Volume 4, Issue 2

Epsilon Tau Chapter Murray State University

Our Sweetheart of Sigma Chi

December 2012

The Sweetheart of Sigma Chi is an honor bestowed on those

select young women who represent the ideals of the White

Cross we wear. They serve as a reminder to us all of how

beautiful life truly is and that we should cherish every mo-

ment we are given.

Ashley Brown personified the Sweetheart of Sigma Chi. She

made such an impact on our chapter that she was easily

elected to an unprecedented second year. Her outgoing per-

sonality meant that she never met a stranger. Her smile

and positive outlook were contagious to the point you could

sense when she walked into a room. Her heart was open to

all those who were in need and she knew that success was

found in knowing at least one life breathe easier because

she lived.

Her faith in Christ as the Great Cross Bearer gave her

strength and guided her. As an outgrowth of her faith, char-

acter, and personality she volunteered much of her time to

serving others through the Boys and Girls Club, Relay for

Life, and 10 years as an intern for the United Way. As mem-

ber of Alpha Gamma Delta she helped lead the charge for organizing philanthropies. To

know that her name was on the role meant that her heart was in work. She was Sigma

Chi’s coach for Alpha Gamma Delta’s philanthropy “Rock a Thon” for the past three years

and lead the team to victory each year. She supported Sigma Chi’s outreach and philanthro-

pies by making banners, baking her famous cake pops to sell at Derby Days community

kickoff event, meeting and greeting alumni and members of the community, and cheering

the chapter on during intermural sports. And yes, she recognized that the key unlock many

a men’s heart is food. The food and treats she made never lasted long when she brought

them into the house. Her notes and words of encouragement that she left at the house lifted

the spirits of the Brothers.

Ashley battled cancer three times in her life and won! It was through these life experiences

that she gained great determination and persistence. She learned just how precious life is

and applied that knowledge to how she lived. At age 23 she had experienced more and ac-

complished more than others could do in a lifetime.

Ashley Brown, our beloved Sweetheart, passed from among us into Heaven on November

22, 2012, Thanksgiving Day. She had defeated cancer the third time but suffered from reac-

tions to a bone marrow transplant. The day after her passing I heard from some of those

closest to her, and found all of them thankful, Thankful to have known Ashley, to have

called her a friend, to have been comforted by her, and to have seen her smile. Ashley

Brown, Our Sweetheart of Sigma Chi, we love you and miss you and we wait for the day we

will meet again.

“Her friendship was enduring, her generosities were large; and her life was an inspiration…..Her loyalty was ground-

ed in the faith that our shared values stands finally for better citizenship, for a more noble civilization, and for the

higher ideals of life in its service to man and reverence to God. In this …moment the thought is dominant that life and

its true friendship are indestructible. Because of the spirit of man, death cannot have the victory.”- White Rose Cere-

mony

The Sigma Chi Legacy

Letter to the Editor :

Feel free to write your com-ments and suggestions to the

Editor by email

sigmachilegacy@gmail.com

Or by mail

432 Lynn Dr Nashville, TN

37211

UPCOMING

EVENTS

• Christmas Break

• Initiation- TBD

Ashley Brown

1989– 2012

PAGE 2 THE S IGMA CHI LEGACY VOLUME 4 , I SSUE 2

Brothers,

The last 4 years at Epsilon Tau have been years marked with some really significant

achievements. In the last 4 years our chapter has:

-Celebrated the 50th Anniversary of our chapter’s founding

-Been recognized as one of the top chapters in the nation with 4 consecutive Petersons

Awards

-ET Alumni Bill Cunningham was selected as Significant Sig for career achievement by Sigma Chi

-ET Alumni Art Bauernfiend was honored by MSU by naming the Business Building after him

-ET Alumni Dr. Tim Miller served MSU as an interim President until the selection of Dr. Randy Dunn.

-ET Alumni Dr. Burton Young and Dr. Floyd Carpenter were given Grand Consul Citations for alumni service

-The “Sigma Chi Legacy” was selected as the best publication in Sigma Chi by Sigma Chi Headquarters

-ET Alumni Charlie Westerfield was elected President of the Nashville Alumni Chapter

-ET Alumni Mike Maxwell was an inaugural recipient of the “7 Lights Alumni Award” for service to the interna-

tional fraternity

As you can see, your undergraduate chapter and your fellow alumni are representing our chapter well. I know

that there are many more of you out there that are just as successful in your careers and philanthropic endeav-

ors. If you have something you want everyone to know about, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me or Charlie

Westerfield and we will make sure your story gets shared.

