Phi Delta Theta - DePauw University

The DePauw Phi 2 A t a time when about 80 percent of DePauw freshmen went into Greek life, Phi Delta Theta stood out as a place for young men to find friendships and form bonds. Bill Caskey '78, for example, played basketball in high school and fit in well with the athletes at Indiana Zeta. He also joined a pledge class of 13 members, which became closely knit in college and the years beyond. That class, affectionately known as the Moose Lodge, was named after Jack "Moose" Oberlin '78. Members would gather in Jack's room on Friday afternoon and simply enjoy the camaraderie; for a time, Moose Lodge even referred to the Chapter House itself! The Moose Lodge brothers also bonded over good-natured mischief as well as service events, such as Indiana Zeta's basketball marathon fundraiser for Operation Life, the local medic service. Every year, they had a huge turnout at the Chapter House's basketball court, having fun for a great cause. "When we get together, those memories come up far more than time in the classroom," Bill said. Several members still live in the Indianapolis area, and when alumni like Dave Schlecht '76 and Jim Barasa '77 come to visit every couple of years, everyone gets together for a meal and cocktails. These semi-regular reunions, with the opportunity to reminisce and talk about their lives and families, have become a treasured tradition in the last 45 years. "Whenever we get together, it's like being back in the house—we get to catch up but there's no need to reacquaint," Jim Davis '78 said. "Since college, I've only experienced that with my actual siblings. We Phi Delts are truly brothers in that sense." The Moose Lodge connected over Zoom in the early pandemic, which allowed brothers to see one another for the first time in years, if not decades. "I think times like that prove our camaraderie," Bill said. "If Dave Bennett '78 came to town and needed a place to stay, there are 10 guys here who'd love to have him. That's one thing that makes fraternities such as Phi Delt special." "The friendly mockery and laughter always seem to bring us closer together and remind us of how special our friendships remain," added Jack Oberlin. "No matter how many years pass us by, we always seem to pick up right where we left off and have a fantastic and memorable time together!" Looking back, the Moose Lodge brothers are thankful for the bonds they found in their formative years and encourage fellow Phi Delts to stay connected as well. Do you have any traditions or reunions with brothers of your era? Let us know by sending the info to updatemyrecord@penningtonco.com, and your story could appear in The DePauw Phi! One of many Moose Lodge get-togethers through the years. Back row, from left: Jim Barasa '77, Jim Davis '78, Dave Schlecht '76, and Jack "Moose" Oberlin '78. Front row: Greg "Gramps" Crow '78, Bill Donaldson '78, Dave Krivosha '78, and Steve Aker '77. A Place for Lasting Friendships Members of the "Moose Lodge" Share Their Stories We asked alumni: Describe Indiana Zeta Chapter in a few words! "Grand Old Fraternity." –Andrew M. Houston Jr. '60 "Friends, bum room, Mom Brown." –Stephen M. Davis '67 "Community, support, growth." –Michael Willhite '89 "Brotherhood, friendship, bond." –Benjamin Lee Stewart '99

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