Q3 2023 ePulse

Dear Sigma Epsilon Alumni,

I hope this message finds you all in good health and high spirits. It is an honor to address you, once again, as Chairman of our Alumni Association and share some reflections on the past year, as well as our vision for the future.

First and foremost, I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to each, and every, one of you for your unwavering support and dedication to our beloved fraternity. Together, we have accomplished remarkable things, and I am truly proud of the progress we’ve made.

As many of you are aware, our Annual Meeting is swiftly approaching, scheduled for October 13th at 7:30 pm. This year, we will gather at the Rutgers Camden Campus Center. The room is South Conference Room, ABC. According to our By-Laws, this meeting is a mandatory occurrence each October, and it serves as a pivotal moment for our fraternity. It is during this meeting that we, collectively, elect a board to lead us into the next calendar year (2024). This is the one instance where ALL SigEp Alumni have the opportunity to vote on the direction and influence our community’s future. Moreover, this meeting provides a platform for the elected board to, transparently, share the status and health of our organization with our membership.

For those who attend, I urge you to consider three critical factors, when voting for the 2024 Board of Trustees:

1. Diversity in Pledge Classes: A board with a diverse range of pledge classes can more effectively engage a wider spectrum of alumni.
2. Varied Backgrounds and Strengths: Analyze each brother’s occupations, strengths, and interests. A board with diverse backgrounds can tackle problems more creatively and effectively.
3. Leadership Roles: While not everyone can be a member-at-large, we need board members willing to step into roles like Chairman, Vice Chairman, Comptroller, and Real Estate. Seek those who are eager to embrace these challenges and contribute to our fraternity’s growth.

I firmly believe that diversity of thought is essential for any organization’s success. As we continue to pursue our Vision, I encourage you to join us whenever and wherever you can. Your unique perspective and dedication are invaluable to our continued growth and prosperity.

The agenda for the Annual Meeting will cover essential reports and elections, providing a comprehensive overview of our fraternity’s health and trajectory. It is a momentous occasion where your voice truly matters.

In closing, I want to express my profound appreciation for the privilege of serving as your Chairman. Our fraternity is defined by the remarkable individuals who make up our alumni community, and it is your unwavering commitment that fuels our progress.

With a bittersweet note, I also want to announce that my family and I have decided that I will not be serving as Chairman, next year. It has been an incredible journey working with all of you in this role, and I am grateful for the support you have given me. However, in order to better support my family’s needs, it is time for me to take on a lesser role within our organization.  Thank you for entrusting me with this important responsibility over the last two years; it has been a humbling experience. I have full confidence that our fraternity is well-equipped with capable individuals, ready to lead us into a bright future, even as I step back from the Chairman role.

Fraternally,
Robert Spiegel 
Chairman

Happy Fall from the brothers of Sigma Epsilon! I hope everyone had an enjoyable summer. The conclusion of the spring semester left us a little dismayed as we had a large graduating class. Some of them pursued higher education or immediately went into the workplace. One of our graduates, Eli Martinez (TEP 110) went on to pursue law school at Penn State. Whilst others such as Brian Dengler (TEP 109) went on to immediately pursue their careers upon graduation. With the end of the previous semester, we also had two new additions to our brotherhood. A big welcome to TEP 112. Gustavo and Matthew Copola are already proving themselves to be the embodiment of our fraternal pillars; as well as assets to our brotherhood, despite only having crossed in the spring semester. Over the summer, the housemates came together to touch up certain things and repaint one of the common rooms. There were talks of kitchen repairs, but nothing has come of them, yet. Some brothers took the chance to take a breather during the summer, spending their days down by the beach, while others grinded it out and chose to take advantage of the free time and make a quick buck. The beginning of the fall semester has marked some exciting events such as rush week which has recently concluded very successfully. We took many of our proven past rush events and put our own unique spin on them to great success. There were many interests who came out to our events over the course of the week. Events such as: bowling, barbeque night, or our joint event held with Little Slice of New York (shout out Pete). We undergraduate students are continuing to further our bonds of friendship every day with spontaneous outings or events between brothers. These have been some trying times for our brotherhood, and it only served to strengthen all our senses of obligation and friendship toward each other and our brotherhood.

