UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA–LINCOLN, 2015
A LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT Dear Prospective Member and Family, First off, I applaud your interest in becoming a Greek man as you transition into college. Joining a Fraternity has had a lasting impact on me, and if you too choose to join a Fraternity, I am sure it will be a decision you remember for the rest of your life. When joining a Fraternity, you will immerse yourself into the culture of the organization, learning their values and becoming part of something that is greater than yourself. Specifically, looking into Phi Delta Theta is a choice that means you are a man who is determined to become the greatest version of yourself. College is an important time in a young man’s life where he is to prepare for his future and become the man he is meant to be. At Phi Delta Theta, we are dedicated to assisting these young men become outstanding gentlemen prepared for success after college. The three cardinal principles that guide Phi Delta Theta and its members on our pursuit of excellence are Friendship, Sound Learning, and Moral Rectitude. Together, these three values form a strong foundation, which fosters the development of men with character. It is through these principles that Phi Delta Theta allows its members to excel above the rest. The members of our Fraternity are a well-rounded group of individuals, balancing academics, social interaction, and both on and off-campus involvement. This desire to focus and develop all aspects of the college man is one of the many things that made me take a deeper look and inevitably choose Phi Delta Theta. College is a great time to pursue the visions of your future, whether that is your career, studying abroad, or campus involvement. Phi Delta Theta is the leader among all fraternities in campus involvement. We have had many members of the Fraternity serve on
ASUN Student Government as senators, speaker of the senate, and internal vice-president. We currently have four members in the University Program Council, which brings exciting forms of entertainment to the University. Last summer alone, we had seven members study abroad at the University of Oxford, England. In the past, Phi Delt has had many Homecoming Royalty finalists, including this past fall, when we were lucky enough to have one of our members win the honor of Homecoming King. We also continuously have members in the top senior honor societies on campus. In joining Phi Delta Theta, you have the opportunity to attain similar levels of achievement. Brotherhood is the lifeblood of our Fraternity. Brotherhood is much more than just friendship; it is a responsibility to be your brother’s keeper; looking out for one another and their best interests. Brotherhood can develop in countless ways: from taking random trips to WalMart to spontaneous snowball fights to the many other events that come from living in a house with almost 70 of your best friends. The experiences you will have at Phi Delta Theta are what make your college experience unforgettable. Academic success is a top priority at Phi Delta Theta, and it is something in which we take great pride. The most recent initiated class had an average GPA of 3.542. We push all of our members to reach their full academic potential and in doing so, we provide an environment which is conducive for success. Our members are constantly studying throughout our house, hosting study groups with classmates, or mentoring younger members in the house. Phi Delta Theta is as diverse as possible when it comes to majors: from chemistry to architecture, and business to engineering. The diversity
Jonathan Berger, Chapter President jonathanberger11@gmail.com (402) 660-1606
of our members combined with an environment conducive to academic achievement allows our members to easily achieve academic success while at Phi Delta Theta. Phi Delta Theta continuously offers opportunities to develop gentlemen, become involved on campus, create lifetime friendships, and earn top grades on campus. We are searching for well-rounded students who are committed to growing in all aspects of life and make a positive impact on campus. We expect these individuals to live by our cardinal principles. If you think that Phi Delta Theta is a place for you, please do not hesitate to contact myself, or our recruitment chairmen for more information. We would love to assist you in your search for the right Fraternity. Good luck, and I hope to see you in the UNL Greek System next semester. Proud to be a Phi,
JONATHAN BERGER
HISTORY Phi Delta Theta is an international fraternity founded on December 26th, 1848 at Miami University in Oxford, OH by our six founding fathers, nicknamed “The Immortal Six”. Since then, Phi Delta Theta has grown to 189 chapters worldwide, with more than 11,800 undergraduate men and over 250,000 alumni, becoming a leader in the fraternity world.
Our chapter – the Nebraska Alpha chapter of Phi Delta Theta – was the first fraternity at the University of Nebraska, founded in 1875 by Clarence Rhodes, Amos Gantt, and Willis Sweet. To date, our chapter has initiated almost 2,200 members. The current chapter house, built in 1937, is recognized as a historical landmark for numerous aspects, most notably the spiral staircase, designed by Phi Delta Theta alumnus Frank Lloyd Wright.
