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Description

Tony Catros, nicknamed "Cassius" by his fraternity brothers, served as an active member of the fraternity from 1963 until 1967. Catros relates his grandparents' immigration to the United States and his graduation from Redford Union High School before applying at EMU on a whim with friend Gary Griswold. Catros describes the differences between the Arms and other fraternities, his employment with Ypsilanti State Hospital while an Arm, and the importance of winning the All-Sports Trophy. He describes the reputation of Arm of Honor prior to his membership, and the initiation period that was part of all pledges' lives. He describes Arm of Honor outings to Silver Lake and other places around the Southeast Michigan region. Catros explains the ways that household chores were done in the Arm house, and the relationship between the Arms and their "sweetheart" of a house mother. Catros describes the close-knit relationships bewteen the Arms even to this day, and relates many of the experiences involving Arms beyond his time as an active member.

Interview Date

1-22-2024

Keywords

Ypsilanti, Michigan, Eastern Michigan University, Arm of Honor, Ann Arbor, fraternities, sororities, Greek Life, Track and Field, college athletics, intramural athletics, baseball, wrestling, coaching, initiation, hazing, drinking, Larry Mathewson, John Norman Collins, Motown Records, Brown Hall, McKenny Union, Roberts Rules of Order, dating, 1960s, racism, radicalism

Permission to Use

Permission to quote from this oral history should be requested from the University Archives (lib_archives@emich.edu).

Streaming Media

Tony Catros, Oral History Interview, 2024

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