Hello Brothers, welcome back to the Franky Catskills 5-minute comedy hour. It’s your pleasure as always. Speaking of pleasure, what happens when lawyers take Viagra? …they get taller. 

Now that we are on law, I just don’t understand why manslaughter is illegal. Men should be able to laugh at whoever and whatever they want.

In a different story, after weeks of trying, my girlfriend told me she’s pregnant. She has the worst stutter ever….

9 months. Nine is a funny number. Did you know 9 out of 11 people don’t like 9/11 jokes. 

Also, 9 out of 10 prisoners enjoy prison gang rape. 

Hiyoooo!

This time of year is great. I do want to point out there is no ‘Climate Change’ or ‘Global Warming’, nope…actually it’s just Autumn identifying as summer. 

Bill was a bit embarrassed and told the doctor he had trouble getting an erection with his wife, and she was getting frustrated. 

The doc checked the man’s blood pressure and other vitals. Then after a thorough examination, the doctor said he wanted to check with Bill’s wife. 


He took her to another cubicle and asked her to disrobe. Then he told her to turn all the way around slowly. 

She did as instructed. He then told her to raise her arms above her head, then bend over, touch her toes and cough.

Finally, he said, “Ok, good. You can get dressed now, and I will go talk to your husband”. 

The doctor went back to the other cubicle and said to the husband, “Well, Bill, you can relax, there is nothing wrong with you. I couldn’t get an erection either.”

Please join us this Friday, 10/6, for the

Second Annual SEAA Charity Golf Outing

for a great day of golf at

Gambler’s Ridge Golf Club in Cream Ridge, NJ.

The day will feature golf (Scramble format), exciting event day contests, cash prize for the winning team and more.

Beers and hotdogs lunch, player’s gifts, and deluxe Dinner/Reception

All funds will support Northern Children’s Services.

Chapter IV: Hell Night, Part 1

(Disclaimer:  The following experiences are the memories of a doddering idiot. The remembrances of these  events in no way condones them, nor suggests that they be attempted in modern times.)

(I will refer this this as “Hell Night”, because that is what it was called in 1967.  In recent years, I was told I could not use “Hell Night” in my Ramble ad, because that was not politically correct. But this happened over half a century ago, and I shall refer to it by its proper name: Hell Night.)

The last Friday night of the pledge period was Hell Night. I believe that ours was on Friday, May 5 (finals were usually the end of May into the first week of June) At the beginning of the week, the brothers told us that because we had been such good pledges, they were going to give us a nice sit-down dinner. Having friends who went through this in previous semesters, I knew it was a lie – the purpose of the dinner was to induce barfing (vomiting, for those in the medical profession). I tried to warn my pledge brothers, but most of them – I seem to remember Mike Romano in particular – just couldn’t believe that the brothers would do this to us. After all, the brothers were asking each pledge what they wanted for their entrée – chicken, beef, or fish. This proved that they had to be serious! The fact that the brothers had treated us like s**t for the past 8 weeks didn’t seem to make any difference.

So, at 5 PM, thirteen pledges entered the living room, dressed in “school clothes” (in those days, there were “Sunday/Sabbath” clothes, school clothes, and play clothes. Nowadays everyone just wears play clothes and looks like slobs! I don’t apologize for saying that – I’m an old fart and can say what I want at this stage of life!). A long table had been set up in the living room, with a nice white table cloth with 13 place settings, and there was some pleasant background music. The brothers were extremely nice (which should have been a tip-off) as they escorted us to our seats. The first course was a salad, and this went well. But then all HELL broke loose! The pleasant background music turned loud and harsh, the brothers began yelling and screaming, and what had begun as a delightful repast took a sudden turn for the worse. 