The reason that I bring up these successes, is because success at the undergraduate level only occurs when you

have a strong support of alumni helping behind the scenes. That support structure is in the process of changing

to a new era of leadership. Early next year, we will enter a period of transition and change within the alumni

leadership in the Housing Corporation and with the role as Chapter Advisor for Epsilon Tau. As successful as

the last four years have been, we believe that it is time for some transitions to take place and I wanted to take a

moment to inform you of these changes and why we are making them.

In my 16 years as a Sigma Chi from Epsilon Tau, I have had the pleasure working with 3 of your fellow alumni

on the housing corporation and as advisor. Those three are Dr. Burton Young, Dr. Floyd Carpenter, and W.A.

Franklin. I have had the greatest honor in getting to know these 3 men, and they have always been a great

source of inspiration about exemplifying what service to our fraternity means. Together they have a combined

total of over 140 years of experience at being Sigma Chi’s that they given in time, treasure and devotion to keep-

ing our chapter going. We are now working on a plan that will allow them to pass the torch to a new generation

of alumni looking to step and lead.

The transition period will begin in early 2013 however no exact time table has been established. Dr. Young and

Dr. Carpenter will reduce their roles on the Epsilon Tau Housing Corporation. Brother David Snellen will as-

sume Dr. Young’s role, with the eventual succession to the role of Housing Corporation President. I will transi-

tion out of the role of chapter advisor and assume the primary fund raising and monetary management for the

Housing Corporation. Brother Chris Chandler will then assume my role as Chapter Advisor for the undergrad-

uate chapter. We have not set a time table for these transitions to take place, as we are just in the beginning

stages of looking at what needs to be done for this to happen in the most efficient way possible, with as little

disruption to the chapter as possible.

What can you do to help? At some point we have all had contact with Floyd and Burton. Reach out to them and

thank them for their selfless service and sacrifice for so many years. Having been around them, I can tell you

that serving our chapter in an alumni role is the most humbling act we can do, and many times it goes unno-

ticed. Our history has had men like Rhey Boyd Parsons, Pete Lancaster, Dr. Jim Frank, Dr. Bob Valentine,

Greg Bennett and W.A. Franklin who at one time or another have served our undergrads. Please honor their

Legacy!!

Changing of the Guard

PAGE 3 THE S IGMA CHI LEGACY VOLUME 4 , I SSUE 2

The Chapter recently went through the Choices program provided by

Sigma Chi Nationals. Our facilitator, Sterling Choice, led the brothers

through a very eye opening program about the dangers and consequences

of alcohol .

It was during this time that our chapter was able to talk about the

negative consequences of over consumption and the effects that it

can have on the body and mind.

My name is Alex Sewing, and I am currently the Consul of the Epsilon Tau Chap-

ter. Our chapter had an extremely successful semester and we look forward to con-

tinued success in the spring.

We were able to obtain 15 prospective members, all of which we hope to initiate over

the winter break. We also held our annual Date Auction in the middle of the semes-

ter. Half of the proceeds went to Ashley Brown and her family, while the other half

went to the Jon Huntsman Cancer Foundation.

Sadly, our former sweetheart and dear friend Ashley Brown passed away over Thanksgiving break. She was

an inspiration to everyone she came into contact with. We ask that everyone please keep her, her family, and

her boyfriend brother John King in their prayers.

With the sudden passing of Ashley, we hope that this will lift the brothers of the Epsilon Tau chapter, as well

as everyone at Murray State, to live life to the fullest and to give everything that they have to promote the

betterment of this community.

The Consul

Keep within the Circle

ETtribune@gmail.com www.msusigs.com www.murraysigalumni.com msusigs@yahoogroups.com

Sigma Chi Choices

Sterling also led a discussion about the signs on what to look for when dealing with individuals who need. He

gave the chapter information about several services provided by Murray State and Sigma Chi to help brothers

in need.

Overall, the chapter’s participation in this program gave the tools needed to make smart decisions in every day

life and reinforced the responsibility brothers have each other.