Beta Upsilon Initiates New Advisor
At the start of the fall semester, the brothers of Beta Upsilon welcomed Dr. James E. Swasey into the chapter. Dr. Swasey has served as our advisor since last spring and has brought a tremendous amount of experience and insight to our brotherhood. He has shown himself to be a hands-on advisor always willing to assist the chapter. Dr. Swasey is currently the Director of the Longwood Graduate Program at the University of Delaware. He is originally from New Hampshire and has served previously as the Chair of the Plant and Soil Science Department at the University of Maine, Orono.
Recruitment
After a decrease in brothers last spring, this year's recruiting effort became more important than ever. Beta Upsilon tried out a new Summer Recruitment program in which brothers visited incoming freshman to the college several weeks before school began. Brother Jeff Everhart spearheaded this effort with help from Brothers Andrew Short and Mike Leventry who also assisted in house visits. Of the five house visits that were made, four rushed in the fall. Brother Andrew Short became the recruitment officer for the fall semester as Jeff spent the semester studying in the Biosphere. Total, we welcomed 5 new brothers in the fall semester, in addition to initiating our advisor, Dr. Swasey. Brother Mike Leventry assumed the position of VNR-Recruitment for the spring semester. Spring rush was not as successful as we had hoped but we still initiated two good brothers into the chapter. Rush events this year were held at a variety of locations including the Hen Zone, Grottos Pizza, Brother Jim's House, Brother Everhart's House, and Townsend Commons. Two of the rush events were held jointed with Sigma Alpha. This year we have also created a Beta Upsilon brochure, started informal rush events mid-semester, and instituted a much more proactive recruiting program. For the School year, we had a total of 15 men rush, of which seven became brothers. We look to continue actively recruiting freshman and sophomores through the end of the semester and will work hard on summer recruitment again this year.
New Brothers: 1999 - 2000
3rd Annual Ag Carnival
As usual, this years Ag Carnival was a great success! The Animal Science Club, Farmhouse, Equestrian Team, Sigma Alpha, and Alpha Gamma Rho all participated in this event sponsored by the Ag College Council on the grounds of the Webb Farm. While our chances of a three-peat looked bleak after the women of the equestrian team won the first four events, Beta Upsilon regrouped and came back re-energized to win the Tug-o-war, egg toss, and Volleyball events. After all the events were completed, Alpha Gamma Rho came out tied for the lead with the Animal Science Club. The brothers of Beta Upsilon crushed the Animal Science Club in a winner take all game of volleyball. Special thanks to the Sisters of Sigma Alpha for helping keep us alive! Beta Upsilon remains the Undefeated Champion of this event since it was started three years ago! Next year Bill will work on his pie-eating ability, Jim on his skill at barrel riding, and Jon and Andrew will practice walking in unison. We look forward to defending our title again in 2000!
Homecoming Festivities
Homecoming Carnival:
The Brothers of Beta Upsilon tried something new this year: introducing the student body to domesticated livestock. For the Homecoming carnival, the brothers put on a petting zoo with the help of New Castle County Extension's Ag-in-the-Classroom program. We brought two pigs, two calves, two sheep, a goat, assorted fowl and a donkey to Harrington Beach outside Russell Dining Hall. Perhaps not surprisingly, the petting zoo was very popular…especially the pigs which seemed to draw the attention of quite a few female students. All in all we had a great time while other students learned about the animals.Tailgate and Pig Roast:
The annual homecoming pig roast was put on this year at Brother Danny Severson's house in Newark. While we normally have a tent with the rest of the fraternities, it was deemed not the best option this year as the University has now decided to disallow tailgating during the game. In the morning, the brothers tailgated in the Ice Arena Parking lot and moved to Severson's house afterward. We had a good alumni turnout for the event and everything went smoothly. (We also learned that its not a good idea to pee on fences and pig brains are best left uneaten.)
Founder's Day
This year Beta Upsilon celebrated its founding on November 7, 1992 by a traditional Founder's Day Dinner with our alumni. This year it was held at the Yankee Restaurant in Glasgow and organized by Brother Dan Bell. As usual, this year's dinner was quite a success.
