THE BETA-ETA NEWS
VOL I CHAMPAIGN, ILLINOIS, MARCH 15, 1918 No. 1
BETA-ETA OCCUPIES HIGH
PLACE IN CAMPUS ACTIVITIES
Two Freshmen On Varsity Five and
Two Athletic Managers -- Three
Men on Daily Illini.
That the future Beta-Eta of Pi Kappa is assured is shown by the activity she is taking in University affairs.
Three-fourths of thechapter are either out for some position or are occupying places on committees,
publication staffs or military.
In athletics Beta-Eta has been very successful in her first year. Brothers Nelson and
Henderson successfully made the freshman varsity basketball team and, will probably
show up well next year for places on the varsity five. Both of these men are now out for
spring football and Henderson is working out for freshman baseball. Brother Melin is
out for track. He does the mile and the cross country. In the spring meets he stands a
good chance for honors in some of the events and also an "I" at the end of the season.
Two Managerial Positions.
Brother Winkelmann is manager of interclass athletics and Brother Hartman is junior
baseball manager. Brother Doran is out for freshman manager.
Brother Pulcipher was elected to the position of editor of The Daily Illini, the
University daily newspaper. This position is much sought for each year by all aspiring
college journalists. Brother Winkelmann is a member of the IIlini Board of Trustees
and Brother O'Donnell is acting as a reporter on the sheet showing that Beta-Eta is
well represented in the issuing of the official organ of the University.
Two Men in Bands.
The University of Illinois is said to have the best University band in the world. Beta
Eta is represented by having two men in the band. Brother Proctor succeeded in
making the First Regimental (Concert) Band while Brother O’Donnell is a member of
one of the other divisions.
Beta Eta has two men in Sigma Delta Chi, honorary journalistic fraternity, Brother
McConnell and Brother Pulcipher being active in journalism. Brothers Winkelmann,
Landon and Geiler are members of Phi Alpha Delta, professional law fraternity.
Illinois Pi Kaps in Service:
Lieut. W. H. Martin --- Co. L. 343d, Camp Grant, Rockford, Ill.
Lieut. Cecil E. Moore --- Aviation Section, Flying Division, Camp Hicks, Ft. Worth,
Texas.
Corp. Marcus C. Carson --- Am. Ex. Forces, 81st Co., U.S.M.C., France
Walter H. Clanahan --- Qm. Corps, Receiving Co., Number 30, Ft. Joseph E. Johnson, Jacksonville, Fla.
T. S. Morgan --- Ordnance School of Officers, Camp Meade, Md.
Curtis La Q. Day --- Aviation Section, Flying Division, Dallas, Tex.
Leo E. Gossett --- 3d R. O. T. C., Camp Grant, Rockford, Ill.
David A. Warford --- 3d R. O. T. C. Camp Dodge, Des Moines, Ia.
Frank A. Schoembs --- Ensign School, Washington, D. C. (When last heard from).
S. R. Cunningham --- Qm. Corps, Co. 100, Ft. Benjamin, Harrison, Ind.
Russell B. Liedel --- Has given up his rank as Battalion Sergt. Maj. of 131st U. S. Infantry and entered the
Judge Advocate's Office of 33rd Division.
Conrad H. Karkow --- 2nd Co., Sec. F. 3rd R. O. T. C., Camp Grant, Rockford, Ill.
James A. Peterson --- U. S. School of Military Aeronautics, U. of I.Champaign, Ill.
F. J. Mitchell --- 3rd R. O. T. C., Leon Springs, Tex.
M. G. McConnell --- Camp Dodge, Des Moines, Iowa
Those Awaiting Their Call Into Active Duty Are as Follows:
Dale Billman --- Awaiting call for Aviation, Flying Division.
John Bownian --- Awaiting call for Aviation, Flying Division.
F. H. Geiler --- Awaiting call for Aviation, Flying Division.
Guy B. Reno --- Awaiting call to Camp Grant, Rockford, Ill.
R. E. Winkelmann --- Awaiting call for Camp Dodge, Des Moines, la.
Paul B. Kelly --- Awaiting call to Naval Reserves
Walter L. Crutcher ---Awaiting call into Flying Division of Aviation Sec.
Harry D. Albert --- Awaiting call to Camp Dodge, Des Moines, Ia.
Lou R. Henderson --- Awaiting call to Naval Reserves.
