Fullerton : Fraternity Seeking to Win Back Recognition

Last September was a rough month for the Delta Chi fraternity of Cal State Fullerton.

First, the university suspended the fraternity. T. Roger Nudd, vice president for student services, said fraternity members had sold liquor without a license, had been involved in a hazing incident several years ago and had “terrified” women in a sorority house during a 3 a.m. panty raid. Next, the Delta Chi national organization revoked the chapter’s charter.

Today, some members of the fraternity are acknowledging past errors, and they plan to change.

“We had an attitude of us against the Greeks, the city and the university,” said John Burick, the fraternity’s president.

Burick said he is trying to rebuild Delta Chi and changing the fraternity’s attitude to one of cooperation.

With the help of alumni and the national organization, Burick said, the chapter has rid itself of “the bad apples in the bunch” and has rewritten its constitution, putting new emphasis on grades and university involvement.

Two weeks ago, Nudd and University President Jewel Plummer Cobb granted provisional recognition to the fraternity. Burick said he hopes the fraternity will be fully reinstated by next fall, something the university would also like to see.

Nudd said, “My hope is that by next year they will have enabled us to give them full recognition so that they may participate in fraternity rush.”

To gain full recognition, Nudd said, the fraternity must demonstrate its willingness to work with the university, the city and its neighbors.

Burick said the 33 active members were pared down to 14 after interviews by alumni and representatives of the national chapter that judged them on the basis of grades, involvement with the university and attitude. He said that the chapter has only three pledges now but that with some hard work it will be able to reach a goal of 50 members by Christmas that was set by the national organization.

He said the fraternity recently helped in efforts to restore a burned-out house in the neighborhood to show its commitment to community service and, through its alumni, has been improving relations with the city and the university.

Chuck Chapin, adviser to the university’s Greek community, is confident that the fraternity will be fully recognized by fall. “I think Delta Chi is on the road to success. It is going to take a while to rebuild a frat, but they’re moving in the right direction.”