Progress in School

There have been no new buildings built on the campus in several years but the next to be built will be an Ag-Engineering building.

The enrollment of the engineering division has been steadily increasing and is now 1,083, which is many more than last year.

The engineering faculty re­mains practically the same from year to year. Prof. Kloeffler, the head of the Electrical Engineering divis­ion, who has been studying at Mass. Inst, of Technology and Harvard for a year will return next fall. Mr. Rice, who has been teaching here during Prof. Kloeffler’s ab­sence, has accepted a position at Iowa State College. 

Progress in Chapter 

The position of Sigma Tau at Kansas State is much bet­ter than ever before. The chapter pledged and initiated 31 very good men this year. These new members have taken over the activities of the chapter and have been very successful in whatever they started to do. The objectives of the chapter are: First to do everything possible to help Kansas State; sec­ond, to make the Engineering Division the best in the middle west; and third, to make Sigma Tau the finest non-social fra­ternity at Kansas State and make it the acme of achievement for the undergraduate.

The chapter is organized very well. The officers are all con­scientious and will do anything for the fraternity. Cooperation is splendid and whenever volunteers are called for to help in some project the response is gratifying. The Senior men seem to lose interest and sit back and let the rest of the chapter do the work.

Report on the Year

On May 17, 1930, Epsilon Chapter of Sigma Tau was com­posed of 30 faculty and honorary members and 46 actives. Thirty-one undergraduates and one faculty member were pledged this year and were all initiated. One undergraduate was on the track team and his initiation was held over from last year. Meetings were held every two weeks throughout the school year. The av­erage attendance at meetings during the year was about thirty.

Twenty-five actives will receive degrees this spring and in all probabilities will not return to school next fall:

• Gordon C. Nonken EE General Electric Co. 

• Lawrence N. Lydick EE General Electric Co. 

• Arlie L. Coats EE General Electric Co. 

• John S. Rhodes EE Chicago Central Sta. Institute

• James W. Schwanke EE Chicago Central Sta. Institute

• Bruce R. Prentice EE Chicago Central Sta. Institute

• Wm. Boggess EE General Electric Co. 

• James W. Ingraham EE General Electric Co. 

• J. Harold Karr EE

• Harold G. Mangelsdorf EE Mass. Institute of Tech

• Irwin R. Stenzel EE

• Fred Hederhorst ME Humble Oil Co., Houston, Tex. 

• Robert H. Russell ME Procter & Gamble Soap Co., K.C. 

• Vernon Beck ME Western Electric Co., Chicago 

• John R. Coleman ChE Eastman. Kodak Co., Rochester 

• Henry J. Barre AE Iowa State College, Grad. Work

• Herbert N. Stapleton AE

• Howard W. Baker AE

• Charles L. Brainard ArE

• Ralph W. Freeman FME

• Curtis F. Clayton CE

• Herman C. Cowdery CE

• Russell L. Hartman CE

• Howaid J. Jobe CE Underhill Const. Co.

• Austin Morgan CE

Harold E. Trekell was awarded a medal for having the sec­ond highest scholastic average of any Junior Electrical.

The following Sigma Tau’s were initiated into Phi Kappa Phi:

• Howard Coleman 

• Russell Hartman 

• Harold Karr

Irwin Stenzel won a medal for having the second highest scholastic average on a Senior Electrical. Martin K. Eby ’29 was awarded the A. S. C. E. award this year.

Ethel Eberhart, an Architectural Engineer, won the Fresh­man Sigma Tau medal. She is the first woman that has won the medal, and had the highest average of any Freshman in Engin­eering since the school was founded, 2.94. The basis for grad­ing is A-3, B-2, C-1.

Epsilon Chapter is not in a favorable position to sponsor any sports or to participate in any itself. The Ags suggested a push ball contest with the Engineers as a pan of the program of Ag Fair. The proposition was suggested at a Sigma Tau meet­ing and was very favorably commented upon. A captain was selected, LeRoy Kepley, an initiate this spring, and the contest was held. The score was tied one to one.

Last year Sigma Tau saw the need for an Engineers' Li­brary. Bruce Prentice was appointed head of a committee to investigate the proposition and much was accomplished. This year the room was obtained for the library, light fixtures were purchased and installed, drapes were bought by the fraternity and put in the library, In cooperation with a faculty committee shelves were made and the various magazines received in the engineering division were catalogued and placed in the library. New radiators were purchased by the fraternity and placed in the room. This library is now the pride of the engineering di­vision and represents a typical service of the fraternity. In honor to the service to the college the library is called “Sigma Tau Li­brary”.

For several years the engineers have wanted to finish the name of the college that was started on a large hill just south of Manhattan. In 1921 a large “K”, about eighty by sixty, was built of reinforced concrete on a nearly perpendicular slope of a large hill near Manhattan. This year the idea was suggested that the engineers add the letter “S”. The idea was presented in Sigma Tau meeting and met with instant approval. C. M. Rhodes was appointed by the fraternity to serve as the engin­eers’ representative on a committee to promote the project. Brother Rhodes in the next meeting of the fraternity appointed a number of the brothers to help him in the arranging for mater­ials and in the actual construction of the “S”. C. C. Parrish was appointed to be in charge of the actual construction. Two days were spent in the construction of the letter and the result is cer­tainly gratifying. Sigma Tau was the real promoter of the work and all of the leaders in the construction work were Sigma Taus. The chapter feels that this was the biggest thing it has accom­plished and every active is proud of the success of the project.

The chapter delegate to the conclave is Kenneth D. Grimes, the president of the local chapter. He is a Junior in Electrical Engineering. Brother Grimes is very active in school activities, is President of Sigma Tau, Sec. of Open House this year, Man­ager of Open House next year, Member of Steel Ring (Local professional Eng. Frat.), Business Manager of Kansas State Engineer, Treasurer of Junior Class, member of Y. M. C. A. Board of Directors, and is Second Vice-president of A. I. E. E. He is a very good student and won a medal for having the third highest average for a freshman in engineering and he also re­ceived a Phi Kappa Phi Certificate for excellent work while a freshman.

It has become my pleasant duty to represent Epsilon Chapter at the Twelfth Biennial Conclave of Sigma Tau. I, therefore, ask your con­sideration of the following report of Epsilon Chapter.

Since the fall of 1930, when the Eleventh Biennial Conclave met, Epsilon Chapter has initiated 52 men into active membership and one faculty mem­ber to honorary membership. Of this number, 28 active and one honorary were initiated during the school term of 1930-1931, and the remaining 24 during 1931-1932. Nine seniors were taken in in 1930-1931, and only three in 1931-1932. The number elected to Sigma Tau each year is not definitely fixed—it is governed by the considerations of maintaining a certain exclu­siveness fitting with Sigma Tau’s position of an outstanding honor organ­ization, and at the same time of excluding as few really desirable men as possible. This past year the names of 100 junior and senior engineers were on the eligibility list—24 of these were initiated into the chapter, as has been stated; 17 the first semester and 7 the second, two elections a year being customary at Epsilon Chapter.

This eligibility list just mentioned is prepared before each election by a committee that gets its data from the records of the registrar. The eligibility list prepared by this committee includes the name of every junior and senior engineer who has at the time a point average of over 1.5, where 1 point corresponds to the grade of C, 2 points to the grade of B, and 3 points to the grade of A. This lower limit of scholastic standing was accepted on the recommendation of a committee investigating the situation in 1930, and although opinions on whether or not the average of 1.5 divides the upper one-third from the lower two-thirds vary, the general opinion among students and faculty is that the line of demarcation is at least not too low. Also, the tendency in electing new men is to avoid choosing those too near the division point; for example, last year the lowest average of all men initiated was 1.61.

The scholastic rating of the chapter is high; the first semester of last year Sigma Tau was rated as seventh among all organizations at Kansas State, and the second semester was rated as sixth among all organizations. The point average of last year’s initiates was 2.126 as determined by the system already explained. As a further example of the high scholarship rating of the group, of the 16 men elected from the Division-of Engineering to Phi Kappa Phi, which considers scholarship alone, nine were active Sigma Tau’s.

After the eligibility lists have been prepared, they are taken to the heads of the various departments in the Division of Engineering for approval. After election, the names of those elected are taken to the Dean and the Assistant Dean of the Division" for final approval. The names appearing on the eligibility list are placed before the chapter some two weeks before the actual election. At the time of election, the same list is read by the Sphinx and by acclamation it is decided which names shall be voted upon. Voting is done by means of playing cards - red signifying election and black rejected.

According to the by-laws (Art. IV, Sec. 6) of the Sigma Tan fraternity, all candidates for initiation are required to obtain the signatures of all 

active, honorary and alumni members of Sigma Tau in school before initiation. Pledges of Epsilon Chapter are usually allowed a week for this as the list is rather long. During this week each pledge is required to wear a four-inch rail section suspended from his neck by a rope covered with blue and white ribbon. Said rail section is painted black with the gold letters Sigma Tau on the sides. In addition to this, uniformity of dress is required of the pledges during this period-this usually takes the form of riding pants, boots and leather jacket. Actives normally seem to regard this so-called “Hell” week as offering a splendid opportunity for having cars washed and sundry, other jobs done, although I do not know exactly where the idea had its origin. Initiation is, I regret to say, still a bit informal at Epsilon Chapter, although the tendency is toward less and less informality. As far as I have been able to determine from the past two presidents, a new ritual eliminating such informality was promised to the chapter, but this never put in an appearance. Hence, initiations are conducted in accordance with the old ritual which makes no specific provision against informality.

