EDITOR'S LETTER
MAILBOX THE LAUREL IS INTENDED TO START A CONVERSATION with brothers and friends. Content is carefully selected to engage and excite our readers. It is our hope that stories you read start a conversation with those in your life. Any comments are appreciated. You can submit your feedback— positive or negative, we want it all—to phikapptau.org/ laurelfeedback. ~
SIDELIGHTS Sidelights is the official newsletter of the Phi Kappa Tau Fraternity and Foundation. Releasing on the 15th of each month, Sidelights is a compilation of stories and updates for Phi Kappa Tau alumni and undergraduates to gain some insight into the ongoings of the Fraternity and Foundation. If you are not receiving Sidelights and would like to sign up, visit phikappatau.org/update-info to be added to the mailing list.
[4] THE LAUREL || MAY 2022
A WORD FROM THE EXECUTIVE OFFICES
SPARK OF OPPORTUNITY
S
tacks of Laurels surround me as I write this, decades upon decades of history that I can hold in my hands. Flipping through the pages, we’ve cataloged so much of the Phi Kappa Tau experience in our 116 years. I’m blown away at how our Fraternity has grown, and yet pleased to say our spirit has very much been the same. Certain names stick out to me, new and old, and I am honored to try my hand at introducing what I believe is one of our more unique issues. Phi Kappa Tau wouldn’t exist without a small act of rebellion, disrupting the Fraternity scene in 1906 by establishing the NonFraternity Association. It was out of the box thinking that planted the seeds of Phi, Kappa, and Tau. Unorthodox thinking and unique problem solving is something everyone featured in this magazine would tell you is critical to succeed in the field of STEM: Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. Given our roots, it is fitting that so many members of Phi Kappa Tau would thrive in STEM. Founder Shideler himself was a star in the field of Geology, and namesake of the Earth Sciences Building at Miami University. We were overwhelmed by the support for the issue when we announced we would be zooming in on brothers in STEM for this edition
of the Laurel. Nearly 100 brothers reached out to be featured or were referred, and we tried our best to find ways to spotlight as many as possible. This magazine will surely instill pride in you as a brother regardless of your academic background or field of work. That said, as this edition of The Laurel has been coming together, I can’t help but think about one particular audience: future Phi Taus. Imagine wanting to enter the STEM field and opening these pages to find a catalog of Phi Taus who have gone above and beyond in their field. The spark of opportunity, kept lit by their passion for brotherhood and academics. As they ponder their future career, if this magazine can help one brother think, “I can do anything”, then it has a been a success. I, on the other hand, am simply comforted there are so many brothers of Phi Kappa Tau smarter than myself to keep the world spinning. Sincerely,
LOGAN LUKACS BALDWIN WALLACE ’10 DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS
