Epsilon Chapter started activities last semester with a series of meeting to acquaint the prospective men with the purposes of Delta Phi Epsilon. We were fortunate in obtaining business men of San Francisco to address us. Mr. H.L. Stoddard, President of the Marine Underwriters Association of San Francisco, spoke on 'The Relation of Foreign Trading to Marine Insurance." He advised the boys on how to make contracts to aid them in securing positions after they have graduated.
Mr. A. H. Anderson gave a most interesting talk on actual conditions in South America. The Brothers fired him with questions, and became so interested in his illuminating answers that the meeting did not adjourn until the lights were put out.
"The College Graduate in the Foreign Field" was the subject dealt with by Brother Raymond F. Whitehurst, Export Manager of The Electric Appliance Company and Foreign trade Instructor of the University of California, Extension Division. Brother Whitehurst suggested a National Employment Bureau for Delta Phi men to facilitate stepping the gap between College and a job.
A pledge dinner was held at the Parisian Cafe in San Francisco, where the brass was hung on five new men. Epsilon feels that she got the pick of the entire College of Commerce.
Brother Streets, while dining in a French restaurant in San Francisco, spotted a Delta Phi pin and introduced himself to Brother John Hill of Delta. Brother Hill attended our initiation the following night, and his critical eye soon had the neophytes salaaming in proper style.
On the California campus, Delta Phi Epsilon is an organization of active men vitally concerned with college activities. In order that the name of our fraternity become more prominent on the campus all the Brothers have entered into student affairs and athletics with all they are worth.
"Van" Castleman, "Mack" Campbell, and "Eddy" Serafino are members bf the Circle Society. "Lee" Caya and "Mack" Campbell are track men. "Van" Castleman is a member of the Athletic Council. "Bill" Cole is assistant athletic editor, and Mark Hardin junior manager of the "Daily Californian". "Mel" Stuparich and "Les" Watters are on the staff of the "Commercia", the publication of the College of Commerce. "Howdy" Elms and "Pete" Bennett work out in debating, both being members of Senate Debating Society. "Tot" Totman is leader of the A.S.U.C. band, taking the job from "Quince" Wentz, who held it down last year. Several of the boys play in the band under "Tot'''s close eye. Delta Phi is represented in the University Glee Club by "Tuffy" Erbes. Considering that there are ten thousand students in the University, we feel this is a mighty good showing.
Epsilon is proud to see the names of her members represented on committees and teams as an indication that Delta Phi Epsilon ranks among the highest organizations in the College of Commerce.
Epsilon certainly did appreciate the honor of entertaining the delegates to the Convention held in San Francisco the three days following Christmas. The local Brothers did their best to have the visiting Brothers leave the Bay Region with the thought that Epsilon is a wide awake Chapter and showed them a good time.
While the Convention accomplished no one outstanding point, a great many small things were discussed and ironed out.
The delegates went down to the pier and gave Brother Joseph Homer Brooks a rousing send-off as he left for the Philippines to take over his new post. Joe certainly appreciated this symbol of Fraternal Brotherhood.
Brother Francis Keefe's vivid description of the Roman Bath at Alpha has forth the suggestion that an inter-Chapter swimming meet at said Bath, the winner receiving a life-sized photo of the Alpha Shack.
Brother delegate George Stretch (Beta) gave San Francisco a real treat with his derby and enormous cigar. It looks as though he started something, as all the young bloods in S.F. are wearing derbies now.
Epsilon grins with pleasure in announcing that we now have three men in foreign fields:
Brother Herb Jackson is still in the Chinese Maritime Customs service and is stationed at Samshui, Kwangtung Province. Herb is situated just across the river from a den of Chinese pirates who plunder ships and delight in murder. With this on his mind we wonder how Herb manages to learn Mandarin Chinese, especially since his instructor speaks no English. We are glad to state that Herb is back on the job after seven weeks in the Hong Kong hospital.
Brother Joe Brooks is now in Zamboanga, Mindanao, Philippine Islands, in the employ of Atkins-Kroll & Co., which is one of the strongest firms dealing in Philippine and Far Eastern products. Joe has a lot of natives working under him and enjoys his post immensely. Alpha, take notice! Joe stopped over at Shanghai and saw Jim Smiley who gave Joe a wonderful time.
Brother "Lee" Wade passed through San Francisco en route to Singapore for the International Banking Corporation last February. Wade has done very well, getting a foreign post in some seven months. He will be greeted at that company's office by Brother "Bill" Staley of Alpha - who says the fraternity doesn't mean anything?
"Derby Day" at the University of California is the College of Commerce's own day from beginning to end.
All organizations enter floats in the parade that comes off in the morning. In the afternoon there is a baseball game between Delta Phi Epsilon and Pan Xenia, the rival foreign service fraternities. Epsilon carried off the honors with a 5 - 4 win. There is also a game between the faculty and "student all stars ". The purpose of the day is to bring the students, faculty and organizations into closer contract and let the University know what the College of Commerce is doing. Epsilon enters into the day with all she has and we have yet to be defeated by a rival organization,
At a meeting held Monday night, April 13th, Epsilon elected officers for the coming year. This semester has been one of the most successful in the history of the Chapter, and we have every reason to believe that the new officers will add another successful semester to its history.