John Pfeiffer ’88
11/23/2011
John Pfeiffer ’88 runs his own successful online marketing services agency today and looks back on the opportunities and sense of individualism that Lambda Chi Alpha, Gamma Psi chapter, at Lehigh University fostered in him and his brothers.
“I think what initially attracted me to Lambda Chi is a natural disdain for authority,” John laughed. “Within the traditional fraternity structure between pledges and upperclassmen, the pledges have to go through huge ordeals, often six months to a year of often pointless drudgery to earn the privilege of being a brother.
K. Ted Franck '47
11/23/2011
A former president of our chapter's alumni association, a current class agent and a 2002 recipient of the Lehigh University Alumni Award, Brother K. Ted Franck '47 took some time to share with us his thoughts on the value of Greek life and the influence that Lambda Chi Alpha has had on his life.
Steve Ploder ’91
11/23/2011
Why did you join a Lambda Chi? I was always interested in joining a fraternity from a young age. My dad and uncle were fraternity men and it always sounded like a great time. I also grew up surrounded by three sisters and no brothers and always felt like I missed out a bit. A fraternity would be a quick initiation into life with not just one brother but a houseful.
Are there any particular memories you'd like to share from your undergraduate/graduate years at reunions etc.? There are literally thousands of awesome memories.
Bob Campbell '49
5/6/2011
Bob Campbell’s story begins in 1942, just before his graduation from Melrose High School in Melrose, MA.
He was considered a good football player in high school. That’s why, one day in June 1942, his football coach stopped him in the corridor and asked: “Bob, how would you like to go to Lehigh University in Bethlehem?”
Ross Trachtenberg ’99
8/19/2010
Ross Trachtenberg ’99 joined Lambda Chi Alpha in his freshman year and credits the rush process with helping him get to know the active brothers more closely.
“The brothers really impressed me with their consistent values,” Ross said. “They seemed to care about a healthy balance between work and fun. It was a really diverse group of good guys that enjoyed each other’s company and cared about their school work and doing well on campus. That group had lots of campus leaders in their ranks.”
Ross also noted the respect that the brothers showed toward one another.
“They respected each other which was a big thing, even if we weren’t all best friends everyone respected each other,” Ross said. “I met with easily 25 other fraternities during the rush process and found that a lot of other clubs and fraternities were very cliquish and segregated, but I didn’t find that at all with Lambda Chi.”
His “big” Ross Hurwitz ’98 and he formed a close bond during the pledge process and later on Ross went on to become assistant pledge chair and associate pledge master working directly with Hurwitz. He went on to work a lot with the Intra Fraternity Council (IFC), chaired the Greek Week Committee, and during his junior year into his senior year served as rush chair for the chapter. The bond between the two Rosses remained strong and Ross Hurwitz was the Best Man for Ross’ wedding.