February 1925

 

ALPHA THETA CHAPTER,

Iowa City, Iowa.

 

Brothers of ALPHA PHI ALPHA

 

It has been sad and with some truth that it is a poor dog who won’t wag his own tail. Thus Alpha Theta will wag hers, but not in a boastful way.

 

Alpha Theta was set up at the State University of Iowa in March, 1922. At the time, and even until this, the men lived scattered throughout town and in very distressing conditions. Now Alpha Theta has done more in two years, I dare say, than other chapters have done in five–she has a home. This castle, as it may justly be called when compared to other rooming houses, is located two blocks from the University campus and in an exclusive neighborhood. The house has three stories and a basement. In the basement there is a new furnace, a large coal bin, and a spacious store-room. On the first floor is the dining room, parlor, living room, hallway, kitchen, and pantry. All of these rooms, expect the kitchen and pantry, have places for the floor lamps we intend to get. Each room is splendidly furnish. In the parlor, for instance, there is a dark mahogany piano, a mission table, two lounging rockers and three chairs, also a davenport to march. Even the floor is covered with a large, soft Persian rug. On the second floor there is a large bathroom and four bedrooms; each room has a double-decked bed. A table, rug and four chairs, and even the fellows of each-of each of the rooms are trying to make their room the best looking and the most comfortable. The third floor is a large dormitory to be used, when fixed up for pledges.

 

Not only has Alpha Theta a swell house, but a group of men to be envied. There are at present twelve brothers and ten pledges. And a bunch of pledges any chapter would be more than proud of. The men pledged are: J.W. Clark, Sophomore engineer, Des Moines, Iowa; Kermit Wheeler, Sophomore in Liberal Arts, St. Louis, Mo.; Patrobas Robinson, Sophomore in Liberal Arts, St. Louis, Mo; Seiman, Sophomore Liberal Arts, Chicago, Ill.; Crispus McCoy Williams, Freshmen engineers, Kansas City, Mo.

 

With such a house and group of men, for the first time in history, Alpha Theta gave a real party. This first real affair was, of course, for house opening. Brother Roberts took charge by dinning all the lights and decorating the room in orange and gold, both the fraternity and school colors. Everyone in town was incited. All the town folks, girls, and the members of the other fraternity. The young folks danced, while the old folks played cards, ate doughnuts and drank cider. The freshman couldn’t be outdone, so on Monday, November 10, our energetic pledges gave a smoker in honor of the fraternity men, and it was pulled off in some class. Sandwiches, cocoa, and cake were served and of, course, there were cigars and cigarettes for all, and, believe me, they were not cheap cigars with the bands off, but honest-to-goodness Chancellors. After the eats a short program followed. The program, consisted of a pie-eating contest a monologue, piano solo, banjo solo, a gig and four speeches. Cards naturally followed–whist, of course, because only six knew five hundred, four five-up and three coon can.

 

Dear Brothers, what Alpha Theta has done for Alpha Phi Alpha she is proud of and she wonders why other chapters can’t do the same. Think about it. Also, to all Brothers of Alpha Phi Alpha, Alpha Theta extend hearty New Year’s greeting.

 

Fraternally yours,

Henry Harding.

Sphinx Editor.