The second course was an appetizer – a raw clam on a half-shell. The clam had been died a brilliant bright Kelly green, and there was a large wad of chunky peanut butter on top. A “Barf Bucket” magically appeared on the floor next to each pledge, and we were “encouraged” very loudly and empathetically by the brothers to eat. It was at this point that one or two of my pledge brothers discovered the purpose of their “Barf Bucket”. The next course consisted of a beverage – a large paper cup of stale beer, with a hint of sauerkraut juice and other “seasonings”, and a raw egg floating on top. This was accompanied by a large opaque white balloon (about 6 inches long) filled with white rice. I distinctly remember pondering: “How did they manage to get the rice into the balloon?” (It wasn’t until later in the evening, when we were out on our scavenger hunt, that a younger, but much wiser, pledge brother informed me that it was not a balloon – it was a condom!). Of course, there was great encouragement from the brothers to eat the rice and chug the beverage. More of my pledge brothers found the placement of the “Barf Bucket” most advantageous!

Then came the entrée – the pièce de resistance: a muskrat, which had been simmering all day in a delightful sauce of stale beer, coffee grounds, limburger cheese and sauerkraut, along with variety of other delicate flavorings and spices. The muskrat was served on a platter – on its back, with its delicate little paws in the air. This delectable treat was served by a brother who was clad in his natal-day suit, with only two large Christmas balls hanging from his own.  More pledge brothers enjoyed the use of their personal buckets.  

Finally, it was time for dessert. We each were served a block of vanilla ice cream, with chocolate syrup. At this point, most of the brothers left the room, as the fun (for them) was over for the moment. Some pledges were concerned that the chocolate syrup was actually Exlax, but fortunately for all, it was just chocolate syrup. Upon finishing our dessert, we went to the Pledge Room, changed into our work clothes, and proceeded to clean up the mess in the living room, and also the kitchen. The condition of the kitchen was enough to make one feel the need for a barf bucket again, but we eventually got things cleaned up. Then the fun began.

(next time: Hell Night – Part 2)

November 12^th Bring the family, the complex is huge and right on the waterfront -PRIZES FOR BEST END ZONE DANCE and BEST COSTUME!!!! 

Tell your wives/husbands/partners/lovers and friends!

MUSIC! FUN! GAMES!

Camden Athletic Complex for the first time! Don’t miss this opportunity! 401 Delaware Avenue

Trophies for MVP’s

Group photo following the alumni win.. Come out and support your fraternity, playing or not!

Random Alum- “the under-grads are too weak to win again this year”

Under-grad- “I hope the game is better than this poster”
Questions contact: Robert- RobertFHiggins@gmail.com 609-540-8240

This issue sponsored by The 1910 Foundation

The official Sigma Epsilon Chapter foundation providing educational scholarships to the undergraduates

Bill McGrath, TEP 81

Join Us at the 61st Annual Ramble!

Date: November 18th

Time: 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM

Location: The Factory Workers, Collingswood, NJ

Get ready for an unforgettable evening of brotherhood, fun, and philanthropy! The Tau Epsilon Phi 61st Annual Ramble is just around the corner, and we want YOU to be a part of it.

Invite Your Pledge Brothers:

Calling all brothers, both current and alumni! Spread the word to your pledge brothers and reunite for an evening filled with memories and laughter. Let’s make this Ramble the most memorable one yet!

Donate Baskets for the Raffle:

We invite all brothers to contribute by donating baskets for our raffle. Your generous contributions will help make the event even more exciting, with fantastic prizes up for grabs. Contact Bill McGrath at [seaavicechairman@gmail.com/609-290-3979 to coordinate your donation.

Together, we can make this Ramble a tremendous success and continue our tradition of giving back to our community.

Don’t miss out on this opportunity to reconnect, celebrate, and give back. Mark your calendars, spread the word, and get ready for an incredible night at the 61st Annual Ramble!

See you there!

Register online at  http://whoscoming.com/seaa/61stAnnualMuskratRamble2023.html

but hurry prices change after October 10th.  

