News
ALUMNI NEWS AND UPDATES
Annual New York City Faux Founders Day Event
The Annual New York City Faux Founders Day 2024 get-together with other Beta Pi brothers for drinks and conversation, organized by Parker Weil ’85, is scheduled for 6:00pm, Wednesday, March 13, 2024, at Olde City Cheesesteak & Brew, 66 Madison Avenue, New York City. Save the date. If you wish to attend, contact Parker at telephone # 201 575-2030 or at his email address: [email protected].
Last year’s event had a large turnout. This year’s event is expected to be even larger. Do not miss this opportunity to meet and greet with your fellow brothers from Penn.
Interfraternal Giving Tuesday Competition
In a one-day friendly competition among eight national fraternities, Pi Kappa Alpha was able to raise $123,286 in donations from 216 Pi Kappa Alpha members and friends. Richard Sussman, Beta Pi ’69, was placed on the PiKA Honor Donor Roll for his generous contribution that was the 5th largest donation to Pi Kappa Alpha for this competition.
Controversy at Penn Update
As reported in The Daily Pennsylvanian:
On December 13, 2023, the Pennsylvania House of Representatives voted to withhold $31,000,000 in funding for Penn’s School of Veterinary Medicine. According to The Daily Pennsylvanian, a letter was sent to Interim Penn President J. Larry Jameson, by the Republican Leader of the Pennsylvania House, “expressing concern with the lack of immediate changes to address antisemitism on campus”. The letter further states that the resignation of Penn President Liz Magill and the formation of a task force was not sufficient and does not help current and prospective students.
As reported in The Daily Pennsylvanian:
The House Committee on Ways and Means (Committee) of the United States House of Representatives is conducting an investigation into whether the University of Pennsylvania should retain Federal tax-exempt status for “failing to comply with anti-discrimination laws and remain focused on their educational mission”. Current investigations are also being conducted by the United States Department of Education and the U.S. House Committee on Education and the Workplace regarding instances of antisemitism on Penn’s campus.
In a letter dated January 10, 2024, to Interim Penn President I. Larry Jameson, Committee Chair Jason Smith (R-Mo.) cites Penn’s failure to uphold their educational mission and “is concerned about the lack of an appropriate response and support for Jewish people and students”. The letter makes reference to former Penn President Liz Magill’s testimony before Congress and criticizes Magill’s answers at the hearing. The letter further says the Penn Administration allows “preferred speech” but not all speech, “The University of Pennsylvania did not hesitate to investigate and seek to strip tenure from a law school professor for holding controversial views, despite allowing professors who repeatedly denied Hamas’ worst atrocities and ‘romanticized the murder of over a thousand Israeli Jews’ to remain employed.”
Bruce Wolfson is Active in PiKA in Tennessee
Bruce Wolfson, Beta Pi ’71, continues to remain active in Pi Kappa Alpha following his move to Nashville, Tennessee. He is an organizer and co-founder of the newly formed Nashville Area Alumni Association of Pi Kappa Alpha. He is allowing younger alumni to lead the way but expects to be actively engaged with the leadership. He is thrilled that two life-long friends of his from Vanderbilt University will be joining him. The accompanying photo shows Bruce in the center holding the Charter.
Jake Wieseneck Takes the Initiative
Larry Wieseneck, Beta Pi ’84, and his wife Gale, take pride in announcing that their son Jake is a principal of Maniv Mobility, a venture capitalist firm that has partnered with other firms to carry out “Operation Falcon”, an initiative that provides emergency supply kits to Israel, including thousands of first aid kits and hundreds of generators, thereby furnishing much needed assistance during these current times of shortages and suffering.
John D. Woodward Jr., Beta Pi ’78, Authors Book on American Espionage
As reported in the January/February issue of The Pennsylvania Gazette:
“John D. Woodward Jr. W’81, a Professor of the Practice of International Relations at Boston University since 2015, has authored Spying: From the Fall of Jericho to the Fall of the Wall (Waynesburg University Press). He writes, ‘Spying is a comprehensive study of the history of intelligence activities from ancient times to the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, with special attention to the American experience with espionage.’ In his book, John, a former Central Intelligence Agency operations officer and US Department of Defense official, drew on the pioneering scholarship of his colleague, the late Boston University professor Arthur Hulnick, who also served as a CIA intelligence officer.”