War Takes Many Men From
Illinois Pi Kappa Alpha Roll
The beginning of the present college year saw Pi Kappa Alpha at Illinois somewhat sadly depleted
following the exodus of men last spring to enlist in the military service of the United States. Nine men
returned at the beginning of the year and of these, five have already left the University for service. Brothers
Winkelmann, Karkow, Landon, Geiler, Crutcher, Hartmann, Burgess, Temple and Kelly returned to form
the nucleus of this year's chapter roll at the old house, 305 East John St.
Several upperclassmen were initiated into the chapter early in the fall and Brothers K. D. Pulcipher and M.
G. McConnell, seniors, and L. E. Gossett and Ford Mautz, juniors, were added to the Beta Eta roll. Ten
freshmen and two sophomores have been pledged and are all still in the University with the exception of
Edgar Schoembs, who was forced to leave the University early last fall on account of the illness of his
father.
During the year, Brothers Karkow, Gossett, Geiler, Crutcher, Burgess, Temple and McConnell have
withdrawn from the University. All of these brothers withdrew for the purpose of entering the service and
most of them are already in khaki.
The chapter now contains eighteen men, as follows: R.E. Winkelmann, Belleville; George Landon,
Chicago; William Hartmann, Chicago; P. B. Kelly, Mattoon; K. D. Pulcipher, Centralia; Ford Mautz, St.
Elmo; H. E. Meyer, Havana; F. H. O'Donnell, Rantoul; D. E. Bean, Chicago; Earl Stilley, Benton; J. M.
Nelson, Chicago; Albert Carroll, Shawneetown; V. L. Procter, Rantoul; R. N. Melin, Chicago; E. D.
Hackman, Havana; Melvin Nelson, Chicago; M. E. Doran, E. St. Louis; L. R. Henderson, Biggsville; R. B.
Browne, Carbondale. Of these, J.M.Nelson, Hackman, Browne and Meyer are pledges.
The officers of the house at the present time are: S. M. C., George Landon; I. M. C., William Hartmann;
Th. C., P. B. Kelly; S. C., K. D. Pulcipher; M. C., R. E. Winkelmann; M. S., Ford Mautz.
DIVISIONS OF UNIVERSITY SHOW ENROLLMENT LOSS
In order to show the decrease in the number of students in each of the colleges of the University, statistics
have been determined dating from November of last year to the same month of this school year.
The College of Law has suffered the biggest loss, having decreased 44 percent. The College of Agriculture
followed with a loss of 37 percent over last year. The College of Commerce decreased approximately 18
percent. The School of Music gained one percent and the Library School gained ten percent. The College of
Medicine in Chicago had the largest increase, a gain of 22 percent.
ILLINOIS AMONG LEADERS
IN AIDING NATION AT WAR
Houses Ground School For Aviators --
Makes Big War Relief Effort Donation
-- Pushes War Work.
With the raising of nearly $30,000 for the Y. M. C. A. war fund, maintenance of a ground school for cadet
aviators and organizing of war committees to forward war work about the University, Illinois has put
herself among the leading war-workers of the country. She was allotted $20,000 to raise for the Y. M. C. A.
army fund. That mark was reached early in the campaign and it was decided to continue the subscription.
The total amount ran far over $29,000. This was an approximate average of $5 to $7 from each student.
The School of Military Aeronautics at the University has put another burden on the authorities' s shoulders.
Buildings for the housing and instruction of the men had to be furnished. The new Woman's Residence
Hall, which was to have been given over to the University women for their use at the beginning of the year,
was instead turned over to the aviators for quarters.
Twelve Week's Course.
The former Y. M. C. A. building and Bradley Hall as an annex are being used solely by the aviators.
Part of the Transportation Building has been turned over to the faculty of the school. The course formerly
lasted eight weeks but has recently been extended to twelve weeks.
The cadet aviators stationed at the school have enjoyed several social functions this year. They were held in
the parlors of the Woman’s building. Bradley Hall, formerly used for dancing, has been taken over as
sleeping quarters for the men. The old armory, better known as the Gym Annex, has been taken over by the
school and it is there that a great deal of actual flying apparatus is being kept.
Push War Work.
As a means of furthering the war work about the University twelve sub-committees under one main
committee appointed by President James of the University, are getting at all phases of war work and
pushing it to the front. New war courses have been added to the regular curriculum. Food conservation
among fraternities, sororities, boarding clubs and restaurants all over the campus, is being put further into
effect under the direction of part of these committees.
