Q3 2025 ePulse

Hello Brothers,

As we move through the third quarter of 2025, I am pleased to share an update on the progress and accomplishments of the Sigma Epsilon Alumni Association. This quarter has been particularly exciting, marked by significant strides in our chapter's standing, upcoming events, and a renewed focus on both undergraduate and alumni development.

Chapter and Undergraduate Updates

The undergraduate chapter has made incredible progress this summer. At the National Retreat, our chapter was officially recognized as a chapter, in good standing. Our brothers also, won the Tau Epsilon Phi Most Scholastically Improved Chapter Award, a testament to their hard work and dedication to academic excellence.

Looking ahead, the undergraduates are actively preparing for a successful Fall semester. Rush week events and T-shirts have been planned, with an Alumni Rush Event scheduled for Friday, September 12th, at 228 Cooper Street. The house will see an increase in occupancy with three new housemates joining this Fall, bringing the total to seven. Additionally, we are planning to replace the boiler this Fall. We are currently looking into options, including forced air and split unit retrofit systems, or a direct replacement of the boiler system. We ask that any brothers with HVAC experience or connections please reach out to the board to assist with this important project.

A major highlight this quarter was the Sigma Epsilon Leadership Retreat, a 3-day immersive experience in the Pocono Mountains. This event, which was originally planned for August 22-24, has been rescheduled for a later date. It will focus on cultivating leadership and strengthening brotherhood for the undergraduates and alumni. We are confident that this retreat will be a great success and help build a stronger foundation for our chapter's future.

Alumni Events and Initiatives

The Alumni Association has been busy planning a series of can't-miss events for the upcoming months. The 4th Annual Fall Golf Outing, originally scheduled for September 19th has been postponed to November 7th. The event is open to everyone, alumni and guests. The format will be a team scramble and will feature hotdogs at registration, range balls, 18 holes of golf (cart included), followed by dinner, raffles and awards. Beers provided throughout the day golf. Prizes will also be awarded to the winning team, closest to the pin on select par 3's, longest drive, and a putting contest. The cost for a foursome is $500 ($125 pp) and is all inclusive. If you don't play golf, or are unable to attend and would still like to participate, please consider a hole sponsorship for your company, sponsoring one of the event day contests, or a donation. Tickets and more details are available HERE

The 63rd Muskrat Ramble is also right around the corner on Saturday, November 22nd. Tickets and event details are now available HERE. This year's event will be held at a new venue, Laurel Lanes Luxury Bowling Suite. Read the article below from our Vice Chairman, Austin Waller (TEP 81) for more info.

Looking Forward

We continue to work on various initiatives to support our chapter and alumni community. We are moving forward with efforts to streamline rent collections with the undergraduates, and we are working with our legal counsel to handle outstanding civil cases.

As always, your support is vital to our success. We encourage all alumni to attend our upcoming events and stay connected with the Chapter. Please join us at the next virtual meeting on Wednesday September 3rd, 8pm at https://meet.jit.si/TEPSEAA or on Founders Day, October 10th, for The Annual Meeting of the Association and 2026 Executive Board elections at the Rutgers Campus Center. We look forward to seeing you there.

Fraternally,
Mike O'Connor, TEP 75
SEAA Chairman

The brothers of Tau Epsilon Phi, Sigma Epsilon Chapter, have enjoyed a fun and productive Summer up to this point. Multiple brothers have gone on their own respective trips, but we would like to highlight the Leadership Retreat at Kalahari Resorts. Our current Chancellor and Vice Chancellor accepted the award for “Most Scholastically Improved Chapter”. The brothers now look forward to the Alumni Retreat in Medford, as we prepare for the upcoming Fall rush.

Sig Ep The Last

Ted Stubbins, SigEp Spring 1967

Woods

Brian Dengler, TEP 109

S2E3

When I was much younger, I went on a canoe camping trip with the boy scouts. I don't remember exactly where in the Pine Barrens this trip took place; however, I wanted to recreate this memory with some of my good friends. Planning started back in May, but configuring everyone’s busy schedules and dealing with weather pushed this adventure back to early August. We were between doing a 3-day section on the Delaware River or a 2-day trip down the Mullica River. Off a literal flip of a coin, we landed on the Mullica River. 

