Social Events

“We are not called a social fraternity because of our ‘social’ events (i.e. parties, formals, mixers, etc.). We are a social organization because we are supposed to be teaching our members how to act in society.”

Enough articles have been written about the “evils” of fraternities to cause anyone to grow numb toward the criticism of those who would condemn one of the strongest private influences on higher education. So, instead of taking a moment to dwell on all that is wrong with what is commonly referred to today as the “Greek system,” we would all do well to take some time to reflect and focus on the positives of the Greek experience. In fact, it is through those positives that we can best address the areas where we need to improve.

One might ask where do we begin such a task? Well, since we call it the “Greek” system, we should start with one of the wisest of the Greeks – Socrates – and do what he would have done. Ask the question, “What is fraternity?” Taking it from its Latin roots, frater meaning “brother” and –ity meaning, “group”, it quite literally means “a group of brothers”. This is much like the word “community” which Aristotle (another wise Greek) loosely defined as, “…a group that has made a social contract to abide by certain laws to further the prosperity of the individuals.” In other words, Aristotle would say that as a society we have come together to be greater than the sum of our parts. By extrapolating this concept we can say that a fraternity, on its most basic level, is a group of men who have formed a “social contract” to do together that which they could never do as individuals. When put this way, it all makes sense. Only as a group could our Founders discuss the issues of the day in a non-threatening atmosphere.

Only as a group can men buy a house that they will only live in for a maximum of four to five years. Only as group could one receive spontaneous support in their classes without paying private tutors. Only as part of a group can alumni have a familiar place to which they can return after departing from college. And, only as a group, can one feel the camaraderie of brotherhood on a campus where one can be labeled as a number. And, as depicted above, this power can be used for many purposes. The men who have come together in the name of “fraternity” have done so to gain as a group that which they could never have attained without such an organization.

It is within this vein that we remind ourselves that Delta Chi is a social fraternity. But all too often our members are mistaken about the reason we are called a “social” fraternity. Former “AA” and Order of the White Carnation member Greg Hauser puts it best, “We are not called a social fraternity because of our ‘social’ events (i.e. parties, formals, mixers, etc.). We are a social organization because we are supposed to be teaching our members how to act in society.” The gist of the idea is that, just as professional fraternities have as one of their purposes the preparation of their members to enter their chosen profession, we are called social fraternities because, among our purposes, is the preparation of our members for life in the larger society after graduation. In the following pages you will see a group of men and their stories. The lives of these men give insight into the true meaning of what Delta Chi is, and what it strives to be. They have understood what the meaning of “social” truly is, and have incorporated it into their lives.

While you read their stories, reflect on your chapter and your individual relationship with your fraternity, Delta Chi. And rededicate yourself to helping it fulfill its true mission as a “social fraternity.”