A University service flag with each of the 300 stars representing ten Illini, has been unfurled in the Library
square. The raising of the flag took place with the regular military ceremonies. President E. J. James and
Vice-President David Kinley both made addresses. The University Brigade and the University bands
participated in the ceremony.
Page Two THE BETA-ETA NEWS March 15, 1918
THE BETA-ETA NEWS
Published every two months during the University year by Beta-Eta chapter of Pi Kappa
Alpha, University of Illinois.
Chapter House
305 E. John St., Champaign, Ill.
K.D. Pulcipher --- Editor
F.H. O’Donnell --- Assistant
WANTED -- REAL MEN
The fraternity in war time has a serious problem to face in maintaining at once a high personnel and a
flourishing financial basis. Fraternities at Illinois have suffered heavily from the enlistments of the last year
and Pi Kappa Alpha has contributed her full share of men to the service. Starting anew last fall, Beta-Eta
chapter has endeavored to pick men judiciously. A boarder who pays his bills does not always make a
capable fraternity man and the pledging problem is one that in times of exigency requires serious
consideration.
Pi Kappa Alpha has always maintained the reputation of having men of the most aristocratic families of the
south. One of the time-honored customs of Pi Kappa Alpha is that every member shall have a high family
record behind him. We cannot afford to jeopardize that custom. Pi Kappa Alpha must select her men
judiciously and well.
At this critical time, we must remember that standard when we are inclined to judge men hastily. Every
man worthy of the bonds of Pi Kappa Alpha should stand the searchlight of inquiry before the little white
button is placed on his lapel. It is for that reason that during the present shortage of men, Beta-Eta should
be unusually active in searching out men of quality as prospects for membership. The war. is making heavy
inroads on the enrollment of the University every day. This spring will, see another large exodus of men
from Illinois and next fall will probably bring a still further depleted enrollment. The future of Beta-Eta
depends on the activities of the men in school during the next few months.
Because of a discriminating selection of men for Pi Kappa Alpha, the chapter at present is comparatively
small. We need more men -- men of character, of worth and ability, men who have moral and mental
strength. If Beta-Eta is to maintain the national reputation of Pi Kappa Alpha, every effort must be exerted
this spring to build up a strong nucleus for another successful year in 1918-19.
THE BETA-ETA NEWS
With this issue, the Beta-Eta News appears as the official publication of Pi Kappa Alpha at the University
of Illinois. It will appear five times during the University year. Every alumnus should be a subscriber. The
price is $1 a year. Send in your subscription immediately before you forget it.
The Problem Of The World War
By Dr. W. E. Britton
At the conference which will order the restitutions and decree penalties for the wrongs committed in this
war and will devise the program to govern international relationships for the future, a situation will
confront the world negotiators, under which, it can be said at the present time, there will exist a greater
degree of probability than there can be devised a workable plan to govern the interrelation of sovereign
states more conductive to permanent peace than history has ever afforded. To bring about that situation this
war is being fought.
The congresses of the past have been composed of representatives of different belligerent groups, all
equally committed to the doctrine that the preservation of peace depended upon the maintenance of the
balance of power. Consideration of military and naval strategy took place, therefore, in the formation of the
demand of the successful allies to bring about this ascendancy. Notions of right and wrong as regard the
weaker allies and neutrals played little or no part in the settlement. Their recognition at all depended upon
the necessity of conceding them in order to attain the primary object -- the balance of military, naval, and
diplomatic prestige The result was a subdued but dissatisfied group of defeated powers, with new
irritations, new rivalries an ambitions begun. Diplomacy then coming to the forefront would develop new
alignments to upset the status quo and in a generation or so the cycle of peace and war would again be
completed.
Will this be the aim of the powers that are to confer at the world's conference table within the next few
years? The actions of the nations allied against the central powers and their statements of war aims indicate
strongly that higher considerations of right and wrong as regards all parties will dominate. The war may not
have had this aspect in 1914, but the issues have been cleared by the terrible sacrifices made, by the
Russian revolution and the United States into the War.
The ruling classes of the central powers are unquestionably bent on conquest. They espouse the old theory
in its worst forms. They want peace but they want a peace which results from a fear to attack them. The
allies want peace but they desire a peace not motivated by fear from any opposing group. They strive for a
peace which will result from a settlement of all present conflicting claims in accordance with fundamental
notions of right and wrong, as near as this, is practically attainable, a peace, the continuance of which, will
be more to the interest of the purely national ambitions of the several states than would war and a peace
which will establish a machinery sufficiently adequate and compulsory to settle all international
controversies.
