Nu Alpha Phi Gets New Faculty Advisor

TOP MAGGOT—John Seery, freshly minted faculty advisor to our unruly band of campus actives, presents a particularly wholesome and trustworthy appearance in this Administration-approved headshot. The fighting young professor who can talk to youth was allegedly possessed by a morbid fascination with all things Nappie from day one. Welcome aboard John!

Dear Zib,

I asked Nina Ellerman in Pomona's Public Affairs office to send you a picture of me and she said that she would do so right away.

Enclosed is a copy of a short biography that the Alumni Office used for last year's Alumni College program. That gives you the basic facts of my sordid past.

Here are some personal details: I was born and raised in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, to an Irish father and a Norwegian mother. Both parents were farmer stock, neither went to college; but they impressed on us five kids the importance of education. I worked my way through college driving a lumber truck; in fact, I was a card-carrying member of the Teamsters Union for eight years. I also played the saxophone in various bands during those years and was one of the founders of the Amherst Jazz Band.

I'm married (happily!) to Kim Peasley, and as I told you, we're expecting our first child in April. We have a dalmatian (Molly Marie) that has kept us busy up to this point. For the last three years I was the president (a.k.a. "Top Dog" or "Alpha Male") of a dog group in Claremont. We founded a POOCH park in Claremont near the colleges (POOCH stands for Providing Outdoor Oasis for Canines and Humans); and last year the mayor of Claremont presented me with a gold pooper scooper for our efforts--my proudest accomplishment to date!

You asked me to write a few words about being a faculty adviser for Nu Alpha Phi. First, let me retell the story of how I got involved in the first place. I was giving a talk at Pomona's Alumni College last summer, and right afterwards a spry young man by the name of Paul Taylor jumped up and exclaimed, "John, we're looking for a faculty adviser for the Nu Alphs. I think you're the person! Would you do it?" I was startled and confused, because I had no idea what a "Nu Alph" was. But I immediately liked the energy and enthusiasm of this Paul Taylor fellow, so I said right there on the spot, "Okay!" Sometimes you have to trust your instincts.

Since then I've met many more Nappies, old and young, and I've gained a better sense of what the "Nappie spirit" is all about. Nappie people have been very welcoming, which makes me feel excited about serving as faculty adviser. It's an honor to be included as part of a living tradition at Pomona, and I hope that I can contribute in some small way.

I worry that the best aspects of being at a small college might be in jeopardy these days. Students have to worry about high tuition, global competition, accelerating technologies, all of those whiz-bang internet toys--and the seemingly faster pace of life is surely exciting but also puts the squeeze on those old-fashioned virtues such as volunteerism and face-to-face friendship. We need to remind students that they are not only trying to pass exams and make grades but, perhaps more important, are making future memories for themselves. The best moments of college are usually extracurricular, as much as we professors hate to admit it. The students at Pomona are good kids--hard working and responsible--and we need to give them some independent space in which they can flourish on their own, make their own decisions, be creative, take initiative, and have some fun. Trust them! (that's my motto)--and they will more often than not live up to, and exceed, our expectations.

It's encouraging for many of us at the College to know that the Nappie alums are engaged and enthusiastic about their alma mater and their fraternity. I like the idea that the College is an extended community, and the fact that the Nappie alums and the actives want to join forces inspires me to get out of the classroom and get more involved in the ways that can be accomplished only at a small residential college. Traditions grow in meaning over time--the actives are dedicated to the Friday wash and other Nappie events not only because they are fun but also because they know that they are carrying on a tradition--and it is really wonderful, as new faculty adviser, to observe that fraternal continuity.

By the way, Zib, when we meet on November 23, you'll be seeing me in my last week as a 39 year old. My 40th birthday will be on November 29. Yes, many things happening all at once.

