This is the story of the cherished Sig Phip Rocker:

During my sophomore and junior years, my roommate was Edith Hays McCollister. She and I had pledged together in the spring of 1969 when I was a freshman and she was a sophomore. We shared a room on the 2nd floor of Pixley from the fall of 1969 through the spring of 1971.

Her then boyfriend (now husband), Bob McCollister ( '71 Phi Alpha) lived in a house east of the college, maybe on Prospect. Anyway, it was garbage day and the rocker, which did have two arms at that time, appeared on the curb destined for the city dump. Bob rescued it and brought it to Edie. We painted it a light yellow and used it in our room. Edie got married the summer of 1971 and I became the sole owner of the rocker. I lived in Fayerwether my senior year and so did the rocker. My first semester roommate was Jennie Ater Castlebury (Jessica's Mom). She got married that spring. When I graduated, I carved the 3 names of the original owners under the seat. The rocker was raffled off and I had no idea it was still around until a few years ago when I saw it (now bright yellow and one-armed) in Julie Kennedy's room. Needless to say I was pleased that our 30-year-old piece of garbage is now a treasured artifact of the society.

Nancy Vytiska Ruby '72

 

To share your story with the Sigma Phi Epsilon historian, please contact Marjorie Nehring at nehringm@ic.edu.

Back to History and Traditions

Back to Alumnae

Copyright © 2006 Sigma Phi Epsilon Literary Society

Illinois College, Jacksonville, IL

Last updated 11/19/06 by Alexandra Cartwright