Is this situation attainable? The statesmen of France, England, and the United States affirm that it is. It is
conditioned, however, upon the happening of certain events which the war alone can disclose. If the war
ends in a stalemate we shall have the two sets of alliances more firmly cemented than before, ready for
battle whenever it appears that success is reasonably probable. If the war ends in an absolute defeat, the
present ruling forces of the central powers and in a conversion of their peoples to the doctrines now being
voiced by the leaders of the Allies, the hope for situation will be realized, but this is the unquestioned sine
qua non of its attainment. There are other conditions but subsidiary and controllable by the powers. Russia
must be redeemed from her present state of chaos and there must be no schemes of territorial
aggrandizement centering in the far east incompatible with these announced principles.
There is reason to believe that the end of the war will bring about a new and wonderful era in the world
politics.
The Fraternal Spirit
By Brother Winkelmann.
Too often the freshman coming into the fraternity gets the wrong idea. He too easily assumes that it is
merely a place to eat, sleep, smoke up a few packages of cigarettes and, being wholeheartedly for himself,
prosper by being a bit more sly than any of the other freshmen.
If all a freshman has to offer a fraternity is the ability to meet his monthly bills, he is unworthy of the pin --
a good boarding house would command at least that much of any man.
One would hardly suppose that any of our fraternities was founded merely for the purpose of getting a
monopoly on a good cook or a hotwater apparatus in the basement of some ten or twelve room flat.
If your grate fire plays no greater part in fraternity life than a place in which to throw half-burned fags it
would be a good idea to cut down expenses by using all your coal for a good furnace.
If you feel that you are playing a cut-throat game and that you may lie, cheat, steal or what-not to gain your
end, you are in the wrong place -- you belong to the cellar gang and the night-hawks.
The sooner before initiation your tendencies are discovered the better for the fraternity. If you have by
chance slipped by and have received the sacred word, get away, play dead, and forget that you ever heard
of a fraternity until you are able to comprehend the beautiful attributes for which it stands.
Back of it all there is the optimistic conception of brotherhood, a word embodying love, friendship and
faith in man. To perpetuate that ideal, the fraternity was founded.
PI K. A. TO EXTEND ALUMNI
MEMBERSHIP THIS SPRING
Letters Sent to Alumni For informa-
tion -- National Rules Will
Guide Initiation
Efforts to get in touch with alumni of Magruder of Phi Alpha Delta are being made by Alumni Secretary
Winkelmann with a view to initiating a number of old men into Pi Kappa Alpha this spring. Letters have
been sent out to all Pi Kap alumni requesting information concerning all old men of Phi Alpha Delta.
In order that alumni to whom letters have been sent may be familiar with the procedure of initiating
members of P. A. D. into Pi Kappa Alpha, the following rules are reprinted as sent out by the national
order. In making reply to the letters sent out by Brother Winkelmann, the following rules will aid alumni in
giving the desired information.
"1. A petition shall be mailed to the General Office requesting a special dispensation for the initiation of the
alumnus, giving name in full, present occupation, present business and residence addresses, date of
initiation into local, number of years in college, date and place of birth, married or single, class of 19--,
honors taken at college.
"2. The petition shall state the full name of Alumni of local chapter who were in college during the full
period said alumnus remained in college and who have since been initiated into Pi Kappa Alpha.
"3. The petition shall state that said alumnus has been elected to membership in The Pi Kappa Alpha
Fraternity by secret ballot, and by an unanimous vote of all the active members of the Chapter at the time of
the taking of said ballot.
"4. The petition shall further state that the Chapter has notified all the brothers named in Requirement No. 2
above, and has received the consent of the initiation of said brother from at least five of said brothers, and
no objection has been made of said initiation.
"5. The above facts shall be certified to be true and the petition shall be signed by the S. M. C. and the S. C.
"6. A separate petition shall be required for each petitioning alumnus.
"7. No alumnus of the former local chapter shall be initiated into the national fraternity until he has paid in
full all delinquent dues which he owed when he left college.
"8. Prior to initiation the Chapter shall collect from said alumnus the regular initiation fee of the chapter
and shall pay to the Grand Treasurer immediately after initiation the regular fee of $20 for said initiate."
We have interpreted this to mean: The regular initiation fee into Beta-Eta is $50 payable at initiation. We
tax each alumnus the $20 which we are required to turn over to the Grand Treasurer and consider the $30
difference as having been taken care of by the alumnus' initiation fee into Magruder.
March 15, 1918 THE BETA-ETA NEWS Page Three.
