More than twenty-seven years ago, in 1923, Epsilon Chapter DPE was established here at the University of California, Berkeley. During those years, except for the wartime period of forced inactivation, the Chapter has endeavored constantly to promote the aims and ideals for which our national fraternity was founded. Towards this end, and in addition to chapter activities, many of the brothers participate in the activities of other organizations such as the World Affairs Council, the Student World Affairs Council, various conferences and meetings convened to discuss World problems, International House conferences, and so on. In addition to the speaker meetings held each semester primarily for those young men who evince interest in securing membership in the fraternity, the Chapter sponsors at least one other meeting, open to the public, at which some question of current international interest is discussed. For example, last semester this meeting featured a forum consisting of consular representatives of four important European countries, each of whom discussed the merits or disadvantages of the proposed Western European Union. These meetings have met with considerable success, and will be continued in the future.
Epsilon Chapter initiates new members each semester. While there are disadvantages to this semiannual system, it has been instrumental in maintaining the Chapter active membership at a figure fluctuating between 30 and 40 members, which we consider necessary to any successful conclusion of Chapter activities. At the present time the Chapter has two co-sponsors. These are Dr. John B. Condliffe, at present enjoying a trip around the World on sabbatical leave, and Dr. Robert S. Scalapino, a brother since last semester. Dr. Condliffe, a Professor of Economics, whose reputation is internationally known, is Director of The Teaching Institute of Economics on the Sloan Foundation. Dr. Scalapino is a Professor of Political Science and is well known as a specialist on Far Eastern affairs, particularly Japanese problems.
In addition to its strictly professional activities, Epsilon Chapter engages also in certain social functions which include banquets, parties, and dinner dances, thus rounding out the scope of activities each year.
With regard to fraternity expansion, it is with pride that Epsilon reports its part in the establishment of Kappa Chapter at Stanford University. Under the able leadership of our Northern California Alumni Association, Kappa Chapter was installed last year at a joint initiation ceremony. Epsilon Chapter anticipates continued cooperation with the Alum Assoc and the National Board in their plans for future expansion.
The current World situation is reflected in a relative depletion in the ranks of Epsilon members. Several of our brothers have been recalled to active duty with the armed forces. Among these are John Hess at Camp Roberts in California, and C. K. Guthrie in Hawaii. Of the whereabouts of Pete Ley and Dick Wheeler, also in service, we have no information as yet. George Barkis is studying at the School Advanced of International Studies in Washington, D. C. Also in the Nation's capitol, engaged in jobs of various descriptions, are Dick Genson, Martin Stowe, and Steve Nagel. Key Kobayashi and Sol Polansky both are at Columbia University pursuing advanced studies, while Hugh Leather (recently married) is located at Thunderbird Field in Arizona, home of Lambda Chapter. Roger Thompson, at last reports, was in Paris (France), while Norman Jensen also is in Europe with the Berlitz School of Foreign Languages teaching English. Donnelly Sohlin represents the Chapter in Japan where he is employed by the Army Post Exchange Service.
We at Epsilon welcome any and all correspondence forthcoming from our other Chapters. Our very best wishes to all our brothers.
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The No. Calif. Alumni Assn. of DPE has planned a varied program of activities for the coming winter and spring which we hope will be of maximum possible interest to the Alumni in No. Calif. We plan to hold several dinner meetings which will be featured by pertinent talks given by speakers of authority. We have already held two such meetings. On September 21, the NCAA met in San Francisco and had as dinner guest Mr. Z. Alexander of the United World Federationists, who delivered a most interesting speech on World Government. On October 31, Mrs. Evelyn B. McCune, co-author of the noted recent volume, Korea Today, presented a very instructive talk on the international situation in the Far East with particular emphasis on the Korean problem. Future dinner meetings will be maintained at the same high tenor.
Although an essential part of our program, dinner meetings do not constitute the entire activities of the NCAA. In the near future we hope to have an informal get-together with some of the recent graduates and present members of Epsilon Chapter.
In addition, the NCAA is carrying out two worthwhile projects. In the first place, the Brothers of our Association are sending packages of seeds for needy Philippine farmers to Dr. John Hepler at the American Embassy in Manila. We know that by doing this we are aiding the sadly depressed agricultural economy of the Philippines and are at the same time counteracting the anti-American propaganda of the communist 'Huks'. We inform you with pride that we have been thanked by the Philippine Consulate in San Francisco for undertaking this project. Our 2d project is of a strictly Fraternal nature. It involves the writing of letters to all graduates of Epsilon Chapter who are now living abroad. We hope by this means to cement the Fraternal bonds of all Delta Phi Epsilon men who have graduated from the University of California Chapter.
It is the policy of the NCAA to maintain close relations with the Chapters in our area. Thus several of our Alumni Brothers attend the meetings of Epsilon Chapter and a sizable delegation from the NCAA will participate at the forthcoming initiation of new Brothers at that Chapter.
Moreover, the NCAA takes great interest in our new Kappa Chapter at Stanford University. NCAA men played a prominent role in the organization of that Chapter in November 1949 and we make every possible effort to sustain and support it so as to make it one of the best in the Fraternity. We of the NCAA endeavor to instill interest by the local Chapters in the Fraternity as a national organization. Hence, we are pleased that Epsilon Chapter was able to hold a party in honor of National President George Stretch last July, an especially noteworthy fact in that it occurred during the summer vacation at the University of California, and so soon after his election 3000 miles away. George is a fast worker. We of the Alumni Association were delighted to assist the Chapter on that occasion.
NCAA currently consists of 43 paid-up members and we hope shortly to boost that figure to more than fifty. Our Executive Committee consists of Laurens H. Killingsworth, President; G. Stanley Evans, Vice-President; David N. Druhe, Secretary; and Robert O. Plant, Treasurer. We also have two officers who are appointed by the NCAA President: William H. Bolin, Mailing Secretary, and Robert R. Miller, Editor of The JET. Our Executive Committee in its frequent meetings has constantly endeavored to formulate as interesting and entertaining program for the NCAA as possible.
[Ed.'s Note - Brothers Druhe and Killingsworth, we congratulate you on your special projects. Please add an urge in your 2d project that your brothers afield send me items - personal and commodity info, native cultural descriptions, and comments on political and governmental problems abroad.]