Author: Chi Phi DZAA

Around the Peninsula – Gettin’ Down ‘N Dirty with Theta Delta

This past weekend, our Brothers at the University of Florida got down and dirty Down n Dirty 2when they participated in Pi Beta Phi Sorority’s annual philanthropy, Down ‘N Dirty.  This philanthropy consists of a BBQ and a flag football tournament, and the gentlemen of University of Florida’s various Fraternities compete in the tournament to be named the overall winner of Down ‘N Dirty!  Exciting and fun, the event has some of the highest participation out of every Sorority philanthropy on the University of Florida campus.  In 2013, the sisters of Pi Beta Phi raised over $22,000!

The Brothers of the Down n Dirty 1Theta Delta Chapter of Chi Phi, who never back down from a challenge, got out there and got dirty as they played hard.  While they didn’t make first place (that honor went to Delta Chi), the men of Chi Phi did manage to come in a very respectable third place out of all the Fraternities who participated!

Let’s give the men of Theta Delta props for not only getting out there and Down n Dirty 3staying involved in their Greek community, but for not being afraid of getting dirty to help their sisters I Pi Beta Phi promote and support literacy through their donations to First Book, an international nonprofit organization founded in 1992 with a single mission: to give children from low-income families the opportunity to read and own their first new books.

Alumni News – Where Were You on SuperBowl Sunday?

Sunday, February 2nd was a day of annual tradition for many football fans – SuperBowl Sunday!  While some watched with family, others watched with friends, and some just said “Who gives a *#&!” and went out and had some fun!

Like Brothers Aaron Poidevin, Quincy Banis, and Sameep Shah who donned their hats and sunglasses for some “everglades adventures”

 Aaron Quincy and Sam

Or like Brother Shaun Gorden, who found the game to be “kinda lame,” but did get some enjoyment out of the commercials (for which the SuperBowl has become quite famous for!)

Then again, maybe like Brother John Baker, who believed Pepsi spent more on the half-time fireworks display than they did on the actual half-time entertainment (I mean, really – has anything ever topped Janet Jackson’s wardrobe malfunction?)

On the other hand, maybe like Brother Michael Vickers, who found the half-time show (with Bruno Mars and the Red Hot Chili Peppers) to be the “best halftime show I’ve seen in years”

Of course, there’s always Brother Bill Bartlett, who watched the event with pizza and wings

 Bill Bartlett

Quite frankly, it doesn’t matter how you spent the day – because no matter what you did, or where you did it, you were experiencing the day right along-side all of your Brothers in the Delta Zeta Alumni Association!  Snaps!!

In the News – USF in the Olympics!

While not Chi Phi-related, recent news about a USF student is certainly worthy of taking notice!  Felicia Zhang, a 20-year old part-time student at USF who is studying psychology, is going to have the prestigious honor of representing the United States at the Olympics!  Zhang and her figure skating partner, Nathan Bartholomay, will be heading to Sochi, Russia on February 1st to participate in the Winter Games.

She and Bartholomay earned their spot on the Olympic team after taking second place in the U.S. Championships in figure skating.  This placement was surprising, since the third-place team has had considerable more international experience and was expected to score higher.

 Olympics

Zhang cannot wait for the opening ceremonies of the Games, which is an event she has watched time and time again over the years, and she is very excited about the prospect of competing in the Olympics.  She knows it is a longshot, since U.S. figure skating pairs rarely earn medals at the Olympics, but for Zhang, just having the chance to complete is exciting enough.

Which just goes to show – you never know who you were sitting next to while in classes at USF.  From Olympic competitors, to WWE wrestlers, to television comedians, to award-winning actresses – who knows who’ll come out of USF next?

For the full article on Felicia Zhang, check out http://www.tampabay.com/news/humaninterest/usf-st-petersburgs-felicia-zhang-heading-to-sochi-olympics/2162776