There are tons of options for camping along the Mullica and Batso Rivers, that I’ve mentioned in an earlier season. We’ve previously done backpacking and car camping. This leave us with canoe/kayak camping. We found a company called Pinelands Adventures that we could rent canoes and kayaks from as well as be offered transportation.

The trip started up at Atsion Lake where we paddled six miles down to the Mullica River Campground. This is a campground that I am quite familiar with, having stayed there several times now, so I was excited to see it with a different way of travel. The first 1-2 miles of the trek were a bit difficult with tons of fallen branches and the stream being quite low in several places. Once we broke that 2 mile part however, it was smooth paddling. There were countless spots to pull off and swim, fish, and have lunch. Being that we could bring extra stuff in our boats, we chose to cook up some Bratwursts for lunch instead of some soggy sandwiches or dehydrated meals. Tying it all together was amazing weather. A beautiful high of 80 and a low of 62. 

Since we took our time fishing and exploring a few trails, we arrived at camp around 6pm at the river’s six mile marker. We immediately set up camp and got a fire started, to ensure we weren’t working in the dark. The following day held a 6 mile paddle where we traversed under a few bridges meeting the hiking trail, for which we were familiar. At mile 11, we were met by our bus driver who helped us load up our gear and boats then drove us back up to the start at Atsion Lake. 

This is a trip that I will be doing again and definitely recommend for any level of camper. It was extremely affordable and easy to not get lost. Previously knowing the area was slightly useful but the Mullica River is a straight shot, for the most part. For all of you that want to try this or shorter trips, I’d definitely recommend checking out Pinelands Adventures in Shamong, NJ (not affiliated or sponsored).

We are excited to invite you to the 63rd Annual Sigma Epsilon Alumni Association Muskrat Ramble.

We put together a video highlighting the space. https://youtu.be/lES2AkmWFr4?feature=shared

Date: Saturday, November 22, 2025
Time: 6:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Venue: Laurel Lanes - Splitz Luxury Suite (https://laurellanesnj.com/luxury-suite/)

Tickets start at just $75 per person! This is a wonderful opportunity to enjoy an evening of music, games, food, drinks, engaging conversations, and reconnecting with fellow alumni. Don’t miss out on this special event, at a very affordable price!

Secure your place today by registering here. We encourage you to register soon to ensure your spot!

Want to contribute further? We are also seeking donations for auction baskets, the Super Basket of Cheer, and sponsorships. If you are interested in supporting these efforts, please reach out to the SEAA Vice Chairman at seaavicechairman@gmail.com.

We look forward to celebrating with you!

Sponsored by Discount Pools and Supplies

Tsang's Stash

Austin Tsang, TEP 81

Start Time 2:10pm
End Time 3:30pm

Today, we’re reviewing the Mr. Sinistro made by Sinistro Cigars in the robusto vitola (5.5 x 54 – the smaller number is the length of the cigar in inches and the larger number is the ring gauge or circumference of the cigar). Mr. Sinistro made it’s debut at the 2025 Premium Cigar Association Convention. Co-owners, James Agopian and Coleman Fine have shared that they are continuing to move the production of their cigars to Artista Cigars in the Dominican Republic. Making this decision has broadened their horizons by giving them access to different tobaccos allowing them to experiment with new cigar profiles. Mr Sinistro is comprised of 5 different tobaccos – the filler is a blend of 3 different tobaccos from Paraguay and the DR (Olor Ligero, Piloto Cubano Ligero and Corojo Ligero), the binder is Pennsylvania Broadleaf and the wrapper is Ecuador Habano. Two sizes were distributed with this new release, the Robusto (5.5 x 54) retailing at $10.50 each and Toro (6.5 x 56) retailing at $11.50 each.

To keep the review as unbiased as possible, all research was done after we finished smoking the cigars. We’re pairing this review with a Smoke Wagon Small Batch Straight Bourbon Whiskey from Nevada H&C Distilling Co. We decided to vary this review up, Jesse Williams (TEP 79) used a punch, while I used a straight cut. I would note that it didn't change our cigar experience. The pre-light draw is nice a clear and smell is predominantly of hay with a hint of earth. There are no blemishes or spots. Construction is a little soft but it doesn’t sink in when minor pressure is applied and there are no soft spots. The post light draw remains open, getting notes of cream, hay and pepper on the palate, which is attributed to the light. Let’s see if it maintains. The smoke output is nice, not Padron level, but is pretty consistent across all of the Sinistro lines. I would say this is starting off as a lighter medium, curious to see where it goes.

