Q4 2024 ePulse

Hello Brothers,
As the year comes to a close, I would like to take time to reflect on the successes of the past year. We had a lot of successful events over the course of these past 11 months. If you recall our calendar of events included the Senior Welcome Event in May, to the summer and fall sporting events in the Muller Classic Softball Game, the 3rd annual charity golf outing, & Turkey Bowl all culminating at the 63rd Ramble. A very special thank you to those that provided sponsorships. Your financial support of these initiatives are what allow us to make these events a huge success. I would also like to thank the organizers. KC Chann (TEP 81) & Rob Spiegel (TEP 76) with the senior welcome, Austin Waller (TEP 81) with the Muller Classic, Rob Higgins (TEP 74) planning the Turkey Bowl, and Bill McGrath (TEP 81) for a truly decadent Ramble. Thanks to those that attended and if you're reading this and wondering how you can get involved, we would love to see you out at one or more of these events next year.

It has been my pleasure to serve as chairman and I want to thank the Board for their commitment and dedication to the Association and Chapter. With a few new faces next year, the SEAA Board will have the following members:

McKinsey Alston (TEP 75)
Kenneth Chann (TEP 81)
Tyler Collison (TEP 79)
Brian Dengler (TEP 109)
Bob Gordon (TEP 77)
Miguel Martinez (TEP 94)
Mike O’Connor (TEP 75)
Robert Spiegel (TEP 76)
Anton Triner (TEP 75)
Austin Waller (TEP 81)

Check out the calendar below for the date of the next board meeting. Please keep an eye on our Facebook and Instagram for information on the calendar of events for 2025, prior to the next E-pulse in February.

Fraternally,

Mike O'Connor, TEP 75
SEAA Board Chairman 2024

Attendance:
Board:
Mike O’Connor
Tony Triner
Tyler Collison
William McGrath
Kenneth Chann
Brian Dengler
Rob Spiegel
Paul Chiarelli

Undergraduates:
Matt Copolla
Ben Warren
Donald Hoyos

Alumni:
N/A

CTO: 8:42 pm

Chancellor - Undergraduate Report (Brandon Velez)
Total Active Members
Spring 2024 - 6 brothers registered to nationals
Fall 2024 - 6 brothers registered to nationals
Projected Members Fall 2024
4 PNMs for fall semester
Will put chapter at 10 total active brothers in spring 2025; chapter will be off
Probation to nationals
5 pre-bids for Spring 2025
Graduates
4 members graduated Spring 2024
Active - Gustavo Espinosa & Brian Jones
Inactive - Nick Adinolfi & Nate Boyle
Expected graduates for 2025
Active brothers - Brandon Velez
Inactive brothers - Tanner White, Cory Yhap, & Dylan Gattini
4 Philanthropy Events
Car Smash, Car Wash, bagged lunches with sig delt
Raised $400 so far this semester towards our military kids

Comptroller - Annual Financial Report (Tyler Collison)

President’s Report (Tony Triner)
Forecasted E-Pulse Ads Revenue is forecasted $80 for 2024. This is down from the last two years but the ads being offered as a benefit of the new sponsorship levels at our events. E-pulse Schedule - The schedule of last Friday of the middle month of the quarter worked. It worked well but Q4 runs up against Thanksgiving. I toyed with moving it to the first month of the quarter but Jan, Apr, July, Oct has different timing concerns for supporting our events. I will likely continue the mid-quarter schedule. Article submission initiative - Content growth needs improvement. We added contributors like the camping article and Dave Vance but I would like another article or two on a semi-regular basis to expand the topics. Back issue upload project - Oak took lead on uploading back issues. A goal of 2025 should be to try to see how far back we can go with archives. Editorial Committee - we created the sub-committee this year. It was an attempt to try to codify our values so I am not acting upon my perspective. Creating those policies for a quarterly newsletter opened more questions than answers. We started doing democratic, ad hoc review of articles that I flag. I think it has worked well, now that most articles are submitted in a timely manner. If there is feedback from the membership, I welcome you to join the editorial committee to help.

