Delta Upsilon Northwestern Chapter | Purple Searchlight | Winter 2011

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EVANSTON, IL Website: www.deltau.org WINTER 2011 Northwestern University Chapter of Delta Upsilon Fraternity President’s Report: State of the House Hello Brothers, I am writing to you today about the current status of our house. We have just finished rush, which went extremely well. All fall quarter the brothers got to know many freshmen and when the time came to give out bids we got 17 pledges who we know will fit the house perfectly and live up to the DU tradi- tion. The road to recovery from the re- structuring the house went under a few years ago has been tough, but working together as a brotherhood has kept us alive and in good spirits. We have been able to stick to our budget, small as it may be, and compete fairly well against the other fraternities on campus for pledges. In the area of social events we had last quarter, the house was able to hold a few tailgates for the many home foot- ball games. Among our most success- ful was the tailgate held before the Iowa game in which we upset #8 Iowa in a late comeback. Another big social event was homecoming. The current broth- ers were able to meet some alumni who came by the house. It was a day of eating well and reminiscing. I know that for some of our sophomores who had never encountered our alumni base it was definitely an experience. To hear some of the alumni come by and tell us stories of their time in DU was a day that will never be forgotten, mainly be- cause their stories were hilarious. Aside from our fun times this past fall quarter, we are also on very good standing with the University. We have remained off probation now for over a year and have built positive ties with the administration. We actually have a member, Brad Stewart, on the IFC Ex- ecutive Board and are looking to get one more. We also have brothers who are on the exec board of other organi- zations such as Treasurer of Ski Trip and President of ISBE. We also con- tinue to do philanthropies throughout the year focusing our donations mainly to Greek Build and Dance Marathon. Three of our brothers, also got to attend the Delta Upsilon Leadership Colin Finn Wins Chairman’s Award (continued on page four) (L to R): Colin Finn, Iowa State ’05, Spencer Daley ’13, and Victor Shao ’13 at the Leadership Institute. Northwestern Alumni Advisor Colin Finn, IA ’05 receiving the Chairman’s Award for Outstanding Alumni Volunteer of the Year from the Chairman of the Board Rick Taylor, NC State ’82. Northwestern Chapter Alumni Ad- visor, Colin Finn, was awarded the Chairman’s Award for Outstanding Alumni Volunteer of the Year at the 2010 DU Leadership Institute in New Orleans. The award recognizes the time and effort given by an alumni volun- teer for the betterment of Delta Upsi- lon or its chapters. Chairman of the Board, Rick Tay- lor, NC State ’82, said the following about Finn’s volunteer efforts over the last school year: Our “lead by ex- ample” brother served the fraternity in three different roles over the past year, making significant contributions in each role. (continued on page two)

Transcript of Delta Upsilon Northwestern Chapter | Purple Searchlight | Winter 2011

Page 1: Delta Upsilon Northwestern Chapter | Purple Searchlight | Winter 2011

EVANSTON, IL Website: www.deltau.org WINTER 2011

Northwestern University Chapterof Delta Upsilon Fraternity

President’s Report: State of the HouseHello Brothers,

I am writing to you today about thecurrent status of our house. We havejust finished rush, which went extremelywell. All fall quarter the brothers got toknow many freshmen and when thetime came to give out bids we got 17pledges who we know will fit the houseperfectly and live up to the DU tradi-tion.

The road to recovery from the re-structuring the house went under a fewyears ago has been tough, but workingtogether as a brotherhood has kept usalive and in good spirits. We have beenable to stick to our budget, small as itmay be, and compete fairly well againstthe other fraternities on campus forpledges.

In the area of social events we hadlast quarter, the house was able to holda few tailgates for the many home foot-ball games. Among our most success-ful was the tailgate held before the Iowagame in which we upset #8 Iowa in alate comeback. Another big social eventwas homecoming. The current broth-ers were able to meet some alumni whocame by the house. It was a day ofeating well and reminiscing. I know thatfor some of our sophomores who hadnever encountered our alumni base itwas definitely an experience. To hearsome of the alumni come by and tell usstories of their time in DU was a daythat will never be forgotten, mainly be-cause their stories were hilarious.

Aside from our fun times this pastfall quarter, we are also on very goodstanding with the University. We haveremained off probation now for over ayear and have built positive ties withthe administration. We actually have a

member, Brad Stewart, on the IFC Ex-ecutive Board and are looking to getone more. We also have brothers whoare on the exec board of other organi-zations such as Treasurer of Ski Tripand President of ISBE. We also con-

tinue to do philanthropies throughoutthe year focusing our donations mainlyto Greek Build and Dance Marathon.