Ash is holding well, and burning at a darker gray color. My burn line is a bit crooked, but there is a breeze out today, and I would easily chalk that up to human error upon lighting. Jesse’s is maintaining a nice sharp edge. The ash is holding well and is breaking off in nice sized chunks making us think this is made up of long filler. I honestly don’t think Sinistro makes any cigars with mixed or short filler…

Something to ask Coleman the next time I speak with him.

The cigar is sitting at a medium body, it has a light pepper note on the back end and still maintains the cream and hay notes. The retrohale is mild, stinging with a white pepper note but not enough to bring tears to your eye.

We approached the halfway mark at about 40 minutes and there was no significant change. To me, the body of the smoke seems to fight back and forth from a heavy-mild and a light-medium. An interesting note, the Sinistro core line, the Mr. series, all seem to be bolder smokes, but this one deviates. The Mr. Candela added the Candela leaf over the Mr. Red added floral notes to tone down the nice punch in the face that the Mr. Red provides but to our pleasure, it didn’t weaken the smoke all.

Aside from minor crooked burn lines, probably poor lighting skills, there was no significant change to the cigar for the remainder of the smoke. The construction remained good through the end.

Rating
Construction 8
Burn 8.5
Flavor 6.5
Strength Medium
Overall 7.66

Final Thoughts: This cigar targets more of the medium smoker. It was a good smoke. It maintained the same flavors and body throughout. It won't pair with any drink or food with significant flavor, as it can be easily masked.

We hope this message finds you well and eager to embrace the spirit of camaraderie and philanthropy that define our fraternity. As we prepare for our upcoming 63rd Annual Muskrat Ramble and Charity Golf Outing, we are thrilled to introduce three distinct sponsorship tiers, each offering unique benefits and opportunities to make a significant impact on our events and community.

1. Gold Sponsorship - $500: Elevate Your Presence and Impact With Gold Sponsorship, you have the opportunity to make a significant impact on our fraternity and choose the path that resonates most with you:

• Sponsorship of Muskrat Ramble: Your name or company logo will take pride of place at this iconic event.  Making it possible for us to provide; signature cocktails, our event program and a photographer to capture the evening.
• Sponsorship of Charity Golf Outing: Show your support for our philanthropic efforts on the golf course.  Your name or company logo will be featured at one of our prize holes. 
• Ad in The ePulse for a Year: Gain consistent visibility within our fraternity through a dedicated ad space in our newsletter for the next year.  Or: Make a contribution to our "Super Basket of Cheer" for a unique way to participate in our Muskrat Ramble.

Gold Sponsors play a pivotal role in making our events exceptional while securing a lasting presence in our community.

2. Silver Sponsorship - $250: Shine Bright at the Muskrat Ramble Silver Sponsors focus their support on the Muskrat Ramble while enjoying additional options:

• Sponsorship of Muskrat Ramble: Make a splash at this celebrated event.  Your name or company logo will take pride of place at this iconic event.  Making it possible for us to provide; signature cocktails, our event program and a photographer to capture the evening.
• Ad in The ePulse for a Year: Maintain visibility within our alumni network with a dedicated ad space. Or: Make a contribution to our "Super Basket of Cheer" to add a fun twist to our Muskrat Ramble.

Silver Sponsors join us in celebrating a storied tradition in our fraternity, the Muskrat Ramble.

3. Bronze Sponsorship - $100: Leave Your Mark in The ePulse or "Super Basket of Cheer" Bronze Sponsors can select from the following options:

• Ad in The ePulse for a Year: Secure a lasting connection with our alumni network through a dedicated ad space.  
• Or: Make a contribution to our "Super Basket of Cheer" for an innovative way to engage with our Muskrat Ramble.

Bronze Sponsors contribute to the vitality of our community and keeps you engaged with our fraternity's activities.

Your sponsorship choice, whether Gold, Silver, or Bronze, reflects your commitment to our fraternity and the lasting impact you wish to make. We deeply appreciate your support, which empowers us to create memorable events and uphold the values we hold dear.

To select your preferred sponsorship level and secure your place in our fraternity's legacy, please contact me with your pledge. Payments can be sent via Venmo, @SEAA_TEP, or Check mailed to:

SEAA
PO BOX 554
COLLINGSWOOD NJ  08108-0554

Thank you for considering this opportunity to elevate your support and connect with our brotherhood. We look forward to celebrating with you at the Charity Golf Outing and 63rd Annual Muskrat Ramble.

