www.tulanefiji.com

I've received two additional e-mails from Richard Clark, a Ph.D. student in History at Tulane, regarding his campaign to recolonize Tau Upsilon.

The first, sent to me on 2-9-2003, provides some background about Richard and his motivations for leading the recolonization campaign.

The second, sent to me on 2-4-2003, details some of the steps Richard has taken.

The letters follow below...Letter #1 - 2-9-2003

February 9, 2003

To the Graduate Brothers of the Tau Upsilon Chapter of Phi Gamma Delta,

This year's spring rush at Tulane was the largest and most successful since the advent of deferred rush, and as of this year, the Delt's have successfully returned to campus. On their first rush they received twenty-two pledges, and at least two other fraternities matched the Kappa Sig's nearly thirty pledges. With twelve active fraternities on campus the greek system is showing signs of a renaissance. It is time for the Fijis to return.

The effort for re-colonization began this semester just after spring rush. I work in the residence halls as a Graduate-in-Residence, and so I witnessed all the action of rush week. I was very surprised at the number of rushees and their enthusiasm. When a good friend of mine who is a Theta told me about the numbers that turned out this year I was even more impressed. It was then that I heard my self think that it's too bad the Fijis aren't here.

Let me step back a minute and fill you in on who I am so you can understand why I was thinking about the Fijis. My name is Richard Clark, and I am a graduate student in the history department here at Tulane. I grew up in Texas in a family in which all the fraternity men are Phi Gams, and so it was natural for me to pledge the Alpha Mu Chapter my freshman year at Texas A&M. Unfortunately, I had to leave school before the end of the semester, and so I never got to attend "Hell Week" and become an active brother. When I returned two years later, my former pledge brothers were running the show, and for me to re-pledge seemed an awkward proposition. Through it all, the Fijis remained my friends.

I completed my Master's Degree at Southern Methodist University in 2000 and came to Tulane to work on my Ph.D. I've always associated with Phi Gams, and after coming to Tulane I was disappointed to find that the campus chapter had surrendered its charter.

So after rush, when I heard myself thinking about the Fijis, I decided to mention the idea to someone. I turned to a group of friends who are practically brothers already. The reaction I received convinced me that I needed to check into the possibility of re-colonizing Tulane. This brought me in contact with the National Office, Brian Pangburn, and Tulane's Director of Greek Life. The office of Expansion at national has invited me to submit an initial application, and I have informally approached several students who would form a strong foundation on which to build.

My motivations exist on several levels. On a personal level, I want there to be a chapter of Phi Gams at Tulane. Be it because of family or friends, it is simply a matter of pride. On another level there are professional concerns. Due to chance I never completed my pledgeship, and I feel that since I intend to work in academia it is important to me to establish a permanent connection with this part of the university system. Finally, Tulane needs the Fijis. In order for the greek system to flourish there needs to be a diverse community of organizations in which each persona can find their place. There is also a need for a selective fraternity that can be an exemplar for others. I respect the work of the Delts, but their methods of recruitment over the last year more resemble a mass mailing than selective recruitment. There are men here at Tulane that fit the bill. All that is needed is the will to bring them together.

We have an initial group of men. We have the support of the greek community, and we have the backing of Student Affairs. However, for the effort to be a success we need the support of the graduate brothers.

I look forward to meeting you all and to introducing the other members of our group.

With the greatest hopes for our future,

Richard Clark

dclark1@tulane.edu

(504) 296-7226

(504) 865-4955

31 McAllister MR 403

New Orleans, Louisiana 70118



Letter #2 - 2-4-2003

Brian,

I've gotten together with the Director of Greek Life, and he and I are putting together some ideas about the housing situation.

* Several of the other fraternities are having house problem, i.e. no house, etc... One idea we're going to look at is approaching the city council with a proposal to consolidate the greek houses on Broadway. This might appeal to the city council since houses such as the SAEs who are surrounded on three sides by private residents. Whatever would happen in this regard it would be a group action.

* We're also thinking about group housing which has been successful on other campuses where particular floors of dorms could be dedicated to a particular fraternity or interest group.

* The university owns several houses over on Ferret that are currently occupied by departments that could be housed elsewhere. This would create instant opportunities for a consolidated area of frat houses on Ferret.

* There has been the idea of proposing a return to fall rush for fraternities that meet specific academic requirements, i.e. grade point averages and mandatory "study hall" for pledges. On the other hand, after speaking with the Thetas today it seems like the spring rush is become more successful each year. Since we want to pick our battles, this may be something better left for later so that we can focus on housing.

* Finally, we'd like to host a party in conjunction with the Thetas. This would somewhere close to campus. The purpose, of course would be informal recruitment, but I wanted to ask your approval since there is no one left to ask to informally organize this as a semi-Fiji function. After all, the point of this would be to measure interest in the Fijis returning. It would also be great to have a few graduate brothers attend.

I plan on submitting the first application next week. It is simply a document that formally expresses our interest in re-colonizing the Phi Gams at Tulane.

Here's to success,

Richard