the RAINBOW of Delta Tau Delta Winter, 1985 Volume 109 Number 2 <4544-800) David N. Keller, Editor A Look to the Future By DONALD G. KRESS President. Delta Tau Delta YOUR 37th International President, I of students and Greek adviser at each of our 119 for iheir to broaden the AShave the honor to serve you during an excit campuses asking support commiiment of a better Greek ing year. So much has happened already. Three developing System our eiforts to eliminate new Chapters have joined the ranks of Delta Tau together, and reaffirming Delta: The University of Wyoming, Temple Uni hazing and develop better alcohol awareness on versity, and the University of Southern Califor campuses. 1 have already heard back from more nia, At the same time, we join in saluting tbe than 25 presidents supporting my plan. 7,Tlh anniversary of the National Interlraternity You, as alumni and undergraduates can be of local Council. Yes, it has been a good year for your great service by encouraging your chapters Fraternity. Undergraduate interest is at an all- and Interfraternity Councils to set leadership time high. standards on your own campus. Too much effort But we cannot bask iik) long in the good dmes. is made to protect the past rather than to pro Too many traps lie ahead on the road to ex mote programs for the future. cellence. We must reaffirm to colleges and uni Wouldn't it be a w^hole lot belter if every chap versities that a mutual effort of leadership pro ter sought a grade point average above the gramming be fostered between our Fraternity AMA? VVouldn't it be better if we built alumni and college administrations. advisory programs that encourage counseling of The unnecessary closing of fraternities at (>ol- young undergraduates as they prepare for the by College and Amherst resulted from a lack of world beyond graduation? commitment from the fraternily systems and uni It certainly would make colleges look to us as versity officials to re^ch eomrnon objectives to promoting a real fraternity purpose beyond the gether. It was easier to shut down than work �'social'" benefits. Let me hear \i)ur ideas! hard to the benefit ot both institutions. There Best Wishes for a Happy 198.^. fore, I have written the college president, dean contents What can an Alumni Chapter Do? 3 Alumni Chapters 20 The Man from Spiltec 6 The Chapter Eternal 21 New Chapters 8 Delt Sportlight 22 Liie of a Nomad 10 Journalism Awards 27 From the Crow's Nest 12 The Delt Chapters 28 Among the Alumni 14 Directory 45 Books by Brothers 19 Creativity with Ice Cream 46 cover A gathering of Delts,r> Chicago near the turn of the century refleots the ot alumni heyday actMty Although there <s no anbapation ol re turning to the formality of early years, a revival of alumni chapters is underway. A devoted to educational materials quarterly magazine concerning college and tratemity interests The official educative ioumal of Delta Tau Delta Fralemity Subscription per year. All chapier alumni raie^S3.00 reports, notes, alumni chapter reports news slories, photo subscriptions and dealh notices, for graphs, manuscnpts, publication, should he sent to Delta Tau Delia Fraternitv 4740 Kinasway ^ ' "^ Second-class ^u''^!,"^'^ ^�; .'"'^'V^^P^'f '"'^if *S,?�5. postage paid at Athens, Ohio. Published al 900 East State Street, Athens, Ohio 45701 , and issued four times during the year. 2 RAINBOW.Winter f935 What Can An Alumni Chapter Do? the focus of Delta Tau Delta is Diego, Chicago, Adanta, Toronto, Washington D,C., on providing a sound undergraduate expe and Pittsburgh probably stand at the top. Interesting rience, the Fraternity would not have lasted ly, all represent large metropolitan areas where lack of a fraction of its nearly 127 years if its convenience would appear to be a negative factor. Althoughfunction ended with graduation. Alumni Getting together requires special effort. strength is more than an important ingredient in the What do they have in common? formula for success; it is the very backbone of the Delt Primarily, strong leadership. That and an emphasis anatomy. on activities that can be of real help to members, as Alumni understand this responsibility. And they re well as to undergraduates in their areas. Members spond. Witness chapter advi,sers, house corporations, share ideas and business contacts, get goocf speakers to division officers, an international Scholarship Advisory discuss topics of genuine interest, and establish tradi Committee, the Arch Chapter, special local, division tions of helping nearby undergraduate chapters with and international committees, phonarchs, the thou rush and other programs. Meetings rarely are dull. sands who support the Educa Although loyalty is dramatically tional Foundadon, and those who evident, it isn't depended upon to answer calls for assistance from draw attendance. their individual chapters, take Attendance cannot The obvious source of