Wednesday, June 25, 2008
This fall, members of Delta Tau Delta fraternity, 1111 W. 11th St., will look to take their brotherhood to a new level when they re-inhabit their house after a seven-year absence.
Delta Tau Delta owned the house from 1914 to 2001 and it was the third oldest fraternity at the University. Membership declined toward the end of the 1990s and by 2001, the fraternity did not have enough members or enough money to maintain operation. Delta Tau Delta lost the house and disbanded as a fraternity.
Five years later the pledge class of 2006, or the Alpha class, began the colonization process.
A colony is a fraternity in waiting. Members organized chapter meetings and established principles they wanted to build on.
Shawn Jung, Lansing junior and Delta Tau Delta public relations director, said the fraternity wanted to establish a strong academic community.
“College is about getting an education,” Jung said. “We want Delta to be a place boys turn into men and gain real life skills.”
Maintaining a high GPA became a main concern for the Delta Tau Delta colony. Members set 3.0 as their average GPA goal. They met this goal last school year.
Delta Tau Delta received more good news just after spring break when the fraternity’s corporation board told the members they would be moving into their old house in the fall.
The house was home to Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity for the last two years but was owned by the Delta Tau Delta. After the Delta Tau Delta colony’s membership grew to more than 50 men, the corporation board announced that the men would be moving back into the house.
“I didn’t even know living in the house would be a possibility while I was in college,” Jung said.
Jung emphasized that the Tau Kappa Epsilon members were gracious and understanding about the Delta Tau Delta takeover.
“The Tau Kappa Epsilons were so respectful of us,” Jung said. “And they were great about letting us come over and see the house before they moved out.”
Jung said that he felt a strong bond existed among the brothers already, but the house would make the bond stronger.
“The house is only going to make us closer and it will really help with communication among the brothers,” Jung said.
Maintaining a consistent amount of new members is essential for Delta Tau Delta to avoid disbanding again like seven years ago.
On Monday, the men of Delta Tau Delta stood outside their house waving their fraternity’s purple and gold flag as they welcomed students who were rushing to take a look at the house they recently took over.
Steve Belgeri, Overland Park junior and active member of Delta Tau Delta, said showing off the house was helping the fraternity during formal rush.
“It’s ginormous,” Belgeri said.
Belgeri also said the members were all excited about the prospect of living together under one roof.
Sean Scott, Topeka junior and active member, said the members worked very hard to get the house ready for recruitment.
“We cleaned the carpet, and did a lot of landscaping work,” Scott said. “The house is still not ready, but we’re excited about getting it running for the fall.”
Dan Erwin, Naperville, Ill., freshman and prospective member participating in formal rush, appreciated the work the Delta Tau Delta members put into the presentation of the new house.
“I could really tell that they are a house on its way up,” Erwin said.
The Delta Tau Delta house will officially open Aug. 1, and the members said they expected to have about 55 members living in the house.
— Edited by Mandy Earles
Fraternity looks for permanent home, remains positive
Tau Kappa Epsilon loses its original house, causing its members to be ...
Fraternities doing fine without houses
Organizations maintain unity and hold chapter meetings despite not having an official ...
Greek house may switch hands
Fraternity to move into new house
Police investigate slashed tires
Fraternity moves on after plague of vandalism
Securing their safety
Greek awards recognize achievements of 2003
Members of the greek community gathered at the Lied Center last night ...
Former pledges file a lawsuit against expelled ...
Groups make designs in chalk on Wescoe ...
Several groups are gathering on Wescoe Beach today to make designs in ...
Will be homeless for food
Fraternity members camped outside HyVee this weekend to collect food and money ...
Jewish fraternity making a comeback to the ...
The fraternity suffered from a lack of leadership but hopes to recruit ...
Renovation set to begin at Sigma Phi ...
Fraternity members said the construction would improve their living situation but not ...
Delta Lambda Phi brings something new to ...
DLP, a fraternity welcoming of gay, bisexual and progressive men, will become ...
Tires slashed near Sigma Alpha Epsilon
Police are working to determine who slashed tires of 22 cars early ...
Former pledges sue expelled fraternity
Sigma Nu begins recolonization
Sigma Nu alumni are bringing the fraternity back to campus in August, ...
Homecoming unites students, alumni
A rock 'n' rollin' administrator and a scantily dressed Dorothy highlighted the ...
Fraternity to hold memorial service
Sigma Alpha Epsilon will commemorate the life of member Jason Wren, who ...
Five groups to perform in Rock Chalk ...
The 60th anniversary of the musical production will be performed March 5, ...
Greek housing makes final's week competitive
The houses try to earn points through recycling and participation in green ...
Letter: Fraternity has changed since death
Fraternity has implemented changes to house policies and rules.
The Greek Divide
Kelsey Schepmann studies the history hanging on the walls of the Gamma ...
Sigma Phi Epsilon renovations complete
The $1.7 million project includes new technology center, 7,000 more square feet, ...
What its like
To be a housemom
Student Senate to vote on hate crime ...
Students at the Alpha Epsilon Pi house were surprised to find the ...
Letter: Comic perpetuates stereotypes
The president and vice president of Queers and Allies comment in a ...
Rock Chalk rehearsals begin
Students began rehearsals for the 59th annual revue over the weekend. Rehearsals ...
Jayhawks 'Can'struct for charities
Andy Warhol himself might have been proud. Yesterday, 14 student groups converged ...
KU Fraternities ready to rush
Twenty-one fraternities on campus will participate in formal rush kicking off Friday ...
Sororities increase security
‘A Letter For U’ wins best show ...
Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity and Delta Gamma sorority win best show, while ...
Freshmen learn the ways of Greek Life
Father blames alcohol for student's death
The incident is currently under investigation.
Students re-establish fraternity on campus
Alpha Tau Omega was rechartered by the University on February 18.
Student's memory honored among Greeks
Sigma Alpha Epsilon and Delta Gamma hosted an initiative for Jason Wren, ...
Five groups chosen for Rock Chalk Revue
Performance teams chosen for March show.
Rush Week goes high-tech
This year, sororities are using a new online system to simplify the ...
IFC denies first appeal
Rock Chalk Revue draws funds for charity
Greek students are on their way to $1 million in donations.
From left: Kimberlee Hinkle, Libby Johnson and Hannah ...
1 comment
Kansas Jayhawk fans hold aloft a reproduction of ...
2 comments
Erin Saupe, a Ph.D. student from St. Cloud, ...
1 comment
0 comments
Armed robbers continue to threaten.
3 comments
Lecture from Greg Mortenson, co-author of New York ...
0 comments
Comments
Use the comment form below to begin a discussion about this content.
Sign in to comment
Or login with:
OpenID