Q3 2026 ePulse

Welcome back Gentlemen,

I hope you all have been well and are enjoying this hot and rainy summer. As we bring the third quarter of 2026 to a close, I am excited to share some updates with you about the alumni association as well as the undergraduate chapter.

228 Cooper Street: The chapter is currently at its biggest since 2022 with the forecast for even more growth this coming fall. The house is back to nearly full occupancy with the possibility of adding a couple more to the double occupancy rooms. There are several house projects planned by our Real Estate Chair, Brother Rob Spiegel (TEP 76) aimed to enhance the quality of residency and ensure that the property is welcoming to future residents.

September: The brothers have scheduled their Fall 2026 rush week with an event I invite you all to attend. On Friday September 18th at 7:00pm, there will be an Alumni Rush Event at the house where potential new members. as well as active members, can network. This event has been very successful in the past; giving Rutgers students the opportunity to see where this fraternity can bring you. After this event, brothers get a drink at Victor’s Pub and catch up. I invite you all to reach out to your pledge brothers and attempt to stop by to network and share some advice with the next generation of TEP Men.

October: Our annual meeting is scheduled for Friday October 9^th at the campus center. Our monthly and most importantly our bi-annual meetings are essential in keeping order. Keeping our records in order and showing transparency allows us to continue operating. At our October meeting, we will begin with our monthly meeting, and then transition into our annual meeting. I would like to invite you all to attend. Along with voting for the 2027 Board of Trustees, you can express comments about finances, events, or have an idea of any kind.  

November: As a reminder to start conditioning yourselves, Sunday, November 15^th is the Turkey Bowl. [see information below] The returning champs (Alumni) hope to beat the Undergrads again this year, so start stretching and dust off your cleats. 

Without stealing his thunder, our Vice Chairman, Brother Mike O’Connor (TEP 75), has organized our 64^th Muskrat Ramble for November 21^st. Hope to see you there! [see information below]

That is what we have locked in for right now, but as we all know, things can change. Please make sure to occasionally check Facebook, Instagram, and see if maybe your pledge brothers heard anything through the grape vine. And with that catch you in Quarter 4.

Fraternally, 

Brian G Dengler, TEP 109
SEAA Chairman

The Sigma Epsilon chapter of Tau Epsilon Phi had a decently quiet Summer with small get-togethers among the brothers in places like Wissahickon, Texas, Mexico, and even London! The brothers look forward to seeing everyone the last week before school starts, as that is when we have our brotherhood retreat which will be in the Poconos. The theme for rush this upcoming Fall will be Sopranos. We are excited to welcome the biggest upcoming freshmen class in Rutgers-Camden history and look forward to dominating this college semester.

Sponsored by Creedon Chiropractic Center

Brothers of Sigma Epsilon,

It’s that time of year again! The Sigma Epsilon Alumni Association and the undergraduate chapter of Tau Epsilon Phi invite all alumni, undergrads, friends, and family to join us for our signature fall tradition—the Annual Muskrat Ramble.

This year, we are taking the celebration to Double Nickel Brewing Company in Pennsauken, NJ! Join us for an evening of brotherhood, great craft beer, delicious food, and catching up with brothers across the generations.

Event Details

• Date: Saturday, November 21, 2026
• Time: 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM
• Location: Double Nickel Brewing Co. — 1585 NJ-73, Pennsauken Township, NJ 08110
• Dress Code: Casual / Smart Casual (Break out your TEP gear or favorite alumni wear!)
• Included: Open Bar / Drink Tickets, Buffet Dinner, Raffles, and Special SEAA Recognition.

Sponsorships & Basket Donations

• Sponsorships: In lieu of Ad Book sales, sponsorship opportunities are available to help support the event and SEAA programming. Sponsors will receive tabletop recognition and a feature in the ePulse. Packages are listed on the registration site.
• Basket & Bottle Raffles: We are seeking gift basket and liquor bottle donations for our annual Ramble raffle. If you would like to contribute a basket, bottle, or cash donation toward the raffle, please contact any SEAA Board member.

Registration

Space is limited, so please register early! All attendees must complete the online registration form. Deadline: October 31st 2026

👉 <LINK HERE>

We look forward to seeing everyone there to celebrate our brotherhood! For any questions, cancellations, or sponsorship details, please reach out to the SEAA Board at seaa.tep@gmail.com.

Ben Franklin was a boundless source of good advice, and I often cited him in my classes. I would like to share some of Franklin’s wisdom that I DID NOT share with my class. It is his advice to a young friend on selecting a mistress. I am NOT suggesting that any of you have a mistress. But in the main, this letter praises the virtues of older women.