As we continue our journey of growth and unity, we’re excited to introduce three distinctive sponsorship tiers to support our fraternity’s endeavors. These tiers cater to various preferences, ensuring everyone can play a meaningful role in our community. Allow us to present the Gold, Silver, and Bronze Sponsorship options:

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 a signature cocktails, our event program or 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 Pulse for a Year: Gain consistent visibility within our fraternity through a dedicated ad space in our newsletter for the next year. 

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 a signature cocktails, our event program or a photographer to capture the evening.
• Ad in The Pulse for a Year: Maintain visibility within our alumni network with a dedicated ad space.

Silver Sponsors join us in celebrating the heart of our fraternity, the Muskrat Ramble.

3. Bronze Sponsorship – $100: Leave Your Mark in The Pulse or “Super Basket of Cheer” Bronze Sponsors can select from the following options:

• Ad in The Pulse 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 stay 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 Kenneth Chann our fundraising Chair. 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 dynamic community. We look forward to celebrating with you at the 61st Annual Muskrat Ramble and Charity Golf Outing.

Cigar: Tatuaje TUXTLA Miami 10^th Anniversary Cigar Review

Participants: Austin Tsang and Jesse Williams TEP 79 

Start Time: 12:47 pm 

End Time: 2:05 pm

Today, we’re reviewing the TUXTLA Miami 10^th anniversary made by Tatuaje Cigars Inc. The review will be a little different today. We have the same cigar, but in different vitolas – one is the Belle Encre which is a perfecto vitola (5.75 x 48) and the other is the Bon Chasseur which is a robusto vitola (5.375×52). To keep things interesting, as always, no research was done on the cigars until after the review finished. 

The TUXTLA release is a limited release by Tatuaje, focusing primarily on Mexican wrappers. Jesse hypothesized this may be due to limited tobacco production since COVID hit. The big difference on this release (original being released in 2013) is they chose to use a Mexican San Andres wrapper instead of the Ecuadorian Habano wrapper. This adds a bit more of an inherent sweetness and bite to the smoke. Interestingly, TUXTLA is the name of the city where a majority of the Mexican San Andres tobacco is grown.

Jesse took the Bon Chasseur and punched the head, and I have the Belle Encre and straight cut the head. Prelight draw is open on both cigar and the milk chocolate smell coming off them is heavenly. Jesse’s cigar has a closed foot whereas mine is completely open. Construction on both cigars is perfect, no blemishes or soft spots, and the wrappers look smooth, just like a chocolate bar. 

Upon lighting, the draw is perfect on both cigars. Flavor on the draw is black pepper, milk chocolate, and hay. The sweetness is carrying through pretty well considering the black pepper is at the forefront of the palate, both flavors fade pretty evenly. The retrohale brings through the black pepper very nicely, tears are almost instantaneous. Ash dropped on both cigars around the 15-minute mark, mine broke off cleanly, and we guess that Jesse’s dropped because of the closed foot additional tobacco weakened the ash. 

The ash is light gray which means the soil in which the tobacco grew has a high potassium content. The ash breaks off in clean chunks leading us to believe long filler was used in the construction of this cigar. We are approaching the midway point of the smoke and so far there is no noticeable flavor change.

We took a brief break in the middle to enjoy some black garlic marinated steak kabobs and a bison steak. The argument could be made that this would impact the flavor of the cigar, but when it comes to dark smokes and savory foods, this was not the case. 

After our brief intermission, we resumed the review and surprisingly, the cigars did not go out. Jesse’s cigar has started to develop slight burn issues and has required two touch ups. Mine has maintained a perfect burn line throughout. 

Final burn time was just under an hour and twenty minutes. As stated above, there was no significant flavor change through the end of the smoke.

Rating

Construction: 8.5

Burn: 8

Flavor: 7.5

Strength: Medium-Full

Overall: 8

Final Thoughts: Great smoke produced by Tatuaje, we would definitely smoke these again. At an MSRP of $12 per cigar, this is a bargain.

We hope this message finds you well and in good spirits. We are writing to share some exciting updates from the Real Estate Committee regarding our beloved Chapter House at 228 Cooper Street.

