Delta Kappa Epsilon - Colgate University

MU CHAP TER OF DELTA K APPA EPSILON | COLGATE U NIVERSITY SPR ING 2025 Yon Clarion Bell NEWSLETTER OF THE MU OF DKE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION, INC. Mu of DKE members commemorate our February scholarship event. W e had a hugely successful scholarship event at the Yale Club in early February. There were easily more than 75 alumni brothers in attendance, including Jimmy Placa '02 from the Scholarship Committeeand board members Mark Peck '91 and Michael Miller '12. Former Board Vice Chairman Cody Cowper '09 also joined us. We had 20 undergraduates at the event, which brought a lot of youth and energy to the evening. In total, $60,000 was awarded to 14 deserving undergraduates. Thanks so much to the Scholarship Committee for their insightful input on a very competitive scholarship application process. Brothers Shane Bowler '22 and Carter Hawthy '23, along with Finn Simpkins '21 and Will Churchill '24, have volunteered to take over my responsibilities for the scholarships going forward (basically all the coordination and grunt work). They'll be co-chairmen of the Scholarship Committee. The program has been running well, but it will be great to have some young brothers running it. Please visit mudke.org/scholarships for more information. I hope you'll join the brotherhood in June for Colgate Reunion Weekend. We'll have bands on Friday and Saturday nights. The LPM will be packed and rocking. If you want a room in the house, you have to register through the University. Otherwise, just come and crash and we'll figure it out. We'll have our annual meeting on Saturday in the early afternoon, where we will vote in our newest members and hear from them about their experience. This is always a great moment to recognize our brotherhood's continued growth. A hearty welcome to the 165th class of Mu that was voted in last June. It is an amazing thing we have going! ITB, Sean Devlin '05, Chairman United We Stand DAN KLEIN '94 SHARES HIS MU STORY W hen Dan Klein '94 arrived at Colgate for his freshman year, Delta Kappa Epsilon had just returned to campus after a suspension. Quite a few rumors were circulating, but Dan decided to find out for himself what Mu of DKE was all about. "I quickly got a sense of the level of camaraderie and the overall vibe of the brotherhood," he recalled. "It seemed different to me than some of the other fraternities. It seemed like a good group of guys, but they were also unique and a little mysterious." As he spent more time with various Mu brothers, Dan knew DKE was the right fit. The brotherhood particularly exemplified unity during Dan's years on campus. "We had a true bond with each other," he explained. "We had deep loyalty and care for each other, which still exists today." Unity wasn't just an ideal; it was a way of life for us. "We lived it every day and it's not something I think I could have replicated anywhere else." That unity was put to the test at the end of Dan's sophomore year. After two semesters back in the house, the members found themselves suspended once again. "We didn't return to the house until the spring of my senior year," Dan explained. Despite being removed from the LPM, the brotherhood remained as tightly connected as ever. "That sense of home wasn't tied to a physical building. Some of my best memories were made as we found ways to stay close while off campus." After earning his bachelor's degree, Dan attended law school in Boston and began his career as an employment attorney. "I work for a national law firm, representing companies on the management side of employment law and guiding them through compliance questions and employment claims." As the years passed and Dan found success in his career, his thoughts turned to giving back to the organization that helped him become the man he is today. "I was long overdue to make a contribution and establish a regular habit," he said. "I owe a tremendous amount of my personal development to my years in Mu, which continues to affect my personal and professional life." Dan credits DKE with lessons in teamwork, collaboration, and resiliency. "I take pride in sharing my experience and the Fraternity's ability to navigate the ups and downs of the past 30 years since I graduated." Dan encourages other alumni to find ways to support the current members, whether by providing funds or donating their time. "Everybody is in different places financially or in terms of availability, but I think we can all appreciate what we once gained and how the brotherhood has survived and thrived due to alumni engagement and Chapter scholarships." Dan has lived in the Boston area since his graduation in 1994. He and his wife, Vicki, have an 18-year-old son, Sam, who just graduated high school and will be attending the University of Rochester this fall. If you'd like to connect with Dan, you can send an email to dklein@seyfarth.com. ALWAYS BUILDING ON BROTHERHOOD Mu Scholarships and Fraternal Growth THE STORY BEHIND "DAN KLEIN" "During my first house meeting after we were initiated in the spring of 1991, the Chapter was conducting elections for the following school year, and one of the upperclassmen was nominated for a position he wasn't interested in taking. Instead of saying 'I decline,' he said, 'I Dan-Klein the nomination,' and thus, coined a phrase that has persisted in Mu history for 33 years. When I introduce myself to the house, the current members now say, 'Wait, there's a real Dan Klein?' All things considered, it's certainly not a bad legacy to leave!"

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