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Remember When...
Lee Farber was the 1985 Phi Guy at AEPhi
During the 1984-85 school year, the house donated $100 to ZBT at Indiana after its own tragic fire. The house, along with Kappa Alpha Theta, hosted 50 members of the Champaign County Boys Club and Girls club to an Easter party. Also for three days, Theta Xi (whose house also caught on fire) moved in with the Sammys and enjoyed Rho hospitality.
Susie Sable was an important Sammy Rush “friend” in 1974
On Thursday, April 11th 1974, the house gave a farewell testimonial dinner at the Champaign Ramada Inn for Mike Shadow, former house advisor and his wife Marcy.
Scott “Killer” Heller was the leading scorer for the house’s top-ranked soccer team in 1973-74, while Marty Lipsky was the star halfback.
In 1975-76, Rho was second, Honorable mention for the Founders Cup and set its goals even higher for the following year, when it won the Founders Cup in 1976-77, while James Cohn won the Undergraduate Achievement Award in the Junior Division and Jeffrey Netter was honorable mention for the Sophomore Division. Kenneth Jesser won the Hyman I Jacobson Scholarship Award. Richard Schneider won the Junior Scholarship award and Martin Oliff won the Samuel Miller Award. All this studying paid off as the chapter was number #1 on campus for both the fall and spring semesters in 1976-77.
According to the Illini Society News, in 1952, comedy combined with excellent choreography won first place in the Homecoming stunt show, “Foolin with Fiction,“ “Forever Annie,” staffed by Kappa Kappa Gamma and Sigma Alpha Mu. Bill Weiner carried the lead for the men.
On March 5, 1966, in conjunction with Chi Omega Sorority, the house threw a leukemia benefit concert staring The Gentrys and Gary Lewis and the Playboys. Tickets for the dance were $1.50. The event was originally scheduled at Huff Gym, but their petition to hold the event there was denied on an account of too much activity, specifically: “The use of the handball courts in the basement for cloakrooms eliminates the use of the locker room which really throws the whole gymnasium out of operation for one evening.” Ultimately, The Armory, with a capacity of 5,500, was approved for the concert. Tickets went on general sale to the public on February 18th (just a few weeks prior to the event).
Mr. Lewis $2,750 fee for the evening did not come with any special rider requests, typically seen by today’s artists. He requested one press party, a clean dressing room with hot and cold running water and eight complementary tickets. The Gentrys were only $1,000 for the evening.
Here is how Herbert Jacobson (’51) wrote about the 1948 Octagon house in the SAM National newsletter in 1949:
It is much easier to look back upon a sad situation such as existed for us last year than to live through it. We of Rho know. We have done both. April 13, 1948…There wasn’t much left. A house….? A eight-blackened walls, a few twisted beams, and the determination of 53 men that a tragedy could be turned into a stepping stone toward keeping ΣAM on top, at the University of Illinois.
By the night following the fire, the fraternity dean, the Inter-Fraternity Council and our own Council had provided a place to sleep and a place to eat for each man. Once this was done we immediately turned out thoughts to the future of the house.
Using the Hillel Foundation for a Chapter room, the men of Rho met and expressed their determination to uphold the Chapter’s reputation in scholarship, intramural athletics, and university athletics. Every fraternity on the U of I campus responded to the situation with offers of room, board, clothing, books and notes. We had mean eating in every fraternity house on campus and made the most of our opportunity to cement relations with each of them.
We know that other fraternities had many ideas that we could in the operation of Chapter, and we wanted to take advantage of them. All Sigma Alpha Mu and Rho chapter traditions were compiled into a book with an appendix containing the ideas from other houses. Our songs were now heard in many houses on campus. Sammy’s were becoming familiar with other fraternity men whereas the general rule in the past had been for houses to stick to themselves.
Although scattered all over campus and playing with borrowed equipment, Rho’s softball team captured the coveted all-university championship for the third year in a row. We maintained our all-time position of third in university intramural athletics.
Last Summer was one of continuous work for the council: Armand Lofchie, Lester Rosenberg and Henry Davis. A house was rented for this year and our old cook and porter were rehired.
What this year had in store for us was much more than we had hoped for. Again in a house of our own, a renewed impetus was placed on athletics, scholarship and fraternal living. The spirit at homecoming was one never before equaled, especially when alumni and undergrads talked about rebuilding the house. That weekend we placed in the all important Homecoming Stunt Show teamed with the Alpha Chi Omega sorority.
Our activities, however, have not been confined to those previously mentioned. We still have before us the problem of rebuilding our home – making it another beautiful Castle. The architectural design has already been completed and the Rho Chapter Alumni Club in conjunction with the active Chapter is rapidly going ahead with the plans for its financing and construction.
What the future holds for us…we do not know. But this we do –
During the past year we have fostered and maintained a spirit of fraternity, a spirit of mutual moral aid and support. And take it from us, it pays off. No matter what is to come, the men of Rho will continue to give their all for Sigma Alpha Mu.
