Thanks to Robert “Bear” Ianarelli ’67 (with input from Lou “Foot” Simone ’67 and Jim “Rat” Raphalean ’67) for writing in with this incredible account of Alpha Chi in the ’60s.
Our pledge class came together in the spring of 1964 and we were initiated into the fraternity in the fall of the same year. Alpha Chi of Sigma Chi was still in the house on campus across from Fiji and next to Sigma Nu at the time. We had 12 members in our class. We were an eclectic group with members from all over Pennsylvania, and parts of NJ. We came from varied economic, social and ethnic backgrounds but bonded pretty well in the performance of our pledging duties. I would be remiss in not mentioning that the duties imposed on the pledges back in those days helped to engender a feeling of unity and support for each other as well as the beginnings of true brotherhood. As painful as it was, cleaning the whole house at 7 AM on a Sunday morning after a late party proved our desire to join Sigma Chi and provided a character-building opportunity. However, beyond our pledging responsibilities, one of the most important functions of assembling a pledge class is the bestowing of nicknames.
Not everyone in our class had a nickname but those that did pretty much still carry it with them at reunions and informal get–togethers. Animal nicknames such as Bear, Rat, (or the Rodent as a slight variation) and Creature dominated. These were bestowed because of some real or imagined resemblance to those animals. Eric Yarger (now deceased) who was the Creature also acquired another nickname along the way, The Milton Man or eventually, just Milty. He was from Milton, PA and was seen one day walking across campus with a baseball bat carried over one shoulder. He bore a strong resemblance to a typical caveman caricature who walks along with a club over his shoulder. So, in keeping with the nomenclature of Neanderthal Man, Piltdown Man, etc. he was dubbed The Milton Man. His girlfriend was also from Milton, so she naturally became Milton Woman. It was sort of like an anthropology class without the exams.
However, all of our pledge class nicknames were not animals. Three other names were of note, The Foot, The Bag and Wally WTF. Unusually large feet were the Genesis of The Foot’s nickname. When he showered, the wet footprints on the carpeting were something to behold. The Bag was so named because his last name was Dambach and somehow the Bach part of his name morphed into Bag. Later when he made the track team as a pole vaulter, he also became known as Jumping Joe. Only a select few brothers and pledges back in those days were privileged to have two nicknames bestowed upon them. Jumping Joe and the Milton Man are part of that select group. As for Wally WTF, the origins of that name are somewhat unique. Suffice it to say that he was usually referred to as just Wally even though his name was Kurt. The WTF was added because that was his usual response to anything and everything that went on around him or was said to him.
Our pledge class was not unique in the house regarding nicknames. At one time or another we had quite a menagerie, although all the nicknames were not necessarily animal–related. In addition to the fauna mentioned above the house also contained a Mole, a Crow, a Fish, a Slink and a Hawk, to name a few. The Hawk was so named because he suffered from vision loss and wore very thick glasses. It was only natural that he be given the name of a bird with excellent eyesight. Another name of some note was that of a brother who was majoring in one of the Horticultural professions. He naturally became The Plant.
Lou Simone (The Foot), Jim Raphalean (The Rat) and I (The Bear) have managed to get together for a mini reunion at least one time per year for the past 15 years or so. The three of us along with The Milton Man acquired the group nickname of the Fearsome Foursome at some point during our time at Sigma Chi. Our last reunion was in Florida in February 2020 just before everything was shut down due to the pandemic. During that trip, Lou Simone and I stopped to visit with Don Biehn at his home in Ft. Lauderdale. The annual golf tournament also provides an opportunity to meet up with brothers from our era. However, age and distance from State College makes attending the event on a regular basis somewhat problematic.
The top two social events that took place back in the ’60s were the Miami Triad and the Sweetheart Ball. Both events took place in the spring which tended to wreak havoc with our GPAs. The Miami Triad was an annual event that celebrated the founding of three fraternities at Miami University, Oxford, Ohio. The three fraternities were Sigma Chi, Phi Delta Theta, and Beta Theta Pi. As we now know, the latter two fraternities no longer exist at Penn State and Sigma Chi is located a few miles across town. Ironically, the three houses were in a row on Burrowes Road on campus. Beta and Phi Delt were next to each other south of Pollock Road while Sigma Chi was located across Pollock Road on the north side but on the same side of the street. I don’t know if this was somehow by design or just accidental the way the three houses lined up. Usually, one house had a party with a band on Friday night, a second house had a party with a band on Saturday afternoon, and after a quick nap to recuperate and prepare for the grand finale, the third house sponsored a party with another band on Saturday night. All the brothers and pledges from the three houses attended along with their dates which made movement and dancing somewhat problematic. During the ’60s State College was essentially a dry town with beer being the only alcoholic beverage permitted to be sold. With the number of kegs consumed, Miami Triad weekend usually kept one or more of the local beer distributors smiling.
If the Miami Triad was the grungy, down and dirty party of the year, then the Sweetheart Ball was the classy highlight of the social calendar. I must confess that the members of the menagerie cleaned up pretty well and were usually on our best behavior for this event. A dance band was contracted, bartenders were hired, tuxedos were rented, and the house was clean and spotless for the event. The pledges were charged with the cleaning and decorating and always came through with flying colors. The highlight of the evening was the crowning of that year’s Sweetheart and then the singing of the Sweetheart of Sigma Chi.
Like all good things, they must eventually end. Some of the brothers from back in the day married their dates from one or more of the Sweetheart Balls but they were the exception much more so than the rule. We all eventually graduated and began our lives with the memories of four wonderful years at Penn State and at Sigma Chi. We made friendships that exist to this day and will continue to exist until we all enter the chapter eternal. We matured in many ways that helped us to get to know ourselves and we created lifetime memories that are special and unique. Because of changes to the fraternity system, lax rules regarding residency in the house, etc., it is feared that the undergraduates of today are missing out on a completely unique experience. Considering that this story is about events in the 1960s it is not difficult to calculate that everyone mentioned is now at an advanced age and retired and some are no longer with us. Regardless of our age, memories of the old house on Burrowes Road and all that transpired therein will continue to live on.
In hoc,
Robert “Bear” Ianarelli ’67
(With input from Lou “Foot” Simone ’67 and Jim “Rat” Raphalean ’67)