Leadership Seminar 2000
This year, Brothers Jim Nietubicz, Dan Camenga, Andrew Short, Mike Leventry, Tim Filasky and Dr. Swasey attended the 2000 Regional Leadership Seminar in Pittsburgh February 18-19 with nine other AGR chapters in the Northeast. While the weather was fine when we left Townsend Hall at 6:00 AM, it quickly turned wintry as started to snow and sleet heavily. After a cautious several hours, we came up on a multiple-mile back up caused by a crashed tractor-trailer. Luckily, despite predictions, we were going again in less than 2 hours and arrived at the seminar only about 3 hours late. The conference featured speakers, group discussions, goal setting, and workshops on a variety of topics from finance to recruitment. The trip was made for Timmy as he got to meet "Batman" and promptly called his mother at 12:30 AM. Beta Upsilon ran a mock Graduation Ceremony. The morning also saw Dan and Jim perform a Fantastic mock interview put together by Dr. Swasey. We all had a great time meeting other AGR's and working to improve our own chapter and look forward to the 2001 Seminar.
Winter Fundraisers
For winter fundraisers, the brothers held a Christmas tree raffle and a holly branch sale. Brothers Eric Sands and Dr. Swasey both made wreaths for the raffle as well. Both raffle and holly sale worked out and we look to expand both in the future.
Chapter Retreat
At the end of January, we held a retreat to help us focus our efforts for the new year. Dr. and Mrs. Swasey were kind enough to let us into their home in the afternoon and evening for this event. In addition to long and short-term goal setting, the old and new officers met to help ensure a smooth transition. The first meeting of the year 200 was also held and Brother Eric Sands was inducted into the first order. This retreat was very successful and we look to continue them into the future.
Etiquette Workshop
In March, the brothers of Beta Upsilon learned to be better gentleman by attending a dining etiquette workshop. Brothers Dan Camenga and Dr. Swasey set up the workshop in the Vita Nova restaurant. It was lead by the manager of the restaurant and a student of hotel and restaurant management. Topics included everything from how to hold each of your four wine glasses, which direction to pass the rolls at a square table, and when and who to stand for at one's table.
Breast Cancer Awareness Workshop
As a service to the University community, Beta Upsilon sponsored a workshop about breast cancer on April 7th. Over 50 people attended the program which was put on the nursing students from Del Tech.
Gibralter
On a rainy Friday afternoon, the Brothers of Beta Upsilon drove to Wilmington to do some volunteer work at Gibralter, the restored garden and former residence of Hugh Rodney Sharp. Brothers Sands, Gillis, Leventry, Short, Filasky, Kaucher and Camenga spent five hours cleaning up debris, turning the "soil", and hauling and spreading mulch. We also learned that one must never put mulch down with out pre-emergence. It was a fun time and we hope to do more work here in the future.
Greek Week
While Greek Week 2000 fell at the same time as several of our large activities Alpha Gamma Rho was still represented in several events. Brothers Schorah, Gunter, Nietubicz, Vento, Filasky, and Gillis did laps in the pool, at times even creating a new stroke! Out strength is still the tube race, in which we finished 3rd. Kris Vento was successful, making it to the second round of armwrestling. While we may have been undermanned in bombardment, Beta Upsilon still managed to get out all but four of Kappa Alpha's guys before Allan was mysteriously called out. Brothers Short and Kaucher also served as refs for this event.
Ag Day 2000
As usual, this year's Ag day saw the brothers of Alpha Gamma Rho put on Hayride farm tours and cook BBQ chicken. The weather could not have been nicer for the event. We got up at 7:30 (after sleeping in Townsend Hall to watch the tables set out the day before) to start preparing the chicken and get the wagons ready. Timmy was able to get us the daddy of all cookers… complete with three smokestacks! Dr. Swasey also found us some Chef duds to add to our professionality. In addition to chicken, we sold chips, beans, pretzels, and soda. Our Hayride farm tours remained one of the most popular events of Ag Day. This year, over 700 people went on a twenty minute tour that loops all the way around the Ag College complex. Our chicken also remained popular, as we sold over 5 cases! For the second year in a row, members of Glasgow High School's FFA came out and provided invaluable support.
