Phi Delta Theta fraternity said it will try to return to campus this semester after being removing themselves a year and half ago because of difficulty recruiting members.
Phi Delta Theta’s national headquarters and the University’s chapter decided to suspend the University’s charter in fall 2003, said Victor Felts, director of Greek Affairs.
“They decided on their own to take a break from campus,” Felts said.
Chapter Vice President Dustin Clemons, a mass communication sophomore, said he expects the fraternity to regain its charter by the end of the semester.
Felts said he expects the fraternity, which currently has about 50 members, to recolonize March 13.
Chapter President Kevin Brown, a political science sophomore, said he approached Felts last semester with the idea to recolonize, hoping to get more students involved in the Greek system on campus.
Thirteen percent of University students belong to Greek organizations, and Brown said he thinks there should be more.
Brown said he hopes to help more people have a positive Greek experience.
Clemons said he wants to make it as easy as possible to get involved in the Greek community.
One of the fraternity’s goals is to let students know they don’t need a lot of money to join a fraternity, Clemons said.
Phi Delta Theta fees are about $400 a year, almost half of what most fraternities charge a semester, Brown said.
The national fraternity is one of the five most affordable in the country, Clemons said.
Also, the fraternity adheres to a strict anti-hazing policy, Brown said. Brown guessed that, because of hazing, many students do not join the Greek system.
Phi Delta Theta is an alcohol-free fraternity, according to rules set by the national fraternity office, Clemons said.
The fraternity will participate in a number of fundraisers this semester, Brown said. Next week, it will host a contest called, “A Thing of Beauty” in Free Speech Alley.
Sororities and other student organizations will pick one person to represent their organization. Based on the pictures of these representatives, people can donate money to the organizations’ chosen charities.
The organization that collects the most donations will win the contest, and the prize money will go to their chosen charity.
“We want to help the Greek community as a whole,” Brown said.
Brown said Phi Delta Theta open recruitment is still in progress. The fraternity will participate in formal rush this fall.
Clemons said Phi Delta Theta’s house is located on Dalrymple Street across from the University Laboratory School, which the fraternity uses strictly for meetings. The fraternity house will be torn down in June and rebuilt over the next year.
Brown said the fraternity is taking donations for construction of the new house.