(U-WIRE) PULLMAN, Wash. — David 'Blue' Waterstraat doesn't see what the big deal is — he's just another fraternity member.

NBC's The Today Show, however, seems to disagree.

Reporters from the national morning program will visit WSU next week to tape a segment about the 59-year-old Blue.

"We want to capture what his life is like," said Lauren Kapp, spokeswoman for Today. "How becoming a member of the fraternity has changed his life."

Blue, who joined Phi Kappa Sigma in early July, received publicity in The Daily Evergreen's Aug. 19 issue and was featured in the Spokesman Review last week. Producers at Today saw the Evergreen article while sorting through human-interest stories.

"I was really surprised," he said. "My first reaction was disbelief."

Today told Blue it plans to film for two days to capture the life of an almost 60-year-old returning student who discovered greek life.

"It's a unique story," Kapp said. "We are always looking for stories or events that convey inspiration or entertainment to our viewers."

Blue, who earned his nickname from a character in the movie Old School, led an enterprising life before coming to Pullman, Wash.

Originally from Spencerport, N.Y., Blue spent 12 years in the Marines as a translator.

"When I was ordered to go to Fukienese (fü-kyen nez) language school, I was like, 'What the Fuk is that?'"

Now, however, he has a little different attitude about language and is fluent in Chinese and Japanese. He also served in Vietnam, has been a business and restaurant manager, and was the owner of a chain of dry cleaning stores in the Seattle area.

But after 9-11, Blue was laid off and searching for a job. With his experience, he didn't think he would have a hard time getting back into the workforce.

"What I found is that I couldn't even get an interview," Blue said.

Because he lost his job, Blue qualified for the Dislocated Workers Program, which offers as much as $6,000 toward school. He made the decision to come to WSU because of the high-ranked Hospitality Business Management program and hopes to work in China after graduation.

–Simon Bowers