Readership numbers - since the last annual meeting:
2023 Q4 (Jan 2024) - 169 views on 266 sent, 16 bounce back
Q1 (Feb) 257 views on 265 sent 6 bounce backs
Q2 (May) 228 views on 272 sent 0 bounce backs
Q3 (Aug) 213 views on 269 sent 1 bounce back

Real Estate Committee Report (Robert Spiegel)
It's been a busy and fruitful year for us, with a lot of improvements made to the house and solid growth in resident interest. This year, we invested $24,361.01 in capital improvements, including; bathroom, kitchen, chapter room upgrades, roof resurfacing and hot water heater replacement. Looking ahead, we're planning to replace one laundry set with a commercial unit. We also spent $6,812 on maintenance and repairs, which included sealing the basement to prevent groundwater leaks, replacing a cracked main sewer stack, and installing a new sump pump. Our operating budget sits at $27,136, which now covers utilities, and we're projecting rental income at $32,336. As of 9/30/2024, we have $1,145.10 in uncollected rents. In the CAPEX/Vacancy reserve account, we’ve got $21,473.56.
All of this has helped boost interest in living at the house. We went from 5 residents in Spring ’24, 4 over the summer, to 6 for Fall ’24—4 of whom are new members/residents who moved in during summer and fall. In summary, this has been a productive year for our property. The significant improvements and
maintenance efforts have not only enhanced the quality of the house but have also increased interest in residency. With solid financial management, a healthy CAPEX reserve, and growing rental income, we are in a strong position moving forward. We’ll continue focusing on maintaining and upgrading the house to ensure it remains a desirable place to live for current and future residents.

Vice Chairman’s Report (William McGrath)
5 guests registered as of 10/04, at this time last year we had 40. $100 per person price a historic price low especially given current venue pricing for similar events. Outreach conducted through FB, emails, and texting but brothers reaching out to brothers is the most effective route. Pushes weekly pushes will start until day of Ramble, same for baskets and SBOC Donations received: Discount pool Supply- $250. Decorations- fully covered. Open Sponsorships: Specialty drink- Covered. Event Program- Open. Photographer- Open. Solicitations for baskets and super baskets of cheer have begun:
TEP Outdoorsman Society Basket Secured
TEP Cigar Club basket Secured
Tech basket Secured
Grant is in processing. Anonymous donation of $1,000. Ramble awards list to be revised by the committee once finalized will be distributed to the board and UG chapter.

Fundraising Chair (Kenneth Chann Jr)
General Fund – Total Funds raised
2024 Ramble Raised $ 900.15 for the SEAA General Fund
2024 E-Pulse Ads Raised $ 80.00 for the SEAA General Fund
2024 Rutgers Alumni Association Grant $1,500.00 – Used towards the Spring Senior Welcome
2024 Rutgers Alumni Association Grant $1,500.00 – Used towards Ramble
Philanthropy – Total Funds raised
2024 Golf Outing Raised $3,600.09 (with expenses $3,436.34)
Scholarship – Total Funds raised = $0.00
Real Estate – Total Funds raised = $100.00

2025 Board of Trustee Elections
Anton Triner, President - Filling in for Austin Waller (Election Chair)

Nominees (check indicates winning election):
Anton Triner ✔
McKinsey Alston ✔
Mike O’Connor ✔
Robert Spiegel ✔
Bob Gordon ✔
Tyler Collison ✔
Austin Waller ✔
Kenneth Chann ✔
Brian Dengler ✔
WIll Hardeski
Miguel Martinez ✔
Ahmad Rehawi
Mike Monteiro

Open the floor for introduction and voting of non-binding resolutions
Non binding resolutions:
RS - motions to switch to 2 in-person meetings instead of 4 because of recent increase in alumni involvement during the year.
TC seconds
Motion carries

