Undergraduate Chapter Closes A Great Year . . . DETROIT, MICH.—With the annual spring formal, "Deskadesis," Alpha Upsilon chapter closed out another great year. Between September 1956 and June 1957 much was heaid of Alpha in academic, cultural and social circles on Wayne State University's campus. The fall semester was ushered in in grand fashion with a back to school dance. The affair was held in the Polar Room of the Veterans Memorial Building. During the dance the brothers and their guests were treated to a surprise visit by Governor E. Mennen Williams. In November, Miss Pat Conway, a member of our Sweethearts Court of 1956-1957, was elected to the five member annual Homecoming Court out of a field of fifteen contestants. Miss Conway received the highest number of votes from the 18,000 enrolled students. Christmas night saw another successful Alpha dance. This one was given on campus, where an estimated 350 people came out for "Christmas Capers." The function proved to be both a financial and social success. Immediately after the Christmas recess, all social and fraternal activity came to a temporary halt as the brothers prepared for the onslaught of final exams and then the glory of mid-year commencement. Brother Jesse Goodwin, an honor student in biochemistry,
won his Ph.D. at these exercises. All of Alpha Upsilon is proud of Brother Goodwin and his achievement. He was later a recipient of our annual award to our most outstanding brother. BocPCTIrser,?pn cmf mfwy fwyp pp The spring term of 1957 brought on a marked upsurge in overall fraternity activity on the part of the brothers. Another social success was the annual "Alpharama" in February. The dance featured an intermission floor show which displayed talent from various sources on and off campus. However, the house was brought down by a comedy chorus line of eight brothers dressed in Bermuda shorts and suit jackets. They hoofed their way through "Jim Dandy" thus ending a great show. The remainder of the school year proved to be much more than just a series of dances and parties. The brothers devoted considerable attention to matters of cultural and civic significance. Such projects were recognition of "Brotherhood Week," with a singing program on campus where anyone, regardless of race or religion, was invited to come and sing in harmony with the other guests. At a later date, a lecture was given at school by one of the brothers, Sinclair Hopkins, entitled "I've Known Rivers." The cultural and social history of the American Negro was traced from his
arrival on the first slave ships to the present. Later on in the spring, Mother's Day was recognized by the chapter with the annual Mother's Day Tea given at the fraternity house. Twenty-five mothers of Alpha brothers showed up for the affair. April 16 saw a history making transfer of pledges carried out between Alpha Upsilon and a white fraternity on campus. Kappa Nu. Ten Sphinxmen were traded for twenty-one Kappa Nu pledges for two days. The entire affair attracted considerable campus and city-wide attention and praise. It was generally agreed that this was a great step towards understanding and friendship between all Wayne students. Owing to the success of the swap, it has been decided to make it an annual affair. After the Easter recess the brothers then knuckled down to some serious rehearsing for the annual I. F. C. Sing. Nine fraternities competed for top honors in group singing ability. With the theme of "Caribbean Fantasy," Alpha placed second. This marked the fourth consecutive year that the chapter has placed in this competition. Over the past we have placed first, third, first and second in successive years. We are eagerly looking forward to regaining our first place next year. Although we had to content our(Confinued on Page 36)
CHAPTER HONORS JEWEL KELLEY Beta Pi Lambda presents Jewel a gold inscribed watch. Left to right: Brother George A. Poyer, Chairman, Testimonial Committee; Brother Donald W . Johnson, President, Beta Pi Lambda Chapter; Jewel George B. Kelley, Brother J. Rupert Picott, Eastern Vice President; Brother Lamar Perkins, Toastmaster.
FEBRUARY, 1958
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