Few people have witnessed the University's changes over the decades like Dorothy Mae Harris, Phi Kappa Psi fraternity's 77-year-old cook.
She can recall the dress code when the University required males to wear khaki pants and ties, only donning casual shorts when they were headed to Memorial Gym to work out. Harris remembers when the University allowed women to join the academic community in 1972, and she can recall the days when fraternities at the University had house mothers, who were the equivalent of chaperones at parties.
Traditions have evolved over the years, and generations of students have come and gone; however, it is comforting for the brothers of Phi Psi to know Dorothy Mae Harris will be the common thread in a changing University.
But if you ask any Phi Psi brother about Dorothy Mae Harris, he would probably respond, "Oh, you mean Buzz?" Since 1969, she has been referred to by this nickname.
"I went in the hospital to have my operation. My kitchen boss came to see me, and he said, "You look like a damn buzzard lying up in that bed," Buzz recalled. Since then the name has stuck.
Buzz was 35 years old when she found an advertisement for a cooking position in the Daily Progress. She came to the fraternity on a Friday, went to work that Monday and has not left since. That was Sept. 12, 1961. Today she is 77, meaning she has been at the fraternity for 43 years, one of the only fraternity cooks on Grounds and by far the oldest.
Buzz lives across town in Charlottesville and is the mother of five girls and two boys. Minutes into the conversation, Buzz's pride was evident as she boasted about her 52-year-old son who still is a successful tennis player.
"I'm proud of that boy -- he is everything to me," Buzz said.
Buzz has never seen him play tennis, despite countless offers from the brothers of Phi Psi to take her to see her son play. However, each time Buzz refuses the offer; she says she is dedicated to her job and does not want to slack on her responsibilities.
When Buzz first began, she cooked breakfast, lunch and dinner for 60 to 70 fraternity brothers at a time, Monday through Friday, never having an assistant to aid her. Today, she cooks for approximately 20 brothers of Phi Psi, mainly those who live in the fraternity house. Despite the challenges of preparing three meals, five days a week, for 20 college males, Buzz was quick to declare, "I love my job, I love my boys."
During her interview, she often looked adoringly around the room to see a couple of brothers helping themselves to lunch.
"These are my guys, I love 'em dearly
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