(TT) Moves to adjourn
(TC) Seconds
Meeting Adjourned 9:26 pm

Sponsored by Chascsa Agency

The Sigma Epsilon chapter of Tau Epsilon Phi started the Fall semester off with lots of tabling and marketing the fraternity to the upcoming interests. We started rush on Monday September 9^th with the “Pizza at Little Slice of NY” event, hosted by honorary brother Peter Toso. We then had an open house the next day, allowing interests to explore the house and scope out their potential rooms. Our next event on Wednesday was “Chill and Grill” where interests were invited to the house to hangout and munch on dogs and burgers. Lastly, on Thursday was our biggest and best event, “The Car Smash” is exactly what it sounds like, smashing a broken down car on campus, $2 for 5 hits to the car, all profits raised during the car smash were sent to military children in need. After rush week had concluded we offered bids with 100% acceptance. After rush our first philanthropy event was up next, being a collaboration with our sister sorority, Sigma Delta Tau. The brothers and sisters together made over 100 bag lunches for the local homeless shelter. October was a month filled with mixers with sororities, on campus philanthropy events, and pledge completing their duties without fail. Then after a long process, the class of 115 was welcomed into the chapters of brotherhood, forever immortalized in lavender and white.'

Woods, Part 3

Brian Dengler, TEP 109

The past month and a half has been a difficult one in planning camping trips. My friends and I originally planned to do the ‘Fire Road Loop’ in Worthington State Forest on the first weekend of November. This trail consists of a 2 night 3 day hike of 24ish miles up and down bringing you beautiful views of the Water Gap from Mt. Tammany. We had first attempted this adventure during spring break in 2023; however, we got faced with rough conditions at the first camp. Forcing us to call our trip short, so this rematch has been on our minds for a while. Although the first campsite doesn't allow you to make fires, the second one does, and I am a proud believer that campfires are a necessity when camping and backpacking. So when New Jersey placed a fire ban due to the lack of rainfall, we pushed our trip back yet again. 

I felt as though I should recap this trip as I didn't get a memorable enough trip since the 3rd edition of ‘Woods’ and now. The first section is a 2 mile stretch of elevation followed by 2.5 miles of relatively flat trails. You’ll then end up at the park's second backpacker campsite. This is a relatively primitive site except there is an outhouse and several bear boxes. In our plans, we weren't expecting any different weather than at the base of the mountain, however, we were very wrong. It was easily 20-30 degrees colder at the peak with an inch or two of snow on the ground and freezing rain. After toughing out a freezing cold night of rain and winds, we decided it was best to head back to the car in fear the weather would only get worse (hint: it did).

If we had stuck through for the rest of it, we would have gone another 5-6 miles to the Mohican Outdoor Center where we can refill our water reservoirs from a clean pump. Then we would need to ruck 12 miles back to the base parking lot. Both days would have been filled with worse conditions than we experienced during our time at the peak. On day 2 it snowed 4 inches at the base, so I couldn't even imagine how bad it was at the top. No amount of beer and whiskey could’ve kept us warm enough to enjoy that. 

Now I understand that it's not a necessity to have a fire when camping and everyone should be extremely careful with one, but there's just something about hiking 5-10 miles, sitting down and relaxing with a beer around a fire. This has been a staple for my friend group every time we’ve ventured on a trip, and there's just about nothing better than that. So I can only hope that we will get some substantial rain soon and the fire ban will be removed. That would make for a great start for the first quarter of the 2025 E-Pulse. Until then, thank you to everyone who is taking the time to read this series. Greatly appreciated. 

Sponsored by Discount Pools and Supplies

63rd Muskrat Ramble at Trump National Golf Course: A Night of Fellowship, Fun, and Tradition

William McGrath, TEP 81

On Saturday, November 23, 2024, the secluded Trump National Golf Course in Pine Hill, New Jersey, hosted the much-anticipated 63rd Muskrat Ramble. This elegant evening brought together Brothers and friends for an unforgettable night filled with camaraderie, celebration, and tradition.

A Glamorous Start: Arrival and Red Carpet Moments

The evening began with a touch of glamour as guests arrived at the stunning venue, nestled amidst rolling hill (of Southern New Jersey) and offering picturesque views of the surrounding landscape. The atmosphere was already festive as attendees were greeted with a gusto check-in process, which smoothly ushered everyone into the heart of the event.

Hot hors d’oeuvres and refreshing cocktails were served as guests mingled and enjoyed the warm hospitality. Laughter and lively conversation filled the air as couples and groups eagerly posed for photos on the iconic red carpet, capturing memories that would last a lifetime.