Annual Christmas Feed
is Successful Pi Event
Beta-Eta held her annual Christmas, banquet at the Beardsley Hotel, Thursday evening, December 20. The
dinner was fine -- of course. The chicken with all her trimmings was there. As the brothers sat down, they
found before each plate a sealed envelope, contents of which each one was forced to read. Some of them
had to be forced, too. Chick Geiler discovered that he, finally had been accepted for the draft. "Wink"
found that his marriage date had been set for February 30; and Nelson and Carroll, 6 feet 4 1/2 inch
freshmen, declared the cause of all their growth was Mennen's Baby Food.
After dinner speeches were made by the seniors and some of the great men, of Beta-Eta. "Wink" led off and
was followed by "Red" Landon, K. Pulcipher, Geiler and McConnell, each being introduced by the S. M.
C., Connie Karkow. Bill Hartman spoke for the juniors and Burgess for the sophomores. The final
harangue was delivered by the famous politician and Beta-Eta freshmen president, Red Doran. After a
speech by Brother Doc Britton, and after the freshmen had sung their freshman song, the Pi's went home
well satisfied in minds and stomachs.
P. K. A. DEFEATS SIGMA NU
IN FALL FOOTBALL GAME
A few days before Thanksgiving was held our "first annual football game" with Sigma Nu. A great crowd,
of thirty rooters and players journeyed over to the South Campus and at 3 o'clock hostilities began. The P.
K. A.'s were slow in starting and at first it looked as if the Pi Kap eleven was going to be rushed off its feet;
but along in the second quarter Red Landon got a knock on the head that woke him up a bit and he started
to play football.
Cotton Temple got away with, a couple of good end runs and in a few minutes a touch down was chalked
up for Pi Kappa Alpha. Sigma Nu somehow managed to get across the line in the third quarter, but that
didn't make any difference, because "Mac" McConnell wiggled through for another touchdown in the final
period, even if he did have trouble finding the line without his glasses. Final score, P. K. A., 14; Sigma Nu,
7.
BETA-ETA CELEBRATES
FIRST ANNIVERSARY MAR. 24
Beta-Eta of Pi Kappa Alpha was first established at the University of Illinois March 24, 1917. In order to
observe the installation, plans are now in progress to celebrate the day, on the occasion of the first
anniversary of that date. There will probably be an initiation of men on this date. Following the initiation a
Hooverized dinner will be served. It is the intention of the brothers at Beta-Eta to make this celebration an
annual event.
We cut out toast on Sunday morning -- apologies to Brother Cunningham and his memoriam.
FIRESIDE SPARKS
SINCE the Delts are so pitiless, the Pi Kaps are going to take a Saturday off some time and bury all the
dead soldiers they have so ignominiously thrown in our empty lot next door.
Someone can have another second desert, now that Satan Day has gone to war.
HARTMANN HABITS.
It keeps the fellows busy betting on what line of self-instruction Billy Hartmann is going to take up next.
We might venture our own inside information that Billy was asked to sing the tenor in the McKinley choir.
They tried to get him to take up the collection, but he could not keep from hot footing it down the aisle to
the fox trot time of one, two, three, four, and rather than bring down the morale of the congregation, they
let him sing.
WINK gets up in the meeting every Monday night, starts off with "here's the way I look at it," spits into the
fire five or six times, and after the meeting it takes two freshmen a half hour to get the fire revived.
Pike, the house dog, went out scouting for trouble and came home with it. You could see it
all over him.
IT TAKES a lot of nerve to stand at the door and tell a bill collector that you are out at a committee
meeting when he knows you're a liar. Drastic measures are necessary in war times.
WE always have a one o'clock class, when the commissary requests an interview with us after lunch on the
first of the month. There's a, reason.
A LIMERICK.
An affable lad named Bill
Has feet that are never still,
Dance and sing he must,
Much to the Brother's disgust,
He's never had his fill.
In order to demonstrate the importance of the Hoover edict George Landon recently bought dinner for his
friend. The dinner consisted of one coconut, two apples, and a nickel's worth of licorice "nigger babies." He
had passes to a picture show on the same evening, also.
A rumor to the effect that admission will be charged to all the rooms on the east side of the house after 7:30
each evening, is being circulated among the brothers. Heretofore strenuous efforts have been made to keep
the fellows from falling out of the windows in their panic. As a rule the roof as well as the ledge at the side
of the house is lined with enterprising Pi Kaps. Oh yes, you wonder what it’s all about. The Chi Omegas
reside next to us. Frequently their curtains become, disobedient and fly to the top and break. Thusly all the
excitement on the east side.