June 25, 1745

My dear Friend,

I know of no Medicine fit to diminish the violent natural Inclinations you mention; and if I did, I think I should not communicate it to you. Marriage is the proper Remedy. It is the most natural State of Man, and therefore the State in which you are most likely to find solid Happiness. 

Your Reasons against entering it at present, appear to me not well-founded. The circumstantial Advantages you have in View by postponing it, are not only uncertain, but they are small in comparison with that of the Thing itself, the being married and settled. It is the Man and Woman united that make the complete human Being. Separate, she wants his Force of Body and Strength of Reason; he, her Softness, Sensibility and acute Discernment. Together they are more likely to succeed in the World. 

A single Man has not nearly the Value he would have in that State of Union. He is an incomplete Animal. He resembles the odd Half of a Pair of Scissors. If you get a prudent healthy Wife, your Industry in your Profession, with her good economy, will be a Fortune sufficient.

But if you will not take this Counsel and persist in thinking a Commerce with the Sex inevitable, then I repeat my former Advice, that in all your Amours you should prefer old Women to young ones. You call this a Paradox and demand my Reasons. They are these:

1. Because as they have more Knowledge of the World and their Minds are better stored with Observations, their Conversation is more improving and more lastingly agreeable.

2. Because when Women cease to be handsome, they study to be good. To maintain their Influence over Men, they supply the Diminution of Beauty by an Augmentation of Utility. They learn to do a 1000 Services small and great and are the most tender and useful of all Friends when you are sick. Thus, they continue amiable. And hence there is hardly such a thing to be found as an old Woman who is not a good Woman.

3. Because there is no hazard of Children, which irregularly produced may be attended with much Inconvenience.

4. Because through more Experience, they are more prudent and discreet in conducting an Intrigue to prevent Suspicion. The Commerce with them is therefore safer with regard to your Reputation. And with regard to theirs, if the Affair should happen to be known, considerate People might be rather inclined to excuse an old Woman who would kindly take care of a young Man, form his Manners by her good Counsels, and prevent his ruining his Health and Fortune among mercenary Prostitutes.

5. Because in every Animal that walks upright, the Deficiency of the Fluids that fill the Muscles appears first in the highest Part: The Face first grows lank and wrinkled; then the Neck; then the Breast and Arms; the lower Parts continuing to the last as plump as ever: So that covering all above with a Basket, and regarding only what is below the Girdle, it is impossible of two Women to know an old from a young one. And as in the dark all Cats are grey, the Pleasure of corporal Enjoyment with an old Woman is at least equal, and frequently superior, every Knack being by Practice capable of Improvement.

6. Because the Sin is less. The debauching a Virgin may be her Ruin and make her for Life unhappy.

7. Because the Compunction is less. The having made a young Girl miserable may give you frequent bitter Reflections; none of which can attend the making an old Woman happy.

8thly and lastly, they are so grateful!!

Thus, much for my Paradox. But still, I advise you to marry directly; being sincerely Your affectionate Friend.

~Benjamin Franklin

Sponsored by Spiegel Properties

The SEAA is holding elections for its board this coming year. Elections will be held on the ninth (9th) of October, 2026, at the annual meeting of the Association. 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.

As of now the current nominees for our twelve (12) member board are:
KC Chann (TEP 81)
Rob Spiegel (TEP 76)
Brian Dengler (TEP 109)
Mike O'Connor (TEP 75)
Tony Triner (TEP 75)
Moe Copeland (TEP 77)
Tyler Collison (TEP 79)

S3E3

After knocking a couple more New Jersey campgrounds off my list, I decided my options were consistently getting more boring. All being that some sites are for large groups, are year-end booked, or under maintenance. The state has some gems in the Pine Barrens and up north, but overall, sites are the same. This led me to expanding my trips to Pennsylvania and New York. These states allow you to backcountry/disperse camp which is consistently more exciting. Keeping restrictions in mind, you feel almost alone in the woods setting up your camp independently.

My most recent trip was in Weiser State Forest in Pennsylvania. Named after the 18^th century German pioneer, Conrad Weiser, who played a large role in creating “peace” between settlers and Native Americans. He was an interpreter in the Mohawk language and is noted for founding the city of Reading. The state forest spans roughly 30,000 acres, formed to stop the increasing deforestation in the region. When looking at the area from Google Maps, you will see a vast amount of old and some still operating mines. The area was historically used for mining coal and metals leaving abandoned equipment, buildings, and tainted water. Notably, Centralia is located here, which was an old coal mining town where an underground fire began, causing a massive underground fire to breakout ultimately leading to the town being abandoned.