A Blessing for the Evening: Brother Scott Lakernick’s Prayer

Once everyone had settled in, the festivities moved into the dining room, which offered a breathtaking panoramic view of the Philadelphia skyline. As the sun dipped below the horizon, the lights of the city twinkled in the distance, setting the stage for the evening’s main events.

The first official moment of the evening was a heartfelt blessing of the meal and those in attendance, led by Brother Scott Lakernick (TEP 27). His words of gratitude and reflection set a thoughtful tone, reminding all present of the importance of community, faith, and the bonds that bring us together. It was a moment of stillness and reverence, providing a deep sense of connection before the celebration began in full.

A Message from the Master of Ceremonies:

Next, our chairman, Mike O’Connor (TEP 75), took the stage to provide an update on the status of the SEAA. His remarks highlighted the ongoing successes and future initiatives of the organization, which aims to foster fellowship, competition, and athleticism among its members.

Mike O’Connor also had the honor of presenting a series of prestigious awards to deserving individuals. The Turkey Bowl MVP and Muller Classic MVP awards were given to those who had demonstrated exceptional skill and talent in these beloved annual sporting events. Additionally, the Brothers of the Year award was presented to individuals who have gone above and beyond in supporting the organization and its mission.

The recognition of these outstanding individuals was met with loud applause and cheers, exemplifying the spirit of support and camaraderie that defines the SEAA community.

A Delicious Dinner and Dancing

Following the awards ceremony, guests were treated to a delectable dinner, which was as spectacular as the view. The dining room was filled with the clinking of silverware, the chatter of satisfied diners, and the joyful hum of music that gradually began to set the stage for dancing.

The night continued with lively dancing as everyone, from young to old, hit the floor to celebrate. The combination of good food, good music, and great company kept the energy high and the atmosphere electric.

Exciting Raffles and Auctions

As the evening drew on, the raffle prizes became the focal point of attention. The much-coveted Super Basket of Cheer – a grand prize filled with a collection of premium beverages and exclusive items – was drawn, followed by the winners of the Chinese Auction Baskets, which offered a wide range of gifts and surprises. The excitement didn’t stop there, as the 50/50 raffle gave guests the chance to walk away with a sizable cash prize, further adding to the night’s thrill.

Closing Tradition: Otis Day and the Knight’s

As the clock neared 10:00 PM, the energy in the room reached its peak. The evening was coming to a close, but not before the time-honored Otis Day and the Knight’s "Shout" brought the festivities to an unforgettable end. This tradition, beloved by all attendees, involves a rousing chant and an exuberant expression of community spirit.

The chant echoed through the room, drawing smiles, cheers, and laughter from everyone present. It was the perfect culmination to a night filled with joy, laughter, and lasting memories.

A Perfect End to a Perfect Evening

The 2024 Ramble was a resounding success. From the glamorous start to the heartfelt moments of reflection, the evening was a celebration of everything that makes this Brotherhood so special. It was a chance to honor achievements, enjoy delicious food, and, above all, to come together with a wonderful group of people.

As guests departed, they carried with them the warmth and joy of a memorable evening spent in the company of friends. For many, it was a night they would cherish for years to come—an evening that captured the essence of what it means to be part of something greater than oneself. The 2024 Ramble truly was the perfect end to a wonderful year.

Special Thanks

The success of this event would have been impossible without the contribution of our sponsors. The Sigma Epsilon Alumni Association wants to express their deep gratitude to:

Discount Pool & Supply for the Photography Sponsorship & Music co-sponsorship
Paul Chiarelli (TEP 75)for the Signature Cocktail Sponsorship
Chascsa Agency [Farmer's Insurance] for a Gold Sponsorship and co-sponsoring the Music
The Accounting Office of Calzaretto & Co. and Law Office of Calzaretto & Bernstein for the Silver Sponsorship

Basket Donors:
Jesse Williams (TEP 79)
Austin Tsang (TEP 81)
Konig North America
Wood Nymph Society
Sigma Epsilon Undergraduate Chapter

General Fund Donors:
Scott Lakernick (TEP 27)
Sheldon Blackman (TEP 24)
DJ DuRocher (TEP 82)

Physical evidence of joy, had by all, will be available on December 1st. Please see the link here. OR email seaa.tep@gmail.com for details.