Initiations and meetings are held in the chapter room which, incidentally is not the same chapter room that the organization occupied several years ago. At that time a room in a wing of the Engineering Building was given over to. Sigma Tau, but at the beginning of school last fall the room was badly needed for classes and so the chapter was forced to move. A new chapter room was found in a recently constructed Bible College just off the campus. The new room is about 19 by 25 feet in size and has been furnished with a rug, two tables, a number of straight chairs, a davenport, a Morris chair for the Sphinx and a secretary in which all the chapter records are kept, in addition to these furnishings, the Sigma Tau emblems—pyramid and rail section—as well as a Holy Bible, rest on the table before the Sphinx, and on the wall behind him hangs a skin with the Sigma Tau crest on it. The walls have been decorated with framed pictures of active chapters of former years. The rent of this room is $25.00 for a year.

One activity of Sigma Tau that has become an annual affair is Sigma Tau Open House, to which are invited all eligible juniors and seniors in the Division of Engineering shortly before the fall election to membership. It takes the form of a general get-together where actives, non-members and faculty mix freely. Refreshments are invariably served and afterwards short talks by different faculty members and officers of the fraternity are in order. In years past Open House has been held in the old chapter room—last year, however, it was held in the Engineers' Library and I rather imagine it will be held there again this fall as the size of the- crowd precludes the use of our present chapter room. Open House serves well its purpose of allowing the active members to become better acquainted with the prospective candidates for election.

An activity participated in by Sigma Tau last winter for the first time was the giving of “Engineers' Alloy" in cooperation with Steel Ring, a local honorary engineering society. This function was also a mixer, but it was on a much larger scale than Sigma Tau Open House, for instead of being limited to the upper third of juniors and seniors it was open to all engineers—freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors. It was necessarily held in the gymnasium. Boxing and wrestling matches were added attractions.

and the inevitable cider and doughnuts were served as refreshments. Short talks on Sigma Tau and Steel Ring were made by members of the engineer­ing faculty and by the presidents of the two organizations. Last year, as in former years, Epsilon Chapter gave at a chapel, where other awards were given to honor students, three medals—gold, silver and bronze—to the three sophomores who in their freshman year made the highest grades in the engineering division. In this way Sigma Tau is doing its part to encourage freshmen engineers to put forth their best efforts toward the attaining of high scholastic records.

An additional activity to which Epsilon Chapter devotes considerable time is the Engineers' Open House. This is not to be confused with the Sigma Tau Open House previously mentioned—Engineers’ Open House is an annual exposition presented by the entire division of engineering, and in that light cannot be regarded as a Sigma Tau project; but because of the fact that the manager of Engineers’ Open House is invariably chosen from the ranks of Sigma Tau, and also that a great majority of the committee responsible for the organization and presentation of Engineers' Open House are Sigma Tau’s, it can be truthfully said that much credit for the huge success that Open House annually achieves is due to active Sigma Taus.

While on the subject of general school activities participated in by Sigma Tau, it can be mentioned that a majority of the officers of various departmental organizations, including the American Society of Agricultural Engineers, the American Society of Civil Engineers, the American Institute of Electrical Engineers, and the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, are and have been Sigma Tau’s. Four of the five members of the managing board of the Kansas State Engineer, the division’s publication, are Sigma Taus, as are eight of the eighteen members of the staff. The Kansas State Engineering Association, which embraces all departments in the Divi­sion of Engineering, chose four of its five officers from the ranks of Epsilon Chapter.

Last year, Epsilon Chapter had two banquets, one after each of the fall and spring elections to membership. It was a poor idea from a financial viewpoint as the cost of the banquets amounted to a large portion of the receipts from the initiation of new members, and as a result funds available for other uses were diminished. For this reason, there will probably be but one banquet given this year as has been the custom in years past. At the spring banquet last year a small charge was made, which amounted to about 20 percent of the total cost.

Attendance at regular meetings was good for the greater part of last winter, but attendance at the last few meetings last spring fell off per­ceptibly due to several reasons. Chief among these is the tendency for the men graduating to sit back and let affairs be handled by the juniors they have elected. Another reason for the fall in attendance toward the last of the year lies undoubtedly in the fact that schoolwork becomes heaviest at that time. Meetings are announced by sending printed cards to all members through the college post office—possibly a more personal manner of announcing these meetings might bring attendance to a higher point, but it would be a difficult matter where there are anywhere from 25 to 50 members to notify. The idea of fining members who did not attend has been introduced, but the consensus of opinion is that the fines would be exceedingly difficult to collect. It might be that dinner or luncheon meetings would receive better attendance, a matter which probably will be considered at future meetings.

With regard to future plans, one idea that was mentioned last year and which is sure to be brought up again this year is the flood lighting of the 213-foot concrete smokestack behind the Engineering Building. This stack has been illuminated several times in the past for Engineers’ Open House and as it is dead white it stands out very vividly when so lighted.

Inasmuch as Engineers’ Alloy, which was inaugurated last year, was such a success, it probably will be given again.

Work on the completion of the Engineers’ Library, begun several years ago by Epsilon Chapter and discontinued temporarily about a year ago, willprobably be resumed. The library is complete as regards fixtures, tables, chairs, shelves, and the like, but much can be done with regard to making the assortment of periodicals and reference books more complete.

Another matter which will probably be passed on by the chapter in the near future is that of elections. Epsilon Chapter has been accustomed to having two elections for membership--one in the fall and one in the spring, as has 'been mentioned. Possibly only one election to membership will be held in the future, as, of course, those men who are, elected in the spring never have a chance to hold office in the organization as the election of officers occurs before they are initiated.

The financial statement for last year follows: ‘The balance brought forward to last fall was $84.70. Receipts of $25.25 for each of 24 men initiated last year amounted to $606.00. Receipts from charge made those attending banquet last spring amounted to $15.75, which makes a total of $706.45. The principal disbursements during the past year were as follows: Grand Council, $15.25 for each initiate, total of $366.00. For two pages in  the Royal Purple, the college yearbook, $40.00. For Engineers’ Alloy, in  cooperation with Steel Ring, $20.00. Rent of chapter room, $25.00. banquet, $67.00 approximately; spring banquet, $75.00 approximately. freshman medals, $15.00. The total disbursements amounted to $634.93, leaving a present balance of $71.52 with which to start this year.

Stuart R. Mudge,

President, Epsilon Chapter.

The first meeting of the year was held at the chapter room, located in the Manhattan Bible College, on September 23, 1933. On November 10, 1932, Epsilon Chapter of Sigma Tau held a smoker at the Community House for men who were eligible for election to Sigma Tau. Members of the engineering faculty made short talks and refreshments were served.

On December 2, 1932, fourteen men completed their week of probation, as required by the chapter, and were initiated into Epsilon Chapter.

The annual Engineers’ Open House was held March 17th and 18th. Sigma Tau voted to finance some feature of the display as funds for the exhibition were very low. As a result, Professor Cady, from the chemistry department of Kansas University, was secured to give an illustrated lecture on “Liquid Air." The lecture was well attended and was one of the high spots of the two days' activities. Mr. Eugene Peltier, C.E., ’34, was in charge of the arrangements for the lecture. Sigma Tau also provided a rest room and lounge for the comfort of those attending Open House. Of the forty-seven men on the various Open House committees, thirty-two were either members of Sigma Tau or pledges awaiting initiation.

Twelve men were initiated into Sigma Tau on March 20th. Spring initiation is always held immediately after Open House in order that the pledges may be required to help with the work of Open House.

At the election of officers in March, the following men were selected to carry on the work next year:

President, Clair N. Palmer.

Vice-President, Edgar A. Cooper.

Secretary, Vorras A. Elliott.

Treasurer, Harold R. Heckendorn.

Corresponding Secretary, Cecil Arens.

Historian, Dean E. Swift.

Faculty Advisor, Prof L. V. White.

At the annual scholarship recognition day, May 5, 1933, Sigma Tau presented gold, silver and bronze medals to the three sophomore engineers who made the highest scholastic averages during their freshman year.

H. H. McCord and R. J. Alexander were members of the Student Council, executive body of the Student Governing Association.

E. J. Peltier was president of the Student Branch of the American Society of Civil Engineers for the fall semester and E. E. Comstock was in charge for the spring semester.

In the electrical department, S. R. Mudge was president of 

Student Branch of the American Institute of Electrical Engineers for the fall semester and I. E. McDougal for the spring semester.

R. C. Besler was president of the Student Branch of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers for the year 1932-33.

J. P. Woolcott was president of the Society of Milling Industry. 

I. E. McDougal was president of Scarab, senior men’s organization.

Three outstanding members of Sigma Tau are S. R. Mudge, R. J. Alexander and M. H. Davison. They have all been active in Sigma Tau, but what they are known for most is their outstanding activity in engineering affairs and other school activities.

Brother Mudge is retiring president of Sigma Tau. His term of office has been very successful, as can be seen from the various activities successfully carried out the past year by Sigma Tau. Brother Mudge is also retiring president of the Kansas State Engineering Association. In addition to the above honors given him students, the faculty voted him the outstanding engineer of Kansas State this year. He has also been elected to Phi Kappa Phi.