Red Landon still invites Law profs over to dinner in order to pass his course. Go to it Red, we buy his eats.
REMINISCENCES OF FRESHMAN
BEAN.
(With apologies to Mr. Poe)
Once upon a midnight dreary,
Feeling tired and all a-weary,
And of intruders a wee bit leary,
Upon going to bed I lock the door,
Never thinking who'd get sore.
Next morn while I was napping,
Suddenly there came a tapping,
'Twas Swede Henderson gently rapping,
Once, twice, three times, four,
E'en a dozen times or more.
But the door refused to yield,
It seemed as if 'twere sealed.
Swede, vexed unto the core,
Said "Fiddlesticks," and almost swore.
"I will get thee," murmured he in rage,
"When thou com'st from out thy cage,"
All his wrath he did outpour,
He cursed, and scratched, and clawed, and tore,
But failed to vanquish, the stout oak door,
So he went away, and cursed no more.
PBK.
Brother Paul Kelly has worn a little path to the Havard apartments. Oh my no it is not borrowing things for
the kitchen; it is stealing something from the fellow back home -- a girl for instance. Brother Kelly made a
change in his schedule this semester in order that he might spend at least four evenings per week as the
guest of the Harvard (apartment) student.
ODE TO THE CHI O'S.
The shades of night were falling fast
But on the Chi O's winder
No shade of any kind was seen.
Nor anything to hinder
The Pi K. A's from gazing out
Upon the scenes below them
Struggling for a tiny peep.
At what the moon could show them.
Brother Mautz, after spending a week in Urbana, one night began to like the town. We didn't know why for
some time. It was our honest opinion that the walks were not so crowded and it was easier to keep out of
the way of people. Ha! The joke was on us. It wasn't that at all. Ha-Ha (twice). He has the cutest little girl
with the cutest little car you ever did see. Go it, Ford, we're for you.
Brother Melin is a special friend of the post office department -- at least they decorated his envelope with a
good many stamps and a special fellow always delivers them. He sure is in strong with the government.
Brother Henderson is talking of taking elocution lessons in the near future. We hope he does. Then he may
be able to wake George Landon up in the morning without disturbing the dog down in the basement and
also the brothers sleeping in the second floor dorm.
PI KAP IN FRANCE LOOKS
FOR REUNION AFTER WAR
Corporal Marcus Carson Writes From
Over There -- Says He's Anxious
To Be Back Again
Beta-Eta's only man in France with the American Expeditionary Force is Corporal Marcus C. Carson.
Brother Winkelmann recently received the following letter from Brother Carson who expresses his longing
to be back in Champaign again. Like all the brothers in service, he is anxious to have letters from the men
still in the University.
Jan. 20, 1918
Somewhere in France
Dear Wink:
Well, how is all the gang back in God’s country? I have landed safely over here and am now working hard.
I can pretty nearly say that I am getting used to this French mud. It is sure "fine stuff."
I have plenty to eat and a warm place to sleep, so I guess I should be satisfied. We can get plenty of wine
and beer over here but champagne is forbidden. The better grades of French wine are rather hard to get.
Plenty of women and song, too – well, a word to the wise is sufficient so I am laying completely off that
stuff
Wink, I sure wish I with the boys. I say that when peace is declared there should be one grand round-up of
Pi Kaps and a regular old time celebration held. I’m sure of it.
I expect, Wink, that that the boys back there are worried about the draft, so I am glad that I am where I am.
By the way, I met Don Webb yesterday. He seemed to have all the latest news and filled me full. He wishes
to send his best regards to the fellows.
Well Wink, please write to me soon and tell me all the latest dope, for I crave to know how the bunch is
coming. Don't forsake me!
With best regards to all the fellows, I am, Fraternally yours,
Corp. Marcus M. Carson
81st Co. U. S. M. A. Am. Ex. Force. France.
Beta-Eta Averages 80
During First Semester
With twenty-one men figured in, the average of Beta-Eta Chapter for the first semester was approximately
'C' or nearly 80 per cent. The University of Illinois has adopted a new system of grading by letters. The first
five letters of the are used, ranging from A to E. In averaging, A is counted as 5, B as four, C as three, D as
two, and E as one or failure.
