New campus fraternity inducts 53 members in open ceremony

In an open ceremony Friday night, 53 students took their first step in becoming founders of the University's newest fraternity, Delta Tau Delta. The brief ceremony, conducted by national representatives and Delts from Villanova University, has been made public nationwide in recent years to "give a better idea of what we stand for," according to Delts Director of Program Development Thomas Sharp. Villanova brothers recited Delt ideals, such as education and brotherhood, before the University students swore their devotion to the fraternity and received their pledge badges. Delt officials said that over 150 men were interviewed for the 60 bids given. Students from all clases were taken, including one graduate student, and seven turned down the bids. Greg Schuckman, a graduate student in the Fels Center of Government, said he always wanted to join a fraternity, but as an undergraduate, the Greek system at the University of Florida did not fit his interests. "This offers me a chance to make up for something I felt like I missed at Florida," he said. "It really intrigued me to have the opportunity to work with a bunch of guys starting at ground zero. I know what a fraternity should not be." Many of the new pledges said they were disappointed with the way the University's fraternity system operated and saw the Delts as a positive alternative. College freshman Brad Prutkin said he liked Delts' quick but personal approach to rush. "[Interfraternity Council] rush was really impersonal and took up much too much time," he said. "I was threatened not to take a mid-term to go to a rush event. That is not the way it is supposed to be." Prutkin was also turned off by what he felt to be an elitist attitude among fraternities. "Friends I made during rush now think of me as inferior to them," he said. "Here, no one is more superior to anyone else." Others, like College sophomore Paul Rozelle, said the new fraternity was their only choice since it offered an oppurtunity to break with the established fraternity system. "Setting up an organization, you get more out of it," Rozelle said. "You can make it what you want." "You get to play a large role in shaping the future," added College sophomore Brett Dock. "In other fraternities you have to fit in a mold they prescribe for you." The fraternity had been at the University in the past, but for the last 20 years, the it has been absent from campus after a fire at its Locust Walk house killed two brothers and a female party guest. Two national consultants, Jeff Leech and Bryan Seyfarth, have spent the last three weeks recruiting on campus during Delts recolonization process. "We were overwhelmed by the turnout and the quality of the guys," said Leech. "There are real leaders on this campus." The new pledges will now begin a 10-week pledge education program. The IFC has given them a one-year provisionary status, when they can then petition the IFC for full membership. If they meet IFC and their national's criteria, they will be considered equals of the rest of fraternity already on campus. And while Leech and Seyfarth will move on, they said they will not forget their experiences at the University. "We gave birth to this chapter, we will always want to know how they are doing," Leech said. "To see them all in a group is the greatest feeling of satisfaction," Seyfarth added.

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