Arthur D. Serota, 1966

Our brothers careers have been productive, constructive, spirited, and prosaic. They displayed impressive skills, talents, and abilities They were, and we continue to be, a beautiful and lively expression of our enduring fraternal beliefs, and that underlying harmony is far-reaching in expectation for all brothers’, undergraduate and graduate. It is the core of what our fraternal founders asserted in 1848 and 1874 and 1899: to live active, commendable, and responsible lives, and to build up community. Clearly and compellingly, they added, and continue to add, positive value at the local, state, national, global, and fraternal level because they engaged life fully and responsibly. In short, they were authoritative pillars throughout life. They were-are exemplary in their citizenship, character, and their sense of dutiful responsibility, and, in many instances, they were leading voices in their career fields. They prove that success of any kind does not occur by luck or accident, and we remember them because they continue to provide that message for our time. Their spirit permeates our brotherhood, and it always will. 

We have long been, from one generation to the next, proud to be Omega Mu Fijis. We continue to cherish our fraternal friendships, our shared memories, and our evolving, forward-focused history at the University of Maine. These things, above and beyond everything else, are the underlying rooted connections that make us proud to be Omega Mu Fijis. Why, after all, should we believe otherwise? We have always exhibited a can-do fraternal spirit since 1874. And, to be sure, all present and future generations of Omega Mu Fijis will continue to do the same, with fraternal enthusiasm and commitment. As a brotherhood, we always see the path behind us and the way forward with equal clarity, and our future remains bright at 79 College Avenue because we fearlessly move forward, always guided by sound fraternal principles, and because of that we are an exceptional brotherhood because we remain committed and hardworking to assure that our Omega Mu brotherhood will continue to be the jewel at the University of Maine. Perge.

Omega Mu Portrait
Arthur Serota,
1966

Omega Mu Years

Mrs. Tate and Mrs. Blaisdell,
Omega Mu Housemothers

1963
Snow Sculpture

1965
Snow Sculpture

Pig Dinner

Wayne Robbins and Ted Curtis, '23

Suffolk University School of Law

Arthur Serota received his law degree from Suffolk University Law School in 1969.

Law Practice

After graduating from Suffolk University Law School, Arthur Serota set up his law practice in Springfield, Massachusetts in 1971.

Educator

Throughout his multi-faceted professional career, Arthur Serota, with a seriousness of purpose, was concerned about justice, peace, and service to the marginalized, in the United States and Africa. He kept at it; he always cared, and in doing so he truthfully embodied our old two fraternal truths of 'persistence' and 'determination' as a lawyer, teacher, activist, and humanitarian. He beautifully defined those two words in his actions; consequently, he created a lasting, positive legacy of vision, influence, and direction that continues to have a life-long impact for many people. He believed in the call for justice and peace, united virtues, and he took up the cause to work tirelessly for justice and peace in order to improve the world, and that's what counts when you believe in redemptive possibilities and work to make them a reality. That is character of real, life-giving depth and substance, and it was the result of Arthur Serota's unstoppable persistence and determination. That is an unqualified good in and of itself, and the passage of time will never dim the lasting substance of his tireless work in trying to stop the "theater of cruelty" of child soldiers in Zimbabwe, and in helping disadvantaged students improve their chances to get into college in the United States. Arthur Serota persisted and he persevered, and because of that he remains a source of Omega Mu pride. 

In the 1980's Arthur Serota moved to Zimbabwe to build schools and teach, and he was inspirational, practical, and wise as an educator. He believed that a good working conscience, in educational and practical terms, can shape and improve human events by opening up possibilities of redemptive change. With gentle, thoughtful  human strength, comfort, and encouragement, he tangibly lived up to Margaret Mead's challenging call to be a committed citizen to improve the world through education, not an old-fashion idea. His work and influence in Zimbabwe extended beyond the classroom. With equal breadth, depth, commitment, and industry of his heart and mind, he helped with agricultural and reforestation projects in Zimbabwe. 

Quite simply, Arthur Serota's integrity and sense of human decency did not bend because he is a man who did not sway in his ethical vision and commitments, and this led him to establish the United Movement to End Child Soldering, a nonprofit organization to end the human vulgarity of child soldiers. Later in his career, with equal zeal of heart and mind, Arthur Serota created Learning Tree, a community-based education program in Springfield for at risk students who live in marginalized communities, with the practical objective of changing hopelessness into hope and opening opportunities to attend college in order to live a more hopeful, meaningful life. What he accomplished, in his various careers, was unique and profound because he firmly united two simple and obvious truths: intellectual thoroughness and ethical integrity in working to help people and bring about a positive transformation.

Unmistakably, in the broadest sense, Arthur Serota's multi-faceted career was grounded in his unitary ethical vision to help people at the local level and the global level, in Springfield and Zimbabwe. Separately and together, that is a great vision, and his objectives were clearly and inextricably tied together with sense of ethical integrity and his intellectual thoroughness, steady and true, in order to achieve redemptive outcomes in both areas. That is a calling of honorable dimensions because it is positively transformative. Consequently, what Arthur Serota accomplished is an ethically shaped legacy of excellence in caring for humanity in dismantling walls of oppression, exclusion, and racism in order for redemptive change to occur. In conclusion, Arthur Serota is a bold, inspiring leader. Taking on such a persevering responsibility to bring about societal reformation is a lofty ambition, a true calling, to a larger purpose which we remain fraternally proud of as Omega Mu Fijis. 

United Movement to End
​Child Soldering

"After witnessing a rebel army invasion in Zimbabwe that included child soldiers, the Brooklyn, N. Y. native helped form UMECS."

Arthur Serota is the Executive Director of the
United Movement to End Child Soldering

"Taking part in efforts to save lives, focus on immediate and long-term needs, and transform situations detrimental to human
dignity are ethical choices."

"To look the other way or not:
Ethical choices we make."

"Serota is a long-time human rights activist and has worked in many parts of Africa. He is also an educator and has written a book, Ending Apartheid in America, and a play,
​The Awakening."

Symposium:
Post-Apartheid South Africa

"Dr. Arthur Serota: U.S. Attorney and Journalist who has worked in Zimbabwe."

The Learning Tree

 "Minds, ambitions, creativity, and skills blossom and blossom in this program....students from the Learning Tree receive the most unique and mind developing education possible, while Hampshire College is blessed with visions, talents, and
​maturity of these students."

"In 1992, nine students from these organizations became Hampshires first James Baldwin Scholars."

University of Maine
Bernard Lown Alumni Humanitarian Award:
Arthur Serota, 2008

Omega Mu Brothers Celebrate
With Arthur Serota

Omega Mu Brothers,
​Tom Savage and John Rohman

​“What if the space be long and wide,
That parts us from our brother’s side
A soul-joined chain unites our band,
And memory links us hand in hand.”
(Phi Gamma Delta fraternity song)

Fraternally,
Chip Chapman, ’82
​Perge