The Alumni Advisory Board last met November 28. The agenda from that meeting is available in Microsoft Word format.

The Alumni Advisory Board and the House Corporation have also corresponded recently with University and Athens-Clarke County leadership. Some of that correspondence follows, in Adobe PDF format.

• Information Regarding Housing Negotiations
• Correspondence to Professor Charles Bullock (Beta Xi #658) (November 21, 2006)

Mu News, the newsletter of Mu Chapter, is published by the men of the active chapter for mailing to alumni and posting on this website.

Issues available:

• Spring 2008, The Current Issue
• Fall 2007
• Spring 2007
• Spring 2006

Dr. Chaffin's Mu History. Dr. Verner Chaffin (Fuller E. Callaway Professor Emeritus at the UGA School of Law, Mu 621 (1937)) recently attended the 2007 Spring Initiation ceremony. Following the ceremony, he located A Brief History (written in 1970s) of his time as a Mu Active. It is a terrific insight to the history, pride and leadership of our Chapter. Many thanks to Dr. Chaffin for this material.

Name: Ralph H. Cavender

Hometown: Claxton, Georgia

Years at UGA: 1958-1963

Family: Wife (whose father owed Costa’s Sandwich Shop in downtown Athens), 4 children, 6 grandchildren

Career: Agriculture (Vidalia onions) and real estate

Roommates at River Road: Jim Thomas (M 1170), Joe Wall (M 1121), Dede Thomas (M 1175), Talley Brim (M 1288), Jimmy George (M 1176), Bob Garbet

Brothers in touch with now: Bo Brasington (M 1217), Dede Thomas (M 1175), Jim Bishop (M 1239), Henry Bishop (M 1250), Robert Mosley, Dick Fowler, Ronny Waller (M 1141) and Louis Perry (M 1220)

Ralph arrived at UGA in 1958, knowing only 3 people on campus. He (along with all men on campus at that time) lived in Reed Hall which provided an immediate introduction to students from all over the state (and beyond).

He was a first generation fraternity man, having gotten an introduction to Mu Chapter by way of Brother Ed Wilkes (M 1152) (who was a cousin of a girl he knew from Claxton) and Ronny Waller. Over the course of his time at UGA, he lived on River Road with a variety of roommates. Of particular memory are the group of older brothers who helped guide the younger men through campus and beyond. Many of the brothers were in law school (and thus still on campus) or had returned from military service – they brought maturity and experience to bear in a number of positive ways (e.g., presentation, careers, introductions). In addition, while living on River Road, Rev (the Houseman) was always there to make certain that the men got up and out for class on time. Ralph recalls that Mu Chapter had the “prettiest sweethearts on campus”.

Fraternity life was complete with social events. Ralph recalls such entertainers as Sam Cooke, Ray Hamilton, Doug Clark and the Hot Nuts, Hank Ballard, The Drifters, Woody Herman (himself a Sigma Nu, who returned to Mu Chapter for a private party after appearing at a campus-wide concert), Peter Paul and Mary, and Ike and Tina Turner.

The best thing about being a Sigma Nu? The friendships. The lifetime of memories. Not a week goes by that Ralph doesn’t speak with a fraternity brother. He recalls that Mu Chapter has many successful alumni from all walks of life – distinguished military service, FBI agents, publishing, law, accounting, agriculture, politics, sales, and many entrepreneurs. Any advice? Study, meet as many people as you can and develop now the lifelong friendships and contacts that are sure to serve you now and in the future.

[Special thanks to Brother Cavender for attending the Summer Party hosted by our Savannah / low country alumni and for taking the time to share his memories of Mu. Any errors or omissions contained above are solely those of the Editor. If you are interested in contributing your memories of Mu to our website, please contact us.]