Delta Chi

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ΔΧ - Delta Chi

Motto	Leges "Law"
Colors	Red and Buff
Symbol	Knight-Errant
Flower	White Carnation
Founded	October 13, 1890 at Cornell University
Type	Social
Scope	United States, Canada
Headquarters	314 Church St. (P.O. Box 1817) Iowa City, Iowa 52244-1817, USA
Chapters	129
Homepage	www.deltachi.org

Delta Chi (ΔΧ) (del-ta kai) or D-Chi is an international college social fraternity formed on October 13, 1890 at Cornell University initially as a professional fraternity for law students. In fact, the open motto of the Fraternity remains Leges, the Latin word for law. In 1922 the Fraternity officially started accepting general male student membership. Delta Chi abolished "hell week" in 1929, becoming the first American fraternity to do so^{[citation needed]}. The Fraternity is headquartered at 314 Church Street in Iowa City, Iowa. The spiritual founder of the fraternity is Sir Edward Coke. His idealism is best exemplified with one of his most famous quotes: "No man is above the law, not even the king." This and many other of Coke's theories of law and justice are those that Delta Chi strives to emulate.

There are now over 129 chapters and colonies of Delta Chi across North America. Delta Chi has initiated over 93,000 men since founding. The Fraternity counts among its members many accomplished men including current (2006) US Senators Larry Craig, Richard Shelby, Craig Thomas and James Webb; present US Representative John Mica; former US President Benjamin Harrison; former US Senator Henry "Scoop" Jackson;former FBI chief William S. Sessions; former general manager of the Toronto Blue Jays and Seattle Mariners Pat Gillick; actors Kevin Costner, G. D. Spradlin, Joey Stinson, and Ashton Kutcher.

1 The Founding of The Delta Chi Fraternity
2 The Ritual
3 Famous Delta Chis
4 Delta Chi Preamble
5 10 Basic Expectations of a Delta Chi
6 Trivia
7 External link

[edit] The Founding of The Delta Chi Fraternity

Since at least 1929, Delta Chi has recognized the following eleven men as the Founders of The Delta Chi Fraternity: Albert Sullard Barnes, Myron McKee Crandall, John Milton Gorham, Peter Schermerhorn Johnson, Edward Richard O'Malley, Owen Lincoln Potter, Alphonse Derwin Stillman, Thomas A. J. Sullivan, Monroe Marsh Sweetland, Thomas David Watkins, Frederick Moore Whitney.

This list has not always been the accepted one. Even those on the list had differing opinions as to who deserved such recognition. To more fully understand the confusion, let us go back to the school year of 1889-90 and "set the stage" for the inception of the second law fraternity at Cornell. The school year of 1889-90 began with conversations of starting a new law fraternity, but, as school work increased, the idea was put off until the spring semester. Two incidents have been credited with providing the impetus for renewed interest in the founding of what was to become Delta Chi. One was the election of a Phi Delta Phi as the Law School Editor of the Cornell Daily Sun (the student newspaper) and the second was the election of the law school junior class president. in the case of the class presidency, Alphonse Derwin Stillman had done some campaigning for a student named Irving G. Hubbard and was unaware of any effort being made in anyone else's behalf. When the voting results were in, Charles Frenkel, a Phi Delta Phi, was declared the winner. That caused Stillman to start "asking around." It appears that what he found was a law school which was dominated by one small, closely knit group -- Phi Delta Phi.

The question of who first conceived the idea of a new fraternity will probably never be answered. According to Frederick Moore Whitney there were probably two or three groups working on the idea that spring.

Monroe Marsh Sweetland (who was also a member of Delta Tau Delta from Cornell) claimed the idea was his alone; Myron McKee Crandall claimed the fraternity was started in his and Frank Edward Thomas' apartment at 126 E. Seneca Street; Stillman remembered being approached by "one of the boys" after the class election but couldn't remember who.

In any case, there were meetings held in Crandall's apartment as well as in Sweetland's law office on Wilgus Street. It is not clear how these two groups came together, or even in which month, though there seems to have been some individuals who had attended both groups. Crandall did remember approaching Sweetland about the concept of the new fraternity and how excited he was, and how he had joined right in. Sweetland said he always had considered the founding of Delta Chi to date back to when he had unfolded the whole idea to Crandall.

While the class officer elections and the Law School Editorship incidents may have provided the initial incentives for organization, it soon became clear that those involved were looking for much more. Realizing a common desire for fellowship and intellectual association, they sought to enrich their college experiences by creating among themselves a common bond; a bond that would materially assist each in the acquisition of a sound education; a bond that would provide each enduring value. As with any important commitment, there must be time for contemplation and planning.