Brother L. M. Nelson, ’21 , led the chapter with an average of 4.34. Pulcipher came next with 4.00, then
Bean with 3.80, Stilley with 3.62, Winkelmann, 3.47, Kelly 3.44, Browne, 3.29, O'Donnell, 3.23,
McConnell with 3.00. The remainder of the chapter averages below C.
Page Four March 15, 1918
THE BETA-ETA NEWS
BETA-ETA NEWS NOTES
Brother Bean wishes to know how much it costs to put on a party.
How much have you Brother Bean and we will show you.
Poor old fellow! Abou Ben Adem, the revered statue who witnessed many secret scenes in the front room,
is with us no more. Three of the brothers while trying to ascertain who could curve a pillow about his head
wrecked him completely. The Boneyard received the remains into her shadowy depths and Abou is no
more.
The Pi Kaps have the promise of a great orator and literary man in the future providing he is not maimed or
killed while rehearsing. "Peewee" Nelson, pledge, who reads Webster and Mr. Britannica's encyclopedia
from morn till night and speaks the rest of the time, will probably be such. Brother Doran doesn't seem to
think the chapter should have a speaker and a literary man if lie learns in this way.
Billy Hartmann still aspires to become a Caruso or a Red Landon.
Brother Millard E. Doran has been appointed to the position of assistant commissary. He is learning the
business of stalling off creditors through Prof. Kelly, present "provider."
Brother McConnell was called up for examination for the draft army last week and accepted as physically
fit. He left on Saturday for Camp Dodge, Ia. Brother McConnell expects to become one of the interpreters
with the Expeditionary forces in France.
Plans for the annual chapter dance are now being made. It will be held at the Country Club. Francis'
orchestra will furnish the music. Due to the ruling passed by Pan-Hellenic it will not be formal.
Yuxtra! Yuxtra! Billy Hartmann. has learned to dance-very nearly. From morning till night he wears out
needles on the Vic counting one, two, three, four, as he prances about the room. Oh yes he goes to dances
frequently and he has become so addicted to the habit of counting that he counts in the girl's ear. Poor Bill.
Poor Brothers.
Brother McConnell and Brother O'Donnell put on a talking stunt in the second floor dorm frequently.
Brother McConnell seems to rest very uneasily and talks in his sleep. He even answers what someone else
asks him. Brother O'Donnell acts as interlocuter and much valuable information concerning nice girls is
ascertained.
The editor censors what happened between semesters! So do we!
We miss Tesumseh and his squirt of amber colored liquid.
We still boast our one and only Hartmann, the Hula Hula lover.
Someone ran up to us the other day and announced worriedly that "Chick" Geiler had settled down on a
twig for five minutes. It's a good thing the University has a hospital association.
Now to rise from the sixth heaven and have the Pi Phi's build on the lot next to us. We'd dicker!
On nights when the electric power goes on a strike and there are no lights about the campus, then is when
the Pi Kaps shine. Why? you ask. Pledge Hackman has a smile so bright and shiny (also loud) that it lights
the rooms. His readiness to laugh is making even Big Nelson get funny in his own little way.
Pledge Meyer, the Havana Hope, is arranging to write a treatise on the uses of butter. It is his honest
ambition to own and manipulate a creamery in time to come. He also smokes cigarettes.
Although he tried hard, Brother Stilley was unable to complete his column on the art of love for this issue
of the Beta-Eta News. In all probability he will have same ready for printing at the time of the next issue.
All ye brothers in doubt about that girl, write him. Strictest confidence assured.
Upon hearing Winkelmann say something about 8200 acres of land, Brother Carroll immediately
interrupted with "Shoot an acre."
Brother Proctor is noted about the house for liking all of his instructors. As a matter of fact, they like him
so well and think they know him so well that he has a very difficult time telling them what he knows.
"I also play in the First Regimental Band of the University of Illinois," says Brother Proctor.
"Long Boy" Nelson averaged B plus the first semester. He spends his evenings figuring out unknowns of
unknowns. He is also one of the figure students on the east side of the house.
ALUMNI NOTES
Private S. R. Cunningham is stationed at Fort Benjamin Harrison, Indianapolis. Cunny has been trying
for months to be assigned to the aviation service but to date has had no success. He has been dissatisfied
with the quartermaster branch of the army but from the reports we now receive, he likes it better every day.
A certain Delta Gamma from the U. of Indiana is the cause and Brother Pete is to step to his first sorority
formal with her.
Ensign Frank A. Schoembs. This may be a surprise but Fatty came through with the goods and is a
sure enough ensign. He paid us a visit during the first part of the year and certainly looked the part of the
jolly- tar.