Enough with the history and back to the reason I drove 3 hours to sleep in the woods. When researching trails and areas that allow for dispersed and backcountry camping, I noted that there were various spots along bodies of water that looked good topographically. Following state regulations, you can camp anywhere in a state forest for one night if you are at least 200 feet from a forest road, 25 feet from trails, and 100 feet from moving and/or open water. Arriving at the Roaring Creek Tract trailhead, I had a few spots in mind that looked like the area would be good enough for two tents. Generally following the preexisting nature trail, my buddy and I hiked 5 miles to the McWilliams Reservoir.

Towards the western side of the reservoir, we found quite arguably the perfect campsite. Meeting the requirements, there was an area that appeared to have been an island when the water level was higher. Although it was quite overgrown there was an already established fire ring and ample space for our tents. Getting to camp before 4pm we had more than enough time to set up camp and collect firewood. Being that we were near the water in a valley, we were treated to mild winds that made the 93-degree weather more manageable. If it wasn’t an active reservoir, swimming would have been extremely relieving; however, I don’t trust the potential currents caused by the underwater machinery. The remainder of the trip was uneventful but cemented this location as one I will return to.

I hope to find a good destination soon that has similar attributes and desirable water to swim. The attributes being somewhat far into the woods, low traffic, and having a good view to revere while at camp. I’m unsure how many of you brothers genuinely read these inserts, but if you do and have any recommendations, please don’t hesitate to let me know. I hope to share more adventures soon. Cheers.

Sponsored by Scott Lakernick (TEP 27)

Things at the house are looking good heading into the fall semester.

We are expecting eight residents this fall, which is the highest occupancy we have had in several years. It is great to see more brothers living in the house again, and the additional occupancy puts us in a strong position going into the new school year.

On the property side, there is not much to report, which is usually a good thing. We have a small project planned for September to paint the second and third floor bathrooms. Outside of that, the house is in good shape and there are no significant maintenance projects or concerns at this time.

As always, we will continue to stay on top of the property and make improvements as needed.

The Homegrown Series

Rob Spiegel, TEP 76

Real DIY from a small, wooded, rural-edge community where firewood is currency and town is always a half-hour away.

One Garden, Everybody Knows the Rules

Earlier this year I wrote about trying to keep up with spring. Well, somehow we made it through, the garden survived, and now we’re finally getting to the good part.

It hasn’t exactly been an easy summer in the backyard.

Apparently everything living around my house also enjoys fresh produce. I’ve been battling rabbits in the garden, chipmunks in both the garden and chicken coop, rats around the chickens, and moles tearing through the yard. At times it feels like I’m less of a gardener and more of a full-time pest control operation.

Despite all of that, the garden is producing.

Right now, we have more fresh tomatoes and basil than we know what to do with. There are plenty of things you can make with that combination, but around my house it usually means one thing.

Pizza.

Specifically, homemade Margherita pizza.

This is one of my favorite things to make in late summer because almost everything that gives the pizza its flavor is coming straight out of the backyard. Fresh tomatoes, basil picked minutes before it goes on the pizza, some fresh mozzarella, homemade dough, and a really hot pizza stone on the grill. There isn’t much to it, which is probably why the ingredients matter so much.

I think Dave Portnoy would give this pizza a pretty respectable score. Fresh ingredients, a hot stone, a good crust. I’m not claiming a 10, but I’d like to think I’m comfortably in the eights.

There’s also something different about walking outside to grab what you need for dinner. You spend months planting, watering, weeding, fighting bugs, chasing animals away, and wondering whether anything is actually going to grow. Then eventually you walk outside with a bowl, pick dinner, and remember why you bothered with all of it.

For me, that’s really the point of the garden.

I enjoy growing things, but I enjoy eating them a lot more.

Margherita pizza is also one of those foods where fresh ingredients make a huge difference. A tomato that was sitting on the vine an hour ago just tastes different. Same thing with basil. There’s no trip to the grocery store and not much planning involved. The garden tells you what’s ready, and you figure out what you’re going to do with it.

Right now, it’s telling me to make pizza.

After spending most of the summer trying to keep every rabbit, chipmunk, rat, mole, and whatever else lives in the woods from taking their share, sitting down with a homemade pizza feels like a pretty good victory.

They can have some of the garden.

I’m keeping the pizza.

One garden. Everybody knows the rules.

Sponsored by Brian Weldon (TEP 22)

To Our Sigma Epsilon Alumni Association and Brothers,

We are extremely excited to announce the Jack English Pledge Scholarship for the Fall of 2026.

