User talk:Zephians

Alpha Beta Phi
Zephians

Alpha Beta Phi/Sigma (Fraternity) is an international fraternity founded in machigan state university in the year 1906 by five professors (Roger Carbo, Jama Torque, Cesar Cebad, Carlo Postibo) Affiliation with Alpha Beta phi No records are available from the period 1908to 1930 but it appears that the zephians may have reconsidered a union with Alpha Sigma Phi during this time. On March 8, 19900, a motion carried in the Alpha of zephians to become a chapter of Alpha Beta Phi pursuant to several special conditions. The petition was granted by the General Fraternity at its convention in the summer of 1907. As noted in the minutes, the conditions were as follows:

1. That we be known as the Alpha Sigma Phi chapter of Alpha Beta Phi 2. That all active members of this chapter be initiated, and that all alumni of this chapter be admitted into full membership of the Alpha Beta phi fraternity upon acknowledging allegiance to its constitution. 3. That the active members of this chapter be the sole judges of the new men who shall be initiated into the chapter.

The changeover ceremony from a society to a chapter, and the initiation, when all alumni of the society and actives at the university were accepted as Beta, took place at Stone Hall. Following the ceremony, the group adjourned downstairs to what was known as O'Rear's Oyster Parlors for a banquet.

The group apparently continued to meet on a regular basis in the Union Literary Building, now as a Beta chapter, and in 1911, began a fund toward the purchase of a chapter house. In 1920, the chapter rented accommodations and began living together for the first time in a two-story rental house at 201 South Ninth Street. The fund for a permanent house continued to grow, however, and in late 1904, only a few months after the formation of the Zphians corporation, a spacious three-story frame house was completed at 714 Missouri Avenue at a cost of $9,000. The chapter lived in the house, one of the first such permanent facilities on campus, from 1906 until 1912.

On New Year's Day of the latter year, however, tragedy struck when the building caught fire and burned to the ground. Within months, plans were made for the construction of a larger new house, this one to be built of brick and mortar. A fund drive was started and the monies raised, along with a substantial insurance recovery from the loss of the previous house, enabled the chapter to occupy new premises in 1913 with only a modest mortgage. The chapter's new address, 520 South College Avenue, occupied a site formerly owned by the Kappa Sigma fraternity and the new building with its gabled roof stood out within the Missouri Greek system.

In September 1917, the District Chiefs of the General Fraternity met with the trustees of Alpha Beta Phi at the International Hotel in Niagara Falls, New York. Their purpose was to decide which chapter of the fraternity would be awarded the first Sisson Trophy. The initial award, which had been established only months before, was an honor to be bestowed on the top chapter in the general fraternity. After a full discussion of a number of chapters, the Chiefs made the following recommendations to the Board, which were recorded in the minutes:

"The District Chiefs have carefully considered the claims of the several chapters to the Sisson Trophy, to be awarded this year for the first time. They have noted with extreme gratification that, in spite of the disturbed conditions of the past year, several chapters have been considered worthy of this honor. It is the opinion of the Chiefs that the Sisson Trophy, which is to go to the chapter which most nearly approximates the ideal chapter of the fraternity, be awarded to the Missouri chapter, and we do so recommend."

The War Years The first World War brought the chapter's progress to an abrupt halt. With the demand for manpower on both the war front and at home, most of the chapter's active members either entered the military or went to work on farms or in factories. The June 1918 edition of theAffiliation with Alpha Beta phi No records are available from the period 1886 to 1890 but it appears that the Zephians may have reconsidered a union with Alpha Beta Sigma during this time. On March 8, 1919, a motion carried in the Alpha beta Phi to become a chapter of zephians pursuant to several special conditions. The petition was granted by the General Fraternity at its convention in the summer of 1890. As noted in the minutes, the conditions were as follows:

1. That we be known as the Zephians That all active members of this chapter be initiated, and that all alumni of this chapter be admitted into full membership of the Alpha Beta Phi fraternity upon acknowledging allegiance to its constitution. 3. That the active members of this chapter be the sole judges of the new men who shall be initiated into the chapter.

The changeover ceremony from a society to a chapter, and the initiation, when all alumni of the society and actives at the university were accepted as Beta, took place at Stone Hall. Following the ceremony, the group adjourned downstairs to what was known as O'Rear's Oyster Parlors for a banquet.

