Letter from the “AA”

FEATURES

4125,000th Initiate

Recently we reflected as a brotherhood on Founders’ Day and Week of Service; a series of events that demonstrate the pride we have in the group of men that established our organization. In that same celebratory vein, our brotherhood reached a new milestone this fall, as Delta Chi celebrated the 125,000th initiated brother.

6Week of Service

Delta Chi observes the International Week of Service each year during the week leading up to Founders’ Day. More than ever, our mission to advance justice within our communities through giving back is needed. For the first time in two years, many chapters and colonies were unimpeded in their service efforts due in large part to the loosening of COVID-related safety standards.

8A Point of Pride: Matthew Jaffe

Brother Matthew Jaffe, Maryland ’16, rose to viral fame following the circulation of a photo that depicted him holding an infant child in the midst of chaos in Kabul, Afghanistan. Brother Jaffe and his fellow Marines were part of an unprecedented evacuation operation that saved the lives of more than 120,000 people.

DEPARTMENTS

2 Letter from the “AA” 3 Convention Registration 12 Campus Scene 22 Keeping in Touch Farewell and Parting 24 “A”s’ Academy Registration

CAMPUS ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

GET HELP TODAY VIA CALL OR TEXT 866-237-4241

Or Online at: MY-LIFE-RESOURCE.COM Username: deltachi Password: myresource

FROM THE “AA” We Lose Too Many Brothers - It’s Up to Us to Stop it

As my time as Delta Chi’s International President has fewer tomorrows than yesterdays, there are a few lessons I learned during my service on the Board of Regents since 2003 that I hope to share with our members. I am often asked what it’s like to serve as “AA”. It is an honor of a lifetime that I share with 52 past “AA”s over the last 130 years and more than 125,000 members. You have the chance to see the very best of our fraternity – and, unfortunately, the worst. One the worst is when a member of our fraternity attempts to, or does, take his own life. We don’t hear about this often, but we experience undergraduate loss every year with an unknown number of alumni suffering the same outcome. In contrast, I know of many cases where brothers who were in need of support either reached out for assistance or other brothers stepped forward on their own to intervene when they observed a situation that concerned them. College is a difficult time for many. It is a period when individuals are struggling to figure out who they are, what they want to do, their role as adults in their family or community, overcoming financial challenges, and grappling with how they have been treated based on their race, ethnicity, or sexual orientation. Many of these challenges continue as members transition into alumni. As we all know, suicide is permanent and the loss of one life is one too many. In college, I worked in an emergency room processing admissions for three years. One of the most saddening situations I saw all too often were victims of suicide attempts. I didn’t understand then that many suffer from a serious state of depression or shame that causes significant pain. I know this now because I have struggled with depression on a few occasions during my time in Delta Chi. Fortunately, I had many brothers check in to make sure I was doing okay. I am grateful these fraternity relationships were built on such a strong foundation and many of these brothers did not stop with their concern when I initially blew off their supportive inquiries.

Please know that none of our brothers should ever feel alone. You are loved. You have many brothers who care deeply about you. You are a Delta Chi. To those of you who have suffered from depression or have thoughts of harming yourself, PLEASE talk to a professional. There’s never shame in needing a little help.

The Campus Assistance Program (CAP) is available 24/7 and is available at no-cost to our members and Associate Members. This is a strictly confidential resource.

If nothing else, please reach out. I am only a phone call away, 571-235-2183.

If you are a brother who is concerned about the mental well-being of a fellow member, please check in with them, share resources available on campus or through Delta Chi, and talk with an alumni advisor or campus official to share your concerns/seek available and/ or free resources. If you see something, say something. When in this situation, I remind myself that I would rather live with momentary awkwardness of starting the conversation versus saying nothing and a harmful outcome taking place. When we pull back all the titles or badges in Delta Chi, we are a social organization based on relationships; we’re a family. While I’m proud to see the number of chapters who have created a mental health or mental wellness chair in their chapter to share resources with members, we must all be part of the solution. Outside of these positions, we should all aim to support and assist our brothers. Remember that the loss of any life is too many. It’s up to us to stop it.

Aaron Otto, “AA”

International President Kansas State ’98