Over the past months, our dedicated committee has been hard at work, focusing on making necessary repairs and improvements to enhance the quality of life for our undergraduate residents. Our mission is clear. We aim to provide a standard of living that is not only safe but affordable and desirable for our student residents.

Addressing Student Concerns:

One of our primary goals has been to actively address the concerns and feedback from our undergraduate residents. We understand that their well-being and comfort are paramount, and we are committed to creating a safe and welcoming environment where they can thrive.

Upgrades and Maintenance: To achieve this, we have been diligently working on several fronts:

1.    Structural Repairs: We have invested in essential structural repairs to ensure the safety and longevity of our beloved Chapter House at 228 Cooper Street. This includes roofing, foundation, and other critical repairs to maintain the integrity of the building.

2.    Interior Renovations: We have also been working on interior renovations to modernize common areas and living spaces. These updates aim to create an inviting atmosphere that promotes camaraderie and academic success.

3.    Safety and Security: Our commitment to safety is unwavering. We have upgraded security systems and implemented safety measures to provide our residents with peace of mind during their stay at 228 Cooper Street.

4.    Environmental Sustainability: Recognizing the importance of sustainability, we are exploring eco-friendly upgrades to reduce our environmental footprint. These initiatives align with our commitment to responsible stewardship.

Looking Ahead:

As we move forward, our Real Estate Committee remains dedicated to ensuring that 228 Cooper Street continues to be a place where lifelong friendships are forged, and academic excellence thrives. We are proud of the progress we’ve made so far, but we also recognize that there is more work to be done.

If you have any suggestions or would like to get involved with our efforts, please do not hesitate to reach out to us. Together, we can continue to make the Chapter House a place where generations of students can call home.

Thank you for your unwavering support and dedication to our fraternity and our cherished house.

Elections are being held as part of the Annual Meeting of the Sigma Epsilon Alumni Association. That meeting is planned for 7:30 PM on October 14, 2023 at the Rutgers-Camden Campus Center. The room is South ABC Conference room. We hope to see you there.

McKinsey Alston, TEP 75 – Current Chair of the Real Estate Committee

Kenneth Chann, TEP 81 – Current Chair of both Fundraising and Philanthrophy Committees

Paul Chiarelli, TEP 75 – Current Member at large.

Tyler Collison, TEP 79 – Once I discovered the level of fraud within the SEAA finances in 2019, I quickly assumed the role of interim comptroller and took control of all bank accounts and investments, paid off liens against the fraternity house for unpaid property tax and county utility bills as well as outstanding balances to PSEG and overdraft charges to TD Bank. Since then, I’ve served as comptroller for 4 years and have established a precedent for producing a monthly finance package that receives review and sign off from finance committee members, consolidated funds into new business checking accounts, and helped structure an annual operating budget under the leadership of Chairman Spiegel. I’d like to continue in my role as comptroller to help serve the alumni association.

Brian G Dengler, TEP 109 – Graduated in the Spring of 2023 with a double major in Finance and Management as well as a double minor in Economics and Accounting. Being a fresh graduate/alumni, I find it very helpful for the Sigma Epsilon Alumni Association to have some younger voices to participate in discussions and decisions. Across my almost 4 semesters as an Undergrad, I was the Vice Chancellor, Warden, Assistant Warden, Webstorian, Sgt. At Arms, and Fundraising Chair.

Mehul Khedekar, TEP 103 – Hello, I’m Mehul Khedekar, a Tax Accountant at Marcum in Philadelphia. I am part of the TEP 103. As an International Student at Rutgers, I pursued a major in accounting and delved into computer science. My unique blend of skills in finance and technology equips me to contribute innovative solutions to our alumni association. I am excited to bring my experience and passion to benefit our fraternity’s alumni association.

William McGrath, TEP 81 – Current Board of Trustee Vice Chairman

Mike Monteiro, TEP 105 – I crossed in Fall of 2019 in pledge class TEP 105. I graduated in Spring of 2022 with a bachelors in accounting and finance. I was chancellor for pledge classes 109 and 110.

