SKN Alumni: April 2008

Jeb(’83) & Kathy Murphy in Sydney, Australia last June.

Who would have thought SKN would have lasted 25 years? We didn’t give it a thought when picking those three Greek letters out of a calculus book. We were simply making a statement. We were just doing what felt right.

Thinking back on the founding SKN brothers I realize how beautiful the combination of people and personalities were in that original group. Also, the fact that we were freshman was critical. That first year of college is so magical. Freshman are so eager to experience college life that their enthusiasm for it is the magic ingredient.

We were a very enthusiastic bunch of freshman.

The fact that we were at Behrend instead of Main campus was important. I doubt there are many new, organically created, social fraternities starting up on Main campus – there are fifty to chose from and five looking to get reinstated every year. Behrend was ripe for fresh ideas from freshmen.

The crew was John Fronco (Tron), Mike Fievet (Feev), Dan Coate (Dan-O), Eric Spielvogel, and, later a few others and little sisters – and of course, Doc. I’m not skipping people from lack of respect. The point I want to make can be made with these handful of founding fathers. The point is every single person that ever joined SKN has been vital. I say this now, but for nearly 25 years I’ve had unresolved feelings about my relation with SKN and my own contribution.

SKN has been a wonderful part of my life – everything about it. I love putting “Founded Sigma Kappa Nu Fraternity” at the bottom of my resume. It strokes my ego. However, in the first decade I used to feel slightly slighted in not getting more recognition as a Founder. It didn’t bother me too much, though. I left for Main the following fall - only a few months after breathing life into this thing. I didn’t do any of the hard labor. I was an absentee father. I’m OK with that now.

My contribution lasted one inspired week. Tron, Dan-O, Feev, Eric and I had planned another major theme party at the house that “Mel” rented from the infamous crotchety old landlord known as “Skinhead”. After a pile of $2 tickets had been sold (thanks to our party throwing reputation) and the place had been decorated, Skinhead came over and shut us down threatening to call the cops. The party was cancelled, we were pissed.

SKN was born.

The next morning was like the scene from Animal House when the Delta’s were kicked out of Faber College. As we took down our party decorations, I spouted some inspired jibberish about how “they” can’t do this to us and we need to start a fraternity. The “Man” wasn’t gonna keep us down. Tron, Feev, and Dan-O were in agreement. We didn’t hold up our swords and say, “All for one and …” It was more subtle than that. It could have died right then, as most ideas do.

A day or two later at the library, I was studying with Tron and Dan-O. Feev was probably there, but I’m sure he wasn’t studying. (Eric never studied, but I think he dated the librarian once.) I was looking at the back cover of our calculus book at the Greek alphabet and spouting off letter combinations. Very quickly we zeroed in on SKN, “skin” - in honor of the landlord with the Marine buzzcut. I offered up the colors blue and green and that was it. In less than a week all of my major contributions were done.

The leadership had to come from somewhere else. (Eric and I were both going to Main next fall) This wasn’t coincidence, it was divine intervention. Tron possessed the crucial skills to lead as President – it was meant to be. Feev and Dan-O rounded out the core cabinet and, with Doc signed on as advisor, they built the foundation of SKN.

Sophomore year Eric and I enjoyed offering a crash pad to SKN little sisters who always made weekends more fun. Tron, Feev, and Dan-O never made it down, though. They were busy with building SKN and initiating pledges (I think Bobby Capwell was part of that pledge class – another great leader). We were thrilled hearing about the progress back at Behrend. It was amazing how fast Tron and the gang grew SKN and bought the first house.

Funny, I don’t think any of the founding fathers would have joined a fraternity had we not started SKN. That said, I think a new Fraternity starts with every pledge class. Each pledge class is a brand new nucleus that gives birth to a new SKN. It’s a beautiful thing.

The long view of SKN has helped me understand myself. We all have a gift and roles to play. All the gifts are significant – they just look very different. I am still much better at inspiring people to do great things than seeing through the details of an enterprise. I’ve learned that my gift is enough to provide me joy without needing to be all things or attached to every ship I launch.

Your personal contribution to Sigma Kappa Nu may seem either monumental or insignificant. At times SKN is a power house on a roll and at other times it has barely limped along. At each turn, a brother’s contribution comes at the right time to fill the right need to keep the dream alive. It’s been a beautiful thing to watch unfold for 25 years.

To the brothers who have done the heavy lifting over the years, thank you. To the brothers who feel they only did a little, thank you. Your contribution was necessary and came at critical moments. Eric, my roommate and best PSU friend, did all his heavy lifting as SKN alumni – so you never know when it’s your turn to shine. And, finally, to Doc…

I know the SKN family holds a very dear spot in the life of Doc Leavers, and vice versa. Doc is the thread that all 300+ brothers and little sisters share over the 25 year span. He’s been SKN since before many were even born! He’s our JoePa! Words fail any true expression of gratitude for Doc’s contribution to SKN. Thank you, Doc.

Maybe the thing that amazes me most is how an idea can become an institution. And, how this institution is not a building with ivy on it, but a fragile living organism, that lives and breathes through its people.

Each SKN email or blog post just blows my mind that this thing is still going. You can’t imagine…

Thank you all.

Jeb