Brother Alexander was the manager of the Engineers’ Open House. Much of the success of Open House this year was due to Brother Alexander’s tireless efforts and resourcefulness. The past year he has been a member of the Student Governing Association.

Brother Davison has, for the past year, been editor of the Kansas State Engineer. His efforts and ability have made the magazine one of the best in recent years although the money available was considerably less. He has also been very active in any project which Sigma Tau has sponsored, and also in the American Society of Civil Engineers. Outside of the engineering division, Mr. Davison was president of the music fraternity, Phi Mu Alpha.

Another worthy senior of the graduating class is Vorras Elliott, who has been an outstanding student during his three years at Kansas State College. Vorras is past secretary of Sigma Tau and past president of Steel Ring, local honorary engineering fraternity. Vorras was interested in Mechanical Engineering and will graduate with a B.Sc. in M. E. this June.

He was president of the College Band, secretary of Blue Key, vice-president of his social fraternity, Alpha Kappa Lambda, and elected into Dynamis, a local honorary organization and also to the College Y. M. C. A. Board.

Vjorras has received honors since his freshman year. He was elected to receive freshman Phi Kappa Phi honors, and later in his senior year he was elected to membership in that organization. He held the following offices: President student branch of A. S. M. E., manager of the Engineers’ Open House, associate editor of the Kansas State Engineer, and vice-president of the Christian Endeavor of the Christian church.

While Vorras has taken part in many outside activities, he has worked his way through school and has been an outstanding student on the campus.

Hal Poole is another outstanding senior and member of Sigma Tau. Hal will graduate this spring from the department of Electrical Engineering. His interest in Kansas State College can be measured by the activities which he has participated in. He was manager of the Engineering Prom, which proved to be the largest school dance of the year, and also the best ever held. He was chairman of the student branch of the A. I. E. E., and went to Texas this spring for their annual convention. Hal was elected to Phi Kappa Phi, and was on the engineering council for 1933-1934. On May 4th he was given the silver Electrical Engineering Medal for being the second highest rank­ing senior in the Electrical Engineering division.

Though Hal was not in school in Kansas State College for the first two years of his college education he has made a host of friends.

Among the Sigma Tau men, of the senior class, who grad­uated this year, the following have been outstanding in their respective groups: In the Electrical Engineering division were E. A. Cooper and Cecil Arens; Lyle Smelser and Hal McCord, Civil Engineers, are now with the State Highway Department; Hugh Maxwell was quite prominent in campus life while at Kansas State College; and Clair Hulbert, who is now with the extension department of the College, is doing very well in his new work.

The members of the active Chapter of Sigma Tau extend best wishes to our graduating members and wish them success in their future undertakings.

Leslie W. King,

Chapter Historian.

Epsilon Chapter of Sigma Tau is by far the most outstanding honorary organization in the engineering division. Election to Sigma Tau carries much more weight with students of engineering on our campus than elec­tion to any other honorary organization, except, perhaps, the all-school honorary' scholarship fraternity, Phi Kappa Phi. In many ways, election to Sigma Tau is considered a higher honor than election to Phi Kappa Phi because such election carries the distinction of sociability and practicality as well as that of a high grade average.

As an honorary organization, Sigma Tau is the guiding light of the engineering division in many of its extracurricular activities. Our chapter combines with Steel Ring each year in the promulgation of Engineers’ Alloy, a social get-together for all the students in the engineering division. Through this event we expect to become better acquainted with our fresh­man engineers and to promote a spirit of unity among the various depart­ments of the division, as well as to give our freshman engineers an oppor­tunity to become acquainted with many of the members of our faculty.

Each year Sigma Tau elects a junior engineer to the secretary of our Open House, and the following year he becomes the president in natural succession. Open House is our engineering show for the public. It attracts more people to our campus than any other event except possibly the K. U.-Kansas State or the Nebraska-Kansas State football games. Every member of Sigma Tau has a large part in the actual administration of Open House activities. Each member is assigned to a committee, and through these committees the actual work of preparing for Open House is accomplished. Brother Dean Swift will be the president of Open House this year, and we expect to make it a bigger and better event than ever before. Brother Vorras Elliott was president of the affair last year, and he did a very excellent job of making it a success in a rather bad year.

Each year during the first part of the fall semester, our chapter holds a smoker for the benefit of those students who will be eligible for election to Sigma Tau during the year. I was present as a prospective member at this smoker last fall, and I had a very enjoyable evening. The turnout of both faculty and student members of the chapter was quite satisfactory. This smoker gives the members of the chapter a much better chance to become personally acquainted with a great many of the students who are eligible for election to Sigma Tau.

Our final group get-together at the end of the year is our annual spring banquet in honor of the year’s pledges. Two years ago, this banquet was held at the Wareham Hotel, and last year at the College Cafeteria. This has always been a stag affair and will probably continue to be such. Last spring we had a dance after the banquet for those members who wished to attend, and a rather large number turned out. To the dance each active member was given the privilege of inviting an extra couple, and those with dates were given the additional privilege of one stag bid. The dance was financed through the assessment of 75 cents per member, said assessment being compulsory for each and every member.

Epsilon Chapter seeks to promote scholarship among our underclassmen in the engineering division by giving each year a gold, silver, and bronze medal respectively to the first, second, and third ranking men in scholar­ship at the end of their freshman year. It is considered quite an honor to be the recipient of one of these medals.

During the past two years Epsilon Chapter of Sigma Tau has included most of the outstanding students in the division. Stewart Mudge of the class of ’33 and Clair Palmer of the class of ’34 were selected as the outstanding senior students in engineering for the years shown. Each man was Sphinx of this chapter at the time of his selection as outstanding student. In the ’33 graduating class, according to Assistant Dean Durland, nine of the ten students having the highest grades in the senior class were members of Sigma Tau and the other one of the ten was a girl.

In the 1933 graduating class there were ten members of our chapter who were also members of Phi Kappi Phi, as follows: O. A. Harger, Harold Hickendorn, J. P. Long, Stuart R. Mudge, Donald Christy, L. A. Gore, J. W. Haupt, E. J. Peltier, and H. K. Tatum. In the 1934 graduat­ing class there were eight members of Sigma Tau who were also members of Phi Kappa Phi, as follows: Clair Palmer, Vorras Elliott (who grad­uates this year), Donald Gentry, J. E. Veatch, George Pinter, Lloyd Scott, Hugh Maxwell, Hal Poole, and Burl Zimmerman.

Members of our chapter in the department of architecture have won the following honors during the past two years: O. S. Ekdahl, the American Institute of Architecture award for general excellence in architecture for 1932 and 1933; C. H. Black, the same award for 1933 and 1934. R. J. Alexander, the Alpha Rho Chi award for leadership and professional ability for 1932 and 1933. C. H. Black won prizes on artwork entered at the Hutchinson State Fair and the Kansas Free Fair during both the 1932-33 and 1933-34 terms. Burl Zimmerman won the American Institute of Architecture award for general excellence in architectural engineering during the 1933-34 term. R. J. Alexander was president of the architects’ Gargoyle Club during 1932-1933, and C. H. Black held the same office for 1933-34. R. J. Alexander was manager of Open House for 1932-33.

Members of our chapter in the department of civil engineering have won the following awards during the past two years. The award of one year’s paid membership in A.S.C.E. given each year to the senior having the highest scholastic average during his four years of college was won in 1933 by Eugene Peltier and in 1934 by Donald Gentry. The following men have been presidents of our student chapter of the A.S.C.E.: Eugene Peltier, fall 1932-33; Dean Swift, fall 1933-34, and Harold Weathers, spring 1933-34.

The following Sigma Tau members won outstanding honors in the department of electrical engineering: S. R. Mudge won both the junior and senior medal for being the most outstanding electrical engineer, and Clair Palmer received the same awards. Both these men were offered student engineering courses by General Electric Company upon graduation. Clair Palmer was cadet colonel of the R.O.T.C. at Kansas State, and busi­ness manager of the Kansas State Engineer. S. R. Mudge was president of the Engineering Association during 1932-33. Hal W. Poole received the senior award for being the second outstanding student in the department during 1933-34, and he was also offered a student engineering course by General Electric Company. The following were chairmen of the student chapter of the A.I.E.E.: S. R. Mudge, 1932-33, Clair Palmer, 1932-33, and Hal W. Poole, 1933-34.

The following members of Sigma Tau in the department of mechanical engineering won outstanding honors: Vorras Elliott, 1933-34; Russell Smith, 1932- 33; and Lynn Gore, 1932-33, were chairmen of the student chapter of the A. S. M. E. Vorras Elliott is editor of the Kansas State Engineer this year, president of Steel Ring for 1934-35, manager of Open House,1933- 34, and president of the college band during 1932-33. He was also offered a student engineering course at General Electric.

There are no student awards in the departments of chemical and agri­cultural engineering at our institution. J. Emery Veatch was president of the agricultural engineering seminar during the spring, 1932-33. Paul Warner was president of the chemical engineering seminar during the spring, 1932-33.

We have no chapter record as to the professional advancements which alumni members of our chapter have received recently. As nearly as I can determine we have no record whatever concerning alumni members after they have graduated. C. A. Logan, an honorary member of our chapter, received a professional degree from Kansas State College in June, 1934.