Corporal Dave A. Warford. Honest Dave after being turned down by the quartermaster department was
drafted. He is now at Camp Dodge at the officers training camp because of marked ability in the science of
military.
Lieut. W. H. Martin is spending his time at Camp Grant teaching the drafted men to drill. Abe has paid us
several visits and has nothing but praise for the lieutenant's life in the army.
C. H. Karkow was accepted for the Third Officers Training Camp at Camp Grant. He has written that he
spends much time in endeavoring to get passes to Chicago but has succeeded but once. For some reason
Conny always was attracted to that city and we see war has not changed his heart.
Forester I. Mitchell. Mitch is down in Texas in an officers training camp. He never did shine as a soldier
at school but from reports is making good with Uncle Sam.
Russel B. Leidell is in the Judge Advocate Department of the U. S. Army. Pete passed the bar exam and
because of his ability was transferred to the legal branch of the army. Ziggy Decker take notice.
Curtiss La Q Day completed his course in the aviation ground school of Champaign, March 1. He is now
in Dallas, Tex., flying. Satan has done everything in the aviation branch except fight the Germans, which is
his one ambition besides marrying a white girl with a million.
James A. Peterson is with us in Champaign, He has successfully completed six weeks in the ground
school for aviation. Jimmy served about four months as a private in the aviation branch and was transferred
to the ground school on Feb. 1.
Lieut. Cecil Moore. "Ces" is a lieutenant in the Aviation Section of the signal corps and is expecting to
go to France very soon. In fact rumors tell us that he is already in New York and about to experience that
feeling which is not exactly homesickness. He reports that the army life is great.
Marcus Chesney Carson is a corporal in the marines and is in all probability our first man in France.
Kate writes that the army life is fine but for the mud and a great part of it is mud.
Brother "Eb" Etherton has gotten into the army in spite of his cork leg. Here is the way it worked – so
rumor tells us. Eb, being a young enough man for the draft, received his questionnaire and answered all
questions. He was placed in Class 1-A. The good people of Carbondale knowing of Eb's good qualities and
desiring to keep him in their midst attempted to change his classification and exempt him from military
liability. Eb refused to be changed and after various threats were made to arrest him, all of which he
ignored, Eb was accepted for limited military service.
Charles Roy Patterson is the city attorney of Robinson. Pat paid us a visit a couple of months ago and
certainly gave us the impression of a rising young lawyer.
Fritz (what a helluva name for an Irishman, viewed to the light of the present world's conflict) Kelly,
alias Fred Hanford, is a rising light of the beautiful seaport town of Mattoon. Fritz visits us occasionally
for the purpose of guiding his young brother and the rest of the chapter along the straight and narrow path
which he so conscientiously follows.
Guy E. McGaughey, better known as Mac, is now a married man. The chapter extends its heartiest
congratulations and wishes him and his bride a world of success.
Harry D. Albert, a married man, is waiting for the draft to sever his own home ties.
Brother Fred Martin has handed in the very best set of answers to the Alumni letter yet received.
Everything seems to be going well with him.
BASKETBALL SCORES
Illinois ------- 40 Millikin -------19
Illinois ------- 31 Millikin -------13
Illinois ------- 19 Wabash ----- 24
Illinois ------- 27 Purdue ------- 17
Illinois ------- 28 Minnesota --- 17
Illinois ------- 21 Wisconsin ---- 22
Illinois ------- 19 Chicago ------ 23
Illinois ------- 34 Northw't'n --- 22
Illinois ------- 35 Chicago ------ 21
Illinois ------- 27 Purdue ------- 17
Illinois ------- 26 Ohio State ---- 23
Illinois ------- 14 Wisconsin ---- 23
Illinois ------- 22 Minnesota --- 35
Illinois ------- 14 Northw't'n --- 29
Illinois ------- 20 Chicago ------ 17
FOOTBALL SCORES
Illinois ------- 33 Kansas ------- 0
Illinois ------- 42 Oklahoma ---- 0
Illinois ------- 27 Purdue ------- 0
Illinois -------- 7 Wisconsin ---- 0
Illinois -------- 0 Chicago ------- 0
Illinois ------- 6 Ohio State ----13
Illinois -------- 6 Minnesota --- 28
Illinois ------- 28 Camp Funston - 0
Burr, Patterson & Co.
Detroit, Mich.
The favorite jewelers of Beta Eta
and all other chapters of the Pi
Kappa fraternity.