After graduating from Rutgers, I joined the Navy. There was this little squabble going on in Southeast Asia at the time and young men were, shall we say, encouraged to sign up.

My parents and my girl dropped me off at Officer Candidate School in Newport, Rhode Island. All the new officer candidates were greeted by a salty old chief who lined us up and yelled and screamed in our faces. Something about little drops of flying spittle comes to mind. Anyway, I thought half the guys in line were going to crap in their pants if they did not faint first.

It took me about ten seconds to realize, it was like pledging. I thought, I know how to do pledging, so I sailed right through Officer Candidate School (OCS). 

All week long, we were up before the crack of dawn, ran, showered, ate, and went to classes: ships engineering, boarding parties, firefighting, combat information center operations, and celestial navigation. There was no GPS back then. 

We also had firearms training on .45 caliber Colt 1911s. They were, in some respects, like hand held cannons. No one was allowed to leave base until they achieved a certain proficiency with their .45. I was good enough to get a marksmanship medal. I could hit almost anything I could see within 40 yards. One of my buddies, David Zillman, could not hit the floor if he fell on it. So, in the spirit of pledging, next time we were on the pistol range, I put two bullets in my target and the rest in my buddy’s target. He got his pass.

One of the things we had to do at night was stand watches. They would put us somewhere and have us report in to the quarterdeck every half hour. OCS was at a Navy base so we had plenty of watercraft. An officer candidate from Iowa called the quarterdeck all panicked because, he said “the boats are sinking!”

The officer candidate standing watch on the quarterdeck asked, “Which one?”

The guy from Iowa said, “All of them.”

They sent a chief out to assess the situation. The tide was going out. That is why the boats were sinking relative to the dock. My colleague from Iowa had never seen a tide before.

At the time I was in Newport, we had officer candidates from Vietnam. One of them came to the quarterdeck all panicked and said the base was under chemical attack. When he was asked why, he said because the leaves were falling off the trees. He had never experienced autumn in New England. But sadly, he had seen the U.S. use defoliants in Vietnam.

When I first arrived in Newport, the commanding officer insisted on parades, inspections, and drills every Saturday, so weekend leave did not start until 4:00 p.m. A new commanding officer came in and I heard a rumor that he did not want to tie up his Saturdays with parades and so forth, but no one ever passed an order to the Officer Candidate School, so no one announced liberty call. 

Saturday morning, I finished my shower and while still wrapped in a towel found my fellow officer candidates pissing and moaning about not being able to go on liberty. The leave paperwork was FUBAR (Fouled Up Beyond All Recognition). We did not use the word fouled in the Navy.

I got a dime from one of the guys; called the quarterdeck; told them I was Ensign Pulver, having just seen the movie Mr. Roberts; and chewed them out for not announcing liberty call. Then I hung up. I took three steps and there was an announcement over the public address system. “Liberty call, liberty call.” 

About 200 officer candidates scattered before anyone could check the validity of the order and call them back. By the next Saturday, 8:00 a.m. liberty call had become the standard operating procedure. Yes, Officer Candidate School was a lot like pledging.

After I was commissioned, I was stationed in Norfolk, Virginia and it was a lot like being in the fraternity. There were endless cocktail parties. Work started at 7:00 a.m. and ended at 3:00 p.m. and one could be on the sand in Virginia Beach by 3:45. One fly in the ointment was that in addition to working in a data center five days a week, we also had to stand watches. On a regular watch, once work ended, you would go to a restricted area in the building and stand the watch until 7:00 a.m. the next morning. Then you had to return to your day job and work all day. During week it was not so bad, but if you were scheduled for Sunday, you had to come in at 7:00 a.m. stand watch all day and night until 7:00 a.m. Monday, then work all day Monday. 

Only junior officers stood watch. I cannot say much about what we did on watch but it had something to do with making Moscow glow in the dark. The junior officers always complained to the Executive Officer that they were getting an unfair number of weekends and holidays. Finally, in exasperation, the Executive Officer said, “The only way to make this fair is for the computer to set the watch schedule.” 

I raised my hand and said, “Commander, I will write that program for you.” I wrote the program and never stood watch again. Oddly enough, a few weeks later the Commander caught me in the hall and said, “I have not had one complaint since you wrote the scheduling program.” 

