Phi Delta Theta - DePauw University

DePauw Phi THE I N D I A N A Z E T A C H A P T E R O F P H I D E L T A T H E T A SPRING 2019 Phi Delt Strengthens Despite DePauw's Woes G reetings from your 151-year-old Chapter of Phi Delta Theta at DePauw. Indiana Zeta crossed the 151st-year mark at Old Gold on February 25. Bond numbers have now pushed past the 2,200 mark. Once again, 10 percent of all men at DePauw are Phi Delts with 104 men wearing azure and argent on campus. We had the largest pledge class (27) and have the largest chapter, too! Phi Delts continue to excel in the classroom and in varsity athletics with men in seven different sports. The men continue to be good stewards of the facility and their budgets. Camaraderie, brotherhood, and leadership are at levels rarely seen before. It is easy to be a proud DePauw Phi when around these men and their families. But what is most remarkable about this success is that it has come in tumultuous times for our University. Consider this: • DPU enrollment is off nearly 25 percent; down to 2,051 students. • Legacy student enrollment—essentially alumni referrals— has halved. • Annual giving percentages are at historical lows. • Multi-year operating losses has necessitated massive staff and budget cuts. • President Mark McCoy has received a vote of no confidence from faculty, and parents are outraged by student treatment and campus climate destroyed by activist deans. • Lack of trust within faculty and staff ranks is palpable. • The Greek system is under an unprecedented and unjust assault from the university As DePauw has made its pedagogy, curriculum, hiring, and tenure granting more extreme (and expensive), our relevance in the marketplace has diminished. In our traditionally strong enrollment markets, students and their families are increasingly turned off and are flocking to competitors. So how are Phi Delts still thriving? It's simple, really. What's wrong with DePauw is that it's not more like Phi Delt! Our men have trust and accountability. We live a more traditional fraternal life like most of you experienced. The men also have a supportive and uplifting ethos centered around friendship, sound learning, and rectitude. Finally, dedicated alumni and parent volunteers counsel and defend these men. DePauw is struggling with its identity, but our chapter is strengthening–so you should continue to be Proud to be a DePauw Phi! If you'd like to talk more or lend a hand, feel free to contact me. Yours in the Bond, Chris "CJ" Johnston '83, House Corporation Trustee cl.johnston83@gmail.com Phi Delta Theta Drives David Trogden '04 to Successful Career W hen David Trogden '04 first stepped foot on DePauw's campus, he already had some lofty personal goals in place. In order to achieve those goals, David knew that it would be important to put himself in an environment that set him up for future success. David, who is the founder and CEO of Probo Medical, found exactly what he was looking for in the Indiana Zeta Chapter of Phi Delta Theta. He still cherishes the leadership opportunities that he had with Indiana Zeta, such as being the Chapter president for a year. "I likened being the president of a fraternity to being a babysitter, but it was a good experience because being the president of a company is somewhat similar to being a professional babysitter as well," David said. "All kidding aside, the leadership opportunities of leading a group of men at age 19, 20, 21 absolutely helped prepare me for the leadership opportunities out in the real world." Under David's leadership, Probo Medical has been one of the fastest-growing companies in the state of Indiana. Probo Medical buys, sells, and repairs ultrasound probes and stock systems from the industry's best original equipment manufacturers. After acquiring MedCorp in 2018, Probo Medical became a $30 million company. "Surrounding yourself with a really strong management team has been really huge to our success and growth. Setting out your core values and what you stand for as a business and those core values driving the company culture has been absolutely an important step," David said. "We've just been setting the path for uncommon growth. We've been really focused in what we've done and how we've gone about growing." The rise of Probo Medical earned David a spot on the Indianapolis Business Journal's 40 Under 40 list. Prior to founding Probo From left: Craig Snyder '04, David Trogden '04, Patrick Mcgrew '04, Dan Matuszewski '04, and Colin O'Flaherty '04. (Continued on page 2)

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