con part in Founders Day and other be sustained structive suggestions is an alumni anniversary events. Alumni in chapter that not only has sur volvement, in fact, never has been and vived, but flourished over the stronger than it is right now. by loyalty years. The Portland, Oregon Alumni But getting good attendance at a ham sandwich. Chapter, for example, regular alumni chapter meetings? has thrived for more than half a That's another story. The truth century, even with a "skeleton is, it's a dilemma not only for crew" having to maintain its mo Delta Tau Delta, but for all other fraternities as well, mentum during World War II, "We have been blessed with "Let's be realistic," says Executive Vice-President dedicated Delts during Gale Wiikerson, when questioned about tbe problem, all of our years," says Chapter Secretary/Treasurer we can't them Paul A. who him.self has devot "alumni are very busy men, and expect Eckelman, Oregon '46, time out of ed untold hours to the a to attend meeungs over a long period of organization, despite very business career, "We pure loyalty. Why should they? Chapter meetings must busy keep things moving and in have sufficient personal appeal to compete successfully teresting, and we look after such basics as making cer for each member's time; and that isn't easy to do," tain our meeting sites (currently the Monte Carlo Res The primary question usually becomes, what can an taurant) have the necessary ingredients oi good food alumni chapter do to sustain attendance? What can it al reasonable prices, convenient locations, and ample free offer that a member doesn't get from Rotary, Kiwanis, parking," The has held Christmas or from other civic, church, and professional organiza- chapter dinner dances, golf honor tiims? tournaments, initiations. Founders Day pro and � "Obviously, the alumni chapter meeting must offer grams, reunions, undergraduate rush parties. But it much like a service something that makes a member want to attend," says hasically, operates club, with a monthlv news bulletin financed Mr, Wiikerson, "The common denominator of Trater- bv business-card ad run. but a directorv, annu nity' can be enough for the short ongoing vertising, periodic chapter voluntary substance. al dues of $12, 50, of noon on success depends on providing additional continuity meetings the the nature of tbe first of each month, and such as the The difficult part is determming Monday speakers of the of the substance, and it varies from group to group," governor Oregon, mayor Portland, presi dent of the Universitv of the Mr. Wiikerson points out that some alum chapters Oregon, general nianag- have developed successful formulas � I'ortland. San (Continued on Page 4) RAINBOWWinler 1985 3 Even members who were er of the Portland Trailhlazers of bonds. not own Gamma Rho alumni the N,B,A,, and many of its pariicipaied. members with particular expertise Members of the alumni chapter in economics, health care, and other also help each other through as areas of widespread inierest. sisting with business contacts. The As an example. Mr. F.(kelmaii re business-card advertising encour fers to a telephone call he received ages them further to deal with each from Dr. Kelly D, Rankin, Kama.'; other when feasible. "The feeling of '62, who wanted to join the chapter mutual helpfulness is a strong factor after he moved to Vancouver as in our organization, and it reflects coordinator of physical education the overall brotherhood of Delta and athletics for the public schools Tau Delta," Mr. Eckelman explains. was learned in that city. When it He recalls a recent telephone call that Dr, Rankin was an official start from a young Delt who had just er for the 1976 and 1980 Olympic graduated from Tulane University Trials and scheduled to be a starter and was seeking information about for the 1984 Games, he Olvmpic attending a law school in the Port was lo what "Revival is more difficult persuaded give proved land area, to be a very interesting talk on than a from "T gave him what information 1 starting chapter behind-the-scenes di^ama of then him in touch scratch, but we should could, got with try. Olympic-levei track meets. This Bob Gilley and Darrel Johnson, certainly is the time to Membership of the Portland both prominent attorneys, and they do It, with fraternities which north finding Cfiapier, encompasses filled him in on details of Lewis & western and southwestern a tremendous surge of Oregon Clark Law School, him includes Delts offering acceptance on our Washington, repre whatever assistance he needed." Mr, senting 35 undergraduate chapters. campuses." Eckelman says. The group carefully rotates officers The Chicago Alumni Chapter or to get a good mix of those chapters: a visitors' assistance a list of past shows grad ganized package presidents for out-of-town Delt uates of Tulane, Washingnm, Ore undergraduates to that citv for uiterviews.