Delta Kappa Epsilon - Wesleyan University

The Deke Newsletter 3 Board of Directors President Gary Breitbord '79 (508) 740-9310 gbreitbo@aol.com Vice President Dave Thomas '77 (917) 972-5047 dthomasgroup@msn.com Treasurer Dave Bagatelle '86 (646) 408-1032 dbagatelle@mac.com Secretary Jeff Gray '77 (603) 682-7960 cardinal73@comcast.net Members Bill Ahern '78 (617) 285-3027 wahern@chelaw.com Joe Britton '79 (267) 614-4039 jbritton@begleycarlin.com Tom Dwyer '72 (301) 933-4305 tomdwyer4207@verizon.net John Hoder '73 (401) 573-2246 john.hoder@yahoo.com Scott Karsten '74 (610) 724-8655 skarsten@kt-lawfirm.com Jim LaLiberty '77 (207) 649-4258 jim@jbrllaw.com Bruce Tobey '75 (978) 968-8100 tobeybruce@gmail.com Faculty Advisor Norm Shapiro (617) 816-4944 nshapiro@fas.harvard.edu DKE Undergraduates, Alumni Stand Strong How Gamma PHi Continues to imPaCt many BrotHers I can still remember my first walk down College Row with its traces of Wesleyan's storied past. What I remember most was, and always will be, the row of old fraternity houses opposite North College: the intimidating columns of Eclectic, the high walled bushes around Beta, the Psi U castle, and the blocks of grey stone with the golden letters above the door at the DKE house. A lot has changed since then. Beta lost its national charter and there is a "for sale" sign in front of the house. Psi U was taken off of program housing after an alleged, unresolved drug charge, but has been approved for program housing in the 2016-17 school year. Eclectic is turning into Music House. And, of course, DKE was shut down indefinitely for failing to deliver, on short notice, a coeducational plan that the administration deemed acceptable. After meeting some amazing people and going through the rewarding process, I became a DKE brother. But last year, when I expected to be living in our house, I found myself in the Butterfields, and our brothers scattered all over campus. I wish we could look at this from a personal level and get beyond the guise of gender equity and social inequality. I'm the son of two U.S. Army veterans and grew up on military bases from Hawaii to New Jersey to Minnesota. My parents were from modest means and trusted me to navigate the world without a financial safety net. They encouraged me to use my intellect to guide me places that would challenge my views of the world. Wesleyan has made me question everything from my academic prowess to my social interactions. This place has made me a better, more thoughtful and generous person through a balance of academics, athletics, and my fraternity experience. The support system that fraternities offer are what made them attractive to me in the first place. Whether I'm having a hard time in the classroom, in my sport, or in any parts of my life, I know I have friends who want me to succeed. I've overcome personal obstacles to be here and it's devastating to be told now that my affiliation with DKE is a sign of "privilege" and "bigotry." My character, and how I act in this community, should define me amongst my peers. The slights against our fraternity have been shocking. In the fall of 2014, Wesleyan mandated that all fraternities move toward becoming fully coeducated (to initiate female members) by 2017. When DKE leadership submitted a preliminary plan for cohabitation (allow female live-ins), the administration shot it down. Shortly thereafter, DKE alumni submitted a revised plan, which was also rejected. An extensive 10-15 page proposal, including renovation plans to make the house more attractive to female students and reserved rooms for women and access to each common space in the house, was presented. This proposal, too, was denied due to a lack of details regarding our commitment and overall plan to get women to live in the house. These details included our talks to add the sisters of Rho Epsilon at the DKE house. Then, in the summer of 2015, DKE presented a plan that specifically called for 50% cohabitation of the house, and that too was rejected. After all is said and done, I hope this administration will recognize the kind of men who belong to our fraternity, and the assets we are to this campus. We come from diverse backgrounds, play different sports, excel in multiple disciplines, and, in the end, found common ground at 276 High Street. We have flaws, we are human, and we are doing our best. We support each other through the good and the bad. To my Gamma Phi brothers, past and present, don't lose faith. Don't forget about the old stone house and the golden letters. We will continue to fight for what we believe is right. We will remain strong. I have a feeling we will come back even stronger. In the Bonds, Jordan Jancze '18 Chapter President

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