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PRINCIPLES
1. FRIENDSHIP True friendship gives more and takes less. As stated in our open motto, “We enjoy life by the help and society of others.” Phi Delta Theta is an organization of character and ideals, in which friendship is the common thread that connects us as brothers. The friendship developed in Phi Delta Theta is the kind, which lasts a lifetime.
2. SOUND LEARNING As a college man, the principle of sound learning is of the utmost importance. Phi Delts commit themselves to a high degree of intellectual cultivation and academic excellence. Our study hour program, career-oriented mentoring program, and the numerous scholarships given to our members by both our General Headquarters and local foundation encourage members to strive for academic achievement on a daily basis.
3. MORAL RECTITUDE At its foundation, Phi Delta Theta strives to build men of high moral character and standing. At Nebraska Alpha, moral rectitude is a way of life. Through our philanthropic involvement, our in-house Bible study, and our volunteer service projects, Phi Delts learn to become better men and stewards of the community.
The men of Phi Delta Theta hold themselves to a higher standard by following the three cardinal principles: Friendship, Sound Learning, and Moral Rectitude. Over 250,000 Phi Delts have followed these principles and have learned to incorporate these ideals to become better men during both their college career and their entire adult lives.
PHI DELTA THETA BROTHERHOOD The relationships made through your college experience will be ones that you cherish not only during your time at UNL but throughout your entire life. At Phi Delta Theta, the memories and experiences that build lasting relationships happen every day. The men of Phi Delta Theta are more than simply a group of men sharing a house, but rather a family of brothers. Each semester, we hold numerous brotherhood events including our chapter retreat, our Sunday Night Football and Super Bowl viewing parties, Husker Gameday tailgates, and casual movie nights. Brotherhood is present everywhere!
Brotherhood was one of the main reasons I joined Phi Delta Theta. My brothers in the house have always been there for me, and I know that the brotherhood we’ve developed is strong enough to last a lifetime.
Brotherhood Pool Tournament
- Jack Egan, Brotherhood Chair
SCHOLARSHIP Phi Delta Theta stresses academic success for each of our members. Our goal is to ensure that our new members have a smooth transition into the college academic environment. Our scholastic program for new members includes 15 required study hours per week, group study sessions, and our tutoring program.
CHAPTER GPA
3.373 TOP 3 AMONG FRATERNITIES
Phi Delta Theta can also help ease the financial burdens that come along with being a college student. Our General Headquarters gives out over $250,000 annually to members across the nation! Along with our competitive national scholarships, our local chapter gives thousands of dollars each year to our members.
Scholastics are the core reason we are all here. At Phi Delta Theta, we strive to perform at a high level academically. We promote a culture of sound learning by providing countless academic resources and scholarship opportunities for our members. - Stetson Heirigs, Brotherhood Chair
PHILANTHROPY Serving the community is an important part of life at Phi Delta Theta. Every year we host numerous events to raise money for ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease). Last year we hosted our annual Waffle Bash in the fall, which raised over $6,400, and Phi Factor in the spring, which raised over $4,500. This year, we also teamed up with the Phi Delts at Creighton and the University of Nebraska at Kearney for our national Iron Phi philanthropy. We raised more than $2,000 in donations and ran 171 miles from Kearney to Papillion in memory of Brother Lou Gehrig. We also participated in the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge and raised over $1,000 in that event. In addition, we do at least one community service project every month. This year we participated in such events as the ALS
Delta Gamma Anchor Splash
Phi Factor
walk, the Big Event, Dance Marathon, and volunteering at numerous venues including the Lincoln Children’s Museum, the Malone Center, and the People’s City Mission. We also hold a weekly service activity, FAVOR (Friday Afternoon Volunteer Opportunity Retreat), in which our members participate in smaller service opportunities.
Phi Delta Theta takes pride in our scholastic, athletic, and philanthropic endeavors, but we also like to have a good time, and are known and respected campus-wide for our exceptional social program.
SOCIAL Spring Break
Gameday Tailgates
Homecoming Lawn Display
Halloween – Channel 4 News Team
Throughout the year, we hold social events with numerous sororities and fraternities, building memories with our brothers, and our fellow Huskers. From our semiannual formal dances, to our lively and creative themed socials, we stand true to our open motto, “We enjoy life by the help and society of others.”
