Q1 2025 ePulse

Dear Sigma Epsilon Alumni,

As we kick off 2025, I am excited to share updates from the Sigma Epsilon Alumni Association and introduce our newly appointed 2025 Board. The continued growth of our alumni community is a direct result of the dedication and hard work of so many, and I am honored to be serving as Chairman alongside an incredible team.

I’m thrilled to announce our 2025 Board members, whose leadership will be instrumental in helping us achieve our goals this year. Please join me in welcoming:

• Chairman: Mike O’Connor (TEP 75)
• President: Tony Triner (TEP 75)
• Vice-Chairman: Austin Waller (TEP 81)
• Comptroller: Tyler Collison (TEP 79)
• Secretary: Brian Dengler (TEP 109)

In addition, we have a dedicated group of alumni serving on our Standing Committees:

• Real Estate Chair: Rob Spiegel (TEP 76)
• Scholarship Chair: KC Chann (TEP 81)
• Nominations and Elections Chair: Miguel Martinez (TEP 94)
• Rules and Standards Chair: Bob Gordon (TEP 77)

This talented and diverse group brings a wealth of experience to the table, and I’m excited to see the ways in which their contributions will help us further the mission of our alumni association and support the undergraduate chapter.

As we move into 2025, we’re committed to offering a variety of events that foster deeper connections among our alumni and with the current undergraduates. I’d like to highlight a few upcoming events that I encourage you to mark on your calendars: [editor's note: there is a recurring calendar of events at the bottom of every issue]

• Alumni vs. Undergrad Softball Game: Our annual game is scheduled for April 12th at the Camden Athletic Complex, beginning at noon. Whether you want to get back on the field or simply enjoy some time with old friends, this event is sure to be a blast.
• Senior Welcome Reception: On May 17th, we’ll be celebrating the 2025 graduates at the Chapter House. This cocktail-hour event will be a great opportunity to meet the new alumni and offer your support as they make the transition into the alumni network. Event time is TBA.
• 4th Annual SEAA Charity Golf Outing – Open to all alumni and their guests. The event will feature a team scramble format with 18 holes of golf (cart included), followed by dinner, raffles, and awards. Alcoholic beverages will be available before, during, and after the round. Prizes will be awarded for the winning team, closest to the pin on select par 3s, longest drive, and a putting contest. If you don’t play golf or are unable to attend, you can still participate by sponsoring a hole, contest, or making a donation. All proceeds benefit Northern Children’s Services, supporting the healthy development of children and youth, and stabilizing their families to build stronger communities. Details to follow. For more information, please reach out to me at moconnore@gmail.com.

As part of our focus on growing our engagement, we are making a special push to reconnect with recent graduates. We’ve noticed that alumni who have graduated within the last five years have been less involved in recent events, and we want to make sure they feel welcomed back into the fold. If you’re in touch with any of these brothers or know of any who may not be receiving our communications, please help spread the word about our upcoming events and encourage them to sign up for the E-Pulse. We’ll also be utilizing social media platforms, such as Instagram (@tep_seaa), to reach a broader audience and keep everyone in the loop.

We’re also excited to announce a few new initiatives this year, including smaller, more frequent events such as happy hours, casual dinners, and professional networking events. These will offer a more accessible way for brothers to connect, with fewer barriers to entry for those who might not be able to commit to larger events. More details will be coming soon!

Finally, I want to extend my deepest thanks to all of you for your ongoing support and dedication to the fraternity. Our shared brotherhood is built on the strength of the connections we maintain, and together, we will continue to grow and thrive.

In closing, I’m looking forward to the year ahead and to all the great things we will accomplish as a brotherhood. I’m proud of the work our Board is doing, and I’m excited for the positive impact we’ll make on the lives of our undergraduates and alumni.