Thanks to the generous support of Dave Vance (TEP 01), who writes under his pen name: Jack English

A free collection of his works can be seen on his website: jackenglishstories.com

The objective of this scholarship is to enhance recruiting of the brightest and best Rutgers-Camden students for Tau Epsilon Phi. 

The $500 scholarship is only available to new pledges who complete the pledge period and become brothers. Up to ten scholarships will be awarded in the Fall of 2026. 

Scholarships will be for those who are STEM or business majors who graduated from a South Jersey high school, in Burlington County or South. It is important to support our local South Jersey community. 

Six weeks into pledging, TEP will provide all applications to Dave Vance. All details will be verified through various databases for completeness and accuracy.

If there are more than ten eligible applicants, the brotherhood will divide the maximum donation of $5,000 by the number of eligible applicants, and all will share equally. 

At pledge induction, each applicant will receive a check for the scholarship amount!

Dave, your generosity empowers us 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 Sip Ep TEP.

P.S. Want to stay informed? Follow us on Instagram account tep_seaa or Facebook group Sigma Epsilon Alumni Association for the latest news and updates. We look forward to seeing you soon!

Outer Wilds

Austin Waller, TEP 81

Sup, fools.  The Claw here with another game review.  This time I'm going a bit off the board and giving you a review for Outer Wilds, a 2019 first-person... "adventure"... mystery... open-world... space flight sim... or whatever... game from independent studios Mobius Digital and Annapurna Interactive.  I played this one because a podcaster I like said it was like a religious experience.  Well, cool your tits, buddy.  It wasn't that good.  But it was pretty good.  Read on to find out more.  Chenquieh!

In Outer Wilds, you play as an alien from a tiny world called Timber Hearth.  And your alien just got his spaceship license.  So he gets to go explore the solar system.  And that's it!  That's about all I can give you in terms of specifics without getting into spoiling the game.  You have some tutorial sections on the home planet that get you used to piloting the ship, moving in zero gravity, and introducing some game mechanics.  But for the most part you are sent on your way with no specific goal in mind.  Exploring a whole solar system would take forever, so this one is a tiny lil thing that you can cross in about two minutes.  But it still clocks in several planets, moons, a comet, and other astrological features for you to explore.  Actually, the whole thing reminds me of a nightmare I had while sleeping on a dirty mattress in Camden in the middle of a bender.  I may have had a small anxiety attack when I first blasted off in my space ship.  STAY IN SCHOOL, KIDS!  

Anyway the best I can do is just give you pros and cons.  Let's start with the good stuff.  The puzzles are very clever and trust the player to be thoughtful and figure things out.  They don't hold your hand or prompt you with solutions - so there's a wonderful sense of reward when you piece something together.  Secondly, the story and lore are obviously very well thought out.  Your mileage may vary, as with any plot, but this is objectively well-written.  Oh, and I almost neglected to mention this solar system exists in a time loop.  After 22 minutes the Sun goes supernova and the loop resets, starting you off back on your home planet.  So there's a fair degree of tension added by the ticking clock.  They ease the burden by marking down major discoveries in a permanent ship log - building this up will provide you the knowledge that you will need to figure out not only how to complete your objective but what that objective is in the first place.  Lastly, and this is a bit amorphous, but the game appears to have a lot of heart.  Which is nice to see.  Warm fuzzies.  

As for the cons?  Well, the movement mechanics can be pretty irritating.  It's not a long game, so by the time you've really mastered it you're probably just about to roll credits.  The puzzles CAN be good but often seem to boil down to go here, then go here, then go here.  It gets a bit repetitive.  And finally, the replay-ability is just about nil.  Zero.  Once you've beaten it, I can't see any reason as to why you'd go back and play again other than to read lore entries.  So it better be amazing for you or else you might feel as if it is a very fleeting experience.  

As for me?  Kind of fleeting.  I give it a B.  It's unique and interesting and clever but little more than a passing curiosity for me.  But I'd still recommend as it's pretty cheap and not much of a time commitment.  Good night and good luck.

Sponsored by Discount Pools and Supplies

September 2, 2026, Time 8:00 PM

SEAA Board Meeting On-line

https://meet.jit.si/TEPSEAA

October 9, 2026, Time TBD

Annual SEAA Meeting including 2027 SEAA Board Elections

Location Rutgers-Camden Campus Center

November 10, 2026, Time 8:00 PM

SEAA Board Meeting On-line

https://meet.jit.si/TEPSEAA

November 15, 2026, Time 10:00 AM

Turkey Bowl
See above

November 21, 2026, Time TBD

64th Muskrat Ramble

See above

December 8, 2026, Time 8:00 PM

SEAA Board Meeting On-line

https://meet.jit.si/TEPSEAA

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 alumnus 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