Kansas City Formal
Winter Formal
Our social program also encompasses University sponsored events, such as Homecoming and Greek Weekend, in which we placed 2nd this past spring. Phi Delta Theta consistently places in the top three in the campus Homecoming competition, and 4 of the last 10 Homecoming Kings have been members of our chapter. Along with Homecoming, the fall semester brings our annual social, the Woodchoppers Ball.
LEADERSHIP
At Phi Delta Theta, our influence goes far beyond our fraternity. Our members work to exemplify the ideals of Phi Delt in numerous prominent leadership positions on campus.
HERE ARE JUST A FEW OF THE ORGANIZATIONS AND HONORS OUR MEMBERS HAVE RECEIVED:
2014 UNL Homecoming King
Two Members of the College of Business Administration Student Advisory Board
ASUN Student Government Speaker of the Senate
Member of the College of Journalism & Mass COmmunications Student Advisory Board
Four ASUN Student Government Senators Three Members of The Innocents Society, the Chancellor’s Senior Honorary
Member of the Nebraska Legends Student Advisory Board Three Members of the University Health Center Student Advisory Board
Three Members of Omicron Delta Kappa National Honor Society
Two Members of the Army ROTC Program
Ten Members of Order of Omega National Greek Honor Society
Five Teaching Assistants Two New Student Enrollment Leaders
Five Members of Phi Eta Sigma Honors Fraternity
Four Members and External Vice-President of the University Program Council
Seventeen Members of the University Honors Program Seven Members of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars Five Chancellor’s Scholarship Recipients Eighteen Regents Scholarship Recipients Eleven Canfield Scholarship Recipients Eleven Members of the College of Business Administration Dean’s List Ten Members of the College of Engineering Dean’s List
Nine Members of the Oxford Study Abroad Program Co-Founder, President, and Twenty-One Members of UNL Success Club Twelve Members of Big Red Investment Club Treasurer and Team Captain of BAJA Society of Automotive Engineers Three Members of American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics
Eight Members of the College of Arts & Sciences Dean’s List
Five Members of the Nebraska Human Resources Institute Mentoring Program
Two Members of the College of Journalism and Mass Communications Dean’s List
Three Members of UNL’s Premier A Cappella Group, The Bathtub Dogs
Member of the College of Education and Human Sciences Dean’s List
Eleven Team Members of Dance Marathon
Vice-President & Treasurer of the Campus Recreation Advisory Council Five Members of the Arts & Sciences Student Advisory Board
Seven Operations Staff Members of The Big Event Eight Members of FOCUS Greek Thirteen Members of Greekside Bible Study Six Members of NU Meds Three Members of MEDLIFE
INTERNATIONAL AWARDS Last year, Nebraska Alpha received seven awards from our international Fraternity – the most of any chapter of Phi Delta Theta. Last summer, for the seventh straight year, we were named a finalist for the Harvard Trophy, Phi Delta Theta’s most prestigious national honor.
Harvard Trophy (2nd consecutive) Recruitment Improvement Citation Excellence in Scholarship Award St. Louis Fraternity Education Award (7th Consecutive)
Gold Star Award (9th Consecutive) GHQ Trophy (2nd Consecutive) Hayward S. Biggers Ritual Trophy (3rd Consecutive) Iron Phi Chapter
While the benefits of Phi Delta Theta go far past the physical structure of our house, we are very proud of our chapter facility. Five years ago, Nebraska Alpha undertook a $1.2 million renovation, upgrading numerous aspects of our house. Installing the first state-ofthe-art fire suppression system of any Greek organization at UNL was vital for ensuring the safety of our members, and shows how Phi Delta Theta is an innovator in the Greek community. We also added central heating and air, a new lawn and landscaping, including a new fence. Â Other renovations included the rewiring of our entire facility, the addition of a night-kitchen/snack area, new restrooms and showers, as well as an expanded chapter room. The facility is within walking distance from downtown Lincoln, as well as any University building. The experience and resources offered make Phi Delta Theta second to none among any University housing option.
Our chapter facility includes everything a University dorm or other fraternity would include plus more! Here are some of the features of our house: Full laundry service Fully loaded movie theater New Fire Suppression System Wireless Internet Bi-Weekly Cleaning Service Professional Chef New Security System/Key Card Locks Full Coverage Security Cameras
FAMILY
Mom’s Day Painting
Alumni Tailgate Banquet
One of the greatest aspects of our organization is providing a sense of family away from home. However, we also like to invite our members’ families to stay involved with the organization. Our Parents’ Club, along with our Alumni Secretary, work to plan events such as our annual Christmas Decorating Day, packing of “Study Bags” for our members during finals week, weekly Sunday Night Dinners, as well as our annual Mom’s and Dad’s Days. Through these events, our members’ families are able and encouraged to stay actively involved in the lives of their sons.