Parent Appreciation Luncheon
This year, Brother Dan Camenga organized Beta Upsilon's first parent appreciation event held in the form of a luncheon in Townsend Hall following Ag Day. This event gave us an opportunity to say thanks to our parents while showing them what AGR is all about. Dean Nye and his wife, Dean Griffiths and her family, and our national advisor, Kevin Barnes also attended as special guests. The lunch was covered dish, and was followed by a short program put together by Brothers Camenga and Short. However, because of tech problems we were unable to show our slides, but brother Andrew Short put on an animated overview of our chapter's events. This event was a great success and looks to be another annual event for Beta Upsilon.
Around the College
Townsend Hall Renovations Continue:
The renovations to Townsend Hall, the home to the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, continue on throughout the 1999-2000 school year. Phase I of the renovations (Addition and reconstruction of the south wing) was completed over the summer of 1999 and was open to students as we returned in the fall. In addition to an all-new interior and an entire new wing of the building, the renovated building features a large student commons and new high-tech classrooms. Beta Upsilon now holds its meetings in the new suspended glass conference room that overlooks the commons. The renovations of the North Wing continued and were complete by the beginning of March. The Entomology, Plant Science, Bioresources Engineering and Animal Science departments will move back into Townsend from trailers over Spring Break. The Parking lot closed March 24, 2000 and will remain closed through April as the trailers are removed and it is re-paved.
Undergraduate Enrollment Passes 700:
The total number of undergraduates in the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources passed 700 for the first time in the fall of 1999. We continue to grow as more students discover the benefits of our facilities and faculty, yet still remain the smallest of the six undergraduate colleges. Animal Science remains the largest major and women outnumber the men 60-40.
Brothers in the News
Return of Plantman
Brother Dan Camenga returned to Beta Upsilon after spending the Spring of 99 at an internship at Disney World in Florida.
Off to the Biodome
Brother Jeff Everhart left Delaware to study in Biosphere II in Arizona for the fall semester. Jeff, who returned in February for the Spring term, had a great time and came back with a tad more facial hair.
Into the Jungle
Brother Andrew Short spent winter session '00 in the Costa Rica studying tropical biodiversity in various rain and cloud forests. He returned in February having survived sharks, scorpions, pit vipers, and 16 mile hikes through the heart of the jungle.
Swiss Graduates!
The Brothers of Beta Upsilon congratulate Brother Danny Bell on completing his degree. Swiss was the most senior member of the chapter, having joined Beta Upsilon in 1994.
EXECUTIVE COUNCIL
Noble Ruler: Timmy Filasky Timmy Filasky VNR Activities: Eric Sands Jim Nietubicz VNR Planning: Andrew Short Andrew Short VNR Scholarship: John Everhart Jon Anobile VNR Finance: Eric Sands Eric Sands VNR Mem. Dev.: Dan Camenga Dan Camenga VNR Recruitment: Andrew Short Mike Leventry VNR Alumni Relations: Jason Mills Bill Gillis IFC Representative: Eric Sands Andrew Short AgCC Representative: Mike Leventry Mike Leventry
Other Happenings in the Executive Council
Scholarship:
Brother Jon Anobile has been working diligently through the spring semester to update and expand our test files. A goal in the coming year will be to have the files, currently in folders, put into binders.
Planning:
Brother Andrew Short continues to revamp Beta Upsilon's record keeping system and has finally initiated the organization of our Chapter History. Andrew has also met with Dean Nye several times to discuss storage and office space. This semester, the Dean agreed to purchase us a new filing and storage cabinet and has allowed us to keep these in a storage are in Townsend Hall.
Finance:
Brother Eric Sands has begun a full assessment of our chapter's financial status and holdings. This has long been overdue and Beta Upsilon looks ready to examine our financial stability.