Over the summer, many of the details of the organization were worked out by Crandall, who had stayed in Ithaca until after school opened. There was additional work accomplished by Sweetland, John Milton Gorham and Stillman.

In regards to the adoption of the constitution, Albert Sullard Barnes wrote the following in his 1907 Quarterly article:

"As I recall it, after refreshing my recollection from the original minutes now in my possession, on the evening of October 13, 1890, six students in the Law School, brothers John M. Gorham, Thomas J. Sullivan, F. K. Stephens, A.D. Stillman and the writer, together with Myron Crandall and O. L. Potter, graduate students, and Monroe Sweetland, a former student in the Law School, met in a brother's room and adopted the constitution and by-laws, and organized the Delta Chi Fraternity."

The minutes from that meeting state "Charter granted to Cornell Chapter" (Note: While it is only supposition, it is believed that the Founders chose to name their chapter and, therefore, all chapters to follow, after the school in which they had so much pride in hopes that some of the prestige of the school would "rub off" on their fraternity. The naming of chapters varies from fraternity to fraternity with school names, Greek alphabet, Greek alphabet within state and Greek alphabet and numbers being the most common.) indicating from the beginning the intent to start a national fraternity. From the spring semester of 1890 until October 13, 1890, there existed, in effect, a fraternity which had no chapters.

In the fall of 1890 the names of Fred Kingsbury Stephens, Martin Joseph Flannery and Frank Edward Thomas appeared on the agreement to share the cost of purchasing a sample badge for the fraternity, and the signatures of both Flannery and Stephens appeared on the pledge "... to form a Greek letter fraternity...." Since both Flannery and Stephens dropped out of the organization early, they have not been included as Founders.

The inclusion of Thomas' name as a Founder has been hotly debated since the beginning, and Carl Peterson, Union '22, who had researched the founding of Delta Chi during the 20s and was largely responsible for the recognition of Crandall as a Founder, maintained that Thomas was equally deserving. This was confirmed in conversations with Barnes, Crandall and Thomas, but met with opposition from some of the remaining Founders. The prime reason for denying his recognition seems to be the fact that the did not return to Ithaca in the fall of 1890, even though he was actively involved in the inception of the fraternity during the 1889-90 school year when it, at least on an informal basis, actually came into existence. The possible role he played in the birth of Delta Chi is re-counted in Peterson's article "New Version of Our Founding," in the September 1930 Quarterly. The authenticity of this role was strongly supported by Crandall. It is interesting to note that Crandall also did not return to school in the fall of 1890, although he did work in Ithaca until early in the fall semester when he left for Utica, N.Y. and Sweetland, having graduated the previous spring, was practicing law in Ithaca. Despite this, Crandall was listed as an active charter member of the Cornell Chapter on October 13, 1890. It was at his insistence, with it is assumed, the support of the majority of the members present, that Frank Thomas was listed as an honorary member. Sweetland was listed as an honorary charter member. Several of the Founders were working on their masters of Law degrees when the Fraternity was being organized.

Up until the publishing of the 1929 Directory the list of our Founders did not include the name of Crandall. The inclusion of his name at that time was largely due to a replica of the original historical work of Peterson, even though as early as August 14, 1924, Crandall's name was recommended by Whitney for such recognition.

In the same letter, Whitney recommended that Peter Schermerhorn Johnson not be recognized as a Founder since he wasn't initiated until December 1890 or March 1891. Johnson was, however, responsible for a large portion of the secrets of the Fraternity, writing "Foven's Mater" and drawing the first emblem for Delta Chi.

[edit] The Ritual

The main work of composing the Ritual was done by Stillman, either during the summer or early fall of 1890. Supposedly the Ritual was read at a meeting when it was still incomplete and was submitted shortly thereafter at a meeting on October 20, 1890, where it was adopted. Since a committee on the Ritual composed of Stillman, Barnes, and Stephens was appointed on October 13, 1890, it seems probable that it was originally read at that meeting, and that Stillman was given some help in completing the Ritual. In Stillman's own words, "I looked upon that Ritual as temporary and that it would serve until some genius could devise something entirely original. The ritual contained many phrases that were not original and which, as I '(Stillman) remember, I did not take the trouble to mark as quotations. The principal ideas are almost as old as civilization, and it was my idea that an entirely new ritual would be prepared." The original Ritual was written on both sides of some sheets of old style legal cap, and was signed by each new initiate. A rehearsal was held on November 14, 1890, and on November 26, 1890, Albert T. Wilkinson , Frank Bowman, and George Wilcox were initiated in short form. It was not until December 3, 1890, when Frederick Bagley was initiated, that the full initiation was used. The structure of the Delta Chi's initiation ritual has remained virtually unchanged since it was used on November 26, 1890.

