Delta Tau Delta is officially the newest fraternity recognized by the University. Currently, there are 35 new members who have been named “founding fathers” of the fraternity.
Lorenzo Russomanno, a senior and President of the Inter-Fraternal Council (IFC), said, “IFC was looking to expand, as far as fraternities, after the addition and success of the Alpha Omicron Pi sorority, especially because we have noticed a significant drop of in the amount of guys interested in Greek life.” According to Russomanno, this year there have been over 120 new females who have joined sororities, while there have been only 32 males.
According to Jon Buchalski, Assistant Director of Student Activities for Fraternity and Sorority Life, “There are two ways new fraternities can come to campus. The way Delta Tau Delta came to campus was the Interfraternity Council voted to expand to new organizations and reached out to about ten fraternities that were not currently on campus. Delta Tau Delta entered an application and the Interfraternity Council decided that they would be a good fit. The other way a new fraternity could come to campus would be to have a group of non-affiliated interested students petition for expansion.”
Expansion consultants for Delta Tau Delta Nationals have been in the lower level of the Rebecca Stafford Student Center (RSSC), since Feb. 10, recording students who are interested in the fraternity and having them fill out interest forms. Once students fill out interest forms, they are scheduled for an interview to see if the students are a good fit for the fraternity.
Anthony Jacobsmeyer, an expansion consultant for Delta Tau Delta, said he is looking for potential candidates who possess the core values of the fraternity. “Delta Tau Delta is focused towards leadership, service and academic excellence. We’re looking for fraternity men, not fraternity boys.” When asked to elaborate, Jacobsmeyer said, “Men are gentlemen who respect the campus and are active in the community whereas fraternity boys are the opposite.”
“I heard nothing but negative things about other fraternities, particularly their inclinations to abuse alcohol,” said Stephen Grzybacz, a freshman. “I joined Delta Tau Delta to get more involved within the University, improve my leadership skills and contribute to the development of a great fraternity.”
Delta Tau Delta’s alumni demonstrated to Charles Lucia, a junior, that Delta Tau Delta is the right fraternity for him. Lucia said that with former members such as Congressman Paul Ryan and Navy SEAL Marcus Luttrell, is proof that the fraternity has a mission to foster excellence in all aspects of its member’s lives.
“I waited until my junior year to join a fraternity because I am a commuter and my education has always been my number one priority. I did not want the commitment to traditional fraternity practices to negatively impact my academic performance,” said Lucia.
Sororities on campus have also been involved with the recruitment process of new members. According to Jacobsmeyer, there is a competition between the sororities to see who can generate the most referrals. Sororities receive points for each potential new member of Delta Tau Delta that they refer. The organization that generates the most amount of referrals will win a monetary donation from Delta Tau Delta to a charity of the winning organization’s choice.
Currently its Nationals recognize Delta Tau Delta as a “colony.” A colony is a designation given to a new organization that is awaiting official recognition from their national to have a chapter at a campus. Before being recognized as a chapter, new organizations have to prove that they are self-sufficient.
Organizations are able to prove self-sufficiency by hosting philanthropy events, adhering to the academic standard instituted by the University and having a functioning executive board, according to Jacobmeyer. It can take anywhere from 12 – 18 months or longer, to go from colony status to chapter. Jacobmeyer said that there is not much difference between being a colony or a chapter, it is just a designation given by Nationals.
This week, members of nationals will be hosting more interviews and conductions leadership conferences, training, and retreats for new members. The training will teach new members how to run a fraternity, and teach the new members how to work towards its colonization. “I expect to become more of a leader by joining Delta Tau Delta. This fraternity offers many leadership positions, all of which could help me in my future endeavors,” said Grzybacz.
Delta Tau Delta will also be hosting a dinner for the new members on Friday, March at 7 pm. The dinner will serve as a formal meet and greet for new members, and members of nationals. “We will be welcoming those who are interested in building a legacy [at Monmouth] and starting something new. We ask all of those who have not found what they are looking for in other fraternities to show their interest and become members of this fraternity,” said Jacobsmeyer.
PHOTO TAKEN from Facebook.com/MonmouthDelts
