jws7         04/27/99 00:49 History                                           

Here's the History document that I wrote.


The Founding
of the Kappa Gamma Chapter
of Kappa Kappa Psi
at Lehigh University

as remembered by
Jeff Schramm
Delta Gamma '87
Kappa Gamma '95


  It all began in the fall semester of 1992.  Having chosen Lehigh to
  further my education I was looking for a way to remain involved in music,
  since it had been an integral part of my life not only as an undergraduate
  at the University of Missouri - Rolla but also in High school and Junior
  High.  I spoke with the band director at the time, Professor Casey Teske,
  and he detailed the musical options open to me.  I also attended a
  Marching 97 information session and decided that I would try to play in
  the 97.  My experiences at band camp were memorable to say the least but I
  emerged with no harm done and went on to play and march for the rest of
  the season.  At band camp and at many rehearsals afterward I wore t-shirts
  emblazoned with KKPsi.  A few individuals asked me what they meant and I
  was more than happy to tell them.  The Manager and Drum Major of the 97
  that year, Walt Strubbe and Craig Parks, were very interested and
  encouraged me to find out if a new chapter could be colonized at Lehigh.
  They correctly saw that the 97 was changing character and a group like
  KKPsi could serve a useful social as well as service function.  It may
  pain today's readership to hear but it was seen as a more useful and less
  derogatory substitute for C.R.A.P.  The Committee for the Retention of
  Absolute Psyche, in addition to the social aspects of which we are all
  familiar, was also charged with the task of building moral and an esprit
  de corps in the 97.  They also helped the executive board in various
  service tasks occasionally.

  Initial contacts were made over the spring and summer of 1993 and the
  first organizational meetings were held in the fall of 1993.  We sent
  in our official colonizing document late in the fall and Lock Haven
  was chosen as our big brother chapter.  Nanette Marvin, Mike Roseman,
  and myself journeyed to the 1994 district convention at Virginia Tech
  during the spring as colonists where many connections were made and
  the district as a whole was alerted to our presence.  The colony also
  made many trips to Lock Haven despite the 2 = hour driving time.
  Without the help and expert advice of the small but vital Lock Haven
  chapter we would not have been able to complete the colonization
  process.

  While I may have provided the initial impetus the founding fathers
  quickly took the ball and ran with it.  All were incredibly
  committed and helpful individuals but a few stand out in my mind.
  Jessica Norris served with distinction as the first President.  It
  is no exaggeration to say that without her this chapter would not
  exist today.  Jen Lapadula, Nanette Marvin, Elizabeth Holcombe
  (now Spirco), Mike Roseman, Kathy _______ and Alan Verostick were
  also among the leaders of the initial group.  While recognizing
  these individuals it is important to stress that the rest of the
  founding fathers all went way above and beyond the call of duty in
  helping to get this chapter off of the ground.

  All the hard work finally paid off on January 28, 1995 when
  the Lehigh Colony was officially installed as the Kappa Gamma
  Chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi.  The ceremony, similar to second
  and third degrees, was performed in Lamberton hall with an
  audience of over one hundred other brothers from across the
  district including Melvin Miles, then national president, and
  John Finacaro, VP expansion.  Brothers from UMass, Towson,
  JMU, West Chester, Temple, Kutztown, and many other chapters
  attended.  Afterward a huge celebration was held at 470
  Birkel.  I stopped counting when the number of people in the
  house reached one hundred.

  Since then the chapter has continued to grow and change.
  As we approach the five year anniversary of our founding I
  am astonished as to how far we've come.  If this chapter
  can make the next five years as productive as the last,
  I'm sure that in 2005 Kappa Gamma will be recognized as
  one of the top few outstanding chapters in the nation.



   
Jeff Schramm-Graduate Student / History Dept. Maginnes Hall
9 W. Packer Ave. / Lehigh University / Bethlehem, PA 18015
E-mail jws7@lehigh.edu
Phone   (610) 758-2453           "Homer no function beer well without."
Fax     (610) 758-6554
Homepage www.lehigh.edu/~jws7/jws7.html
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