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A promise by Chris Ellerbroek '77 to do “something
significant” for
the college has enabled Cornell’s Delta of Iowa chapter of
Phi Beta Kappa to install a 3-by-5-foot plaque commemorating all
members inducted at Cornell.
Ellerbroek and chemistry professor emeritus Truman Jordan unveiled
the plaque at a pre-commenceme
nt ceremony June 1 in Cole Library. Cornell’s chapter, marking
its 80th year, has initiated, 1204 members.
When he graduated, Ellerbroek could not afford a Phi Beta Kappa
key. Jordan and chemistry professor Addison Ault surprised him at
initiation with a key.
“You thanked me for the gift, and you said, ‘I am going
to do something significant for the college some day,’ ” Jordan wrote to Ellerbroek last year.
When Ellerbroek, a pediatric rad iologist in Des Moines, was informed
of plans for the plaque, he an his wife, Renee, donated $10,000
to cover the cost of the project and fund the addition of names
annually. His two former chemistry professors also contributed to
the project.
The plaque was proposed a few years ago by a committee that included
Jordan and professors Craig Allin, politics, and Rich Martin, English.
They hope it might raise awareness of Phi Beta Kappa on campus.
Toward that end, Cornell’s chapter also has sponsored annual
Phi Beta Kappa Visiting Scholars, purchased stoles with the Greek
letters and key that initiates wear at commencement, and begun electing
a small number of juniors each year who remain on campus as an example
to other students.
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| Cornell chemistry professor emeritus Truman Jordan (left)
gave Chris Ellerbroek a Phi Beta Kappa key when he graduuated
in 1977. Ellerbroek, who promised to do "something significant"
for the college in return, donated funds 25 years later for
the plaque behind them. |
Top 15 in speech
Ryan Struve '02 was one of 5 students nationwide named to
the 2002 All-American Individual Events Team by the American Forensic
Association’s National Individual Events Tournament. He is
the first student from an Iowa college to make the team, which was
created in 2001. He attends law school at the University of Iowa.
Commons smoke-free; Rood coed
Smoking is now prohibited in all dining areas of The Commons, a
move favored by a majority of students in a college survey complete
by 73 percent of the student body. A Student Senate committee proposed
the ban based on the negative health effects of second hand smoke.
The committee also found that 50 out of 52 colleges responding to
a survey have smoke-free dining facilities. Smoking is permitted
outside The Commons away from entrances.
This fall 11 men will live in Rood House, which trad itionally
has been a residence for women since the college opened it for student
housing in 1919. A total of 40 students will live in Rood. Men will
live exclusively in the “East House” of Rood.
Making Rood coed increases the campus housing options available
to men, said Matt Johnson, director of residence life. In the fall,
for example, men will occupy 40 percent of the single rooms on campus
and women will occupy 60 percent, which “mirrors the campus
gender ratio much more closely,” he said.
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