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Letter From the President Dear Madame or Sir: I, along with the rest of the brothers of Theta Delta Chi, would like to formally introduce you to our organization. Fraternities are in a constant struggle to overcome the series of negative stereotypes frequently associated with them, and we value the opportunity to dispel this image. Hopefully we can share some valuable information that is necessary for both you and your son to become adjusted to Greek life. In this letter, we will brief you on the experience we provide as well as what we like all of our brothers to gain from it. Movies such as Animal House and Old School have portrayed fraternities as "party houses." However, this is far from the truth. In fact, the first fraternities - including ours - were actually founded as literary societies. Over time, though, they have slowly evolved towards a more business-like environment. Today, their focuses tend to be geared towards industrial society, introducing brothers to the organizational aspects of the corporate world. "The Greek system at Penn State University is one of the few student-governed Fraternity Councils in the nation; most Greek systems are controlled by their respective Universities. Our ability to self-govern is representative of the admirable qualities present in the young men who have grown within Penn State's Greek system. Here in our fraternity, your son will take on leadership roles within the organization as well as the community. He will help with recruiting, maintenance, and community service, and will undergo safety and informational training. Some of the events that we participate in include our school's Homecoming Week, THON, and our own Christmas philanthropy." For Homecoming each year, we are afforded an opportunity that most students at Penn State do not get. The Greek system runs a weeklong affair in which the fraternities, sororities, and select on-campus organizations can team up and participate in a series of competitions, including a float-building contest that they get to show off at the parade culminating the week. The brothers of Theta Delta Chi show their school spirit by teaming with Orchesis - a dance company - to build the float and participate in the rest of the festivities. In four of the past five years, we have placed third or better in the overall competition, and we are very proud of this. The IFC/PHC Dance Marathon, also known as THON, is the largest student-run philanthropy in the world. Through year-round fundraising, money is gathered to support The Four Diamonds Fund and its effort to fight pediatric cancer. The year concludes with a no-sitting, no-sleeping, 46-hour dance marathon held every February in the Bryce Jordan Center. Since its inception in 1973, THON has risen over $58 million, and that number continues to increase rapidly as students constantly outdo themselves. Of course this event is not exclusive to the Greek system, but we do take great pride in creating it and always raising more money than every other organization on campus. In addition to participating in other Greek benefits, we hold an annual Christmas philanthropy at our house. Our event, which includes a pizza party and hired entertainment such as magicians and live reindeer, provides needy children from across the region with a Christmas that they regularly would not have. We also have one our brothers dress up as Santa Claus and bring the children gifts that we have purchased for them. This year, we have invited a sorority to help us make the occasion even greater. In addition to the Christmas party that we throw for the kids, we will extend the event into a day-long fundraiser to support autism. Several other ways that we give back to the community include participating in programs such as Red Cross blood drives, Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, and Habitat for Humanity, as well as volunteering at the Mount Nittany Medical Center. The Brotherhood understands that there is more to college life than social and academic affairs and we strongly urge all of our members to explore these other avenues. Furthermore, involvement in any of these events is a great resume builder and allows for the opportunity to meet individuals one might not usually encounter. Several hours here and there throughout the week have allowed us to compile a hefty amount of community service hours. We take great pride in the hard work we have contributed in this realm, and have received recognition and awards from both our Central Fraternity Office in Boston and by Penn State's local Interfraternity Council (IFC). In an effort to make the college environment safer, we also take proactive measures by participating in various educational programs. Rape Awareness seminars and TIPS training are important because they make us all cognizant of potentially dangerous situations and teach us the best way to diffuse them with little conflict and hopefully no harm to any of the involved parties. The Rape Awareness program is sponsored by the Center for Women Students and teaches participants how to recognize unsafe habits and situations and how to resolve them. TIPS, meanwhile, is sponsored by the local police department and deals with drinking situations, including how to know when someone has had too much and how to deal with rowdy drinkers. The cost of living in the fraternity house is actually less expensive than living in the dorms or an apartment. We offer a very affordable meal plan, and utilities are all included. Additionally, living in house ensures that your son will get the full experience of being a brother at Theta Delta Chi. He will have the opportunity to be involved as much as he would like, while still living in an atmosphere suitable for doing schoolwork. We believe strongly that our brothers should always prioritize both family and school before the fraternity and those values do not change when a brother moves in. In return for paying the one-time membership fee of $375.00 to our Central Fraternity Office, our brothers also have the ability to obtain scholarships. The Theta Delta Chi Educational Foundation, Inc. offers many scholarship opportunities each year to brothers that have shown an outstanding commitment to both the classroom and the community. Over the past few years, fifteen to twenty deserving Theta Delts have been granted scholarships ranging from $1000 to $5000. The wonderful opportunities offered by our fraternity will set your son on a journey for his college years during which he will forge close bonds with the brothers. He will lend a hand in sculpting what our Brotherhood will become in the future and, in turn, it will help shape him into an outstanding man with the necessary skills and tools to succeed in the world beyond Penn State. The fraternity experience does not begin and end with undergraduate studies, though. To ensure that the core values we teach are upheld, your son will have the ability to come back to the house whenever he pleases. Many of our alumni love to return and share stories from their time at Penn State, as well as their experiences after graduation. The stories are phenomenal, the memories are priceless, and their advice is invaluable. Essentially, our house is a home away from home that can never be lost. Once a man becomes a Theta Delt, he will always and forever be a Theta Delt. I hope that you found this letter helpful. If you have any further questions or concerns, please feel free to get in touch with me using the information found on the "About Us " page. I will be more than happy to take the time to speak with you. Thank you for your time. Most Respectfully, Chris Cover President of Theta Delta Chi |
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