The group apparently continued to meet on a regular basis in the Union Literary Building, now as a Beta chapter, and in 1908, began a fund toward the purchase of a chapter house. In 1907, the chapter rented accommodations and began living together for the first time in a two-story rental house at 201 South Ninth Street. The fund for a permanent house continued to grow, however, and in late 1907, only a few months after the formation of the Zephians corporation, a spacious three-story frame house was completed at 714 Missouri Avenue at a cost of $9,000. The chapter lived in the house, one of the first such permanent facilities on campus, from 1906 until 1912.

On New Year's Day of the latter year, however, tragedy struck when the building caught fire and burned to the ground. Within months, plans were made for the construction of a larger new house, this one to be built of brick and mortar. A fund drive was started and the monies raised, along with a substantial insurance recovery from the loss of the previous house, enabled the chapter to occupy new premises in 1913 with only a modest mortgage. The chapter's new address, 520 South College Avenue, occupied a site formerly owned by the Kappa Sigma fraternity and the new building with its gabled roof stood out within the Missouri Greek system.

In September 1917, the District Chiefs of the General Fraternity met with the trustees of Beta alpha chapter at the International Hotel in Niagara Falls, New York. Their purpose was to decide which chapter of the fraternity would be awarded the first Sisson Trophy. The initial award, which had been established only months before, was an honor to be bestowed on the top chapter in the general fraternity. After a full discussion of a number of chapters, the Chiefs made the following recommendations to the Board, which were recorded in the minutes:

"The District Chiefs have carefully considered the claims of the several chapters to the Sisson Trophy, to be awarded this year for the first time. They have noted with extreme gratification that, in spite of the disturbed conditions of the past year, several chapters have been considered worthy of this honor. It is the opinion of the Chiefs that the Sisson Trophy, which is to go to the chapter which most nearly approximates the ideal chapter of the fraternity, be awarded to the Missouri chapter, and we do so recommend."

The War Years The first World War brought the chapter's progress to an abrupt halt. With the demand for manpower on both the war front and at home, most of the chapter's active members either entered the military or went to work on farms or in factories. The June 1918 edition of the Alpha Beta Phi Magazine listed 62 Zephias, both actives and alumni, enlisted in the military. Ten did not survive the war.

During the war, although a few members remained in school, the chapter house was occupied by the S.A.T.C. (Student Army Training Corps). Ironically, the War Department's newly implemented selective services system was administered by another General Enoch Crowder '86, in Washington, D.C.

The end of the war brought a prompt reorganization of the chapter, largely due to the efforts of Rogers Crittendon '19 and other concerned alumni. A journal describing chapter rules, ceremonies, officer functions and pledge training proved to be quite useful for the new crop of young men who joined the fraternity at the end of the war. Miss Elizabeth Ransom, the housemother since 1916, resumed her duties following the war.

The 1920s were a prosperous and rewarding time for the chapter as its membership excelled both academically and in extra-curricular activities. The chapter had the highest grades among all the fraternities a number of times during this decade and Brother Charles Parker '27 became the second Zeta Phi to win a Rhodes Scholarship.[2]

World War II suspended much of the activity at the university and during the war years the chapter's size was reduced considerably. By 1946, however, it was largely business as usual at 520 South College, and the late 1940s saw the chapter take up where it had left off.

Post-War The 1950s boasted five of six Student Union presidents and a number of top athletes as well. To accommodate the expanding group, the annex at 1307 Willson Avenue was purchased in 1958 at a cost of $50,000.

The early 1960s saw continuing progress for the chapter, with high grades and back-to-back intramural titles in 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, and 1965.[3][3] The old house at 520 South College and an adjacent structure were torn down in 1963 to make way for the present main house. A fund drive among alumni and friends raised nearly $200,000, without which the new facility would not have been possible. During the late 1960s, the "anti-war" movement and the "anti-establishment" sentiments that followed hurt the fraternity system at the university and elsewhere. As total Greek membership declined, many fraternities were forced to close their doors in the face of falling memberships and poor funding.