All best to you, John

Pomona's Bio on John

John Seery, Associate Professor of Politics, has been teaching political theory at Pomona since 1990. He graduated from Amherst College summa cum laude and was named a national Danforth Fellow. John received his M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in political science from UC Berkeley, and subsequently taught at Stanford University, UC Santa Cruz, and Tufts University before landing at Pomona. His first two books were about irony and politics, and his most recent book is Political Theory for Mortals: Shades of Justice, Images of Death (Cornell University Press). His articles have been published in many professional journals, his op-ed pieces have appeared in the Los Angles Times, the Chicago Tribune, and the Le Monde Diplomatique, and he has been featured as a guest on several talk-radio programs. A Wig Distinguished Teaching Award winner in 1994, John also plays saxophone in the Pomona College Concert Band and the Pomona College Coed Naked Sax Quartet.

Welcome Letters from Alumni

Bob Dozier `23 #3

Dear Brother John Seery--

Greetings from the Eldest Brother to the Newest Brother. We welcome you as an active member of Nu Alpha Phi.

We welcome you also as a Faculty Advisor. This position has been a part of our tradition from the beginning. Look at the photograph of the 11 charter members. Notice that two of them, or more than 10%, were faculty members.

They were:

Walter Hartley, Professor of Piano and Organ, and Billy Ament `39 #182, Freshman Class Advisor. These "Older Brothers" helped in developing the group as an active, working club. They helped in determining what the College would require of the Fraternity as a continuing self-governing organization entitled to use and control of certain college property.

From their own experience as fraternity men and college administrators they helped in creating initiation and other rituals suitable to a self-governing college fraternity.

A couple of years later Billy Ament left Pomona College to accept administrative opportunities with another college. The active group then elected "Doc" Kirk as a member and as a Faculty Advisor along with Hartley.

Several years later, Dr. Chester Yaeger `61 #139 was similarly elected as an Active Member and as the sole Faculty Advisor. He became very popular, and helped in the development of good fellowship and esprit-de-corps. In effect, Chet "wrote the book" for Faculty Advisors.

I am sure that Brother Paul Taylor `37 #181 had much of this in mind when he "discovered" you.

My message to you, Brother John, is that all of us, alumni as well as actives, welcome you, and are sure that you will find your own place in keeping and improving Nu Alpha Phi in its long-time status of loyalty to Pomona, of high scholastic and social and political standards--with the common touch--and of continuing and improving the lasting friendships between the Nappies of all generations of Actives and Alumni.

I hope to see you on Alumni weekend in the first days of May. This will mark the 77th anniversary of the founding of Nu Alpha Phi, and the 75th reunion of my Class of `23, and my 96th birthday.

Welcome aboard, Brother John.

Gordon H. Clarke `54 #414

Dear Dr. Seery:

I have not had the privilege of meeting you yet, but I look forward to doing so when I return to the Pomona campus at my 45th class reunion in 1999. I'm just one of the many 1954 Nappie graduates who majored in political science (a misnomer from the 50's), many of whom went on to law school and the profession. Perhaps Professor (emeritus) McDonald still has an office there. I recall squeezing an "A-" out of him when I wrote my senior thesis on the Owen Lattimore case during the McCarthy era.

As you mentioned to Walt Zabriskie, the best moments of college are usually extracurricular. My best memories are of the Blue and White Quartet, the Glee Club under Bill Russell, the challenges I faced as student body president, the athletic competition, and certainly not least, the camaraderie of the fraternity.

I am delighted that you have accepted the invitation to be faculty adviser to the Nappies, and judging from your impressive biography, our fraternity is very fortunate indeed. I am confident that in your new advisory position, you could furnish me wise counsel on such matters as women in the "fraternity", political correctness (especially First Amendment problems on campus), grade "norming" still quietly used at some universities to achieve "diversity" in admissions, the de-westernization of our education and culture, and other matters on which my generation seems so obtuse.

Please stop by for a visit if you have occasion to come to North Carolina. I am really not so Philistine as you might think.