I simply smiled and said, “Thank you Commander.” Yes, being in the Navy was a lot like being in the fraternity. 

Dave Vance, TEP01 is a former CPA, trial attorney, Naval Officer and is a Rutgers University Professor Emeritus. He writes short stories and novels under his pen name Jack English. See https://www.jackenglishstories.com/gallery for his novels and https://www.jackenglishstories.com/short-stories for his short stories.

Sponsored by Brian Weldon

Turkey Bowl 2024

Rob Higgins, TEP 74

It was unseasonably warm and windy Saturday morning on the beautiful Camden Waterfront. The view of Philadelphia only partially blocked, gave way to views of freedom and commerce. The occasional smell of the growing and apparent skunk problem brought to the field by a northerly wind was welcomed by most in attendance. It was a small group, but a very joyous one. 

The undergrads began the day with a complete pass, but the drive was short lived due to a pick 6 by the much more experienced alumni. The undergrads then drove down the field in a triumphant fashion to tie the game. In what, at this point, seemed like an eternity the game had really just begun, and the alumni looked to have missed a decade or so of cardio. But the teams both battled into the half, the alumni having Austin Waller (TEP 81) in a Nick Folesian manner were lead to a score of 4-2.

The coach of the alumni, Pepe Lepew, said the alumni would need to rely on there experience to hold onto the win over the well-conditioned much younger undergrads. 

The halftime show lead by “girl in red pants” and followed by the Triner clan, Aubrey, Kristin and little guy, spinning plates, was most thrilling. Team Triner showing up to cheer the alumni on would most definitely have given the alumni the strength to fight through the fatigue into the final minutes of the second half. 

The second half was not much different than the first with some balls being dropped by the undergrads in key situations. The undergrads made a valiant effort led by Alejandro. In rare fashion, Brian played for both sides, thanks Brian “big D” Dengler (TEP 109) for doing it that way, so we could all enjoy! The undergrad effort did fall short due mostly to the play on both sides of the ball by alumnus Tyler Z’s (TEP 83) sure hands and Anton “long snap” Triner’s (TEP 75) all around team play. The final score 7 TDs to 3.

Shout out to the Triner’s for making the long trip. John Mcgraw and Austin’s girlfriend for photography and not to forget Ziggy and KC Chann (TEP 81) pumping up the crowd. Last but never the least, thanks to Oak (TEP 75) for keeping time, keeping a dip in and keeping the Coors lights flowing! 

Almost forgot, Higgins (TEP 74) was there.

Thanks everyone for making this writer a happy man! I love you all and TEP DOES! 

As we close out the year, we wanted to share some updates about what’s been going on at the house—because it’s been a busy one!  

First off, we’ve got some exciting news: we’ve purchased a new commercial washer and dryer set! It’s on its way and will be installed soon. This is going to be a game-changer for everyone—no more worrying about whether the laundry machines are going to hold up when you really need them.  

We’ve also added bi-annual professional cleanings to the budget. The first one happened right before the Fall semester, and it made a huge difference. The house got a fresh start, and it’s something we’ll continue doing to keep things clean, healthy, and just generally more enjoyable to live in.  

On top of that, we’ve locked in a pest control contract to help us tackle the rodent situation. Nobody likes dealing with those kinds of surprises, and this should go a long way in keeping the house pest-free and comfortable.  

Of course, not everything this year went according to plan. We had a pretty big curve-ball when the main cast iron plumbing stack cracked and needed to be replaced. It wasn’t ideal, but we took care of it quickly to avoid bigger issues. Sometimes, you just have to roll with the punches!  

All in all, it’s been a productive year. We’re focused on keeping the house in great shape and making it a place our residents are proud to call home. Stay tuned for more updates as we keep moving forward! 

Sponsored By John Calzaretto

Awall Game Review: Silent Hill 2

Austin Waller, TEP 81

Silent Hill 2 is a remake of the classic survival horror title from 2001 or thereabouts.  Frankly, I don't even remember the original PS2 game so I'm just going to review this like it's a new game.  Summary?  Wow!  It's really good.  You read more!

