I guess you could say that Delta Tau Delta chose me. I did not go through formal rush per se. I was working at the University radio station, and two of the older guys at the station were Delts -- and really good guys. I only knew a few Greeks at the time, but was dating an Alpha Gam Pledge and was friends with a Chi-O and Pi Phi Pledge in my Honors English Class.
The Delts invited me and a good friend to a "smoker," which consisted mostly of a formal dinner at the Delt Shelter (A grand old red brick house with white Greek columns in front)and conversation afterward.
I really enjoyed the dinner, and was especially impressed with the respect shown the house mother. The entire Chapter was in jacket and tie (required for any dinner at the House in those days) and nobody sat down until she was escorted in and seated at the head of the table by the Chapter President (or Pledge President) at any meal -- very classy.
After dinner, we sat around the table and sang some of the old fraternity songs -- and then went into the living room for cigars (which I passed on since I don't smoke) and the rush part of the evening. It was then that the guys talked about academics, philanthrophy, emotional and moral growth, the history of the Fraternity and the Chapter -- what we call "Living Lives of Excellence -- and, of course, the social (party) side of the group as well.
I was pretty impressed.
I had no intention whatsoever of pledging any fraternity, but I really seemed to click with these guys. They invited me and my friend back the following night and extended bids to both of us.
Well, that's how the Delts did it in the sixties. Thankfully, the rest, as they say, is history.
Fraternally,
DeltAlum
[This message has been edited by DeltAlum (edited March 20, 2001).]
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