Sincerely, Gordon

Paul Taylor '37 #181

Dear John:

Please excuse my delay in not answering your lovely email letter of November 25. I will probably correspond to you in the future by email. While I think about it, John, I would love to have your home address just for future mailing reasons. I won't bother you, but I'd like to have it in my address book.

I was so pleased to hear how much you enjoyed the nice get together on Sunday at Chet Jaeger's home. I don't know how many were there, but I know you will continue to meet more alumni as the days go on.

Also, appreciate your comments of Paul Nagai `88 #978 and his contact with you. I don't know him well but he and Chris Hall `82 #870 of more recent years have been wonderful in getting out the Oak Leaf and doing everything they can to bring about a renaissance between the active Nu Alph's and the alumni Nu Alph's. Judging by the email I get from him he's a real whiz in this area which is a challenge for me. My email, fax and computer are the three things left to me in the area of communication.

I was, likewise, excited to learn that the actives claim that they have fixed up the cabin and it's in the best shape ever. My hat's off to them! I hope they continue on this good program and get the trail worked out, and participate in the planning of doing some roof work and other repairs the cabin badly needs. Paul Nagai and Zibby have been working on a program to get a small group organized to go up to the cabin after the first of the year and see what can be done. We have a brother who does this sort of work from Mt. San Antonio School and he's offered to help, as well as some other very reliable and dependable brothers. I can understand at this time the actives are busy with examinations and getting ready for the Christmas holidays.

However, I hope they'll work with you as I know that you can be a great inducement and stimulation to them in accepting their responsibility on the cabin. We older Nu Alph's really have a great love and appreciation for the cabin as we had some great times up there and we would like to see the actives have an opportunity to share in these same in these sort of experiences.

Can well imagine that this is an extremely busy time of year for you and your wife in view of the forthcoming event in April. I think I recall it's in April. I know you both will be very proud parents and your life will become so much more exciting, meaningful, and wonderful with the advent of a new member in the family. How I look back at the good news when our first child, a lovely daughter arrived. We see her only occasionally now as she spends 6 months at a time in an artistic endeavor in a little town in Italy called Verona. However, she produced two beautiful and wonderful daughters who we see quite often.

Zibby sent me a copy of Bob Dozier's `23 #3 lovely letter to you since he could not be at the Sunday gathering. I thought it was wonderful that Bob, as the oldest member, would write you with his thoughtful and incisive comments about the history of the fraternity. We have many outstanding Nu Alphs like Bob but he stands out like a tall pine tree in the forest of first growth timber. Unfortunately, he lost his lovely wife about a year ago. They were both honored as the two outstanding Pomona graduates about 3 years ago at Big Bridges. Again, I know how much you must have enjoyed his letter.

I would just add that I know you're going to challenge and provide a lot of enthusiasm and stimulation to the actives in respect to the heritage and tradition that the older brothers laid down so they can enjoy the fruits of their labor.

Well, all for now John.

Kindest personal regards and fraternally yours.

Steve Zetterberg `38 #177

Dear Zibby,

Thanks for your (pink) letter introducing John Seery with a copy of his (yellow) October 23 letter to you. It was a good idea to have a reception to introduce him to us, and vice versa. Under present plans, I won't be able to come to Chet's. We leave on a very early plane next day for Montana, and I am short on work time on pending cases. Please give John my greetings; and tell him I will look for him on campus, or that he should have his senior faculty mentor, Lorn Foster, bring him through our law offices on his way downtown. I note he was a Danforth Fellow. I know William H. Danforth, who set up the fellowship, and he (W.H.D.) had me come down to N.Y. to participate as a student (then Yale Law) in formulating his foundation.

Regards, Steve

Dick Davis '41 #210

Enjoyed the Yaeger outing to see our new faculty friend and advisor. Looks like a real winner as do the actives we met and their leader, Matt "Cruiser" Cohen `98 #1139. Zib is a wonder when it comes to having a gathering for the fraternity. Many thanks--enjoyed seeing the Claremont Ringles along with all the rest.