Fraternally,

Mike O'Connor (TEP 75)
Chairman, Sigma Epsilon Alumni Association

Sponsored by Spiegel Properties

The Sigma Epsilon Chapter of Tau Epsilon Phi started the fall semester off by having a full cleaning of the house, signifying the fresh start the semester brings. Rush week was soon after, starting with our pizza night at Little Slice of NY. Easily the most popular event this semester was our Car Smash event, with the brothers, potential interests, and the public smashing a broken down car for the charity “Wounded Warrior Project”, our chapter raising over $250 dollars. After rush week, 3 interests accepted their bids into pledge hood and began the process
to brotherhood; And after 6 weeks, pledge had been molded into model fraternity men, fit to be called brothers of Tau Epsilon Phi.

Tsang's Stash

Austin Tsang, TEP 81

Start Time 2:45 pm
End Time 4:20 pm

Today I’m reviewing the Kralot Mag 50 made by Jas Sum Kral. This cigar made it’s debut back in November of 2018 where it was only released in 1 vitola – the Churchill (7 x 50 – reminder that the smaller number is the length of the cigar in inches and the larger number is the ring gauge or circumference of the cigar). The Kralot is made using a Mexican San Andres wrapper, Nicaraguan Somoto and Ometepe binders, and a mix of Condega, Esteli and Jalapa tobacco for the filler at the Tabacalera de Aragon S.A. factory in Nicaragua and retails for $14 per cigar or $280 for a box of 20.

To keep the review as unbiased as possible, all research was done after I was done smoking the cigar. Another point to consider here, I am smoking this cigar outside on a slightly windy but cold day, it is currently 34 degrees and I’m only subjecting myself to this torture for you guys, and of course my love of the leaf.

I used a straight cutter and a 5 torch lighter on this cigar. The pre-light smell is fantastic, sweet milk chocolate and molasses, and a slight earthy/hay note. The pre-light draw was a little tight, but not enough to affect the smoke, I’m sure it’ll open up once lit. The pre-light flavor was mild, just some light hay. Construction of the cigar seems to be on point, no soft spots or blemishes, the wrapper looks pristine with some light veins and “toothy” which is the term for slight bumps on the wrapper (nothing concerning and does not affect the cigar or the way it smokes).

Upon lighting the draw opened up slightly but as stated above, it was allowing enough airflow where I wasn’t getting a headache trying to take a draw. The post light flavor is nice, I’m getting notes of graham cracker, white pepper and hay. The smoke output is decent, no way comparable to a Padron, but still enough to keep the cigar going. The retrohale gives some nice black pepper notes and just enough to bring a few tears to the eye, but not enough to warrant me letting those tears out – only the death of Iron Man in the Avengers could do that.

Oddly, about 10 minutes into the smoke, my draw closed up by almost 90%, so I had to recut it to restore the draw. Upon inspection, there was no tar or moisture buildup on the head of the cigar, so I don’t have anything to attribute this oddity to. My assumption is something may have happened inside the cigar once lit (humidity changes with the heat) and maybe clogged up the head of the cigar without showing any signs.

I shifted the ashtray which caused the cigar to shift and knock off the ash, so flag on Austin for premature ashing – 5 yard penalty *fun little football pun for the Superbowl tomorrow – GO BIRDS*. But anyway, with the ash cling, this will be an easy call to say that the cigar is made up of long filler – I still maintain that I need to find a cigar with a blend or even made up of short filler to see if the smoking experience is any different. The burn line is almost even, I attribute any crookedness to the wind today – but doesn’t require any touch-up. I would call the Kralot a Medium/Full bodied smoke, it has some nice dark earthy flavors and the pepper on the palate is always enjoyable.

At about the 30 minute mark and I’m roughly 1/3 of the way through the cigar. The draw has gone back and forth on me since I recut earlier in the smoke – it gets a little tight, then opens up slightly (cue dirty joke here), but it is making me consider using a draw tool to open it up a bit more. 

I decided to use the draw tool at the 35 minute mark to open it up, and with 2 pokes, the draw has opened up nicely for me –the draw tool didn’t pull any stems or tobacco out, maybe just loosened the tobacco inside the cigar. For anyone who is serious about cigar smoking, a draw tool is a great accessory to have, and they’re relatively cheap too, check Amazon or feel free to reach out to me with any questions.