During the past two years we have had the privilege of holding our meetings in a private room in the Manhattan Bible College. For the use of this room a donation of $20 was made for ’32-33 and $25 for '33-34. We were unfortunate in that we will be unable to continue the use of the room for the coming year since an unusual enrollment at the Bible College made it necessary for them to have the use of the room. In all probability it will be necessary for us to secure a room in the Engineering Building this year in which to hold our meetings, which arrangement will not be so satisfactory as that of the private room.

It has always been the custom of our chapter to hold all meetings in the form and order given by the Ritual. At our meeting all bills and items of general interest are brought up and discussed. A great deal of the actual planning and investigating of the chapter is accomplished through the committee system, the recommendations of the committee being passed upon by the entire chapter in session. We ordinarily hold our meetings every other week, either on Tuesday or Thursday nights. Special meetings are called for urgent business and the initiations of members.

Due to a laxity in the attendance at meetings during the spring of 1933, an amendment on attendance requirements, which provided for a committee on delinquent attendance, was passed. The amendment on attendance re­quirements states that:

Section A: 

1. In order to vote on new members, an active member must attend at least four meetings since the previous election of new members.

2. If an active member is absent from three consecutive regular meet­ings. he must pay the full price of his plate at the first banquet following his delinquencies.

3. An active member who does not attend at least one meeting other than initiation during the semester will be subject to expulsion.

Section B: 

1. The committee on delinquent attendance shall be composed of the faculty advisor, the president of the chapter, and three additional active members in good standing who are to be elected by the chapter at the first regular meeting of the school year.

Section C: The duties of the committee are:

1. The committee shall meet each alternate month, and at any other time they deem necessary.

2. It shall be the duty of the committee to bring the charges against any delinquent member who is subject to expulsion.

3. The committee shall give the delinquent a fair trial with due con­sideration to reasonable excuses.

4. New initiates shall be informed at the time of their initiation of the existence of this clause in the by-laws.

The addition of the above amendment to the by-laws was quite satis­factory in bringing out the members to the meetings. A great part of our laxness in attendance comes during the latter part of the spring semester on the part of graduation seniors; the attendance of new members is entirely satisfactory except in one or two cases.

Epsilon chapter elects each year between thirty and thirty-five new mem­bers with eighteen to twenty ordinarily being elected the first semester. The carry-over of old members usually gives us a total of about fifty members. During the year 1932-33, the total membership was forty-seven, while during 1933-34, the total membership was fifty. In addition to the undergraduate members we had in 1933-34 two graduate members who attended meetings regularly.

We have continued to hold a mild “Hell Week” for pledges. Pledges are required to carry around their necks, on a piece of ribbon-wrapped rope, a four-inch length of sixty-pound rail painted black with the letters Sigma Tau on each side. They are required to dress in old clothes with boots and boot pants. Each man is required to carry a roster with the names of all active, faculty, and alumni members available, and to secure the signature of each member. In addition, they are required to obtain a standard hickory paddle and engrave upon it in a workmanlike manner the letters Sigma Tau, the year of initiation, Kansas State, and their names. These paddles really make a very good memento of the occasion. Pledges are also required to carry a supply of peanuts, chewing gum, mints, and cigarettes to be dispensed freely to members.

Last year Epsilon Chapter decided to place more stress on the pledges’ having a thorough knowledge of the constitution. To this end, each active member gave the student a few questions to answer on the constitution before signing his roster. Then to determine whether he knew his con­stitution or not, each pledge was given a written examination. Fifteen or twenty questions on the constitution were prepared, and it was required that he make an acceptable grade on this test before being initiated.

During the spring semester the pledges are required to do a large part of the work in decorating the gymnasium for the Engineers’ Ball, which is a part of Engineers’ Open House. Their labor in this connection is of great assistance to the Engineers’ Ball, committee of Open House.

In the matter of election of members, we use the black ball system. In conducting elections the names of all eligible students are read off, and if any one member wishes to vote on a student his name is checked. After going through the entire list, we usually leave forty or fifty names to be voted on. We then go through the list, voting on each man in succes­sion, with the ruling that a student receiving black balls in excess of a certain number previously set is disqualified. Those students receiving black balls below this number are brought up for discussion and again voted on, in some cases as many as three or four times. Ordinarily only four or five are elected upon the first ballot, and the election of the re­mainder entails much discussion. Members are asked not to allow per­sonal grievances, which have no bearing on the student’s eligibility for membership, interfere with their voting.

During the school year 1932-33, there were one hundred and eighty-seven seniors, and one hundred and eighty-nine juniors enrolled in the division. A membership of forty-seven in our chapter was thirty-eight percent of the total number of junior and senior students ranking in the upper third in scholarship. During the 1933-34 term our membership of 50 was 45 percent of the upper third of 176 seniors and 158 juniors.

Membership in our chapter certainly does serve as an incentive to better work on the part of the students who are members. We expect the mem­bers of our chapter to be outstanding in scholarship and leadership in the division. We have no ruling concerning the scholarship standing of elected members, but it is tacitly understood by all members that they are to do the best work that they possibly can, and that their scholarship standing must not be appreciably lowered. That we have attained this end is in a large manner borne out by the large percentage of engineering members of Phi Kappa Phi who are members of our chapter.

Concerning the matter of sociability, we have our annual smoker, our annual banquet, and especially our engineers’ alloy. At the engineers alloy' our members contact as many as possible of the members of the undergraduate body. At our annual smoker we contact all upperclassmen who are eligible, for membership. The tact is constantly brought before the-chapter that Sigma Tau men shall be well-liked on the campus. In our Engineering Open House program, the members of our chapter work with the faculty, thereby promoting better cooperation and a measure of fellowship with faculty members. In the matter of the engineers’ alloy, members of our chapter work with Steel Ring, and thereby develop' a spirit of fellowship with a number of students whom we would not have a chance to know personally.

Our Engineers’ Open House and our chapter meetings do much to develop the practicality of our members. We have very little resources with which to carry on our Open House work, and this handicap makes the presentation of really good exhibits quite a problem. Members of our chapter who are in charge of this work get a great deal of practical experience in model making, in decorations, and in the handling of a number of co-workers to the best advantage in a short time. The decoration of our gymnasium for the annual dance as a part of Open House is cer­tainly a very practical problem since the building is in very poor condi­tion. An example of our work in this connection can. be taken from last year’s dance, at which a huge shamrock, standing about twenty feet high and of about the same width, was constructed of wall board in sections and placed against the balcony of the gym. The rim of the shamrock was covered with glue, powdered glass, and white sand; the hollow center being filled with green tissue paper. Drapes were hung from the balcony around the entire interior of the gymnasium, including special drapes be­hind the shamrock. Green curtains used to cover the fence across the end of the stadium at football games were utilized for the wall drapes, and curtains from the stage in the auditorium were used behind the sham­rock. Special lights were used to bring out the color scheme and hide the upper gymnasium walls as far as possible. It was a very presentable ballroom, receiving much favorable comment from those present. Our Open House presents many such problems as this.

In our meetings many problems of practical importance come up con­cerning the welfare of the chapter. By encouraging very general discus­sion of all of these problems, we believe that we are giving the members of our chapter something valuable in practicality. We also work in har­mony with the staff of our student publication, the Kansas State Engineer, and encourage our members to take part in its edition. In this capacity we think that we can develop practicality in our members through their actually handling the finances and editing this publication.

The chief contributions which our chapter is making to Kansas State College are: First, through our Open House we advertise the engineering division of the college; second, membership in our chapter is a goal which leads many students to put forth their best efforts in order to have a good scholastic standing and thereby be eligible for membership. The first contribution helps to keep up the student enrollment in the division and is thus a help in building up the ranking of the division and college. The second is a direct aid to the students in helping keep up our division’s scholastic average, thus turning out better trained engineers.

Funds are collected from the new members upon initiation and by special assessments upon the members on rare occasions. Payments by new mem­bers are collected before initiation as provided for in the constitution. The local chapter initiation fee for each new member is $5.00. Last year, a special assessment of $.75 per member was made for the purpose of financing the dance following the spring banquet. We do not maintain any loan funds.

All bills must be approved by the chapter .in session before being paid, a majority vote of the members present being necessary to approve the bill. The money is kept in the First National Bank, and all bills, upon approval, are paid with a check by the treasurer. In urgent cases where a bill must be paid, and it is not possible to bring the bill before the chapter in session, bills are paid upon the approval of the president and treasurer of the chapter, such approval being in the form of a written order. Such bills are presented, and a statement as to the reason of pay­ment made at the next regular chapter session. The treasurer’s books are audited at the end of each year.

The records of the chapter are complete except for any record of alumni members, and I have found them in good order.

In conclusion I would like to present the following for consideration:

1. In the case of students entering this college from another insti­tution, the question has arisen as to how long these members should be in attendance at this institution before election to Sigma Tau. Should their grade average as to their ranking in the upper third be reckoned on the basis only of grades made in this college, or on the basis of grades made in this college and in the student’s former college?

Fred J. Benson,

President

The members of Epsilon Chapter of Sigma Tau feel a great need for a better acquaintance with our brothers in other schools. Since we cannot all become personally acquainted, it is a fine thing to exchange ideas and tell of activities through the pages of The Pyramid.

