Now being one of the “Old Men”, and considering that I was at Kean from 1965 to 1969, some of the memories have faded just a bit, but others are as fresh as yesterday. Yes I am SO, SO old that John Hutchinson was one of my professors and Dorothy Hennings and her husband were both teachers and friends, too. Most of the building that are on campus now were just fields or muddy parking lots in my days.

All fraternities and sororities have periods of growth and periods of relative stagnation. In my years at Kean (then Newark State College – it did not assume the Kean name until the month of my graduation in 1969) Nu Sigma Phi was in a stage of re-growth, renewal, and expansion. Yes there had been some lean years in the period about 4 or 5 years before I came on board, but due to a few staunch friends who were the true definition of Leadership and “Brotherhood”, Carl Fuhri and Charlie Demskis, the frat was doing just fine when I came on board in 1967. A “brotherhood award” was instituted in their name the year I graduated and I am very proud to have been the first recipient of that award, although there were many other men in that year who were certainly as deserving as I was.

Phi at that time was one of the three larger fraternities on campus, but they were very different. Maybe it was because of their heritage, being the fraternity born out of diversity, but they did not seem to be able to be fit into a mold. Sure there was the “intellectual” fraternity, and the “jock/stud” fraternity (or at least they thought they were), and others who seemed to be “cookie cutter” frats with all the same type of guys in them (nerds, pretenders, etc), but Phi was different. We had leaders, jocks, intellectuals, average guys, and guys from all different backgrounds and races. The only common denominator was that they were good people (very good people) who like to have fun and learned what true brotherhood meant.

Phi was the fraternity that got things done on campus, usually quietly and without arrogance. They always had a key say in both Student Government add the Greek Government (then the Inter Fraternity Sorority Counsel). I have remained friends with some of these men for well over 40 years now. I was best man to at least 4 of them at their weddings, (even substantially arranged one wedding for a brother who was overseas when he got engaged), and unfortunately, have been to too many of their funerals for those who passed on much too soon. One of these men who unfortunately passed on much too soon was Peter D. Wikander. Peter was the pledge master for two years and took his job very seriously. I can say that he was one of the first pledge masters who took the approach that pledging should be more than a harassing rite of passage, but rather an educational experience when new brothers really got to know one another and the older brothers, as well getting to know the history of the fraternity. The meaning of brotherhood, mutual friendship and assistance was driven home.

Friendships made then and strengthened thereafter have stood the test of time. 1965 to 1969 were very tumultuous times. Newark and Plainfield riots, Vietnam War, first major power blackout on the east coast (the lights went out while I was coming back from an English Department field trip to McCarter Theater), sit ins and strikes regarding the Vietnam War (Kent State shootings) and much more. Certainly it was a time when fraternity and brotherhood were needed. I vividly remember the night that they held the first lottery draft. The order in which you would be drafted into the military was determined by a televised lottery involving your birthday. At times like those, the true meaning of brotherhood really made a difference.

One of the first birthdays picked was that of a great brother who in his despair, and with the aid of a blood alcohol level a bit above the legal limit, decided to climb to the very top of one of the tall oak trees by the powerhouse and it took hours to get him down! Vernon Javes and ‘Clancy” will certainly remember that night. We lost some good brothers in Vietam but it was friendship and brotherhood that got others through. Rereading what I have written so far it sounds like it was all serious and no fun. NOT THE CASE AT ALL! Ski trips to Chittendon, Vermont. – (it is a wonder that they can find that town till today considering that we took every sign within at least 20 miles) and I still remember the looks of amazement when the locals awoke to see a confederate flag draped over and frozen in place on the stature of the town father in the town square! Carl Fuhri’s 3 (or maybe it was 4) bachelor parties, with people tiring to swim across the floor of a certain bar in Elizabeth on the beer that was on the floor!

The party at Vernon Javes house near the Delaware River (Frenchtown) when we had to push my Triumph Herald up all the hills on the way back because the valves were fried and engine power was at a minimum! Gathering at the Donut Truck parked on Morris Ave just east of North Avenue at 2 am for those so greasy but so, so good donuts. Greek sing- yes we did well one year, remembered the words and sang somewhat it tune! Somewhere I think I may still have the record (yes – vinyl record) that was made from the performance.

The Hell Night (that really wasn’t hell) when we buried a sealed container with a lot of the history of Phi written out in the field near the corner of Morris Avenue and North Avenue, only to find out months later (when they were a lot of divergent opinions, no doubt due to alcohol and exhaustion, about the exact location where it was buried) that the area was to be paved and made into a parking lot. Somewhere under that lot to this day is a box with a lot of Phi history in it. Some archeologist in the future will make a great find! Names like Charlie Demskis, Carl Fuhri, Bill Burke, Bill Russell, Pete Wikander and many, many others bring back many great memories. I apologize in advance for those good friends whose names I have left out. (Although some might be relieved I have not recounted ALL of the memories and stories of Phi!)

Even after graduation I was very much involved with Kean. I was President of the Kean Alumni Association for 8 years in the late 80’s -90s and was the attorney for the Kean University Student Organization for over 30 years up until it was “taken over” by the current President of the College in 2007, essentially because he was embarrassed by the fact that they had so much money in their reserve budget. Along with that there have been many pleasurable reunions of Nu Sigma Phi over the years also. Leadership and contribution to the college/university have always been a Phi tradition. Phi has been a part of my life, and a very good part of my life, for 40 years. GOD, I AM OLD! But still functioning! And I value very greatly the friendships and great times that Phi has given to me.

Mike Lunga
Alpha Omnicron 1967