Miguel Martinez, TEP ?? – Thank you all, for this opportunity to be a member at large. I’ll do my best to fulfill the duties and have fun while doing them. TEP has been the family I’ve always needed like Vin Diesel when his car is on fire. And TEP has always been there when I needed them the most, like Vin Diesel’s car just exploded. Thank you again Brothers and TEP Does!

Mike O’Connor, TEP 75 – Current Board of Trustee Secretary

Parth Patel, TEP 99 – current member at large

Robert Spiegel, TEP 76 – current Board of Trustee Chairman.

Tony Triner, TEP 75 – I currently serve a President of the Alumni Association. The role on the board is to serve as Editor of the quarterly newsletter, the E-Pulse. Over my time in the role, two terms, I have developed a release schedule which provides regularity in expectation. Additionally, with the support of Mike O’Connor, I have developed a website that will allow for simpler formatting, an archive for past articles and a one-stop shop for releasing emails, with metrics. I hope to continue to expand the contributor base for the newsletter with the goal of blending the business and news of the organization with interesting content that speaks to as many within our organization as possible. This newsletter is a vital link to all our members as we expand our in-person event calendar and share the success of the Undergrad and Alumni organizations.

Austin Waller, TEP 81 -I am The Claw. -I can beat Super Metroid for SNES in under an hour. -I AM THE CLAW!!! Want to add “-Pledged with The Dustbuster” to his qualifications.

Dominic Wilson, TEP 105 – I was TEP class 105. I never held a position during undergrad, but I pledged and was still able to graduate two years early. I’m a CPA and currently work alongside Tyler Collision as an Accounting consultant.

Nominees who have yet to accept nomination

Mike Kueny

Justin Magurno

Miguel Romero

I am late to sharing this because football started but there is two weeks of the season left so…. Check out this baseball podcast. Maybe I will try out Pat McAfee’s Show for the fourth quarter of 2023.

Baseball is Dead

The hosts are Jared Carrabis, Dallas Braden, Joey (never found his last name, but he has a youtube channel called “Baseball Doesn’t Exist”), and Jayhay. The show is a league-wide round-up of the news headlines in the sport. During the season, the show comes out 3 times a week. The show is well-produced (backed by Draftkings) with balanced sound and a well-used sound board. The show follows important storylines in baseball like where is Shohei going next year. The hosts each bring their unique prospective to the show. Their camaraderie makes it silly and informative. Carrabis rose to prominence at Barstool Sports before securing quite the bag and moving to Draftkings. He is a lifelong Red Sox fan but through his time in media has gained the respect of many; including players and fans. Dallas Braden played for and now does color commentary for the Oakland (for now) Athletics. He brings the former player’s perspective to the team. Joey, is a youtuber, that makes baseball content. He is a Braves fan. Because the show covers the whole league, there is a recurring bit where all of the hosts claim to be fans of multiple teams at once. Joey says he loves the Phil’s and being a fan of a divisional rival has some insight into the team. Rounding out the cast is Jayhay. This Cleveland fan has worked at Barstool Sports and ESPN, in Baseball Tonight. He brings statistical expertise. For example, there is a recurring segment where he announces when a player passes 38.8 wins above replacement (WAR) called the Baines Meter. It references a hall of fame player with a low (for the hall of fame) career wins above replacement stat. It regularly occurs during the season for star players. As of the last episode Mookie Betts just passed this mark. Jayhay dives deep but the whole team always puts those numbers into context. I like baseball and I like this show because it has all the best of sports talk radio without the shit parts, like the insane callers. Through their connections, they get other team super fans, sports writers, and players on the show for interviews. It’s worth a listen, they even do shows in the off season.

As always…If you liked my recommendations, let me know. If you didn’t, let me know. If you think my writing is bad, I know; so, keep that to yourself. If you have a show that you think I should listen to, email me at atriner@gmail.com. Hope to hear from you, any subject welcome.