[edit] Famous Delta Chis

[edit] Government

Craig Thomas, U.S. Senator, Wyoming
Richard Shelby, U.S. Senator, Alabama
Larry Craig, U.S. Senator, Idaho
James Webb, U.S. Senator, Virginia, former Secretary of the Navy
Sam Johnson, U.S. House of Representatives, Texas
John L. Mica, U.S. House of Representatives, Florida
Dan Miller, U.S. House of Representatives, Florida
Bob Stump, U.S. House of Representatives, Arizona
John Bricker, Past Governor and U.S. Senator from Ohio
Henry "Scoop" Jackson, late Senator from Washington and presidential candidate
Otis R. Bowen, former Governor of Indiana and Secretary of Health and Human Services
Henry Hartsfield, space shuttle commander
William S. Sessions, former Director of the FBI
David R. Thompson, U.S. 9th District Court Judge
Bill Zeliff, former U.S. Representative from New Hampshire
Robert Todd Lincoln, son of President Abraham Lincoln, Secretary of War
George Wallace, former Governor of Alabama
Robert Vance, late Alabama Federal District Court Judge, killed by mail bomb
William Jennings Bryan, famous orator and presidential candidate
Benjamin Harrison, President of the United States
Brad Cole, Mayor of Carbondale, IL

[edit] Industry and Finance

John Calhoun, former Vice President of Quaker Oats
William Cole, Senior Vice President of Shearson Lehman Brothers
C.W.W. "Tex" Cook, former Chairman of General Foods
Jerry Dozier, Vice President of Merrill Lynch
Verne Drews, Vice President of Nabisco
Thomas Glasgow, former Chief Operations Officer of McDonald's
Sam Ginn, Chairman of the Board of Vodafone AirTouch
R. Jim Harring, Corporate Vice President of Motorola
William Hayes, Senior Vice President of Texas Instruments
Gordon Jones, retired Vice President of Hearst Publications
Ed Kangas, former Chairman of the Board of Deloitte & Touche
Herb Klein, former Editor-in-Chief of Copley newspapers and former President Nixon's Press Secretary
Charles Marshall, former Vice Chairman of the Board for AT&T.
Dave Kolander, retired Vice President of 3M
Stuart Zolot, Senior Vice President and CFO of Marc USA
Phillip J. Carroll, famous thinker
Jared Simmons, Famed Phoenix Hotel Developer
Mel Fisher, Famous Treasure Hunter
Elliott Jonas, Former Owner, President, and CEO of All Appliance Parts
Brian G. Sayre, California University of Pennsylvania 1980, Pioneer in the field of Special Education

Grady Diesslin, Diesslin and Assoc. Dallas, TX CFO

[edit] Arts and Entertainment

Andrew A. Armas Iowa 1984 - On-line Producer for Fox Sports; 2003 Emmy Winner
Bruce Collier Texas 1935 - Former Publicist Warner Brothers
Douglas Drake Florida 1986 - TV Colorist for Warner Brothers
Tom Graeff UCLA 1952 - Film Writer/Director/Editor; famous for Teenagers from Outer Space
Joe Haney SMU 1950 - Retired Director of the Texas A&M Band
Alan Heitz Maryland 1994 - Actor ("Buffy, The Vampire Slayer", "Frasier", "The Suite Life of Zach and Cody")
Ross Himes Abracadabra 1924 - Ziegfield Follies
Joe Hollinshead Arizona 1994 - Creative Executive for Worldwide Pants (David Letterman's Production Company)
Kevin James DePauw 1983 - Music/Composer: "NYC Playground" - 2005 World Choral Music Symposium
Bruce Alan Johnson Iowa 1987 - Actor/Singer; “Sunset Blvd,” “ Tokyo Can Can”
Ashton Kutcher Iowa — Actor (Dude, Where's My Car, That 70's Show), Producer (Punk'd)
Jonathan Lucas SMU 1941 - Director and Choreographer. Former Director on “The Dean Martin Show”
Rojer G. Madruga Indiana 1987 - Thor Films Producer
Don P. McDiarmid Stanford 1920 - Composer, Conductor, Trumpeter; Conducted at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel
James Quinn Indiana 1947 - ABC-TV Production Representative
Nelson Soler Fullerton 1986 - Writer/Producer: "Lincoln Heights," "The Bachelor"
Robert Clay Smith Kansas City 1973 - Coordinating Producer “Access Hollywood ”
Bryan St. Pere Illinois 1990 – Drummer: Hum
Thomas Swale Kansas 1968 - Television Screenwriter: “Hart to Hart,” “The Fall Guy,” “The Love Boat,” “Lottery!,” “Glitter,” “Hotel”
Benjamin Swalin Columbia 1928 - Founder and Former Director/Conductor of the North C arolina Symphony Orchestra; Author of "Hard-Circus Road: The Odyssey of the North Carolina Symphony"
Peter Van Steeden NYU 1925 - Musical Conductor: “The Fred Allen Show,” “Lucky Strike Hit Parade,” “Omnibus,” “Abbott & Costello,” “Break the Bank,” “The Jack Pearl Show,” “Duffy's Tavern,” “Snoopnagle and Bud”
Randolph Walker Rollins 1951 - Theatrical Actor: “Don Juan in Hell,” “The Heretic,” “ Chalk Garden ,” “Royal Family,” “A Lion in Winter,” “The King & I”
Adam Wasser South Florida 2002 - Actor: “The West Wing,” “Big Love,”
Tru Tran American 1996 - Actor: "How High"

