Delta Tau Delta - University of Nebraska-Lincoln

ATTENTION: This newsletter is intended for alumni and parents. If your son is still attending the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, he will receive a copy at the Shelter. If he has graduated, please send us his permanent address to update our records. Thank you. DELTA TAU DELTA P.O. Box 83655 Lincoln, NE 68501 Address Service Requested Beta Tau Celebrates 125 Years A pril 7, 2019, marked the quasquicentennial (say that five times fast) celebration of Beta Tau Chapter's history. As one of the oldest Delta Tau Delta chapters in the country, as well as the oldest west of the Mississippi River, a big celebration was in order. Beta Tau brothers from around the country came to celebrate this extraordinary achievement and milestone for our brotherhood. Current members, alumni, and their families gathered at the Shelter for cookouts, toured new facilities on campus, and took part in the Rite of Iris ritual. e event reminded us all what it means to be a Delt. is was especially true at the formal banquet on Saturday night at the Embassy Suites Hotel, where we had the pleasure of hearing impactful speeches from three pivotal members of the Greek community. First was Ronnie Green, chancellor of UNL and an Alpha Gamma Rho alumnus, who spoke about the impact fraternity life had on him personally. He stressed the importance of brotherhood and the benefits that come from it, and received a standing ovation when talking about his continuing desire to have Greek life serve a pivotal role at UNL. Next was Chris Wisbrock, Gamma Kappa '97, the Western Plains Division president of Delta Tau Delta, who spoke about the long, rich history of the Beta Tau Chapter and the contributions from its members. Finally, we heard from Steve Paquette, Gamma Omicron '77, the international president of Delta Tau Delta. He touched on the negative perception that fraternity live receives as of late, who stressed the importance of the lessons it can teach. e event concluded, much like at Monday-night dinners at the house, and we all sang Delta Shelter. For those present, this seemingly short song had an overwhelming impact. It reminded us how important this house, this fraternity, and this brotherhood are to us all. As we all le to go our separate ways, we each took the words of International President Steve Paquette with us. It is truly a great day to be a Delt. Fraternally, Blake Woodruff '13 Benefits of Brotherhood Henry Gleason '14 on His Past, Present, and Future with Delta Tau Delta I n the years since graduation, it has become abundantly clear how Delta Tau Delta has affected me. Not only as a man and brother, but as a partner, leader, decision-maker, and human being. My years on the executive team, and especially my term as president, molded me into the person I am today. I learned the art of collaboration, its fine line, and I learned how to advocate for equity. I took those skills and put them to use. Aer graduation, I worked as a field organizer for a congressional campaign, for a nonprofit doing community outreach and government relations, and I spent a summer as a fellow for a presidential campaign in Iowa. I learned to build off the skills first developed at Beta Tau. Truth, courage, faith, and power continue to ground me and push me forward to reach my goals. I am pursuing my J.D. and my master's of government organization and leadership at Creighton University School of Law. I am thankful to have had such a strong support system rooted in the fraternity and its values, and I am excited and encouraged by the direction the chapter is headed. I am eager to be taking a more active role in the fraternity by joining the House Corporation. Fraternally, Henry Dobson '14 e Importance of the Ritual in the Age of Pandemic B efore university and chapter operations ceased in March, the chapter held its final initiation ceremony. Aer the ceremony I discussed moments in fraternity history where chapter operations were affected, such as the Civil War, both World Wars, the Spanish Influenza Pandemic, Vietnam, and 9/11. During and aer each of these occasions, fraternity life changed and such is the case going forward, but during each of these life-changing moments our Ritual endured. As I reflect on the moment we all face, I'm drawn toward our Ritual and how it could apply to our situation. While truth, courage, faith, and power are the foundations of the fraternity, "Strengthening Community Is Essential to Our Vitality" and "Brotherhood Sustains Us." We rely upon scientists, journalists, statesmen, and our innate academic backgrounds to seek the TRUTH regarding the realities of the pandemic. We muster COURAGE to protect ourselves, our families, and others by washing hands, socially distancing ourselves from another, carrying hand sanitizer, using disinfectant wipes, and only traveling or shopping when absolutely necessary. We have FAITH that our government leaders are doing their best to promote the general welfare, that scientists are doing their best to find a remedy, that healthcare workers are doing their best to make the sick well, and that we all do our part to protect each other. We utilize our POWER to realize the overwhelming magnitude of the situation and yet carry on with our work; maintain our children's education, development, and health; check in on our family, our brothers, and loved ones; and prepare for an unknown future. Regardless if you are a new initiate or a seasoned alumnus, the Ritual continues to reassure, continues to embolden, and continues to adhere to the Good Delt both for time and eternity. Fraternally, Ryan Caldwell '98 Chapter Advisor Chapter Eternal L uke Weiland '18 entered Chapter Eternal on July 24 at the age of 20. He was a junior business administration major. Luke was a friend to anyone and everyone he met and was never afraid to introduce himself to someone new. His brothers had nothing but good things to say about him. Ben Samway '18 said that Luke was the first person he met at the University of Nebraska. He noted Luke was the type of person who had a way of making people feel comfortable around him. "Luke was a people's person," Ben said. "He could spend three hours with a complete stranger and never run out of things to say." Riley Johnson '18 said that he first met Luke the day he moved to campus, and he remembers how Luke knew almost everyone in the fraternity aer his first day because of how outgoing he was. "He lit up every room he walked into with his contagious laugh and outgoing personality. Everyone who had the chance to meet Luke loved him."

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