Delta Kappa Epsilon - Wesleyan University

The Deke Newsletter GAMMA PHI CHAPTER AT WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY | SPRING 2025 TREASURER'S REPORT Proposed Bill WOULD HAVE ALLOWED Students to Live in House While Gamma Phi is not currently pursuing any formal fundraising efforts, we are often blessed with alumni who ask how they can extend their financial support. We are so grateful when that happens, and we want to make it easier for anyone who feels inclined to give. As such, we are pleased to announce our new online giving form: gammaphideke.causevox.com. Contributions go toward the KLC's general operations, which include our efforts like this newsletter! If you would like to donate to Gamma Phi, we invite you visit the form to submit a one-time or recurring gift. Know how sincerely we appreciate your support! INTRODUCING OUR NEW ONLINE GIVING PLATFORM We Are Grateful for Alumni Support! Gamma Phi on Sound Financial Footing A s the treasurer of the Kent Literary Club, I am pleased to report that we are on solid financial footing. We have accomplished this through hard work over the last 10-plus years. We are current on all of our bills, have no debt and, lastly and most importantly, through the generosity of our engaged alumni base we have built an adequate reserve to ensure Gamma Phi's existence at Wesleyan for years to come. A few other important points: • Since Wesleyan and Michael Roth do not currently allow our undergraduate brothers to live at 276 High Street, we have no rental income. Our only revenue at the present time is investment income earned on our reserves. • We have invested our excess reserves very conservatively (in U.S. treasuries), which has allowed us to earn a return and generate some incremental revenue while we wait for the university to change their position on the issue. • Our current annual operating expense to keep the house and chapter viable is $140,000 per year. • We continue to support our undergraduate brothers. Last year, we supported the undergraduate brothers to the tune of $13,573. • We have budgeted, allocated, and set aside the funds necessary to pay for Phase I of the renovation of the Old Stone House. That cost is estimated to be more than $1 million. This renovation will help preserve our single largest asset, 276 High Street, for years to come. Lastly, I'd like to thank our president, Gary Breitbord '79, the KLC Board and, of course, the brotherhood for their support and assistance over the years. Without that support, our financial stability and the continued viability of Gamma Phi would not be possible. In the Bonds, Dave Bagatelle '86, CPA Treasurer and Board Member W inter has broken, and the improving weather has allowed the contractors to make good progress on the current house envelope renovation. Rico Peace '69 has been leading the effort and provides an update with accompanying photos on page 2. Dave Bagatelle '86, KLC treasurer, provides his update on our current financial position below. Dave has done Yeoman's work over the last 10 years, ensuring our books are clean, tax forms are submitted, annual charitable reports are filed, and KLC funds are managed appropriately. While Wesleyan President Michael Roth has done an excellent job ensuring he is heard across all media platforms in the current debates, he hasn't practiced what he preaches with respect to DKE at Wesleyan. He continues to steadfastly refuse to talk to us about 276 High Street. If we could come to an agreement, the undergraduates would be enjoying a premier living space unlike anything else on the Wesleyan campus. I approached him once again at Homecoming and asked him, "Can we talk?" His answer, "No." This is confusing and confounding. The administration testified at a CT state legislature hearing on Sentae Bill 1411 to allow non-first year students the ability to live in off-campus housing (276 High Street is considered off campus since the KLC owns it not the University). Representing the administration, VP of Wesleyan Student Affairs Mike Whaley testified: "I should also note the existence of several privately owned Greek-theme houses on our campus, and we do accommodate that option as long as the group agrees to follow Wesleyan policies designed to maintain a safe and healthy living environment." We have met all the safe and healthy living criteria, but still Roth's personal vendetta against us takes precedence over what's in the best interest of Wesleyan and its undergraduates. Right before the final edit of this newsletter, the bill didn't make it out of committee and therefore won't be voted on. In the Bonds, Gary D. Breitbord '79 President, Kent Literary Club (508) 740-9310 | gbreitbo@aol.com WE WILL CONTINUE ON

• Cover