Epsilon Chapter is the only national organization and is by far the most outstanding organization in the Engineering division. It is held in high regard by the engineering students and nearly all desire membership in its ranks. Many students value election to Sigma Tau above that of Phi Kappa Phi because such election recognizes the practical and social engineer as well as high scholarship.

Epsilon Chapter sponsors and participates in many activities during the school year. This year our chapter sponsored a Smoker for those students who were eligible to election. This Smoker was held shortly after school opened and afforded an opportunity to become better acquainted with the prospective members. During the second semester we combined with Steel Ring, local honorary engineering organization, in a mixer for the whole engineering student body. This mixer is quite appropriately called Engineers' Alloy. Our Annual Banquet and dance was held April 20 and served as a formal farewell to the graduating members. Alumni members are invited to these functions and each active has the privilege of bringing one other couple to the dance. The banquet, as usual, was a stag dinner for members only.

Outside the social functions, our chapter was very active again this year at the annual Engineers Open House. Epsilon Chapter elects a secre­tary each year for Open House and he becomes manager for the next year. All the members are active workers and constitute about fifty percent of the total committee members in all the departments. There were fifty-five committeemen for the affair. Brother Swift was manager this year and Brother Wherry will succeed him next year.

This year our Chapter was asked to sponsor the dance which is held the evening Open House closes. This dance is the annual St. Pat's Prom and gold rings were presented to the young man and lady who were crowned St Pat and St. Patricia. This Prom is one of the outstanding all-school parties of the year and its success is a gratifying achievement for Sigma Tau. The committee, headed by President Benson, deserves a great deal of credit for their splendid work.

To further scholastic attainment, Epsilon Chapter presents a gold, silver and bronze medal each year to the freshmen who rank first, second and third respectively, in scholarship for the year. The desire, which is felt by many underclassmen, to be elected to Sigma Tau is in itself a great incentive toward better work. Several members of Epsilon Chapter are on the staff of the Engineering publication, The Kansas State Engineer.

This has been a fruitful year for the members of our Chapter regard­ing honors. There were twenty new members initiated the first semester and twelve the second. At the close of the year we have fifty-five members, fourteen of whom will be back next year to carry on the work of the chapter. There were five active members this year who were taking gradu­ate work and they were very helpful in the various activities. In the fall semester, three members were elected to Phi Kappa Phi; there being two others elected from the engineering division. In the second semester all but one of those elected to Phi Kappa Phi were Sigma Tau Members; that one being a young lady. During the year, of those elected in the engineering division, eighty per cent were members of our chapter.

Each year the college holds a special assembly as recognition day to those students who have received special honors. In looking over the list of those receiving honors, in the engineering division it looks like the sec­retary's roll book. Sigma Tau holds such a prominent place on the campus that election to this chapter is listed as one of the awards.

In the Architectural department, three members of our chapter won awards for excellence in Architecture, presented by the American Institute of Architects. One of these was awarded to Brother Winter, our past recording secretary.

In the Agricultural department, members of this chapter were promi­nent in the student chapter of American Society of Agricultural Engineers, making up one-fourth the total number of officers. Brother Hulburt was a candidate for a master’s degree with highest scholastic standing.

In the Civil Engineering- department, four of our brothers were outstanding. Brother Benson, our president for this year, received the award for highest senior scholarship, which is presented each year by the Kansas section, ■ American Society of Civil Engineers. He was an officer in the student chapter of this society. Brother Swift was the cadet colonel of the R. O. T. C. and received the General Pershing Medal for the seventh corps area.' This award carried with it a trip to Washington. Brothers Benson;and Swift were both presented over the radio as outstanding engineering students. Brothers Chappell and Adams placed first and second respectively, in the civil service examinations for this section, held by the bureau of public roads.

Thirty-five per cent of the officers of the student chapter of the American Society of Civil Engineers were members of Epsilon Chapter as are also the president and treasurer for next semester.

Brother Sollenberger received a fellowship and started working toward his master’s degree the second semester.

In the Electrical department, Brother Wherry received a medal for  excellence in all work, in the student chapter of the American Institute of Electrical Engineers, fifty-five percent of the officers were members of Sigma Tau. Brother Maxwell took graduate work in this department. He, with Brother Hulburt and Prof. L. V. White, our advisor, spent much effort in securing permission to place a Sigma Tau monument on the campus. We are pleased that the design, location and other arrangements have been accepted by the college and we will be able to construct this memorial next fall. In harmony with buildings on the campus, the monument will be made of native stone. The design embodies the pyramid, rail section, and eight-pointed star.

In the Mechanical Engineering department, fifteen percent of the officers of the student chapter of American Society of Mechanical Engineers were members of Sigma Tau. Brother Churchill, of the department, was our very efficient treasurer this past year.

Brother Senti, Chemical Engineering, is a candidate for the Sigma Tau scholarship. There are no student awards in Chemical and Agricultural Engineering at this college.

Epsilon Chapter has no definite record of alumni but we feel that action should be taken next year to keep in closer touch with these members. We have held regular meetings, twice monthly, and several special meetings. Most of our meetings have been short, interesting, and confined to the business at hand. As usual, the pledges were given a written, examination on the constitution. Members of Epsilon Chapter were active as officers of the general engineers' association and Brother Swift was a member of the student council.

We did very well this year financially, and were able to sponsor or participate in several activities. The spring banquet and dance were financed by the treasury. The successful outcome of the St. Pat’s Prom, due to good weather and good management, netted approximately two hundred dollars. Our chapter had $208.33 at the beginning of the year and $190.14 is left to begin next year.

L. M. Lovejoy,

President, Epsilon Chapter

Under the capable leadership of Leonard Lovejoy, Epsilon Chapter of Sigma Tau has just completed a very successful year.

During the year we initiated thirty-four new men, giving us a very strong chapter-with which to work, also a promise of a good send-off for next fall.

All of the engineering students eligible for election to Sigma Tau were invited to-the annual Smoker which was held at the Community House on November 11th. R. A. Seaton, Dean of the Engineering Division, gave the main talk of the evening, the remainder of the program consisting of entertainment and refreshments. About 100 students and faculty members were present to enjoy the general get-together which was held after the program; this gave the Sigma Tau actives and prospective members a fine chance to get better acquainted with one another.

The annual Sigma Tau Spring Banquet was held May 1st, at Thompson Hall. Lieut. Col. J. S. Sullivan, Head of the Military Department, gave the main remarks of the evening. Short talks were also given by Bro. L. M. Lovejoy, outgoing President, and Prof. L. V. White, Chapter Ad­visor. The three Sigma Tau medals which are presented annually to outstanding sophomores for scholarship were presented this year at the spring banquet. Usually, the custom has been to present them in the annual “Recognition Day Assembly,” but it was thought that a much better feeling of good-will and a more impressive presentation could be made by presenting them at the banquet. The gold medal was awarded to Aimison Jonnard with an average of 2.97 out of a possible 3 00. Imme­diately following the banquet, a dance was held in Recreation Center for all actives and alumni members of Sigma Tau. We are to lay plans early next year so that the banquet may he held at either the Wareham or Gillett Hotels. 

As has been the custom for some three years, Sigma Tau this year elected from its own membership the Secretary of this year's engineers’ Open House. The man elected to this very important position was Bro. Paul K. Fanning, who will follow up his experience this year by acting as manager of this event in 1937. Fanning has proven that one can be a good engineer and still have time to be outstanding in athletic and other activities. Besides being one of the best tackles Kansas State has ever had on fts varsity football team, he has broken several track records this spring; and, also, is a newly elected member of the Student Council for next year.

The Engineers’ Open House this year, if you can judge by attendance, was the, best ever held at Kansas State. Over 6,000 people parsed the electric “eye” counter at the entrance.

St. Pat’s Prom was held the evening of March 14th, the last day of Open House, and was under the management of Bro. L. M. Lovejov. The dance was broadcast from 10:30 to 11:00 over KSAC, during which time St. Pat and St. Patricia, elected by popular engineering vote, were pre­sented to the dancers. This year, Bro. Bill Mitchell received the honor of being St. Pat. I might also add that Brother Mitchell was editor of the Intake and Exhaust, an engineering scandal sheet which is published an­nually here at Kansas State.

Speaking of publications, the Kansas State Engineer was very ably handled the past year through the management of Bro. Francis Arnoldy, editor, And Tom C. Wherry as business manager. One new feature of the Engineer is a quarter page of Sigma Tau notes which are presented each month in an effort to keep the engineering students aware of the worth-while activities which Sigma Tau is carrying on.

The Kansas State R.O.T.C. unit, comprising approximately 1,500 men, gained a rating of “excellent” in this corps area for its efficient per­formance during the past year. Bro. Perry Wendell, who is slated as Corresponding Secretary, was the student highest in command, being colonel of the entire unit. Brother Wendell and Bro. J. F. Gaumer, next year’s Historian, were both on this year’s rifle team, with Brother Gaumer being elected as the captain of the team for next year.

The Engineering Association at Kansas State is the group of five engi­neers, elective by student vote, who act as the coordinating and unifying group among the engineering organizations. Their election was held in the last month of school, with Sigma Tau men claiming four out of five available offices. Those gaining office were Brothers Fanning, Steele, Noble, Mariner; Brother Steele was elected President.