Three of our brothers, also got toattend the Delta Upsilon Leadership

Colin Finn Wins Chairman’s Award(continued on page four)

(L to R): Colin Finn, Iowa State ’05, Spencer Daley ’13, and VictorShao ’13 at the Leadership Institute.

Northwestern Alumni AdvisorColin Finn, IA ’05 receiving theChairman’s Award for OutstandingAlumni Volunteer of the Year fromthe Chairman of the Board RickTaylor, NC State ’82.

Northwestern Chapter Alumni Ad-visor, Colin Finn, was awarded theChairman’s Award for OutstandingAlumni Volunteer of the Year at the2010 DU Leadership Institute in NewOrleans. The award recognizes the timeand effort given by an alumni volun-teer for the betterment of Delta Upsi-lon or its chapters.

Chairman of the Board, Rick Tay-lor, NC State ’82, said the followingabout Finn’s volunteer efforts over thelast school year: Our “lead by ex-ample” brother served the fraternityin three different roles over the pastyear, making significant contributionsin each role.

(continued on page two)

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WINTER 2011 THE PURPLE SEARCHLIGHT 3

All but four of the brothers from the Class of 1969 attended their 40threunion in October 2009. Back row, left to right, are Dick Noffke, DonClawson, Dave Halstrand, Jim Tingey, Dennis Coffey, Bob Polito and ClintBurgess. Front row are Dan Price, Dana Woodring and Jack Lovendahl. Not shown but in attendance was Noa Horner. The picture was taken atthe Friday night event hosted by Jim and Marcie Tingey. The group alsodid a tail gate and the game, a fraternity house visit (where we heard thedetails on the midget wrestlers), and class party Saturday night where wehad the largest contingent of any fraternity or sorority. Missing the re-union were Terry Gamber, John Schlicher, Steve Saylor and HarlanHornbruch. A great time was had by all.

Chapter EternalChapter EternalChapter EternalChapter EternalChapter EternalSince publication of our last edition

of The Purple Searchlight we havelearned of the deaths of the followingbrothers: Philip von Ammon ’35,James C. Keach ’39, Robert C.Potter ’40, James A. Schwietert’45, Maurice E. Hardy, Jr. ’46,Walter T. Miller ’47, Lorence A.Laning ’48 and Richard R. Flowers’51 . We extend our condolences toall of their families and friends.

NU is pushing to make fraternitiesand sororities more accessible to NUstudents with physical disabilities. TheGreek organizations are on board withthe plan in principle, but most have yetto make necessary upgrades like ac-cessible ramps, elevators and widenedshowers. The improvements are ex-pected to come within the next fewyears but could be held up by a predict-able hurdle: their multimillion dollar cost.

Currently only four of the 29 Greekhouses on NU’s campus are fully ac-cessible to students with mobility im-pairments. The others, many of whichwere built decades ago, lack basic com-ponents that would make living in thempossible for students with disabilities.

But that might soon change due to alaw originally passed more than 20 yearsago. The Americans with DisabilitiesAct, established in 1990, requires allpublic buildings — including those atprivate institutions of higher educationlike NU — to provide accessibility tothose with mobility issues. The NU ad-ministration has been asking fraterni-ties and sororities to make their housescomply with that law and is starting toget serious about enforcement.

“They know who they are, and theyknow the clock is ticking,” said BillBanis, vice president for student affairs.“If they’re not going to be compliantwith the terms of their lease, then theUniversity is going to have to determineif they are viable for remaining atNorthwestern.”

In the next few years, NU’sPanhellenic Association and Interfrater-nity Council chapters will launch expen-sive renovation projects to make eachof their houses accessible to any po-tential future members who may havemobility impairments. More than $30million may be spent even if not a singlemobility-impaired student goes Greek.And although the plans are being over-seen by the administration, the Univer-sity won’t be paying a cent of the costsfor most of the houses.

In order to be considered ADA-com-pliant, a fraternity or sorority chaptermust provide wheelchair access to itscommon areas as well as at least onebedroom and bathroom. For most of

DU Faces Upgrades for ADA ComplianceNU’s Greek chapters, this meansreconfiguring rooms, building ramps andadding elevators to allow for entry toareas like dining and chapter rooms —renovations which could cost upwardof $1 million per house.