At the 1 hour mark and I am entering the final 1/3 of the cigar. The strength of the cigar has not

changed, still sitting at the Medium/Full bodied range. The flavors have subtly changed to earth and black pepper on the palate which is right up my alley, so bring on the heat! The draw problem disappeared completely after the second cut, so it might have been a one off problem – I have a few more Kralot in the humidor so I’ll get to test it out again sometime down the road.

Rating
Construction 9
Burn 8
Flavor 8
Strength Medium/Full
Overall 8.33

Final Thoughts – This is a great cigar for the smokers out there considering the change from medium to full. It’s not a punch in the face like a majority of the maduros out in the market, but still enough flavor to understand the difference. I would happily smoke this again.

As we step into 2025, the Sigma Epsilon Alumni Association is energized by the incredible support we received last year and excited about the opportunities ahead. Thanks to the generosity and dedication of our alumni, we made tremendous progress in 2024—strengthening our brotherhood, supporting our undergraduate members, and preserving the legacy of Sig Ep TEP. Now, it’s time to build on that momentum and make 2025 even more impactful.

This year, we are focused on expanding our efforts in key areas:

- Chapter House & Infrastructure: Maintaining and improving our facilities to provide a safe and inspiring space for our members.

-Scholarships & Leadership Development: Increasing financial aid opportunities and leadership programs to help brothers excel in academics, career growth, and personal development.

-Alumni Engagement & Networking: Creating more opportunities for alumni to connect, mentor, and give back to the brotherhood.

Why Your Support Matters:

Every contribution—whether financial, professional mentorship, or time—strengthens the foundation of our fraternity. Your generosity ensures that Sig Ep TEP continues to thrive, providing undergraduates with the same transformative experiences that shaped so many of our lives.

If you’re looking for ways to give back in 2025, consider:

-Making a Donation – Every gift, large or small, makes a difference.

-Attending Alumni Events – Reconnect with old friends and network with new ones.

-Becoming a Mentor – Share your wisdom and experience with the next generation of Sig Ep TEP leaders.

Looking Ahead: As we step into 2025, the Sigma Epsilon Alumni Association is energized by the incredible support we received last year and excited about the opportunities ahead. Thanks to the generosity and dedication of our alumni, we made tremendous progress in 2024—strengthening our brotherhood, supporting our undergraduate members, and preserving the legacy of Sig Ep TEP. Now, it’s time to build on that momentum and make 2025 even more impactful.

Our Mission for 2025:
This year, we are focused on expanding our efforts in key areas:

- Chapter House & Infrastructure: Maintaining and improving our facilities to provide a safe and inspiring

space for our members.

-Scholarships & Leadership Development: Increasing financial aid opportunities and leadership programs to

help brothers excel in academics, career growth, and personal development.

-Alumni Engagement & Networking: Creating more opportunities for alumni to connect, mentor, and give back to the brotherhood.

Why Your Support Matters:

Every contribution—whether financial, professional mentorship, or time—strengthens the foundation of our fraternity. Your generosity ensures that Sig Ep TEP continues to thrive, providing undergraduates with the same transformative experiences that shaped so many of our lives.

If you’re looking for ways to give back in 2025, consider:

-Making a Donation – Every gift, large or small, makes a difference.

-Attending Alumni Events – Reconnect with old friends and network with new ones.

-Becoming a Mentor – Share your wisdom and experience with the next generation of Sig Ep TEP leaders.

Looking Ahead:

With your support, 2025 will be a year of growth, impact, and deeper connections within our fraternity. Together, we will continue to uphold the values that define Sigma Epsilon Alumni Association and ensure its success for years to come. Stay tuned for updates on our initiatives, events, and ways to get involved. Let’s make 2025 a year to remember!

With your support, 2025 will be a year of growth, impact, and deeper connections within our fraternity. Together, we will continue to uphold the values that define Sigma Epsilon Alumni Association and ensure its success for years to come. Stay tuned for updates on our initiatives, events, and ways to get involved. Let’s make 2025 a year to remember!