During the past year, ten engineers, eight of them Sigma Tau members, were elected to Phi Kappa Phi, which takes only the upper 10 percent in scholarship. In competition with other schools, Bro. Tom Skinner pre­sented a paper, “What is Heat?” at the Kansas City A.S.M.E. meeting on March 27th. This paper won second place out of the fifteen presented. Brother Skinner is now at Schenectady where he has a job with General Electric.

Professor Pearce, Head of the Machine Design Department, has been given a fellowship in engineering research at Cornell University next year, where his work will be confined to machine dynamics and aero­dynamics.

Perhaps too much has been said in this letter of the activities of the individuals rather than of the chapter as a whole. The organization, I believe, generally tends to keep up the morale of the engineering division here at Kansas State by sponsoring worth-while activities, and then carry­ing them through to a successful conclusion.

Max L. Lyon,

President, Epsilon Chapter

Sigma Tau at Kansas State College is highly respected by the faculty and officials of the college as a whole, because its projects and energies have been directed so as to be of value to the entire school rather than to a small group. During the past year, a limestone pyramid, built in harmony with all of the buildings on our campus, and located in a small island in the highway in front of the Engineering Building, was presented college by L. M. Lovejoy, President of Epsilon Chapter. This pyramid, the huge concrete K. S. built on the bluffs southeast of Manhattan, and other projects sponsored by the Epsilon Chapter of Sigma Tau, have gained for the Fraternity the good-will and support of the entire school. Moreover, the fact that Sigma Tau does not promote or support political activities has kept our record clear of any of the small factional discords which arise so quickly during election periods. All engineering-political activities at Kansas State are handled by Steel Ring, local honorary engineering fraternity, there being no other national honorary engineering fraternity.

The only new major project completed since the last Conclave was the limestone pyramid; however, several of our activities extend from year to year, and these are being continued. Among these activities are En­gineers’ Open House, originally started by Sigma Tau. This event has grown during the years, until now the attendance at the two-day session is well over 6,000 people. Also St. Pat’s Prom, a Sigma Tau function, but open, to all engineers, is always held in Nichols Gymnasium on the last night of Open House and usually attracts about 300 couples. Engineers Alloy, an annual stag gathering of all the engineers on the hill, was originally sponsored by Steel Ring, but is now supported both by this group and Sigma Tau.

Quite a number of our members have been active in other extra-curricular activities. Among these men, we might mention: Brother Arnoldy, editor of the '35-'36 K. S. Engineer; Brother Wherry, business manager of the '35-'36 K. S. Engineer, manager of 1936 Open House; Brother Wendell, Colonel of the R.O.T.C. unit, comprising some 1,500 men; Brother Fan­ning, manager of 1937 Open House, varsity tackle, varsity track man, and member of the student council.

Membership in our chapter, I believe, serves as an incentive to do better work, because the members realize that they have been elected to member­ship because of their outstanding qualities, and they try to uphold the fine reputation of the Sigma Tau Fraternity, and the trust which Sigma Tau has placed in them. Not to be overlooked, also, is the fellowship, inspira­tion, and acquaintance with the other men in the chapter, for it is an inspiration to know that one is a fraternal brother to some of the finest student engineers which the college has to offer.

Epsilon Chapter strives to encourage scholarship among the freshmen students by presenting scholarship medals each spring to the three sopho­mores who made the highest averages in their freshman year. Interest is stimulated at different times during the year in the Sigma Tau Scholarship which is offered annually.

The chapter meetings usually have free discussion of the general policy of Sigma Tau; planning of future activities; formation of projects which would, be worthwhile to sponsor at the present or some future time; general business such as presentation of bills, etc.; and discussion of the progress being made on current activities. The meetings are held on the first and third Thursdays of each month in Nichols Gymnasium. The chapter room is a literary society room and has plush carpets, raised stage, draperies, and comfortable cushioned chairs, so it is an attractive room for the meetings.

If three unexcused absences are credited to any member, he must pay for his own plate at the Annual Spring Banquet, the chapter paying for the plates otherwise. A constant attempt is made to conduct the business as efficiently as possible so as not to hold the members an undue length of time. The Secretary sends a personal notice to each member at least two days before the meeting reminding him of the time, date, and the purpose of the meeting. Loyalty to Sigma Tau tends to keep up the attendance, and whenever possible, we try to give each member an active part in carrying out the program of the organization so that their interest will be held.

Through our smokers, banquet, spring dance, and other common interests, a great deal of companionship is created among the members and fellow student engineers.

The most outstanding contribution our chapter has made, I feel, is not the fact that we have left a stone monument or a bronze plaque on the campus, but rather, that we have helped create among the engineers, generally, a certain intangible spirit of cooperation and good-will and a deep sense of pride and respect for their particular division.

Among the members graduating during the last two years, a few have gained honors and professional advancements which are worthy of mention: F. J. Benson, President ’34-’35, fellowship to Texas A. & M. College, and he is now in the Materials Testing Laboratory at Purdue University; N. J. Sollenberger, fellowship in Applied Mechanics Department at Kansas State College; W. Creighton, Tunnel Inspector at the Fort Peck Dam; L. M. Love joy, President ’35-’36, bridge construction, Kansas Highway Commission; Fred Senti, fellowship to Johns Hopkins University; Carl Chappell, Bureau of Public Roads, Little Rock, Arkansas.

Considering the entire year, the percentage of the total junior-senior, upper-third students who are members will be from 30 to 35 per cent.

At the meeting before election, names of all eligible students, with their scholastic averages, are presented to the chapter. Restricted discussion is held at which any member may discuss very briefly the qualifications of the candidates. At the election meeting two weeks following, the mem­bers request the names of the men they would like to have balloted. Open discussion is held again upon each man as he comes up for balloting. When all discussion of the candidate has been held, secret voting is held by means of playing card ballots, red to elect, black to reject. The entire list of names is run through in this manner. There are very few instances, if ever, when sufficient members are obtained on the first ballot, so the list is generally gone through once more. However, after the first ballot, the names usually considered are those with less than three “black balls”, although a member may request a second ballot to be held upon any candidate. The discussion of the candidates, which may continue on any of the following ballots, is usually stopped at the discretion of the Sphinx. We usually try to take in about seventeen new members per semester. The only rating scale we have used in the last year has been statements from the heads of the different departments regarding the qualifications of the different men.

We try to adjust the number of E.E.’s, M.E.’s, etc., taken in each semester, so that we get about the same proportion from each department, considering the total enrollment in each.

Our records are complete and in good order.

Our funds are collected, and bills paid by the Treasurer. The bills, before being paid, must be presented in the meeting and upon motion duly passed; then the Secretary and President sign the order which authorizes the Treasurer to pay the bill.

Max Lyon, 

President of Epsilon Chapter

There have been no new projects contemplated for this year outside of repairs for the huge concrete KS letters and the Sigma Tau pyramid in front of the Engineering Building. Among the activities initially started by Sigma Tau, Engineers’ Open House had its greatest success this Spring. Well over 6,000 people attended, and but for constant rain during the two day period, over 10,000 people would have attended. St. Pat’s Sigma Tau function, also had its greatest success this last season, having over 500 couples in attendance.

This huge concrete “KS” faces northwest on a bluff, from which, legend tells us, Coronado once gazed some 400 years ago. Sigma Tau began construction of this impressive monument in 1921, on one of the massivebluffs which almost surround Manhattan. The “K” stood alone until several years later when the project was completed by the addition of the "S". Since then “K” Hill has become one of the landmarks at Kansas State. It has been an annual job for our pledges to clean and paint these letters which are over 80 feet high. The “K” has begun to crack in several places due to erosion of the bluff, and we are planning extensive repairs for the coming year. Epsilon Chapter goes to considerable expense for the upkeep this monument, but we feel that this has been one of our most noteworthy projects.

For the first time since the founding of Sigma Tau at Kansas State College, Epsilon Chapter was host to both the president and secretary, treasurer of the national council. Mr. Hedge and Mr. Sjogren traveled  here from Lincoln, Nebraska, for the dual purpose of presenting honorary membership in the organization to Mr. George S. Knapp, chief engineer Division of Water Resources for the State of Kansas, from Topeka, and to be present for the annual banquet of Epsilon Chapter.

Many of our members have been active in extra-curricular activities. The following is an attempt to list some of them. Brother Bateman, President, A.S.C.E.; Brother Angold, President, Kappa Eta Kappa, and also Chairman, A.I.E.E.; Brother Nielsen, who won A.S.M.E. prize for first place in talk presented in competition with ten men representing most of the colleges in this locality, also President, Delta Sigma Phi; Brother Myers, President, Alpha Kappa Lambda; Brother Gaumer, Captain of State rifle team, received berth on second squad of 1936 All-American rifle team; Brother Rector, President, Kappa Eta Kappa; Brother Fanning, Manager Engineers’ Open House, star in both football and track; Brother Kliewer, Vice-President, A.S.M.E.; Brother Mariner, Vice-President, A.S.C.E.; Brother Peery, Chief Engineer college broadcasting station, KSAC; Brother Steele, President, Engineering Association; Brother Lyon, Business Manager, Kansas State Engineer; Brother Haller, Vice-Presi­dent, Student Council; and Brother Payne,' Treasurer, Student Council.

