Chapter History
Rho Pi remained out of the scene until April 17th, 1994 when a female student, named Bella Fong, from the Iota Phi chapter at UC Davis decided to re-charter our chapter. Because of the Promise of ’76 (which stated that chapters chartered after 1976 would allow females into AphiO) our all-male fraternity was re-chartered as a co-ed fraternity. Due to the growth of Rho Pi chapter, our fraternity is divided into five families: Alpha, Phi, Omega, Rho, and Pi.
In 2005, Rho Pi was recognized as SOLO’s ” Outstanding Community Service Program “
How Rho Pi was created
In the summer of 1966, Wayne White (President of Alpha Delta chapter) sparked the interest of Guy Jenkins (his brother-in-law) into starting an Alpha Phi Omega chapter at UCSD. Guy posted up notices around campus to set up an organizing meeting in Fall 1966. At the end of the meeting, he decided to go for it. Guy was elected the first president and APO got organized as an official organization on campus.
APO had some place (a Quonset hut?) that belonged to us. It was over on Camp Matthews before the 2nd college was built. This was where the pledge grilling happened, as well as the meetings.
The first pledging period (kidnappings)
The pledges had to get 1000 points in the pledge books (actives would make entries and award points). The actives loved making up some horrible mathematical equations for the pledges to solve and get a measly few points. If a pledge looked like they were getting close, we just gave them negative points.
One of the traditions carried over from Alpha Delta was kidnapping. The purpose was to get to know the pledges and to have some fun. The rules were simple. Pledges can kidnap an active or actives can kidnap pledges as long as they outnumbered them. It could not be at or after meetings, the minimum number to kidnap was 2, you had to show them a good time, and drop them off at a phone booth with a quarter in San Diego County.
At the end of the first pledge class actives met to determine which pledges would be asked to join the chapter. There was a very heated discussion over the use of the black ball [any single active could black ball any pledge] vs. majority vote or straight acceptance of the whole class. Guy personally wanted a majority vote, however, the actives went with the traditional black ball vote.
At the banquet marking the end of the 1st Pledge Class, we presented a history of the Pledge Class activities, (which included a history of the kidnaps), and we presented awards for “Best Active – Leadership”, “Best Active – Friendship”, “Best Active – Service” (Chuck Milne), and “Best Active – All Around” (Guy Jenkins), and “Worst Active” – Bob Cooper (because the pledges had so many problems trying to kidnap him and he gave them such a hard time when they finally did catch him).
Ugly Man On Campus (UMOC)
APO started the Ugly Man On Campus contest. People voted by giving money to the one they thought was the ugliest, or more likely the one who was the most obnoxious. The contest lasted a week and the contributions went to a charity. The week culminated in a dance in a large room (first one was planned by Charles Milne, Jr).
Weekly Movies
The weekly movies that Alpha Phi Omega put on in lecture halls were started by Bob Cooper. He picked and rented the movies every week and John Studer was the AV expert. We charged 25 cents to help defray the costs and still ended up making money. The first movie was Bridge on the River Kwai. Bob painted a big advertisement for it on the construction wall that was used for notices and art. We also showed Lolita (and in those days that was a big thing), 7 Days in May, and we even had a family night and showed The Unsinkable Molly Brown.
The Chartering Members
Back Row (left to right): Yendor (Rodney) H. Hurst ’68, Robert (Bob) A. Pierce 70, ____, Phillip (Greg) G. Marsh 69, William (Bill) E. Colburn, Jr. 68, _____, _____, John H. Studer 71, Carver L. Anderson ’70, William (Kelly) K. Borsum 69, Robert (Bob) A. Cooper 68, _____, Joseph (Joe) Martinez 71, Dirk H. Mous 70, James (Jim) R. Wusthoff 70, ____,
Front Row (left to right): Charles (Chuck) P. Milne, Jr. 69, Irwin H. Gerst (APO National Execitive Committee), Guy A. Jenkins 68, Raymond (Ray) R. Tice 69, William (Steve) Conner ?, George Y. Kurata 67
Very Front: Louis Huszar, Faculty Advisor
21 charter student members – and their charter offices are noted
Carver L. Anderson
William (Kelly) K. Borsum
William (Bill) E. Colburn, Jr.
Robert (Bob) A. Cooper
William (Steve) Conner— Second vice president
Bob (Sam) D’Amico, Jr.
Dave (Edward) Hudson
Yendor (Rodney) H. Hurst— Treasurer
Guy A. Jenkins—President
Archie Kelley—Secretary
George Y. Kurata
Phillip (Greg) G. Marsh
Joseph (Joe) Martinez
Ronald Melvin
Charles (Chuck) P. Milne, Jr.—Historian, VP of Service
Dirk H. Mous
Robert (Bob) A. Pierce
Bartlett Richardson
John H. Studer
Raymond (Ray) R. Tice—Vice president
James (Jim) R. Wusthoff
4 charter faculty advisors on the advisory board
Eric Goldberg
Louis Huszar— Chair
James Stewart
Bob Topolovac
2 Scouting advisors
Kenneth Catalano
Earl Koons, Jr.
Photo of original roster of Chartering members
Roster of first 7 pledge classes
Activities listed on the chartering application
Associated Students Coffee Hut
Sandscript – student newspaper help
UCSD tour guides for individuals and groups
Fashion Show help
Riptide – newspaper help
Convocation ushers
Aquatics day help
Sailing instruction help
Up With People help
Conduct weekly Movie Series
Spring Ball & Christmas decoration help
Closure of Rho Pi
In 1972, the chapter closed due to apathy which may have been at least partially attributed to the Vietnam War. Bill Colburn, Jr was one of the last 2 remaining members and reported this issue to the national office.
Letter regarding the closure of Rho Pi Part 1
Letter regarding the closure of Rho Pi Part 2
Rho Pi Reunion
The Rho Pi Reunion of 2008 sparked an interest from the actives during the early years to reunite and share their experiences. Charles Milne, Jr was the main person who obtained the contact information of his fellow actives that had not met since they graduated in the late 60′s/early 70′s. From there, he helped put together a collection of memories which ended up being a script read by the Chartering members at the start of the Rho Pi Reunion in April 20, 2008. Click HERE to read the full script!
Below is a picture of members from the early years that came to the Rho Pi Reunion.
Alumni Picnic
Since Guy Jenkins was unable to make the Rho Pi Reunion in ’08, Desiree Morimoto, the alumni secretary from ’09-’10, attempted a similar event to bring back Guy Jenkins and have him meet the chapter as well as a few of his fellow active members. The event was the “Alumni Picnic” and took place on May 15, 2010.
Pictured below from left to right: John Studer, Bill Colburn Jr, Guy Jenkins, Charles Milne Jr and Bob Cooper
