Next of Kin
In my day, when asked why he had chosen to join a fraternity, a pledge often answered that he wanted to be with friends, to engage in a quality social life, and to be a part of- and contribute to- the local community while attending college.
An alumnus might speak to the active chapter of the Brotherhood in assembly about a night, long ago, while cramming for a physics final, when he heard the footsteps of his big brother, who, seeing the desk light on, walked into the room and explained some physics ambiguity so clearly, the alumnus never forgot the concept, or the evening, or the man.
A phone call may have occurred one afternoon and a brother learned a family member had passed unexpectedly. In some way, other brothers learned of the tragedy, and soon an envelope quietly appeared with a plane ticket and cash inside, thus assuring the brother the means to get home in time for the services.
It may be the pride recalled by one brother of a vote he made on a Tuesday evening in the front room of 30 Elm Street, with the curtains closed and the Brotherhood engaged in its weekly meeting. Discussions of the new pledge class were concluded, the house manager’s report had identified areas of concern and repair, and the party next weekend had been fully planned, when the question of adoption was raised by the chapter president: It would be the first of four Korean and Vietnamese refugee adoption commitments made by the brotherhood between the end of the 1950’s and end of the 1960’s. He had no extra money; could not afford to ask a girl on a date; worked two local jobs to be able pay his house bill; but he voted yes and accepted his share of costs to support a kid he would never meet.
Maybe it was the enjoyment of sneaking up on the porch of a nearby sorority with twenty brothers dressed in blazers and singing the fraternity sweetheart song while young co-eds whispered and laughed behind closed doors, and shuttered windows, but clapped madly when the serenade was over and the chorus moved down the street to the next sorority house.
The history of the Clarkson Lambda Iota Chapter of Delta Upsilon fraternity began in the fall of 1919---- and you are… its Next of Kin
In the early fall of 2007, twelve years short of its one hundredth birthday, undergraduate and alumni brothers of the DU Alumni Corporation met, as they do regularly during each school year, to discuss operations of the house, introduce each other, and review activities planned for the coming semesters. Of particular interest during these meetings are the undergraduate pledge program, house expenses, academic standing and house maintenance. With the return of women to campus, the move to the Hill, the age of the house at 30 Elm Street, and changes in State law and Potsdam building codes, maintaining and living in a fraternity house had become complex.
Clarkson University recognized these problems and the effects on its vibrant and engaged Greek campus community. The University Master Plan included space for a Greek row and it was expected several fraternities and sororities would take advantage of this space once implementation of the plans has been approved. The DU Alumni Corporation officers had accepted a special responsibility to assure the fraternity’s assets were protected and used properly. The house and its memorabilia represent the historical legacy of Lambda Iota from its local roots in Potsdam, to its conversion into a non-secret National fraternity in 1961. As alumni, they knew that undergraduates often require mentoring and leadership development and these alumni gave freely of their time and experience in ways that guided- but did not interfere with the students need to grow and govern themselves.
At these meetings, the subjects of hazing and pledge eligibility are normally discussed at some length. We must all live by the rules, regulations, laws and norms of the day. The acts of each brother impacts the legacy that is passed down to the Next of Kin. If serious enough, uncaring, unwise, illegal or immoral acts can put the brotherhood at grave personal, financial and legal risk. When serious enough, the chain of brotherhood reaching back to 1919 can be broken. Such was the case in 2007, when disciplinary measures required that the alumni prepare and negotiate a reasonable plan to evict the students, established a closing date for the house at 30 Elm Street, and see to its prompt sale. The chain was, for a time, broken.
Coming back to Clarkson was a long, long process. After three years, alumni actively sought students with values and judgment who were willing to establish a colony, who could see its value, who could understand its legacy, and who would work hard to establish legitimacy with Clarkson and with the National Fraternity.
The Brotherhood was reborn when many of its ΛΙ-ΔΥ alumni came together at its 2013 spring reunion in Florida, and again on campus in the summer of 2013, determined to continue the legacy. Brothers Paul Zolin, Chuck Trowbridge, Denis Jones, Ell Vines, Dave Rossi, Rob Brai, Don Dangremond, Art Scottow, Paul Preo, Chuck Phillips, James Conway and many, many more contributed time and donated substantial money so that the campus student body would know of the Brotherhood, that new members would join the Brotherhood, that a new house would be constructed on campus, and that the new house would bear a semblance to the old house at 30 Elm Street. The alumni negotiated a Memorandum of Understanding with Clarkson, a document that guides the terms of our use of the present house, and the requirement that nineteen brothers would live in the house, with financial penalties for fewer and rewards for greater residents – up to twenty-two. By the autumn of 2013, a groundbreaking took place. The university president, our honorary brother Tony Collins, dug his shovel deep into the loamy soil and a new chapter began in the life of the university’s third oldest fraternity. Walking along the path to the new house to were a group of men who would soon be known as the “Founding Fathers” of the reestablished Chapter. Many of these men didn’t know each other before they walked down that path to the groundbreaking ceremony that day, but in time many would move into the new house and earn back the Charter that had been revoked a few years earlier. They would share a bond that will last a lifetime.
The ΛΙ-ΔΥ Brotherhood through its Alumni Corporation chose to raise money to add the two cupolas (towers) in respect of the traditions and memories of 30 Elm Street. The basement floor includes a bar, storage, laundry, and recreation areas. In this space foosball champions will be crowned, Clarkson men’s and women’s NCAA hockey championship games will be watched, and “…a toast to my fraternity” will be sung. In this space it is unlikely the “fruge”, or the “twist”, or the “pony maroni” will be danced, or that “Jumpin’ Jack Flash”, or “Yesterday”, or “Blowin’ In the Wind” will be sung. But it will be your songs, the songs of your day. The paper mâché ceiling is no longer; pledge classes will have other duties to perform. Also unique are the extra bedrooms, and the group study/library rooms. Dave’s Room now is the Legacy Room, where our history is proudly displayed.
A porch and railing complement the front entrance of this new house. On some future warm spring evening, a young Brother standing on the porch, will place his ΔΥ pin on his girl’s sweater, the chapter president will walk up the porch steps and hand her a dozen red roses, and the entire Brotherhood, in blue crested blazers, will sing harmony to the Sweetheart song…
And you are its Next of Kin. And you now have the responsibility as the keeper of our legacy:
You are requested to read, understand, and sign this document as recognition you understand and agree to abide by the laws, rules and regulations that govern the Brotherhood. This will provide an opportunity going forward to declare an appreciation and an understanding of our fraternity, and to aver fidelity to the Brotherhood. But more importantly, that by joining this fraternity, you intend to be a part of the generations of positive contributions this Brotherhood has made and will continue to make for the benefit of the Brotherhood, of Clarkson University, and of the society in which we live.
By my signature, below, I acknowledge that I have read and understand this document, and that failure to conduct myself by the rules and regulations of DU Fraternity, and Clarkson University places me at risk of expulsion from the house, the fraternity and from Clarkson University.
Written Name and Date:
Signature:
Witnessed By: Name, Date, Signature
Jim Wood ‘64
Washington, DC
September 2017
As Requested by the DU Alumni Corporation