A new generation of Theta Theta began this fall, as the last brothers who had felt the sting of probation graduated. The house is filled with an entirely new mixture of young brothers who are dedicated to taking the next and final step to mark our return to prominence on campus. With 37 brothers living in-house, including a strong senior class to lead us, the foundations for greatness have been laid this year.

But each Consul yearly writes about being poised on the threshold of greatness. Our progress falters at 548 S. State not from any lack of desire on the part of the undergraduate brothers, but from the nagging thorn of crippled finances. When I looked ahead to this year, I saw nothing but positive accomplishments and activities: another successful Derby Days that would gross over $1,000 for Children's Miracle Network; a newly purchased set of tables and chairs for our restored library; a plan to purchase three new computers and begin our chapter's own WWW page; Homecoming success of which grows every year; an excellent scholarship program set up through the guidance of Balfour Fellow Tim Bussick; Theta Theta's involvement in Michigan football, wrestling, hockey, tennis, lacrosse, NROTC and The Michigan Daily; 10 brothers in the nation's #1 undergraduate business program; a revival of a Mother's Day celebration; Theta Theta Career Night; two-time defending intramural basketball champions...Yet for all these positives, the sagging physical condition of our once proud house and a fraternal national debt that handcuffs our annual budget limits Theta Theta's ability to move forward.

This is not meant to put a somber note on a truly rewarding year so far. The strengths of our brothers' friendships have found ways to see past the gloom of finances and bathrooms in disrepair. We are not overlooking the incredible increased financial contributions of alumni. Your contributions are greatly appreciated! I only write this candid message so our alumni brothers can understand the true situation here. We urge our alumni wholeheartedly to rally behind our proposed renovation of the chapter house. We hope to achieve the level of success seen at chapters like the one at the University of Illinois, which has a newly built home. We hope all of our active and interested alumni will be able to return to the house to meet the new brothers here and reminisce about the past. It is only through this fusion of both the past and present that we can thrust Theta Theta back on top!

National debts. Budgets. Donations. As I sit and watch the 1996 presidential debate, I find myself identifying with two men whom I thought I never had anything in common with. Though my foreign policy may be different from the President's and former Senator's, our finances our frighteningly similar. Theta Theta's nagging debt to the national fraternity hangs over the chapter and limits our horizons - at least for now.

We thank our alumni for helping with generous contributions of time and money. The support you have given us is definitely not going to waste. We are doing our part to maintain and improve the house when possible. Rush went well despite the less than excellent condition of the house, and we extended bids to nine men who will look after the future of the house and the chapter. As long as we, the undergraduates and alumni of Theta Theta chapter continue to work together, our future is assured.

Even though our computer project has been occupying most of our time, many other plans are in the works. The second annual Career Night, an opportunity for the undergraduate brothers to network with alumni in a structured setting, is currently slated for February. We hope the timing will allow a greater number of professionals to attend as well as give time for brothers' resumes to be included in a booklet for our alumni to have on hand. We are also creating a new test file to help with our studying. Smaller projects and programs abound. We will have blinds for the library, we are ensuring that the new pledges maintain their schoolwork and grades, and may invite a couple of guest speakers.

All of these ideas and projects are geared to improve our grades. Currently, we are still up in the upper half of all University of Michigan fraternities, but we know there is still room for improvement. We are determined that our standing grade point average of 3.01 will begin a steady increase.