1993 Volume 116 No 1–4 - Phi Delta Theta Scroll Archive

Psi chapter gets seated for roll call on Friday morning
topics. Chapter meetings were held two and three times
each day, and students could discuss anything they
wished.
During the rest of the day, educational sessions were
offered on a variety of topics from chapter organization to
multiculturalism. Each day opened with a general session
which all 500 students attended, and several other general
sessions were held during the week.
Sparky Reardon presented a general session on
Thursday morning. He discussed the differences between
today's coUege student and coUege students of the 1950s.
Sparky contrasted the world of Beaver Cleaver to the
1990s world of drug abuse, AIDS, and risk management.
Today's students often come from single-parent families,
are dependent on financial assistance to attend college,
and are more concerned about finding work after school.
Although it may seem that the brotherhood of Phi Delta
Theta is needed now more than ever. Sparky emphasized
that the Fraternity must change to meet the needs of
today's students.
At a general session on Thursday evening, the Reverend
Brad Hall, rector of St. Margaret's Episcopal Church
in Palm Desert, CaUfornia, challenged the CoUege with a
discussion of values and ethics. He discussed the impUcations
of individual decisions and their impact on people.
He left the participants with the understanding that it is
these seemingly insignificant decisions that either build or
desfroy the fabric of society.
Self-esteem was subject during the Friday morning
general session by Bill Doran, Westminster '78. The focus
of the presentation recognized the Fraternity's role in
supporting a member's attitude about himself. The
discussion likened a person with high
self-esteem to a poker player with a lot
of chips. That poker player wiU take
risks that somebody with few chips
would be unwUling to take. The same is
true for someone with high self-esteem.
He wiU extend himself and take risks
that may enhance his life, whereas
someone with low self-esteem will
avoid risks and become increasingly
insecure. The discussion challenged the
Fraternity to be a place where brothers
are supported and encouraged in their
daily endeavors.
On Friday evening. Rich Pirrotta,
Penn State '87, hosted a discussion
session about membership education
that was reminiscent of Phil Donahue's
show. The format fielded questions and
comments from the floor to a panel of
undergraduates and alumni. The
discussion dealt with hazing, member
education, apathy, personal development,
and other issues.
Ron Garon, Tampa '80, chapter
adviser for Horida Theta and Florida
Beta, gave the last general session
presentation on Saturday evening. The
presentation provided strategies for the
students to integrate the ideas learned
at the CoUege into the operations of their chapters. Ron
explained that the act of leadership is an act of personal
growth. The very act of implementing these points makes
us examine ourselves and learn what we do well and do
not do well. The effect is
that we help ourselves by
helping each other.
After that session,
hundreds of undergraduate
Phis watched and participated
in the initiation of
several Phikeias who had
attended the College. More
than any other event at the
five-day College, the
presentation of one of the
most cherished ceremonies
of the Fraternity served as a
reminder to these student
leaders that Phi Delta Theta
Jeff Strain, New Mexico, wards off
Tino Fernandez, Florida International,
in a Chi chapter vs. Psi chapter
football game.
has an obligation to be a positive influence in the development
of college men.
Perhaps next year's Leadership College wiU be
attended by the hundreds of young leaders who were
inspired by this year's participants to return to Old Miami
and learn new ways to make Phi Delta Theta an even
better fraternity, g
The Author: G. William Doran, Westminster '78, is an independent
management consultant for large retail companies. He is the chapter
adviser for Missouri Epsilon, and he is a member of the Leadership College
Planning Committee. He has been a faculty member at three Leadership
Colleges.
Winter 1993 • TheScroU 45