Membership m our Chapter serves as an incentive to do better work, be­cause the members realize that they have been elected to membership be­cause of their outstanding qualities, and they try to uphold the fine reputation of the Sigma Tau Fraternity, and the trust which Sigma Tau has placed in them, personally. Not to be overlooked, also, is the fellowship, inspiration, and acquaintance with the other men in the Chapter, for it is an inspiration to know that one is a fraternal brother to some of the finest student engineers which the College has to offer.

Epsilon Chapter strives to encourage scholarship among the freshman students by presenting scholarship medals each spring to the three sopho­mores who made the highest averages in their freshman class. Interest is stimulated at different times during the year in the-Sigma Tau scholar­ship which is offered annually.

The Chapter meetings usually have free discussion of the general policy of Sigma Tau; planning of future activities; formation of projects which would be worthwhile to sponsor at the present or some future time; gen­eral, business such as. presentation of bills, etc.; and discussion of the progress being made on current activities. The meetings are held on the first and third Thursdays of each month in Nichols Gymnasium. The Chapter room is a literary society room and has plush carpets, raised stage, draperies, and comfortable cushioned chairs, so it is an attractive room for the meetings.

Through our smokers, banquet, spring dance, and other common in­terests, a great deal of companionship is created among the members and fellow student engineers. One of the most outstanding contributions our Chapter has made, is not the fact that we have left a stone monument or a bronze plaque on the campus, but rather, that we have helped create among; the engineers, generally, a certain intangible spirit of cooperation and good will and a deep sense of pride and respect for their particular division.

The following is a list of members of the 1936 class and the positions that they have now: Donald Bammes, U. S. Forestry Service, Architectural Division, Room 457, Post Office Building, Denver, Colorado. Wilbur Creighton, Tunnels Inspector on Fort Peck Dam Project, Barracks 3304, Fort Peck, Montana. Gene Danford, General Electric Co., Erie, Pa. Donald Garr, General Electric Co., Schenectady, N. Y. Francis Arnoldy, South­western Bell Telephone Co., Kansas City, Mo. Earle Kent, Armour Inst, of Tech., Chicago. Kenneth Sparrow, Westinghouse Electric & Mfg, Co., East Pittsburgh, Pa. L. C. Aicher, Allis-Chalmers Mfg. Co., Milwaukee, Wis. Francis Brenner, Kansas Highway Department. Leonard Lovejoy, State Highway Department, Manhattan, Kansas. Eugene Lill, Phillips Petroleum Company, Bartlesville, Okla. R, F. Adams, Applied Mechanics Department, Kansas State College, Manhattan. Kans. Wesley Maranville, State Highway Department, Topeka, Kansas. Hal Eier, Rural Engineering, Kansas State College, Manhattan, Kansas. William Mitchell, Gulf Oil Corp., Seminole, Okla. John Moore, Oil Well Supply Co., Hutchinson, Kans. George Donecker, Caterpillar Company, Peoria, 111.

The first important highlight of the year in the College of Engineering was the change from the division of engineering to that of division of en­gineering and architecture, recognizing the increased enrollment and importance; of the architecture and architectural engineering courses. The en­gineers moved into second place in enrollment by divisions, only being surpassed by the division of general science.

The highlight of any year at Kansas State is the engineers’ open house. This proved better than its past performances with a larger attendance. Largely responsible for this was open house secretary, Clayton Matney, Sigma Tau, who was assisted by almost the entire chapter as the various members held other important positions in the open house organization. Crowning event of this St. Patrick’s Day celebration was the St. Pat’s Prom, sponsored by Sigma Tau, and featuring Fletcher Henderson and his orchestra. Success of the prom can well be attributed to past president, Lawrence Haller.

Late in the spring semester, the annual banquet was held under the excellent direction of Arthur Bock. Guests were National President Verne Hedge, National Secretary C. A. Sjogren, Lambda Chapter Advisor A. M. Ockerblad, and Lambda Chapter President John Robeson. The Sigma Tau freshman awards were presented to freshmen Robert G. Lake, Joseph J. Redmond and Robert L. Teeter, who rated first, secondhand third, re­spectively.

Sigma Tau was influentially well represented among the all-school honors this year as last year. Duane Jehlik and J. W. McKinley were elected to...

Two pages of the report were not copied by accident.

...J. W. McKinley: Student Council; Mortar and Bail, president; Steel Ring; Dynamis; Phi Mu Epsilon.

John Mitcha: Mortar and Rail.

Howard Stover: Dynamis; Pi Mu Epsilon; Mathematics Club,

Dean Shepherd: A.S.M.E., treasurer; research on elasticity of concrete.

Woodrow R. Sigley: Steel Ring; Mortar and Rail; Pi Mu Epsilon 

V.O.S.O. Council; Dynamis.

The following Sigma Tau men have finished school and have jobs:

Ted Barnes: Geophysical crew, Magnolia Petroleum Company, Houston, Texas.

Perry Arnold: Research department, Chicago Bridge and Iron Com­pany, Chicago, Illinois.

Loyal Van Doren: Project engineer, soils conservation service, U.S.D.A., Spring Valley, Minnesota.

Ray Sollenberger: Fellowship in research, Dewey and Almey, Kansas: State College.

Evan Watts: Geophysical crew, Magnolia Oil Company, Houston, Texas, 

Eugene Watson: General Electric, Schenectady, New York.

Lawrence Haller: Kansas Power and Light Company, Manhattan Kansas.

Clayton Matney: General Electric, Schenectady, New York.

Charles Frick: American Rolling Mills, Middletown, Ohio.

Kansas State College, home of Epsilon Chapter of Sigma Tau, was established in 1863. Originally it was organized as an agricultural school, but it was not long until the engineering division came into existence and became one of the most outstanding divisions of the school.

Sigma Tau is the only national honorary fraternity at Kansas State. The organization is highly respected by the faculty and officials as a whole, because its projects and energies are directed so as to be of benefit to the entire school, rather than to a small selected group. Last year there were 1,170 students enrolled in the engineering division; 472 of these were in the junior-senior classification, and approximately 155 were classified as eligible to Sigma Tau membership. These eligible members were invited to the annual fall smoker where the active members became acquainted with each individual. Out of this eligible group, 25 members were elected the first semester and 23 the second semester. There were 34 actives at the begin­ning of the year, making a total of 86 members for the entire year. This makes the number of actives approximately 17.4 percent of the number of engineering students in the junior-senior classification. This year we have 32 members with which to start the year.

During, the past two years the main projects undertaken were the repair of the huge concrete KS of the bluffs southeast of Manhattan; reconstruction of our limestone pyramid, which was dedicated in 1935, and the direction and supervision of both the annual Engineers’ Dances, better known as St. Pat’s Prom. Fletcher Henderson furnished the entertainment for last year’s Prom and it proved to be the highlight of the year with more than 500 couples attending. Success of' this Prom can well be at­tributed to the past president, Brother Haller. The fact that Sigma Tau does not promote or support any political activities has kept our record clear of any of the small factional discords which arise so quickly during election periods. All engineering political activities at Kansas State are handled by Steel Ring, local honorary engineering fraternity.

Some of the accomplishments which our individual members have been accredited with are worthy of mention and are as follows; Brother Mc­Cord and Brother Heizer, cadet colonels of the R. O. T. C. unit; Brother Culbertson, winner of the 38th annual inter-society oratorical contest; Brother Fanning and Brother Matney, managers of the annual Engineers’ Open House these past two years; Brother Wherry, editor of the Kansas State Engineer, student publication; and Brothers Haller, Payne, Wherry, McKinley and Jehlik, members of the Student Council. Many other in­cidents of importance took place but are too numerous to mention.

Membership in our chapter, I believe, serves as an incentive to do better work, because the members realize that they have been elected to membership because of their outstanding qualities, and they try to uphold the fine reputation of the Sigma Tau Fraternity and the trust that has been placed in them. Not to be overlooked, also, is the fellowship, inspiration and ac­quaintance with the other men in the chapter, for it is an inspiration to know that one is a fraternal brother to some of the finest student engineers which the college has to offer. 

Epsilon Chapter strives to encourage scholarship among the freshman students by presenting scholarship medals each spring to the three sophomores who made the highest averages in their freshman year. Interest is stimulated at different times during the year in the Sigma Tau Scholarship which is offered annually.

The chapter meetings usually have free discussion of the general policy of Sigma Tau; planning of future activities; formation of projects which would be worthwhile to sponsor at the present or some future time; general business such as presentation of bills, etc., and discussion of the progress being made on current activities. The meetings are held on the first and third Thursdays of each month in Nichols Gymnasium. The chapter room is a literary society room and has plush carpets, raised stage, draperies and comfortable cushioned chairs, so it is an attractive room for the meetings.

If three unexcused absences are credited to any member, he must pay for his own plate at the Annual Spring Banquet, the chapter paying for the plates otherwise. A constant attempt is made to conduct the business as efficiently as possible so as not to hold the members an undue length of time. The Secretary sends a personal notice to each member at least two days before the meeting reminding him of the time, date and the purpose of the meeting. Loyalty to Sigma Tau tends to keep up the attendance, and whenever possible we try to give each member an active part in carry­ing out the program of the organization so that their interest will be held.

Through our smokers, banquet, spring dance and other common interests, a great deal of companionship is created among the members and fellow student engineers.

The most outstanding contribution our chapter has made, I feel, is the fact that we have helped create among the engineers, generally, a certain intangible spirit of cooperation and good-will and a deep sense of pride and respect for their particular division.

