A Letter from an Alumni

I am excited to say that I have already received a response to this blog from an alumni. It's always fascinating to see the perspective of a brother who has been out of the "system" for a while as this is what each undergraduate brother eventually faces. Simon brings up some excellent points in the following letter, some of which are a bit unsettling at this point in my college career. Looking around it's hard to imagine that I might drift away from the people I surround myself with right now but I certainly can foresee it once the real world really kicks in. Thanks again for your letter Simon, I do hope to read and publish some of the stories you mentioned in the future.






Hi Sean, Though we have never met we share the common bond of brotherhood and experience! It is refreshing to hear stories(and see pictures) of recent memories being made by active brothers. I have heard very little of the troubles that have plagued the chapter over the past several years. I understand how hard it is to have those kind of restriction placed upon you by a university board that would rather see you disappear than acknowledge the good you bring to the campus and community! It has been almost 10 years since I graduated, in some ways a lot has changed and in others nothing really has at all. Every generation of actives faces adversity, for my generation we had to cope with the embezzlement of our funds by a brother and check fraud! It just about ended the chapter, I was alpha at the time and it was discovered the week before school began. Worst of all I had to expel by best friend and classmate from the chapter and Lambda Chi Alpha. It was what needed to be done because the chapter and traditions were more important than personal feelings and relationships. That is part of the commitment to the brotherhood. The brothers refused to let the flame of brotherhood be extinguished on our watch. We pulled together and dedicated ourselves to that task and with a lot of hard work and sacrifice we restored our name in the community. The other part was that we made sure our brother got the help he needed, which he did and him and I are great friends to this day!

Turmoil and challenge are part of being a brother of Lambda Chi Alpha, that is why we take the oath that we do. It would be easy to go through college and not be an active. There are plenty of parties to go to, Friends to make and other organizations to join! We set ourselves a part from the average college student, we strive for challenge and endure hardships because of our commitment to a greater purpose. Each generation wonders and agonizes over how to preserve the brotherhood and traditions that have been handed down to them, I know we certainly did. Subsequently each alumni wonders if his legacy will endure. Some how it always does, sure there are rough spots along the way and some traditions come and go. But the fundamentals remain the same, a group of brothers dedicated to the teachings of Lambda Chi Alpha and the brotherhood those teachings provide.

When I joined Lambda Chi in the fall of 1997 there where 10 of use in my class( Beta Rho). I did not know very many of the guys because I had not gone through the rush that semester like the others, nor did I want to get to know them. I viewed "help Week" as a competition that not all would make it through, I saw the other 8 guys in the green room as the enemy! By the end of that week I had been transformed...it was inexplicable. How could these guys I didn't know or like just 5 days before hold a place inside my heart forever. I knew right then and there that this was more than just partying, having fun and going to meetings!

As you graduate you can't wait for the transition to "the real world", you say to yourself "I'm coming back every year to hang out with my Bros" and for a few years you do. Sooner or later the daily rigors of family and work take over and the brother of Lambda Chi Alpha fade from view. You will talk to a couple of bro's here and there but its not the same. You will think back fondly on your days as an active and smile when you remember stupid exploits done usually while extremely intoxicated! Although the lamp burns faint it never extinguishes. It will start to burn a little brighter when you hear from old Bros or you get a newsletter. Right now with the interest in the Alumni Association my flame is growing as bright as it was when I was an active! I don't want that flame to dim again. The chapter meant to much to me not just for the great times I had there but what it did for me as a person. I want others to experience that brotherhood that me and those other 9 guys experienced.

As I read your blog I was struck by a sense of pride! Every alumni fears that those who come after will drop the lamp and the chapter will vanish! A two year probation is a long time to keep you nose clean, it is easy for guys to give up and say "screw it lets have a party tonight!!". But you didn't, you understood that the consequence had a greater overall impact on people you have never even met! That is impressive and to that I personally thank all of you guys. I know that Alumni probably don't have that great of a presence in your lives. They certainly didn't when I was an active, other than show up, drink our beer and tells us how we don't do it like they did "back in the day"! Just because we don't show up on a regular basis doesn't mean we don't care, that is something we need to do a better job of and will. Thank you once again for having the dedication to open these line of communication. Next time I post I'll tell some fun stories I promise!!!!

Yours in Zax,
Lambda Upsilon 461
Simon Durocher
Owner
Bella Terra Landscaping, Inc
(612)720-3080
www.bellaterrainc.com