A Letter to Parents

Thank you for visiting our today and taking time to find out more about America’s oldest continuous college fraternity. We are immensely proud of our history, which for over 180 years has quietly interwoven itself with the history and traditions of the campuses on which we have chapters. Delta Phi is a values-based organization that was founded on the principles of Friendship, Morality and Literature. As you are justifiably proud of your son’s accomplishments - those that have led to his enrollment at one of the outstanding institutions where we have chapters - we are proud of the works of our brothers and chapters that have risen forth from those three pillars.

If you are here, it is likely because your son is either rushing or has begun pledging our Fraternity. If you were in a college fraternity or sorority you may well have a firm understanding of some of the benefits that accrue from membership. But whether you are already somewhat familiar with “greek life,” whether it is, well, all “greek” to you, or whether your perceptions are based largely on the mass media, its important to understand some of the important changes that have taken place in recent years. I would like to use the next few minutes to discuss some of these with you because of the effect that they may have on your loved one. This letter runs a little bit on the long side, but I hope it will address some of your concerns and questions and give you some grist for your next discussion with your child about this important decision.

Personal Development

Delta Phi has been developing leaders for nearly 180 years.  Our Alumni include business leaders, Senators and Congressman, Priests and Bishops, Scholars, Poets, and Soldiers.  At Delta Phi we select brothers from among the most elite universities in North America, and provide a positive environment that fosters the growth and development of lifelong friendships.  We take our brotherhood seriously, and work to ensure that membership in our fraternity is a positive influence in the lives of our brothers not only as undergraduates but throughout the decades that follow.  As a brother of Delta Phi your son will receive formal leadership education from the national organization, from local alumni, and from upperclassmen. Please encourage him to take part in the educational side of the Fraternity experience.

I hope that you will decide to keep involved with the fraternity with your son. Many chapters have “Parents Day” functions and will welcome your participation in those and other aspects of the chapter’s life. We stress ideals that last a lifetime and I sincerely hope you will see those as you become more involved in what we do.

Academic Achievement

Delta Phi is proud of its tradition of academic distinction.  We count among our alumni numerous prominent scholars, including several university presidents.  We understand that your son came to college to get an education. As a Fraternity founded upon the three principles of Friendship, Morality and Literature we share your concern about protecting the substantial investment represented by a tuition payment. Studies at the University of Minnesota, confirmed by the University of Missouri (and several others) have shown that fraternity and sorority members are 28% more likely to graduate from college than non-greeks. Besides persistence in school, many campuses have greek systems with GPA’s above the all college average. Underclassmen can find guidance from older, more accomplished students, frequently with similar majors, who can help them adjust more quickly to the pace of college courses which run so much more quickly than those of high school.

If your son is privileged to join our brotherhood, he will be supported by his undergraduate brothers, a broad network of alumni, and by our national organization.  He will eligible to receive financial support from the St. Elmo Foundation which awards need and merit based scholarships and grants to help students develop critical leadership, academic and professional skills.  With phenomenal growth over the last few years, more and more is being done to insure that our chapters, and their members, are given every opportunity to achieve scholastic excellence and leadership.

Hazing

Delta Phi believes in developing men of exceptional ability and sound character.  We do not condone hazing, and are vigorous in ensuring that our members are safe and responsible. Despite widespread attention directed at egregious events, studies have shown that hazing has gone down in recent years and drastically in the last 20 years. While that is good news, it is still not enough. Any hazing is too much - it is immoral and antithetical to the very purposes for which our Fraternity was founded. Every Delta Phi chapter is under a strict mandate against hazing. Hazing is also prohibited by each institution where we maintain a chapter and it is illegal in most of those states as well. Many Delta Phi chapters take pride in being “different” than the ordinary milieu of greek letter organizations on their campus. Opposition to hazing can be an important part of that difference. A list of chapters, with contact information is available to assist you in discussing this and other issues with the leadership of a particular chapter.

If you suspect that your child has been or is being hazed, please call me toll-free on our hazing hotline 888/771-1827. The Fraternity (and chapter alumni) take any such report seriously and will investigate it appropriately.

Alcohol Abuse and Illegal Drug Use

The news media has been awash in stories lately about binge drinking and drug use amongst college students. Although alcohol is available all over college campuses, the simple truth is that alcohol does not flow as freely from fraternity houses as it once did. All Delta Phi chapters are expected to uphold the risk management policies of the institution at which it is chartered. Most of these requirements include security, ID checking, alternate beverages and snacks, sober enforcement monitors and other proven measures to curb the irresponsible use of alcohol. It is important to note that measures like these (and others not mentioned here) are rarely, if ever, present at parties in off-campus houses, dorms, or apartments - the other common venues for campus partying. Our members have received education on these issues, are likely to be more aware of potential problems, and generally police themselves in order to avoid trouble from the school, the law, or the National Fraternity.

Sadly, fraternities are not immune from the pernicious effects of controlled substances and illegal drugs that have pervaded college campuses since the late ’60s. Drugs are illegal and are not to be tolerated in chapters. Chapters have been closed and members expelled over this very issue.

I want to thank you again for reading this through. If there is anything I can do for you or if you have any concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me, an alumnus or the chapter itself. We are proud that your child is considering joining our Fraternity and want to do whatever we can to justify that faith. With best wishes, I am

Sincerely yours,

P.N. Ackerson
Executive Director
Direct E-Mail:ED@DeltaPhi.org