Early plot synopsis goes like this; James gets a letter from his dead wife that they should meet up at their "special place" in Silent Hill, a fictional town in West Virginia or something.  Dead girls can't write letters!  So James goes to investigate and it's darn spooky up in that bitch.  

Silent Hill 2 plays like a classic survival horror game.  You are going to be confronted by grotesque monsters and clever puzzles.  Combat should be avoided when possible, as resources are going to be limited.  Thankfully, they didn't follow trends and up the action to the point where it turns into more of a shooter than a horror game.  Nope, this one is all about horror.  Obviously there are melee combat and shooting mechanics to deal with the enemies, and they work just fine, but that's not where the focus of the adventure lies.  Although I will comment that there seems to be a sort of aim-assist feature that makes the shooting mechanics feel really responsive and accurate.  Which I love in a game like this where the challenge should be in deciding whether or not to engage the enemy in combat and expend resources, rather than the combat itself.  

The real highlight here is the intrigue of the story and the nightmarish atmosphere.  As the game progresses, you learn more about James and why he seems to have been called back to this town.  Reality disintegrates and you enter a living nightmare.  Buildings and rooms twist and decay and warp like you are living through the worst night terror of your life.  You descend senseless elevators and stairwells that give you the impression that you are literally falling into Hell.  The enemies are all sorts of fucked up corpses, living mannequins, mutated creatures, etc.   The subject matter is downright disturbing, and the opening disclaimer screen, which serves as a trigger warning, feels justified.  Characters grapple with themes surrounding sexual assault, suicide, disease, murder, etc.  It's all really nasty.  Not one for the kiddies!  

Do yourself a favor and play the game on Hard difficulty for puzzles and combat.  The hard combat limits your resources and health and ups the ante regarding the survival elements.  Doing the puzzles on max difficulty makes solving them feel really rewarding.  This is not at all toned down for a mainstream audience.  They're true brain-busters.

Anyway, this was great.  I'll probably go back and check out the New Game + features which apparently has extra content and new endings.  This was a real treat.  

Final Score: 9/10

As we reflect on the past year, one word comes to mind: gratitude. The Sigma Epsilon Alumni Association is profoundly thankful for the unwavering support and generosity of our alumni community in 2024. Your commitment to preserving the legacy of Sig Ep TEP has made an extraordinary impact, and we want to take a moment to celebrate everything we’ve achieved together.

This year, your contributions have allowed us to:

• Complete critical renovations to the chapter house ensuring a safe and welcoming space for our active members. These updates include replacing the roof, addressing leaks inside the building, fixing exterior downspouts, and a summer work party where toilets were replaced, walls were patched, and doors and shelves were installed.
• Fund programs that strengthen the brotherhood and prepare the next generation of leaders. These programs include the 3^rd annual Senior Welcome Cocktail Reception in May, the 3^rd annual SEAA Charity Golf Outing in September, and the 62^nd Annual Muskrat Ramble in November.

These successes are a testament to the dedication and belief our alumni have in the mission and values of Sigma Epsilon Alumni Association. Whether through a financial gift, mentorship, or participation in events, your involvement keeps the spirit of our fraternity alive and thriving.

As we look forward to 2025, we are inspired to continue building on this momentum. With your continued support, we aim to:

• Expand opportunities for leadership development.
• Strengthen connections among alumni through reunions and networking events.
• Further invest in the success of our undergraduate members.

Your generosity empowers us to make these goals a reality and ensures that Sig Ep TEP remains a transformative experience for years to come.

Thank you for being an integral part of our fraternity’s story. Together, we honor the traditions of the past, strengthen the bonds of the present, and build a bright future for Sigma Epsilon Alumni Association! 

Stay connected! Follow us on Instagram account tep_seaa or Facebook group Sigma Epsilon Alumni Association to learn more about our ongoing efforts and future initiatives. We can’t wait to see what we’ll accomplish together in 2025!

