feat

Jason Fong
Feature Sample

The students looking at the oak-framed picture can’t believe their eyes. “A mullet? I thought only rednecks and dykes wore those” one jokes. But what they aren’t laughing at is the expression on their teacher’s photographed face. Framed with his fraternity brothers in a loose-fitting tux he looks dapper, confident, and well… happy.

Glancing at the current Mr. Marshall, a self-described hermit who excels in “sarcasm and put-downs mainly” the photo seems like another person. His hair is cut but sloppy, he’s put on a few pounds, and the trademark frown he wears is renowned for its power to send freshmen scurrying. Could this impassive English teacher once have been a party-loving fratboy? As it turns out, Marshall has a ratty lettered sweatshirt, and some colorful memories, that say yes.

For Marshall, “Lambda Chi Alpha”, the college fraternity he was a part of during his four years at Sac State, represents some of the realest and greatest moments of his life. “Just some great… crazy times” he finally says. Times like witnessing a brother get rushed to the hospital after downing one two many “Kamikaze” screwdrivers. (“I know I shouldn’t have laughed. But, boy that was funny!”). Times like facilitating debates over who should receive the infamous Greenbaum Award (“for the brother who slept with the ugliest girl”). Or accomplicing in the stripping/relocation of a fellow brother to the local Safeway.

“Yeah, as a family, we were pretty dysfunctional” he admits.

Dysfunctional - that’s one word for it.

Crazy antics aside, “Lambda Chi” offered a kind of brotherhood Marshall was never able to experience before. As the only male child in his family, he felt a new sense of belonging in this rowdy bunch of guys, where the drinks were always on the house and he himself was known by the cryptic moniker “Phi Pi 274E”.

And no, he will not reveal what the name stands for, despite repeated requests by his favorite students. “It’s silly” he admits. But his face bears a look of genuine annoyance, and perhaps just a hint of protective pride.

Though he’d like to say his feelings of kinship extended to the entire fraternity, some individuals stood out in the bunch. Jeff Patsy for instance, was known for his wily trademark the “Patsy Spin”.

“He would actually flip a younger brother over his shoulders and spin them around - like this”. Without warning, Marshall jumps out of his chair and begins demonstrating said routine (sans brother), with an earnest enthusiasm that frightens some who are near. Recomposing himself, he tells serenely of another brother, Scott McKenna, who is “just a really fun guy” that still keeps in touch with Marshall via email. They are planning to see each other this month.

Marshall does say he carries some regret over how his life has changed since his fraternity days. “I was really outgoing when I joined. I talked more and was meeting a lot of new people” Now, nearly 15 years after his “Lambda Chi” days, Raymond Marshall is a high school English teacher. Though he single, his life is far from lonely - he has his students after all.

But at 37, Marshall’s pretty much closed the book on his cherished fraternity experience. He says he’s lost contact with nearly all his old brothers, and has long ceased going to the Lambda Chi alumni events. “I’ve kind of reverted back to my old hermit self” he admits.

So, for now at least, the mullet-bearing frat-boy Marshall who drank and partied well into the night -- the outspoken, outgoing guy who may have seemed a little off-the-wall at times -- today is tacked right there, next to bookcase, for inquisitive students to ponder over.