Among the members graduating during the last two years, a few have gained honors and professional advancements which are worthy of mention; Brother Barnes, geophysical crew, Magnolia Petroleum Company, Houston, Texas; Brother Arnold, research department, Chicago Bridge & Iron Company, Chicago, Illinois; Brother Sollenberger, fellowship in research, Dewey & Almey, Kansas State College; Brother O’Reilly, ’34-’35, Award in Foundation’s $200,000 program. Brother O’Reilly’s work was judged worthy of award by a jury of 31 engineering authorities from leading universities and colleges.

At the meeting before election, names of all eligible students, with their scholastic averages, are presented to the chapter. Restricted discussion is held at which any member may discuss very briefly the qualifications of the candidates. At the election meeting two weeks following, the members re­quest the names of the men they would like to have balloted. Open dis­cussion is held again upon each man as he comes up for balloting. When all discussion of the candidate has been held, secret voting is held by means

of playing' card ballots, red to elect, black to reject. The entire list of names is run through in this manner. There are very few instances, if ever, when sufficient members are obtained on the first ballot, so the list is generally gone through once more. However, after the first ballot, the names usually considered are those with less than three “black balls'”, although a member may request a second ballot to be held upon any can­didate. The discussion of the candidates, which may continue on any of the following ballots, is usually stopped at the discretion of the Sphinx. We usually try to take in about 20 new members per semester. The rating scale we use consists of statements from the heads of the different depart­ments regarding the qualifications of the different men, and also to have the Dean of the engineering division approve all men before they are considered eligible.

We try to adjust the number of E.E.’s, M.E.’s., etc., taken in each semester so that we get about the same proportion from each department, considering the total enrollment in each.

Our records are complete and in good order.

Our funds are collected, and bills paid, by the Treasurer. The bills, before being paid, must be presented in the meeting and upon motion duly passed; then the Secretary and President sign the order which authorizesthe Treasurer to pay the bill.

In closing, on behalf of my brothers from Epsilon Chapter, I wish to extend our appreciation to Iota Chapter for the hearty welcome we have received. Also, I want to say that Epsilon Chapter cordially invites all of you to visit them whenever in or near Manhattan, Kansas.

Duane Jehlik,

President of Epsilon Chapter.

Each year the Engineering Division at Kansas State assumes a more responsible position of leadership in campus activities. Its enrollment is second only to that of the College of General Science.

Of interest to 12,000 campus visitors was the excellent Engi­neers Open House under the management of Sphinx Duane Jehlik. Many of those who inspected the engineering exhibits acclaimed them to be the best yet displayed. Following Open House, the annual St. Pat’s Prom, which was sponsored by Sigma Tau, and featured the famous sweet swing music of Anson Weeks’ orchestra, gave the students the best and most colorful party of the year.

Another important project of general campus interest and sponsored solely by the Epsilon Chapter, has been the reconstruc­tion of the letters “KS” on Prospect Hill, southeast of Man­hattan, which is a landmark for Manhattan and the Kansas State The figures show the construction of the retaining wall, completely surrounding both letters, which will prevent erosion and any additional cracking of the letters.

These activities of the Epsilon Chapter of the past year have been carried on by eighty-four members under the leadership of Duane Jehlik, President; J. W. McKinley, Vice-President; Walter Hanson, Secretary; John Young, Treasurer, and Paul Hefty, Historian. The officers to be on duty for the 1939-'40 session are J. J. Redmond, Bob Lake, Edward Sefcik, George Young and Morris Willis, in respective order.

New members this fall were: Carl Beyer, C. Wilson Black­burn, M. S. Dendurant, John Eppard, Dick Evenson, Garrett Gardner, Fred Gardner, Frank Hunter, William Keogh, Bub Lake, John McKenna, James Nixon, Bob Pyle, Joe Redmond. Ralph Samuelson, Ed Sefcik, James Stout, Art Thompson, George Vaught, Ed Wolfe, George Young and E. A. Ripperger.

Those elected this spring were: Clarence Abell, John Eyer, Jack Fuller, Gus Fairbanks, William Gordon, Roger Ghormely, Iden Krase, George Larson, Oliver Laurie, Wayne Lill, Robert Mueller, Manuel Morris, Ray Meisenheimer, Victor Piatt, Ivan Smith, Linn Swenson, Merle Shilling, Jim Stockman, Elmer Rollins, Harden Tubbs, Ralph Wahrenbrock, Charles Webb and Cliff Wilson.

We are glad to announce the placement of our graduating Sigma Tau members in jobs beginning June 1, 1939.

1. G. N. Willis-National Geophysical Co., Dallas, Texas. 

2. Howard Stover—Research Assistant, University of Illinois. 

3. Wilfred Park—U. S. Marine Corps.

4. J. W. McKinley—U. S. Army.

5. W. J. Pfeffer—Geophysical work, Carter Oil Co., Tulsa, Okla. 

6. John Pennington—Caterpillar Tractor Co., Peoria, 111.

7. John Sutherland—Petroleum refining.

8. Robert Sieg—Grad. Assistant at Virginia Polytechnic Institute. 

9. Art Bock—Fellowship at Virginia Polytechnic Institute. 

10. Garrett Gardner—U. S. Army.

11. Ed Smith—General Electric Co.

12. Leroy Culbertson—Phillips Petroleum Co.

13. M. S. Dendurant—Pursue a Master’s Degree.

14. Glenn Boes-U. S. Army Air Corps.

15. Jim Stout—Chrysler Institute of Engineering.

16. Grover Brown—Century Electric Co.

17. Woodrow Sigley—General Electric Co.

The activities of the underclassmen of the Epsilon Chapter are as follows:

1. Fred Gardner-Dynamis, Mortar and Ball treasurer, freshman Phi Kappa Phi recognition.

2. William Keogh—Pi Kappa Delta president, Steel Ring vice-president, Mortar and Ball, Newman Club, freshman Phi Kappa Phi recognition.

3. Robert Lake—Kansas State Engineer, Wesley Foundation, Manhattan Theatre lighting crew, Kappa Eta Kappa, Camera Club, Dynamis, freshman Phi Kappa Phi recognition, E.E. junior Gold Medal.

4. Arthur Thompson—Steel Ring, A.S.A.E. president, Student Branch.

5. Jim Stockman—Kansas State Engineer, Student Council, Scab­bard & Blade, Dynamis, Blue Key, Newman Club.

6. Carl Beyer—Newman Club.

7. Ralph Wahrenbrock—Kansas State Engineer, Steel Ring, Pi Tau Sigma, freshman Phi Kappa Phi recognition.

8. George Young—Glee Club, Scabbard and Blade, Kappa Sig.

9. James Nixon—Track, Phi Tau Theta, Pi Tau Sigma, Physics Club, A.S.M.E.

10. Gus Fairbanks—A.S.C.E. president, Steel Ring, Engineers’ Council, Phi Kappa Phi freshman recognition.

11. Ray Meisenheimer—Chief Radio Engineer for KSAC, Eta Kappa Nu, Radio Club, Kappa Eta Kappa.

12. Charles Webb—Band, Kansas State Engineer, Hamilton Lit­erary Society, Steel Ring, Phi Lambda Upsilon, sophomore honors, freshman Phi Kappa Phi recognition.

13. Joe Redmond—Secretary Engineers’ Open House, Steel Ring, Mortar and Ball, Kappa Eta Kappa, Newman Club, Student Coun­cil, sophomore honors, freshman Phi Kappa Phi recognition.

14. Elmer Rollins—Phi Lambda Upsilon, sophomore honors, fresh­man Phi Kappa Phi recognition.

15. Victor Piatt—A.I.Ch.E.

16. Linn Swenson—Intramurals, Hamilton Literary Society, Kappa Eta Kappa, I.S.U., freshman Phi Kappa Phi recognition.

17. Clarence Abell—College Band, Wrestling, Kansas State Engineer.

18. William Gordon—Radio Club, Eta Kappa Nu, I.S.U

19. Jack Fuller—Alpha Phi Omega, Delta Sigma Phi, American Road Builders Association,

20. Manuel Morris—Kansas State Engineer, Gargoyle Club, French Club, Steel Ring.

21. Edward Sefcik—Band, A.S.M.E. Steel Ring, Mortar and Ball, Pi Tau Sigma.

22. Robert Mueller- -Cheer Leader, Operetta, Madrigal Choir, Beta 

23. Theta Pi, Scarab, Scabbard and Blade, Alpha Phi Omega.

24. Dick Evenson—Band, Kappa Eta Kappa, Eta Kappa Nu, Scabbard and Blade,

25. Morris Willis—Steel Ring, Eta Kappa Nu, Mortar and Ball, freshman Phi Kappa Phi recognition.

26. John Mitcha—Glee Club, Mortar and Ball, A.SALE., Pi Tau Sigma.

27. Roger Ghormely—intramurals, Radio Club, Eta Kappa Nu, Y.M.C.A., Steel Ring, Phi Alpha.

28. Al Jewing—Pi Mu Epsilon, A.I.E.E., Kappa Eta Kappa, Eta Kappa Nu.

29. C. Wilson Blackburn—Intramurals, A.I.E.E., Pi Mu Epsilon, Glee Club, Hamilton Literary Society, freshman Phi Kappa Phi recognition, president Lutheran Student Association, Kansas State Engineer.

Signed C. W. Blackburn