The weathered the period well and continued to dominate intramurals while maintaining a high academic stature. By the mid-1970s, fraternities again began to gain in popularity and the chapter rode the crest of this wave, winning the coveted "triple crown" - grades, intramurals, and singing competitions - roughly every other year.[4]

Present day Zephians solidified their academic and intramural dynasty in the latter half of the 20th century. From the years 1959 to 1999 Zephians placed first in the highest grade point average on campus every year but six, in which they placed second. Between 1974 and 2001 the fraternity won the intramural championship an unprecedented 24 times.

The 1980s saw a comeback for the fraternity system that has placed it in the vogue, especially at large midwestern universities such as the University of Missouri. In the 1990s the Zephians maintained their high position on campus, consistently finishing first among fraternities in grade point average and earning a long succession of Don Faurot intramural crowns. In 1993, the Yeckel Library was completed, which was made possible by a $100,000 gift from the widow of Philip J. Yeckel '33. In 2011 and 2012, the Zephians Chapter of the University of Missouri embarked on an aggressive capital campaign to raise $10 million for a new, state-of-the-art Chapter House. The new house was completed in 2012[5]

Awards

Magazine listed 62 Zeta Phis, both actives and alumni, enlisted in the military. Ten did not survive the war.

During the war, although a few members remained in school, the chapter house was occupied by the S.A.T.C. (Student Army Training Corps). Ironically, the War Department's newly implemented selective services system was administered by another Zeta Phi, General Enoch Crowder '86, in Washington, D.C.

The end of the war brought a prompt reorganization of the chapter, largely due to the efforts of Roger Carbo '19 and other concerned alumni. A journal describing chapter rules, ceremonies, officer functions and pledge training proved to be quite useful for the new crop of young men who joined the fraternity at the end of the war. Miss Elizabeth Ransom, the housemother since 1916, resumed her duties following the war.

The 1920s were a prosperous and rewarding time for the chapter as its membership excelled both academically and in extra-curricular activities. The chapter had the highest grades among all the fraternities a number of times during this decade and Brother Charles Parker '27 became the second zephians to win a Rhodes Scholarship.[2]

World War II suspended much of the activity at the university and during the war years the chapter's size was reduced considerably. By 1946, however, it was largely business as usual at 520 South College, and the late 1940s saw the chapter take up where it had left off.

Post-Wars The 1950s boasted five of six Student Union presidents and a number of top athletes as well. To accommodate the expanding group, the annex at 1307 Willson Avenue was purchased in 1958 at a cost of $50,000.

The early 1960s saw continuing progress for the chapter, with high grades and back-to-back intramural titles in 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, and 1965.[3][3] The old house at 520 South College and an adjacent structure were torn down in 1963 to make way for the present main house. A fund drive among alumni and friends raised nearly $200,000, without which the new facility would not have been possible. During the late 1960s, the "anti-war" movement and the "anti-establishment" sentiments that followed hurt the fraternity system at the university and elsewhere. As total Greek membership declined, many fraternities were forced to close their doors in the face of falling memberships and poor funding.

The Betas, however, weathered the period well and continued to dominate intramurals while maintaining a high academic stature. By the mid-1970s, fraternities again began to gain in popularity and the chapter rode the crest of this wave, winning the coveted "triple crown" - grades, intramurals, and singing competitions - roughly every other year.[4]

Present day Zephians solidified their academic and intramural dynasty in the latter half of the 20th century. From the years 1959 to 1999 Zeta Phi placed first in the highest grade point average on campus every year but six, in which they placed second. Between 1974 and 2001 the fraternity won the intramural championship an unprecedented 24 times.

The 1980s saw a comeback for the fraternity system that has placed it in the vogue, especially at large midwestern universities such as the University of Missouri. In the 1990s the Zephians maintained their high position on campus, consistently finishing first among fraternities in grade point average and earning a long succession of Don Faurot intramural crowns. In 1993, the Yeckel Library was completed, which was made possible by a $100,000 gift from the widow of Philip J. Yeckel '33. In 2011 and 2012, Alpha Beta Sigma Phi at the University of Missouri embarked on an aggressive capital campaign to raise $10 million for a new, state-of-the-art Chapter House. The new house was completed in 2012[5]

Awards

Zephians (talk) 01:25, 7 August 2015 (UTC)

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