Page 1 - The Beacon - Pi Lambda Phi MIT - Fall 2018

THE BEACON THE NEWSLETTER OF 450 BEACON STREET, INC.

MASS THETA CHAPTER OF PI LAMBDA PHI

“FAREWELL, NOT GOODBYE” PI LAMBDA PHI WELCOMES NEW, PROMISING PLEDGE CLASS
A LETTER FROM CHAPTER ADVISOR There’s a lot to be said about this year’s rush.
JIM BRICKER ’70 We rushed one of the most social classes we’ve GET TO KNOW OUR NEW PLEDGES!
seen in some time, and were able to use the READ MORE OF THEIR BIOS ON PAGES 4 & 5
experience to draw in many new friends of
the house (known as “rush girls”). However, we
struggled to close some potential new mem-
Next month, I will be ending my tenure as bers, and as a result this pledge class is quite
chapter advisor. I accepted the chapter ad- small—just 10 pledges. However, we’re making
visor challenge as a two-year assignment the most of this situation, determined to capi-
in December 2015, but have continued talize upon the chance to expand Pilam’s social
throughout a third year (2016, 2017, and presence; this is also a learning experience,
2018) mostly because of my work managing helping us to improve for next year.
the house improvement projects, which be-
gan in 2017. That work is now almost com- Many fraternities at MIT have increasingly had
plete, and you can read more about it in my problems rushing classes of a desired size. We
article on page 2.
are determined to not let this happen to Pi MICHAEL MANDANAS ’22
Lambda Phi. Apparently, as a result of recent
As I said when I began my stint as chapter ad- renovations in several dorms, and an amelio- HOMETOWN:
visor, I believe in our motto, “Not Four Years, ration of overcrowding problems in the past Edmond, Oklahoma
But A Lifetime.” So I won’t be a stranger at few years, freshmen are more interested in
Pi Lam just because I’m ending this advisory living in dorms, and less interested in living in MAJOR(S):
term. I will continue to be active with the fraternities. However, we believe that living 20 (Bioengineering)
House Corporation as before, and will likely in Pilam carries many advantages over living FUN FACT:
accept a role assisting an undergraduate of- in dormitories, including location, price, and I’m a burgeoning magician with a
ficer, possibly with rush, for example.
homeliness. We have been brainstorming ideas penchang for the performing arts. I
for high-impact, low-cost renovations that will also enjoy dancing and pipetting
Looking back on these three years, I am make the house a more attractive place to live, and seek to be a friend to all I meet.
hopeful that I have made a positive impact such as painting bedrooms and improving over-
on the brothers and on the workings of the all house cleanliness. Finally, as fewer freshmen freshmen. Future Rush Chair Tom Benavides ’21
fraternity. I can say for certain that I spent have been pursuing fraternities, rush has grown will be responsible for ensuring that Pi Lambda
many hundreds of hours devoted to the fra- more competitive between fraternities, as dif- Phi continues to tactically outmaneuver other
ternity, both from afar and on site, and can ferent organizations compete for the same fraternities during rush, and we are all working
proudly say that I have gotten to know vir- to craft a more cohesive message to tell fresh-
tually all of the brothers, and they know me. men why we are the best fraternity to join.
I’ve also met the incoming freshman pledge
class, though I have not gotten to know [continued on page 4]
them yet. I attended many brotherhood
meetings, including election meetings; par- HOMETOWN: MAJOR(S):
ticipated in a Pi Lam International Training Santa Ana, California 6–2 (EECS)
Session with several of the brothers; worked
alongside the brothers during work weeks;
worked with them organizing and running FUN FACT:
Alumni Reunions; and did many, many drop- I love trying new things, and college is the
by visits to inspect progress and listen to the place to do it. From driving to New York to
brothers about whatever was on their minds. performing in a talent show, pledging Pilam
KEVIN NGUYEN ’22 has been an exciting adventure.
[continued on page 2]

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