTSU.

Greeks Preparing to Welcome Alumni Home

As the MTSU homecoming week approaches, MTSU’s Greek organizations are busily preparing to welcome their alumni back home.

In addition to building floats, practicing for Fight Song and working on their chili recepies, a number of MTSU Greek organizations are preparing to welcome their alumni back to campus with a variety of receptions, tailgates and other events.  The day’s events include:

• A group tailgate for Pi Kappa Alpha, Tau Kappa Epsilon, Kappa Delta, Alpha Phi Alpha and Phi Chi will take place immediately following the parade.  The tailgate will take place in Walnut Grove, across from Lyon Hall.  All alumni are encouraged to stop by.
• Chi Omega will be hosting an alumni tailgate in Walnut Grove immediately following the parade.  Just look for the red and yellow banner!!!
• Kappa Alpha Order, Alpha Delta Pi, Sigma Phi Epsilon and Alpha Kappa Alpha will be hosting a joint alumni and active mixer immediately following the parade in Walnut Grove.  Just look for the flags!!!
• Sigma Nu will be hosting an alumni breakfast/meeting at the chapter house on Greek Row at 8:30 a.m., will be attending the Mixer on Middle to watch the Homecoming Parade and will be tailgating in Walnut Grove near Peck Hall immediately following the parade.  Their will also be an alumni reception at the chapter house immediately following the football game.
• Alpha Gamma Rho will be hosting an alumni meeting and reception at the chapter house on Greek Row at 10:00 a.m., followed immediately by an Active/Alumni Tailgate on Walnut Grove.  The annual Alumni Homecoming Dinner will be at the chapter house immediately following the game.  Please RSVP to Jason Searles at jsearle@e-farmcredit.com.
• Sigma Alpha Epsilon will be hosting a joint alumni/active tailgate in the Northwest corner of the Greenland Avenue parking lot (across from Blue Raider Bookstore).  For more information, contact Kirk Catron at KCatron@shuttleworthwilliams.com.

If you don't see information for your organization, feel free to contact the Office of Greek Life at (615) 898-5812 for more information.  We look forward to seeing you on November 4.

NPHC Step Show Set for Friday, November 3

The National Pan-Hellenic Council at MTSU will be hosting its annual Homecoming Step Show on Friday, November 3 at 7:00 p.m. in the Murphy Center.  Long hailed as one of the best step shows in the Southeastern United States, the Homecoming Step Show is an event you don’t want to miss.

This year’s show will feature the Exquisite Eta Psi Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., the Devastating Divas of Delta Sigma Theta, the Marvelous Mu Theta Chapter of Zeta Phi Beta and the Sigma Gamma Rho’s, the Khaotic Kappa Xi Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc, , the Kaptivating Men of Kappa Alpha Psi, and the Infamous Iota Mu Chapter of Phi Beta Sigma in a battle to determine the real kings and queens of the yard.

Hosted by 101.1 The Beat’s own AG, the step show will also feature exhibition steps from the Riverdale Half-Timers and the Nashville High Steppers.

"This year's step show promises to be one of the best ever," said Erik Stevensen, the NPHC President.  "From state of the art light and sound to some of the best steppers in Middle Tennessee, this will be a step show to remember."

Doors open at 5:30 p.m.  Tickets are available exclusively through the MT Ticket Office at Gate 1-A of Floyd Stadium.  All general admission seating is $15.  For more information, contact the MT Ticket Office at (615) 898-2103.

Sigma Chi to Honor 40 Years of Chi Alpha Pi

At Homecoming 2006, the Eta Gamma Chapter of Sigma Chi will honor the 40 year anniversary of its parent local fraternity, Chi Alpha Pi.

Chi Alpha Pi was founded on June 16, 1966. Founders Bill Landers, Gene Neely, Bill Baskin, Paul Landers, and Jerry Hawk met at Elam's Mill and formed the group, the first fraternity established at MTSU. The CAPs, as they were called, excelled in both scholastics and athletics, never losing an intramural game. Their love of Blue Raider Football was displayed at every home game by the wearing of the "Ole Blue and Whites", blue and white striped canvas blazers each brother adorned on game day. Chi Alpha Pi petitioned to become a chapter of Sigma Chi Fraternity in the fall of 1969. With the help of the first chapter advisor, Bob Mifflin, UT-Knoxville '64, Chi Alpha Pi became Eta Gamma of Sigma Chi on April 5th, 1970.

The chapter is welcoming back alumni with an entire weekend of festivities, including:

• 5^th Annual Alumni/Active Football Game will be held on Friday, November 3^rd at 6:30 p.m. on the intramural fields behind the chapter house on Greek Row.  Their will be an alumni reception immediately following the game at the chapter house.
• Alumni parade watching party at the Mixer on Middle at the Alumni House on Middle Tennessee Blvd. at 9:30 a.m.
• Active/Alumni tailgate immediately following parade in Walnut Grove near Peck Hall.

The Eta Gamma Chapter of Sigma Chi is anxious to welcome back all alumni for Homecoming 2006.

MTSU Sororities Moving Forward with Housing Initiative

Representatives from each of MTSU’s seven NPC sororities met earlier this month to discuss the prospect of sorority housing at MTSU.  This is the latest in a long line of discussions that have been going on since plans were approved for Greek Row in the late 1990’s. 

The meeting, according to Director of Greek Life Gentry McCreary, was a productive one.

“I think that all of our organizations are in basic agreement regarding the size and style of structures they want to build,” McCreary said.  “It is a matter of the university putting the numbers together and presenting our plans to the national housing representatives for approval.”

In contrast to MTSU’s Greek Row, any sorority housing will be financed and built by the individual sororities, as opposed to the state bond that was issued to finance Greek Row.  The university has set aside a plot of land that runs along the south side of campus on what is now City View Blvd.  The land would be leased to the sororities and any improvements to the land would require the approval of Campus Planning.

The plans currently under consideration range from non-residential structures that would serve as a space for meetings and social functions to full service housing facilities holding as many as 15 women. 

Until October 1, the sororities at MTSU were subject to an NPC binding resolution that prohibited them from moving forward with housing plans.  Now that that resolution has expired, McCreary said, the university plans on moving forward aggressively with the housing initiative.

“The chapter rooms in Cummings Hall are slated to be renovated and converted to academic space in the Fall of 2009,” McCreary said.  “If we do not move now, our sororities could be homeless in the very near future.”

“The fact is, the longer we wait, the more expensive this project will become,” McCreary added.  “MTSU’s sorority community has reached a size and a level of consistency that can easily sustain sorority housing.  With the support of our alumni, the dream of sorority housing at MTSU may finally become a reality.”