Private, but also publicGreek houses walk a delicate line with

regard to ADA accessibility.Under Title III of the act, Greek

houses may be defined as a “privateclub” and thus be exempt from the re-quirements. Fraternities and sororitieshave highly selective membership re-cruitment processes, charge substantialmembership fees and are governed bythe local chapter and its national head-quarters, thus meeting three of the com-monly cited definitions of a private club.

In practice, these provisions meanGreek houses at schools like the Uni-versity of Missouri , where the housesare not owned or operated by the uni-versity, have the option to forgo com-plying with ADA regulations.

This is not the case at NU. “The factthat the University owns the land wouldcertainly count in favor of coverage,”said Mark Weber, a DePaul UniversityCollege of Law professor and authorof “Understanding Disability Law.”

Since NU owns all of the Greekhouses on campus and the Universityis not exempt from the law, the admin-istration can ask chapters to meet theterms of the act.

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4 THE PURPLE SEARCHLIGHT WINTER 2011

Mark Bergel ’85 - An “All-Star Among Us”Mark is the founder and Executive

Director of A Wider Circle, a nonprofitorganization dedicated to serving chil-dren and adults challenged by poverty,homelessness, and abuse. His extraor-dinary efforts to end poverty have notgone unnoticed.

Major League Baseball, PEOPLEand the Washington Nationals last sum-mer, announced Mark Bergel ’ 85 asthe Nationals “All-Star” selection forthe “All-Stars Among Us” campaign,which debuted in 2009 and recognizesindividuals who are serving their com-munities in extraordinary ways. Out ofthe three “All-Star” finalists represent-ing the Washington Nationals, MarkBergel from Bethesda, Md., was cho-sen by fans across the nation for hiscommunity service through A WiderCircle, a non-profit organization whichprovides District residents with basiclife necessities. Mark attended andwas honored during the pre-game cer-emony of the 81st Major League Base-ball All-Star game on July 13, 2010 onFOX along with the other 29 “All-StarsAmong Us,” one representing eachMLB Club.

While volunteering with a local or-ganization to deliver food to the hun-gry, Mark witnessed firsthand the dif-ficulties individuals living in the Nation’sCapital faced and founded A WiderCircle in 2001 to help impoverishedresidents secure a wide array of basicnecessities, including food and furni-ture. A Wider Circle has since helped50,000 individuals by providing furni-ture and other home items, hosting edu-cational and health and wellness work-shops, and offering classes and basicnecessities foe expectant teenagemothers.

The Nationals hosted a pregame rec-ognition ceremony and sent Mark offto the All-Star Game in style on Tues-day, July 6 when the team faced theSan Diego Padres.

Fans across the nation cast 1.7 mil-lion votes - more them double theamount of votes from the previous year- at PeopleAllStars.com to select the30 “All-Stars Among Us” winners outof the pool of 90 finalists who are serv-ing as leaders in their communities.

He has also received the GreaterDC Cares’ Essence of LeadershipAward and the Community Foundationfor the National Capital Area’sLinowes Leadership Award.

Prior to founding A Wider Circle in2001, Mark spent 15 years managinghealth and wellness initiatives and serv-ing as a part-time professor and con-sultant in the Washington DC region.He is a nationally acclaimed speakerin the fields of poverty, health, and so-cial connection and has been a fea-tured guest on local and national tele-vision and radio programs. Markearned a Bachelor’s degree from NUand went on to receive both Mastersand Doctoral degrees from AmericanUniversity.Mark Bergel ’85

Institute this summer in New Or-leans. They spent time learning moreabout leadership, recruitment, andrisk management. They also spent anentire day doing community servicein the 9th Ward of New Orleans,helping a local church get back onits feet. During the awards luncheonon Saturday, our House Director,Colin Finn, Iowa State ’05, wasawarded The Chairman’s Award forOutstanding Alumni Volunteer of theyear. Finally, thank you to ThomasS. Rakow, class of ’65 who makes itpossible for a third member of the

chapter to attend this conferenceevery year through the scholarshiphe has funded through the Delta Up-silon Education Foundation.

I hope this letter has reached youwell and given you a better under-standing of the current standing ofthe house and brothers. If you wouldlike to speak or get a hold of anyoneon the current DU Exec Board, a listof the officers and their contact in-formation is listed on page 2 of ThePurple Searchlight. Please feel nohesitation to contact any of us.

YITB,William Gomez-MollerChapter President

(continued from page one)

President’s Report