HISTORY OF ALPHA ETA CHAPTER Page 1 SCHOOL YEAR OF 1945-1946 With our country again at peace, Alpha Eta Began the year 1945-1946 with the knowledge that as conditions ret- urned to normal, the chapter could expect this year to be one of the most important in its history. It would be dur- ing this year that we could again estabilish our fraternity on a sound basis, and go forward with a firm stride. As our numbers would increase, so would our strength. At the opening of the fall term in September there were but twenty four men returning to the chapter, but it was this group that formed the nucleus of our organization which later reached a peak strength of eighty-three members and pledges in the spring. Chapter officers for the first semester were: David French SMC Edgar Johnson IMC Jesse Rickman SC Wendall Griffin ThC W. C. Nesbitt Social Chairman A well organized rush program was carried out during Freshman Week under the capable direction of Edgar Johnson. Twenty four men pledged themselves to Pi Kappa Alpha at the formal pledging ceremony held on the last night of rush week. The pledge class immediately organized themselves, and elected officers to lead them. Bill Boyd of Sarasota was chosen as their president. Homecoming weekend, October 13th-14th, was one of the most joyous in many years, marked by the presence of alumni just returned from the service, and here once again to greet old friends and brothers and to recall their college exper- iences. The chapter house was appropriately decorated to lend atmosphere to the occasion. The campus wide Fall Frolics weekend in November was one of our many social activities during the fall session. Our guests were entertained here with dancing Friday and Saturday nights, a lawn party Saturday afternoon, and a breakfast early Sunday morning. Other highlights of the fall were the Georgia- Florida, and the Miami football games. In the last week of school before Christmas vacation, Alpha Eta was host to almost one hundred underprivileged child- ren of Gainesville, at our annual Christmas party. Nothing was left undone to make this party one those children would never forget. Each brother and pledge wholeheartedly did every- thing possible to make the children happy. No child was neg- lected, and each went away with candy and gifts, and a happy smile on his face.