Dad’s Day Husker Game
Parents’ Club Decorations
ATHLETICS As balanced men, Phi Delts excel on the playing field. Competing in a wide range of intramural sports throughout the year, our members show their pride and ability in numerous athletic events. We also compete on co-recreational teams with sororities, creating a memorable and competitive experience for our members. We fill teams for all levels of ability, so everyone can participate where they feel most comfortable.
Here are just some of the athletic achievements we have accomplished: C-League Fraternity Broomball Champions
Pre-season Fraternity Softball Champions
Freshman Fraternity Dodgeball Champions
A-League Fraternity Indoor Soccer Champions
C-League Fraternity Flag Football Champions
B-League Fraternity Indoor Soccer Runner-up
All-University Heavyweight Wrestling Champion
PHI DELT AT UNL “ I have had the distinct pleasure of growing close to the men of Phi Delta Theta. Each member of this fraternity embodies an incredible sense of loyalty to one another, as well as epitomizes what it means to be a leader. They are, without a doubt, some of the best men on campus. “ - Eden Diehl, Kappa Delta President
“As the Program Coordinator for the University Program Council (UPC), I have worked with quite a few men of Phi Delta Theta and found that they made a significant impact with UPC as members of our General Council and Executive Board. These men are dedicated and dependable members that work extremely well in high-pressure situations, possess great drive, and determination. Their incredible work ethic and desire to assist others helps put UPC into the forefront as a positive and influential student organization at UNL” - Karen Wills, University Program Council Advisor
“When a Greek House restarts or comes to UNL, we use Phi Delta Theta as a model due to their incredible success since 2004.” - Dr. Juan Franco, Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs
FAMOUS ALUMNI
PROMINENT LOCAL ALUMNI J.B. Miliken – Chancellor, City University of New York, former President, University of Nebraska Jim Abel – Owner, NEBCO; Owner, Lincoln Saltdogs Baseball team; Owner, Quarry Oaks Golf Course Kort Igel D.D.S., M.S., P.C. – Orthodontist Sid Dillon – Owner, Nebraska’s Largest GM Dealership Dr. Charles Wilson – Former Chair, UNL Board of Regents Joe Williams – Former CEO, Warner-Lambert James Stuart – Chairman, Stuart Investment Jim Clifton – CEO, Gallup Howard Krasne – Owner, Abe Krasne’s Home Furnishings Brad Brown – Owner, Archistructure, Grand Resort Properties
PROMINENT NATIONAL ALUMNI Adam Riess, MIT, 1992 – Nobel Prize Winner Adam Silver, Duke, 1984 – NBA Commissioner Alex Seropian, Chicago, 1991 – Creator, Halo Benjamin Harrison, Miami, 1853 – 23rd President of the United States Billy Payne, Georgia, 1969 – Chairman, Augusta National Golf Club Bob Schieffer, TCU, 1959 – TV Journalist Burt Reynolds, Florida State, 1957 – Actor Chris Cagle, NW Missouri State, 2005 – Country Music Artist Chris Connor, Ohio State, 1978 – Chairman/CEO, Sherwin-Williams Craig Leipold, Arkansas, 1974 – Owner, Minnesota Wild David Steiner, Louisana State, 1982 – President/CEO, Waste Management Doak Walker, SMU, 1950 – NFL Hall of Famer; Heisman Trophy Winner Drew Houston, MIT, 2005 – Founder/CEO, Dropbox Frank Lloyd Wright, Wisconsin, 1889 – Architect J. Willard Marriott, Utah, 1925 – Founder, Marriott Hotels James McLamore, Cornell, 1947 – Founder, Burger King Jeff Weiner, UPenn, 1989 – CEO, LinkedIn John Dasburg, Florida, 1965 – former CEO, Burger King; former CEO, Northwest Airlines; former CFO, Marriott Corporation John Tyson, Arkansas, 1975 – CEO, Tyson Foods John Y. Brown, Jr., Kentucky, 1956 – Former Kentucky Governor; Owner, Kentucky Fried Chicken Kenneth “Hap” Klopp, Stanford, 1964 – Co-Founder, The North Face Kevin Reilly, Cornell, 1984 – President, TBS & TNT Lou Gehrig, Columbia, 1925 – MLB Hall of Famer Neil Armstrong, Purdue, 1955 – Astronaut, First man on the moon Ralph Wilson, Founder/Former Owner, Buffalo Bills Richard Haayen, Ohio State, 1948 – Former CEO, Allstate Insurance Sam Simon, Stanford, 1975 – Co-Creator, The Simpsons Sean Tuohy, Ole’ Miss, 1982 – Father from “The Blind Side” family Wes Welker, Texas Tech, 2004 – NFL Football Player William Harrah, UCLA, 1934 – Founder, Harrah’s Hotels & Casinos
DUES & SCHOLARSHIPS MEMBER DUES Rent: Chapter Dues: Membership Dues:
$7,900 $790 $540
(One time fee)
TOTAL: – COMPARED TO UNIVERSITY HOUSING – TRADITIONAL STYLE DORM
>$10,200
SUITE STYLE DORM
>$10,700
SCHOLARSHIPS Nebraska Alpha Scholarships Any new member above 3.5 GPA:
$225
Any new member with a 4.0 GPA:
$725
Two Clarence Rhodes Scholarships:
$500
National Scholarships Phi Delta Theta General Headquarters and the Phi Delta Theta Foundation award over
$250,000 per year in scholarships to members across the nation.
All rates based on 2015-2016 prices for double rooms with a five-day meal plan. University Housing – http://housing.unl.edu/housing-billing-rates-2015-16#apt_rates
JAKE SNYDER Vice President
BRYCE BLYCKER Treasurer
SEAN DOYLE Secretary
ANDREW BRUCH Alumni Secretary
STETSON HEIRIGS Scholarship Chair
OFFICERS RYAN HOGAN Phikeia Educator
NATHAN FICKENSCHER Involvement Chair
BRYAN BRUNSON Chorister
BOBBY JAGADICH Phikeia Educator
HUNTER MILLER Risk Management Chaplain
BROOKS RONSPIES Philanthropy Chairman
JACOB HOCK Social Chairman
ZACH SCHREINER Historian
ERIC OLTMAN House Manager
DEXTER HERR Social Chairman
JACOB QUINT Warden
RECRUITMENT SCHEDULE May 21st, 2015 - Rush BBQ @ Phi Delta Theta House in Lincoln May 28th, 2015 - Rush BBQ @ Phi Delta Theta House in Lincoln May 30th, 2015 - Lake Event @ Nate Hofmann’s in Valley June 4th, 2015 - Rush BBQ @ Jonny Slabaugh’s in Omaha June 13th, 2015 - Lake Event @ Taylor Hanson’s in Bennington June 18th, 2015 - Rush BBQ @ Zach & Ben Janecek’s in Omaha June 25th, 2015 - Rush BBQ @ Phi Delta Theta House in Omaha June 27th, 2015 - Lake Event @ Nate Hofmann’s in Valley July 2nd, 2015 - Rush BBQ @ Brooks Ronspies’ in Omaha July 11th, 2015 - Lake Event @ Connor Paskach’s in Valley July 16th, 2015 - Rush BBQ @ Jonathan Berger’s in Omaha July 23rd, 2015 - Rush BBQ @ Phi Delta Theta House in Lincoln Dates/Events are subject to change; make sure to stay tuned to our Facebook, Twitter, etc.
July 25th, 2015 - Lake Event @ Taylor Hanson’s in Bennington July 30th, 2015 - Rush BBQ @ Sam Manthey’s in Omaha August 8th, 2015 - Rush BBQ @ Phi Delta Theta House in Lincoln
Check out our Summer Rush Facebook page: “UNL Phi Delt Summer Rush 2015”
August 13th, 2015 - Rush BBQ @ Eric Leise’s in Omaha
Eric Leise Recruitment Chair (402) 215-8818 eleise@yahoo.com
CONNECT WITH US /PhiDeltUNL @PDT_UNL @PDT_UNL unl.phideltatheta.org/
Jonny Slabaugh Recruitment Chair (402) 201-7189 jsla674@gmail.com
Bryce Blycker Asst. Recruitment Chair (402) 943-8248 bryceblycker@yahoo.com