The 1969-70 football season was filled with highs and lows. The house team had a somewhat disappointing season, as they finished the year (in a tough league) with an unimpressive record of 2-3. High point of the year was the victory of Tau Delt, but the pledges took home a second place trophy. The magic number was eight, however the tiles fall as, the mini cougars (as they were called) go undefeated in league play. The pledges swept through their league with surprising ease. Now 5-0 their magic number was three. They beat Phi Kappa Delta 9-6 in the quarter-finals and Pi Lambda Phi 28-0 in the Semi-finals. In the finals (Popper’s Plea – “Pith the Frogs”) versus Phi Episilon Phi (Frogs), on a wet field and under cloudy skies, the ball was put into play. Sammy’s struck early as Jerry Rubin passed long to Howie Malovaney for a touchdown. As Allan Popper put it, “They were slimy and slippery.” However, the wet conditions gave the Frogs the edge. They fought back with nine points and held on to win 9-6.
In 1969 with the coming of winter, the sports scene shifted indoors. Many of the brothers kept in shape by participating in “slow motion football.” These games, claimed such big name starts as Deacon Raff, Roosevelt Weindruch and Goose Butkus.
Laugh So Hard Your Guts Hurt
November 2006
Boring day? These hilarious memories will put a smile on your face and take you back to your days as an undergrad. Relive your wild days and share your memories with us at here.
What is the memory that makes you laugh hardest today?
"Leaning a keg garbage can (full of beer and anything unpleasant we could find) against Eiso's door at 3:30 am at the end of an after-hours party and watching and hearing his reaction when he opened his door to yell at us to quiet down. " - Paul Korner, ‘87
Describe the best party
Describe your favorite/best road trip
"Class of 87 walkouts to New Orleans with pledge father Binno. Besides the good times at Patty O'Brians - I'll also remember the brawl Scott Becker started at Cafe Dumont (blowing powdered sugar from a binea into some dude's face setting off a may lay). Luckily, most of us could not feel much at the time." - Paul Korner, ‘87
What is the one memory you have shared or will share with your children or grandchildren?
In 1984, the members were so fed up with their favorite pizza delivery that they sent the following letter to remedy the situation:“Dear Sirs,
It is with a strong sense of regret that I am forced to this letter. During the past few years, we of Sigma Alpha Mu, have been amongst the finest of Dominoes’ customers. Just this past year, in fact, Sammies reigned on campus as we won our second consecutive Dominoes pizza-eating contest. Despite this type of unbiased patronage to what we have though was a fair and reasonable business establishment, that fair and reasonable business establishment has placed Sammies in a position where Sammies must stand up and fight for its rights.
Dominoes has stabbed its best friend in the back, not only has the price of pizza risen (understandable escalation during an election year), and not only has Dominoes began to charge for Coca-Cola, but on top of all this Dominoes has committed the greatest restaurant sin of all possible restaurant sins. Service, the very cornerstone of any fine establishment, has faltered.
THE UNCOMPROMISING DEMANDS OF SIGMA ALPHA MU FRATERNITY ARE AS FOLLOWS:
1) Delivery must be correct (no mushrooms for peppers or vice versa, may of us keep kosher, thus meat substitutions are unforgivable)
2) Delivery must be within the prescribed amount of time, 30 minutes.
3) From September 15 to September 30 of 1984, all Dominoes personell (sic) must answer the telephone Shoot, score give ‘em more Dominoes pizza is not a bore, Dominoes can we help you??
We of Sigma Alpha Mu feel that these are they type of fair but reasonable demands that a business of the stature such that which Dominoes enjoys should enthusiastically swallow their price, and hence service their customers in the way a top customer deserves to be treated. That top customer of course being Sigma Alpha Mu.
Fraternally but uncompromisingly yours,
The men of Sigma Alpha Mu
Jason Harris – Treats Chairman
Cc Stan Levy: Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs, Jimmy: Jimmy’s Pizza World, Dominoes.
Here was a serenade from the 1994-95 school year (to the tune of Be Our Guest):Be our guest, be our guest
An exchange would be the best
Grab your fake IDs, some petty cash
And we’ll provide the rest
(Sorority name) we will serve
A night with us you deserve
SAMs are back, we are strong
Come with us, you can’t go wrong
We can sing, we can dance
Come with us and take a chance
Cause a night with us is never second best
So forget the others
Take a chance on the brothers
Be our guest, be our guest, be our guest
So now we’ve made it clear
We really want you here
To be our guest
If you’re stressed
A SAM exchange we do suggest
Be our guest, be our guest, be our guest.
In 1954, Freshman Jerry Pollan was Sammy’s nominee for the annual “Ugly Man” contest as “Dirty Ernie.” As the program went, “Dirty Ernie is black and blue. He is ugly through and through, One look at him you’ll die of fright. He certain is an ugly sight. Vote for Dirty Ernie, Hmmmm, Boy. Sammies own pride and joy, no other than Jerry Pollan.”
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