Delta Upsilon - University of Kansas

Winter 2025 The Sunflower A PublicAtion of the KAnsAs chAPter of DeltA uPsilon W hen the DU house was closed by KU officials on July 21, 2018, it devastated hundreds of alumni. The beloved Chapter House at 1025 Emery was our home away from home when we visited Lawrence. The closing of the Chapter at KU was a great wound: a personal loss for alumni and an institutional loss for KU. But the Kansas Chapter of Delta Upsilon at the University of Kansas is back—even earning the Sweepstakes Award from the International Fraternity as one of its top performing chapters! REVIVING THE BROTHERHOOD A group of new pledges officially became a colony on November 12, 2022, and gained approval from KU and DU International to return Delta Upsilon back to Mt. Oread. Through the leadership of Kenzy Rolley '24 (you can read more about him on page 2), our associate chapter was ready for the Reinstallation Ceremony. On December 9, 2023, the chapter members, parents, and alumni gathered in the Bruckmiller room at the Adams Alumni Center along with Delta Upsilon Executive Director Justin Kirk, Boise State '00 and KU Chancellor Douglas Girod. Todd Slawson '83, who is the chapter's most recent Sloan-Kettering Award of Merit in Business recipient, gave the charge to the new Chapter. At the ceremony, as the official charter was handed over to the young men, many alumni could not hold back tears. It is hard to grasp how meaningful the resurrection of the Kansas Chapter is to hundreds of alumni. LOOKING AHEAD Limited manpower and resources are still an issue as we look to build and support a preeminent fraternity experience within the Kansas Chapter. With his return to Lawrence, David Wooding '77 and Klaus Diem '99 of Columbus, OH are spearheading the new chapter advisory board. A nationwide team of alumni are working directly to mentor specific chapter officers, including Eric Morrison '99, James Waring '03, Paul Lantis '07, and Mitch Knopp '10. One of the most critical ways we need alumni support is in the area of recruitment and introducing the chapter to potential new members. On pages 4-5, you will see many of the outstanding young men in the chapter, but you will notice a large out-of-state representation. We need to re-establish our recruitment base not only in Kansas City, but also regain representation from Wichita, Salina, Hutchinson, Great Bend, and across central and western Kansas. During the chapter's suspension, we were fortunate to have Alpha Kappa Lambda (AKL) move-in to our chapter house and they took great care of our property. However, we are 30 years away from most, if not all, of the major mechanical and infrastructure upgrades to the facility. Since the chapter has returned to 1025 Emery Road, the Housing Corporation has needed to invest more than $250,000 in major repairs to replace the roof, upgrade the fire panel, keep the HVAC system running, replace carpet, furniture and mattresses in order to provide a safe and attractive living and learning environment. Thank you to the alumni who have stepped forward to provide financial support when needed the most! Blake Rolley '84 has agreed to take the reins of our Kansas DU Educational Foundation, but more leaders are needed to help lead our alumni engagement efforts. Similarly, the Housing Corporation needs volunteers to help oversee the management of the property. If interested in volunteering, check out page 6 for contact information on the various opportunities. The Kansas Chapter is well represented at the International Fraternity level. Lewis Gregory '73 is serving as Chairman of the DU Educational Foundation, and Rod Barleen '97 is a member of the International Fraternity Board of Directors. Connor Bell '26 is one of the undergraduate representatives on the DUIF Board of Directors, and Mason Schutt '26 was elected as the Undergraduate Advisory Board Representative for our Province. We're so glad to see DUs back at KU, and we can't wait to catch alumni up on all things from the Kansas Chapter in this and future editions of The Sunflower. Delta Upsilon Is Back at 1025 Emery Road Hard Work and Dedication Pay Off (Left) Lewis Gregory '75 (left) presents the Award of Merit to Todd Slawson '83. (Right) DU alumni and undergraduates receiving Kansas Chapter's charter.

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