Sponsored by Spiegel Properties

Tsang's Stash

Austin Tsang (TEP 81) & Jesse Williams (TEP 79)

Start time 5:20pm
End time JW 6:06pm/AT 6:16pm

Today we’re reviewing Ceniza Fina Corojo in the Robusto vitola 5x50 (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) made in the Dominican Republic at Tabacalera La Isla. The Ceniza Fina is the house blended cigar for the Cigar Lounge Fine Ash located in Glendale, Arizona and both the lounge and cigar brand are owned by Sam and Rosie Lopez. This cigar is made in three vitolas, the Corona Gorda (6x46), the Robusto (5x50) and the Toro (6x50) which retail at $9.50, $10 and $10.50 respectively. The cigar is made using an Ecuadorian corojo wrapper, a Mexican binder and a Dominican/Nicaraguan tobacco blend (criollo 98, HVA tobaccos, piloto cubana) for the filler and was released in January 2024.

To keep the review as unbiased as possible, all research was done after we finished smoking the cigar.

Jesse and I both used a punch and a torch lighter to keep the review consistent. The pre-light smell is next to nonexistent, which is a first for us, if I had to guess, I would say I detected a very mild hay scent. The construction of the cigar is solid, no soft spots or blemishes. We were both surprised with the fantastic draw using the punch but again, next to no flavor when drawn.

Upon lighting the open draw has maintained and the cigar has great smoke output. The flavor is very faint – with the blend of tobaccos, we were confused as to how bland the cigar was. There’s some light white pepper on the exhale, but nothing when we take a draw. The retro-hale has some punch, but doesn’t bring any tears to the eyes. This cigar is smoking like an entry level mild cigar which makes sense for a house blend cigar. We’re assuming this is meant to draw a new cigar smoker in, keep the flavors and the body light so it doesn’t overwhelm the palate and encourages the smoker to keep trying.

We are shocked at the price point – for comparison here is a list of cigars within the same price point:

Oliva Serie V
La Aroma de Cuba Edicion Especial
My Father Flor de Las Antillas
Arturo Fuente Hemingway Short Story
Latelier La Mission

This list is comprised of a mix of cigars that vary in flavor and body profile (mild, medium, full) and having smoked most if not all of them, we both agree that those would be a better option on money spent – there is a bias on this statement as we both prefer a darker, full bodied smoke over a mild cigar any day, so please don’t let our preferences deter you from giving any cigar a shot.

Jesse’s ash held for about 1.5-2 inches and he chose to tap it off rather than taking the chance of wearing it around the 15-minute mark. With the incredibly open airflow, we feel like this cigar will smoke fast. The burn line has maintained well on my cigar, Jesse did a touch up, but we’re chalking that up to a lighting error on his part. 

We are both known to smoke fast so we’ve done our best to slow down on this cigar. Research says that a good rule of thumb is to puff on a cigar every 45-60 seconds as puffing too often can overheat a cigar, and waiting too long can cause the cigar to go out. A rough idea for you readers is a Robusto (5x50) should take between 45-60 minutes, a Toro (6x50) should take between 60-90 minutes, and a Churchill (7x47) should take between 90-120 minutes to smoke (there are many other vitolas out there, but these are the 3 that you will most often come across at a cigar shop). As we were discussing how cigars are meant to be drawn periodically, Jesse tested to see if the cigar would stay lit after 2-2.5 minutes and it stayed lit.

At this point I’ve just broken the half way mark and Jesse has gotten to the final 1/3 at 40 minutes. I feel like the cigar has ramped up a little bit in body and has moved to a mild/medium, but Jesse maintains that his has stayed as a mild. There is a little wind out today, plus it’s cold with the temps in the 50s, so I’m not surprised that my burn line has gotten a little crooked, but a quick touch up brought it back on track.

Aside from the slight body change, there was no change on the flavor of the cigar. I am questioning if the change in body from mild to mild/medium was due to the cherry moving closer to the head of the cigar. Jesse finished his cigar around the 45 minutes mark and I finished closer to the hour mark.

Rating
Construction 9
Burn 8
Flavor 3
Strength Mild
Overall 6.66

Final thoughts: This would be a good cigar to purchase as a new cigar smoker, the smell and taste are not overwhelming, and the draw is close to a Padron. The price point is questionable as we would normally expect house blend cigars to retail around $5-7, so it is on the pricier side.

December 3, 2024, 8 PM to 9:30 PM
Meeting of the SEAA Board of Trustees, On-line

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