Delta Tau Delta - Indiana University

Page 3 The Shield • Beta Alpha Chapter of Delta Tau Delta The JETBLACH race team supports Little 500 head coach Courtney Bishop at Bloomington Hospital. to Put BetA AlPhA BAck on successful PAth We have already filed an appeal of this suspension by the time you read this. Furthermore, the University allows a petition to lift the suspension when the Fraternity Headquarters lifts their suspension. The central office has been very helpful with alumni training as well as preparing our appeal on June 24. We are creating an alumni advisory team and structure that will be the model for the Fraternity world. We may need to take this show on the road (not)! Our current roster has: • Late '70s alumni—Doug Conover '78, Ken Glass '76, and Ned North '78 • '80s alumni—Mike Barthel '87, Steve Ginn '85, Tim Powers '85, Dirk Schnable '87, and Randy Smock '84 • '90s alumni and younger—Mark Crippin '91, Zach Douglas '15, Rob Hudson '91, and Paul Miles '92 There are 20 more alumni committed on a more limited basis with room for more. House Corporation President Scott Peden '98 has an article in this issue detailing the challenges they have faced and handled, so I'll just make this brief statement: the house corporation did an amazing job of protecting the chapter's best interests and deserves your gratitude and praise. We got a better deal than I would have put on a wish list. A word of warning: the University letter announcing the suspension included a whole paragraph warning against retaliation of any kind— phone, letter, e-mail, social media, etc. I certainly understand (and share) the frustration about the events of the past 90 days, but we 12 alumni and many undergraduates have worked very hard to prepare for the appeals. Please constrain yourselves from any acts of futility. Wish us luck! I am working on two or three petitions that I will offer for signature well before the June hearing. I do not think overloading snail or digital mailboxes serves our cause, but I want to give everyone a chance to voice their support. As soon as Arch Chapter rescinds the charter suspension, we will submit our petition to the University. No telling how long they will stall, but we fully anticipate the chapter to be operating without a Shelter in time for fall recruitment. It is my honor to serve as chairman of this advisory team, and I assure each one of you that I am doing all in my power to resolve this matter satisfactorily. Rob Hudson, Mike Barthel, and I try to post updates on the Beta Alpha Facebook group. Feel free to e-mail me with questions, criticisms, or suggestions any time at krgh2oski@aol.com. Ski Free! Fraternally, Ken Glass '76 DELTA TAU DELTA RANKS AMONG THE TOP FINISHERS AT 2017 LITTLE 500 RACE R iding as JETBLACH, Delta Tau Delta finished the 2017 Little 500 in 17th place, five laps off the lead. On lap 56, the team was involved in an accident with Beta Theta Pi, where bikes became entangled and required considerable effort to separate. Lost time in this effort was compounded by the fact that no yellow flag came out, allowing top teams to push the pace while we were down. Despite a considerable effort over the next 60 laps to claw back the lost lap, our riders were unable to do so and were hampered by a strong headwind and poor track conditions. On lap 114, head coach Courtney Bishop was signaling to our rider in the pack when the team in our neighboring pit came in to make a bike-to-bike exchange. Traveling in excess of 15 MPH, the incoming rider struck Courtney while completing his exchange. The rider's helmet hit Courtney directly in the face, with his handlebars hitting Courtney in the abdomen. Courtney was knocked to the ground, and after extensive medical attention was taken to Bloomington Hospital on a stretcher. We were assessed a two-second impeding penalty as a result. For the remainder of the race, our team struggled to regain ground. Our chase effort was further challenged through service of our penalty, general fatigue from the long chase effort, and shock at the departure of our coach. Following the race, Courtney was joined at the hospital by his family, close friends, and several of our alumni. He was in considerable pain but did not suffer any major injuries and remained in good spirits, ever passionate about what had occurred and eager to hear the final results. Despite these challenges, I want to acknowledge the incredible efforts of our riders both today and over the last 12 months. It is safe to say that this team has encountered challenge like no Delt Little 5 team. Just in the last 3.5 months, they have seen the loss of our charter, threats of disqualification from the Student Foundation for wearing Delta Tau Delta letters and kits, and this turn of events on race day. Please stand with me in thanking them for their sacrifice, and on behalf of Delta Tau Delta and for the strong tradition which they have continued. Over the last 10 years, our team has experienced extraordinary results and consistently been amongst the top finishers in the Little 500. We have established a program that has becoming self-sustaining and is built on great sacrifice from our undergraduates, impeccable coaching, high standards, and a strong community of alumni support. The future of this program and the hallmark of this team will not be today's result but how we bounce back in the year(s) to come. With continued dedication and hard work from our undergraduates and alumni, I am confident that we will once again hoist the big trophy in the not so distant future. Please join me in commending our riders for their efforts, and please keep Courtney in your thoughts in the coming days and weeks. Fraternally, Matt Neibler '09

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