Sponsored by Chascsa Agency

Donkey Kong Bananza Review

Austin Waller, TEP 81

Genre: Action-Platformer
Available on Nintendo Switch 2 
Appropriate for All Ages

Donkey Kong Bananza is the second big release for the new Nintendo Switch 2 after the console launched with the latest version of Mario Kart.  Mario Kart, being more of a party and online game, means Donkey Kong Bananza is the first real blockbuster single-player experience for the console.  Would you like it, dear reader?  Well, one's mileage may vary, for this one.  Let's dig in!  (Pun intended because you can basically dig anywhere in this game.  LOL!  Humor.)  The positives first.  There's an absolute poop-ton of content.  Every level (or "sub-layer") has a million side-missions, and challenges, and collectibles to find.  The manner in which you accomplish this is completely open and free-form because you can use the destructible environment to your advantage.  It keeps with the modern Nintendo philosophy of giving players many options with which to solve problems.  Despite this open-ended nature, there's a clear and direct path to follow through the game, so that's a good thing for players who want to get on with the story and fight bosses.  All of this works on a game-play level thanks to tight controls and Donkey Kong versatile move-set.  He can also transform into five different animals in BANANZA! mode, adding a lot more game-play variety.  Basically, it's a dream game, if you are the type of person that loves platformers with an emphasis on collectibles and Super Mario-type games.  It's also got a really wild and spastic atmosphere that is quite humorous.  

Negatives for me?  Eh.  I guess they stem from just not being into these types of games.  It got great reviews from the usual mass media outlets that review games so I figured it was worth a try.  But I don't think this wound up being the all-encompassing universal hit that is going to change the minds of people who aren't normally in to platformers.  It's exceedingly easy, with only true completionist runs providing anything close to a formidable challenge.  Personally, this open game-play format that emphasizes every problem having dozens of solutions is starting to wear on me a little bit.  Nintendo hit it big with Breath Of The Wild and stuck to it.  It's been great for their bottom line but gamers looking for a bigger challenge might not have a lot of fun with this game-play loop. 

Anyway, if you love Super Mario, pick this one up for your Switch 2.  If you're not into platformers, it's still enough for a weekend of fun. I say rent it from your local Blockbuster Video. 

Awall Grade: B

The last few years we’ve overhauled how we manage the house. We put a CAPEX plan in place, set up reserves, and run on a real estate budget every year. Because of that structure, the house is in much better shape today than it was just a few years ago. We completed repaired or replaces elements such as the roof, hot water heater, sewer stack, basement waterproofing, bathroom, windows, refinished floors, and critical fire safety upgrades like exit signs and smoke detectors. All of that has been knocked out because of careful planning and hard work by the Board.

That said, old houses don’t sit still. The latest issue is the boiler. It’s ran last season, but we’ve been told it’s at the end of its life. Quotes range from $11,500 up to $33,000, depending on whether we just replace it or do it the right way with zones and efficiency upgrades. The board is working through the options, but either way it’s a major project.

We’re not in this position because of poor management — quite the opposite. Right now we’ve got about $19,000 in reserves, and our target is $11,700. If we pay for this whole project out of pocket, we’ll dip below our emergency reserve and lose the buffer we’ve worked hard to build.

That’s why we’re asking for help. Alumni donations will let us tackle the boiler project the right way while keeping our reserves strong for whatever comes next.

If you’d like to support this effort, checks can be made out to:

228 Cooper St LLC
c/o Real Estate Committee – SEAA
PO BOX 554
Collingswood, NJ 08108-0554

Every bit counts, and it all goes toward keeping the house strong and moving in the right direction.

Sponsored by Spiegel Properties

John Lindsay

John Lindsay's nephew has been in touch with a member of the SEAA Board. The family is planning to hold a memorial for John on Saturday, September 6, 2025 at Budd's Funeral Home in Woodbury, NJ. The time is not set in stone but proposed has been proposed as either 11 AM or 12 noon. It will be followed by the internment in the Mausoleum at Calvary Cemetery in Cherry Hill. Something has been posted on our Facebook page.

As you are aware, John gave so much to the SEAA and the national organization. Please keep your eyes out for more details on our social media.

