This is a letter that Mike Gates sent to Mr. John Eberline

Director of Alumni Affairs - December 12, 1996

I arrived on campus in August of 1961, was elected to class president, and lettered in football my freshman year. All was right with the world!

At William Penn College in the early 60's the social aspects were very limited with no dancing allowed on campus; and the big event on Wednesday was church night when we were allowed to keep our dates out until 10 p.m. There was no Student Union and the "Embers", a quick snack spot, was located in the basement of Spencer Chapel.

Seven of us felt we could improve the social events available for the students and improve school spirit if we formed a group to focus on these needs.

We developed a multi page charter that outlined our goals, objectives and standards of conduct that included a minimum grade point average at William Penn College. Wayne Zern and I presented our plan to Darrel Ensz who was the Director of Student Personnel. He refused to allow any reference to the college in our activities, but agreed that our ideas were sound and, in spirit, supported the effort.

We then approached two well-respected businessmen in town to become sponsors for Sigma Phi Sigma of Oskaloosa. Bill Sunstrum of Sunstrum's Clothing and Johnny Muhl, the plant manager at the Pepsi Cola plant, were enthusiastic advocates of our direction and helped us in developing a strategy to become accepted by the community and the college. I was the first president.

We donated our labor to dismantle a garage that was in disrepair for a woman who couldn't afford to pay for the project, and we painted a house for another woman in the same situation.

Our first social effort was a Spring Fling dance at the Country Club in May of 1963 which was a huge success with live music and no alcohol sold. We also had a pot luck picnic to attract some new brothers to add to the original " Magnificent Seven", and rented a basement room in town that became "The House". Our colors were green and gold with an identity shield that contained a lion, a key, and a handshake: representing strength, trust and friendship. The original shield was traced from the outline of a Smirnoff vodka label.

We sponsored a dance during Homecoming Week of 1963. As the basketball season approached, we initiated the first Osky to Pella "Dribble-A-Thon" to spark school spirit in the Penn vs. Central rivalry. The local press and radio station helped to make this an annual event. We also ended up in 1st place in the ten pin bowling league at the local lanes.

In 1964 we entered the float competition at homecoming and won 1st place in "off campus floats". We used the shell of a Model A Ford Coupe to form the theme "Magoo Pulls Through", had a paper-mache Mr. Magoo, and a lawn mower engine with exhaust fumes that almost asphyxiated 3 brothers inside the float. Chuck Pierson dressed as a clown and introduced "Siggy" our first goat mascot to the public.

In early 1965 Darrel Ensz approached us and asked if we would take on the task of organizing a massive Spring Week for the college. Chuck Aston and I co-chaired the successful event and Sigma Phi Sigma of William Penn College had arrived.

Through the first 14 months of development, the fraternity grew in numbers and respect, and the brothers were inseparable. We had countless private parties that included pig roasts, pool splashes, steak fries, keg bashes, Hell Week and Initiation.

As I look back, I feel we greatly enhanced the social atmosphere of the school and paved the way for progressive change for others that followed. The original 7 members of Sigma Phi Sigma all loved to laugh and consistently viewed the glass as half full vs. half empty. As I have reunited with each of them over the years, their zest for life has remained the same.

Sincerely,

Mike Gates

12/12/96