Sponsored by Chascsa Agency

Woods

Brian Dengler, TEP 109

Winter is always the hardest season to go camping and backpacking. The other three seasons come much easier because, for the most part, the clothes on your body is all you need to bring to stay warm (minus a light fleece and a raincoat). If you camp towards the end of spring or beginning of fall, you are pretty much carrying summer gear which is the lightest your pack will be. At any time during the winter season however, you'll need to pack much differently.

In the winter, you need to dress differently since your backpack will be heavier, you don't want to be dressed too warm while you're hiking. Once you get to camp however, you're going to want to bundle up with your warmer gear in your backpack. Then you need to set up your warmer camp gear that is 9 times out of 10 heavier than anything you'd use in warmer months. This gear is not only heavier but also more expensive.

All of that being said, I have avoided and missed out on any winter camping experiences since the last time I wrote. That doesn't mean I missed out on any hikes in the past three months. In January, a buddy and I went hiking at High Rocks Vista in Ralph Stover State Park in Pipersville, Pennsylvania. This is a mid-range difficulty loop trail a little under 4 miles that brings you from the peak down to the edge of the Tohickon Creek down below. We chose to go when it wasn't too cold out to avoid icy conditions that would make this trail loop extremely dangerous, but that meant we missed out on seeing the ice formations on the jagged rock outcroppings and from the creek bed. 

I've traveled to this public park many times in the past to view the changing foliage in different seasons. The winter is definitely the most boring, but it was still nice to get out and hike. You get to practice with rockier terrain having an elevation gain of around 400 feet when you're both descending from the lookout down to the river and back up again. We checked out the campground too and definitely have plans of returning in the future to do an overnight trip. This is more suitable for a “car camping” trip because the landscape definitely makes it difficult to carry gear without risking an injury, but that doesn't mean you can’t go for hikes. With parking at a designated campsite, you can still hike roughly 16 miles of surrounding trails and return to a clean site with distinct tent locations and a permanent fire pit. 

My plan going forward is to hopefully write about an experience camping here or another backpacking/camping trip in the next edition of the ePulse. Until next time, thank you for taking the time to read my camping blog and stay safe.

Sponsored by Discount Pools and Supplies

This past quarter, we tackled a few required repairs to keep the house in good shape and up to code. Our property insurance company had us make some updates, including replacing ceiling tiles, swapping out old fire extinguishers, and getting the furnace inspected.  

Taking care of those led us to start two additional projects. First, we’re replacing all the emergency exit signs with new LED ones to improve visibility and efficiency. Second, we got a quote for replacing the boiler. That project is on hold until the summer, but it’s on our radar.  

On a positive note, the house is officially full! We’ve got seven residents this semester, which helps us stay on track with maintaining our amenities, keeping up with house cleaning and pest control, and ensuring our CAPEX plan stays on schedule and within budget.  

Sig Ep The Last

Ted Stubbins, SigEp Spring 1967

March 4, 2025, 8 PM to 9:30 PM
Meeting of the SEAA Board of Trustees, On-line

April 12, 2025, Noon
Muller Classic Memorial Softball Game
Camden, NJ

May 17, 2025, Time TBD
Senior Welcome Event
228 Cooper Street, Camden, NJ

Fall 2025
4th Annual SEAA Charity Golf Outing

October 19, 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 16, 2024, Time TBD
Turkey Bowl Alumni v. Undergrad Flag Football Game

November 22, 2025, Time TBD
63rd Muskrat Ramble

Keep an eye on our Facebook & Instagram for updates on events between now and the next E-pulse in May 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 on it. Did something  worth announcing happen in your life that you want to tell us all about? Do you  want to advertise your small business? In the same vein, if you have feedback  about the E-pulse, then we want to hear it. Just like with interesting content, an  enjoyable reading experience reinforces the purpose of this newsletter. We  want to engage with you all.  

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

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