We are sharing a link to The Plume, the newsletter of the National Office. At the below link you will find the Summer 2025 issue and links to the back catalog.

https://tep.org/the-plume/

Within The Plume, you will see images of the 1988 Summer issue of The Plume. If anyone has old copies of The Pulse, we would love to see them. Please email us at seaapresident@gmail.com.

The SEAA is holding elections for its board this year. We’re looking for engaged brothers who want to help shape the future of the association. If you’re interested in running or learning more, please reach out to contactbobgordon@gmail.com by October 1st.

From The Coop

Rob Spiegel, TEP 76

I’ve been wanting to start a[nother] little side project for a while now; sharing some of the work I do around my own homestead. Consider this the first in a series of DIY and homesteading stories like gardening, canning, home brewing, chickens, hunting, and sausage making. Think of it as a peek into the “backyard projects” that keep life interesting.

Let’s start with the chickens.

Right now, I’ve got 11 birds in total, all at different ages. Four of them were purchased this year as little chicks. They’ve been living separately. Pretty soon, I’ll be introducing them to the main flock. If you’ve ever mixed chickens, you know it can be a bit of a circus — the pecking order is no joke. There’s always a little drama, but they’ll settle in once everyone understands their place.

At the same time, I’ll be saying goodbye to my two oldest hens. These ladies came home with me in 2020 during the height of COVID. They’ve been steady layers for years. The reality of chicken-keeping is that egg production drops off with age. A young hen in her prime can crank out 5–6 eggs a week, without breaking a sweat. By the time she’s five years old, that number can be closer to 1–2 eggs a week — sometimes less. Feed costs don’t go down, though, so it starts to make less sense to keep them for eggs.

Now, don’t get me wrong — they’ve earned their keep. Originally, I figured they’d eventually end up in the soup pot. As it turns out, my neighbors wanted to give them a softer landing. Instead of broth, they’re headed into “retirement” next door. They’ll have a new job on tick-control duty. Honestly, it’s a perfect second act.

Speaking of chickens that have ended up in the pot... I’ve had a few roosters in the past that were a little too noisy and a little too aggressive. Let’s just say they made good stew. One of the four “babies” that I bought this year has turned out to be a rooster. Instead of soup, he’s headed across the fence to join my hens at the neighbor’s place. Win-win.

Raising chickens has been a project that keeps me grounded. They’re fun, a little chaotic at times, but there’s nothing better than fresh eggs and the sense that you’re a bit more connected to your food.

This series is going to touch on a lot of those same themes: doing things yourself, finding creative ways to live a little closer to the land, and hopefully sharing a few tips and laughs along the way.

Stay tuned! Next time, I might take you into the garden or the kitchen. For now, the coop is calling.

Sponsored by Brian Weldon

September 3, 2025

SEAA Board Meeting On-line

https://meet.jit.si/TEPSEAA

October 1, 2025
Sigma Epsilon Alumni Association Nomination Deadline

CORRECTION- October 10, 2025, Time TBD
Meeting of the SEAA Board of Trustees, In-Person
Annual Meeting of the Sigma Epsilon Alumni Association to follow, In-Person

November 7th, 2025, 9:00am

4th Annual SEAA Charity Golf Outing

Details and Tickets

November 16, 2025, Time TBD
Turkey Bowl Alumni v. Undergrad Flag Football Game

November 22, 2025, Time 6:00 PM - 10:00 PM
63rd Muskrat Ramble

Laurel Lanes - Splitz Luxury Suite

Details and Tickets

Keep an eye on our Facebook & Instagram for updates on events between now and the next E-pulse in November of 2025

The goal of this newsletter is to be a resource for all alumni; for not only the  business of SEAA but also, the social connection of our social fraternity. To that  end, more diverse content is better. Do you have a hobby that you want to write  about? I bet another alumni wants to hear your opinions. Did something worth announcing happen in your life that you want to tell us all about? Do you want to advertise your business? In the same vein, if you have feedback about the E-pulse, then we want to hear it. Broad-based content and an enjoyable reading experience reinforces the purpose of this newsletter, to keep us connected. We want to engage with you all.  

Email us at SEAApresident@gmail.com or atriner@gmail.com

Check out our Facebook Group: https://m.facebook.com/groups/seaa.58/

And our Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/tep_seaa/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y%3D