TO BE ADDED TO OTHER SECTIONS - REFER TO PROMINENT ALUMNI SECTION OF WEBSITE

Ben Becker, ESPN Sportscaster
Kevin Costner, Actor and Director

G. D. Spradlin, Actor from such movies as The Godfather II; Tora, Tora, Tora; Lords of Discipline; and Apocalypse Now
Joey Stinson, Actor
James B. Stewart, author of Bloodsport and other titles
Robert Newton Peck, Writer of children's books, including the Soup series
Richard Peck, Newbery Medal-winning author of children’s books
Bill Pidto, ESPN Sportscaster
Russell Nye, Pulitzer Prize winning author
Waco O'Guin, Creator and cast member of Mtv2s Stankervision
Kirk Fogg, Host of Nickelodeon show "Legends of the Hidden Temple"
Kurt W. Larson, Pilot, United States Navy

[edit] Astronauts

Henry Hartsfield, Jr, STS-4 (Columbia) pilot, STS-41D & STS-61A commander

[edit] Sports

Jon Daniels, General Manager for the Texas Rangers, youngest GM in baseball history.^{[citation needed]}
Rod Dedeaux, former USC coach and college baseball’s “Coach of the Century”
Pat Gillick, former General Manager for the Seattle Mariners, current General Manager of the Philadelphia Phillies
Nolan Harrison, NFL Hall of Fame member
Larry Himes, former General Manager for the Chicago Cubs
Ron Mix, NFL Hall of Fame member
Sean Salisbury, former NFL quarterback and ESPN Analyst
Jack Del Rio, Head Coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars
Skip Pitlock, Retired Major League pitcher
Marc Berger, Pro Poker Player

[edit] Delta Chi Preamble

"We, the members of The Delta Chi Fraternity, believing that great advantages are to be derived from a brotherhood of college and university men, appreciating that close association may promote friendship, develop character, advance justice, and assist in the acquisition of a sound education, do ordain and establish this Constitution."

[edit] 10 Basic Expectations of a Delta Chi

I will strive for academic achievement and practice academic integrity.
I will respect the dignity and worth of all persons. I will not physically, mentally, psychologically or sexually abuse or haze any human being.
I will protect the health and safety of all human beings.
I will respect my property and the property of others; therefore, I will neither abuse nor tolerate the abuse of property.
I will meet my financial obligations in a timely manner.
I will neither use nor support the use of illegal drugs; I will neither abuse nor support the abuse of alcohol.
I will acknowledge that a clean and attractive environment is essential to both physical and mental health; therefore, I will do all in my power to see that the chapter property is safe, properly cleaned and maintained.
I will know and understand the ideals expressed in my fraternity Ritual and will incorporate them into my daily life.
I will exercise compassion and understanding in dealing with all persons.
I will challenge all my fraternity members to abide by these fraternity obligations and will confront those who violate them.

[edit] Trivia

In the film, Animal House, the fraternity was the Delta Tau Chi ("Delta House") Fraternity with the letters "ΔΤΧ". Later in the movie, when the movers are taking out the contents of the frat house, the name is Delta Chi Tau. Still later, the "Τ" letter falls off of the house (leaving just "Δ Χ"), and the ending song includes the lyrics "... at Delta Chi you can't go wrong."