Cross & Crescent

Set against a pristine clear water lake surrounded by native Indiana woodland, brothers of Iota-Alpha Zeta at Ball State University have, for the past 20 years, annually renewed the bonds of lifelong brotherhood.

Ball State Re-Colonization Update

As the General Fraternity of Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity has stated, we are currently in an expansion mode. Critical to the success of our expansion’s success are the time, talent, and treasures donated by alumni members.

During the fall 2008 new member recruitment, alumni and Fraternity staff members helped recruit 13 new associate members as a part of the Ball State University re-colonization efforts.

Conducted by members from the Butler University chapter, an Associate Member Ceremony was held on September 7, 2008, and following the ceremony, John Schmitz (Vincennes 1982), who is heavily involved with the Ball State Alumni Association, presented the men with the bronze coat-of-arms plaque to commemorate this important event.

Chartered in 1951, and dormant since 2004, the chapter has initiated 1,300 total members.

The brainchild of Indianapolis advertising executive Ron Pearson (Ball State 1970), Big Chill Weekend has, since the late 80’s, drawn 1963-1973 era brothers from as far as both coasts on the weekend before Labor Day.

Hair has grayed or thinned, faces and waistlines reflect years of gravity, but the sparkle in the eye and the grip of brotherhood open memory portals and provide a script that embraces a lifetime of friendship. The Big Chill weekend has become a milestone in the lives of men who began their association in the chapter house at 710 Riverside on what, in those days, was called “pledge night.”

Golden Age

This year’s 20th annual event had additional significance as Iota-Alpha Zeta is in the midst of re-colonizing. As do most brothers, the Big Chill attendees regard their era as the “golden age” of Lambda Chi life at Ball State.

To be sure, there was strong academic performance, several intramural and state day athletic championships, a reputation of being “gentlemen” and an active list of sponsored events: Operation Suitcase, Freshmen Women’s Tea, Operation Kidnap, Bike-a-Thon and the hosting of conclaves.

Those “glory days” are relived and cemented with the new mortar of friendship, updates on jobs, children, tough passages, poignant moments, and joys of a life.

Shelf of Cups

Several years ago Pearson, who has practically converted a weekend lake home into a chapter house, instituted the tradition of “the shelf of cups.” Each brother who has attended a Big Chill weekend is given a commemorative cup and a space, labeled with his I-A number, on a row of shelves.

This year, as has happened twice before, in a solemn moment of remembrance and reflection a deceased brother was remembered and his cup was inverted. Eyes moistened and a deep sadness gripped the convivial evening as a regular attendee and former football standout Jim Pickett (Ball State 1969) was remembered. This was the first year in the history of Big Chill that Jim’s enthusiastic participation was absent.

For 20 years new artifacts of those earlier days are found and shared. Old “pledge book” copies of The Paedagogus, clothing, composites, and newspaper clips. Entrepreneur John West (Ball State 1968), known for almost 40 years as High Camera, has continued to document the gathering and produce more visual evidence that these aging men were once truly young.

Sharing the Bond

Much of the conversation centered on the efforts to re-launch Iota-Alpha after a four year hiatus. One of the regular attendees, John Schleeter (Ball State 1968) will serve as an advisory board member and acting chapter adviser. We shared discussion of the redefining value of the True Brother Initiative and the positive influence it will have on reestablishing the bond at Ball State.

As my little brother, attorney Ed Dunsmore (Ball State 1969), and I drove away, I reflected on the moving comments made by Judge Terry Means (Southern Methodist 1971) at this year’s General Assembly. Here is just one more outpost of a special bond, where men share their lives. We were there for each other in our youth, we shared in each other’s weddings, we console each other on the passing of our parents, and now we begin to carry each other to our final rest.

Until that final sunset though, we still gather for our yearly moment of joy and celebration of a bond. And in that moment, we all remember hope, youth, and the goal of a life well lived as men.