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Becoming a Delta Chi

Recruitment and Rushing process

Recruitment, often known as rush, is an informal process of recruiting men join us in the Lake Forest Chapter. It is an ongoing process by which Brothers seek to strengthen the chapter by recruiting the best and the brightest members of the college community to join the ranks of the Brotherhood. If you're curious about becoming a Delta Chi, simply ask one of the Brothers; we're always willing to answer questions about the Fraternity and the chapter on the campus.

There is also a Facebook group where men in the community can sign up to be informed of events that the Brothers are hosting. There will also be a number of events where the Brothers can have a chance to meet the men who want to get in, and the men can meet the Brothers of the Fraternity.

Once a young man has been selected as a man that we, the Brothers, would like to welcome into our ranks, he will formally receive a bid. After being given a period of time to consider whether fraternity membership is right for him, the man will be asked to return the bid to us so that he can be instructed on how to participate in a formal Pinning Ceremony. It is there that the young man will given a pin that symbolizes his dedication to the Fraternity, and will be admitted into the Associate Member Education Program (AM program).

The Associate Member Process (AM Program)

The AM program for Delta Chi is different from that of a lot of fraternities. Associate Members are not "pledges"; they have the same rights and privileges as the rest of the Brothers, with the only exception being that they will not be told the secrets of the Fraternity until they have finished the education process.

The focus of the AM program is to educate AMs about the finer points of the Fraternity and general Greek life in order to bring them up to speed with the rest of the Brothers. There is no national test at the end of the program that determines membership; instead, it is the perceivable effort a man puts into the program along the way that will determine whether or not he is admitted.

AMs are taught about the history of the Fraternity and the chapter, the ten basic expectations of a Delta Chi, and the Fraternity preamble. Additionally, they learn about the campus Greek organizations, history of Greek life on the campus, and about Greek life in general.

One thing that makes Delta Chi prides itself in is its members. As a result, in addition to the education that we give the new members, we aim to help make them more productive members of the college community. The AMs get to meet the members of the faculty in a relaxed, comfortable setting, giving the men a chance to meet the people who make the policies that effect campus life. Such visits have included the Dean of Students, Director of Residence Life, and even the College President. The AMs are also are given the opportunity to tour the college campus, so that they can be more effective ambassadors for the college as well as the Fraternity.

The AM program is a dry program, even for the AMs who are of legal age to drink. In a nation where the college culture encourages misuse of alcohol and drugs, Delta Chi takes great pride in standing up against this trend and setting a good example for the community at large. If an AM is found to be abusing alcohol or drugs of any type, it is grounds for expulsion from the program.

Big Brother Program

One of the best and most important part of the AM program is the Big Brother program. Every AM chooses the Brother that they feel the closest connection to, and if that Brother is available and accepts the responsibility, then he takes the Associate Member under his wing and becomes like a mentor to him. This has a great number of advantages to the AM: in addition to a mentor and a close friend, he is able to receive advice from someone who has gone through the AM program before and knows what to expect. The Brothers act as more than a resource: they are a close friend during a difficult process, and will stick by the AM to give encouragement, support, and an open ear whenever it is needed of him. 

AM Projects

Additional parts of the program include an organized community service event, a fund raising event, and a lounge improvement project funded by the chapter. The Community Service Project is organized by the men of the AM class, and can be benefiting any organization of the AM class's choice. Previous community service projects have included reading to the public school kids of the surrounding area and organizing and running the Fraternity's Turkey Bowling event, benefiting the V Foundation.

The Lounge Improvement Project is an open-ended assignment that asks the men of the AM class what changes they would like to see in their Fraternity's Lounge, and then challenges them to follow through on their idea. While the idea for the improvement comes purely from the AM class, any funding and tools needed for it comes from the chapter. Previous projects have included building shelves for the Fraternity and purchasing a TV for the lounge.

The Fundraising Event is generally the most difficult project for any AM class. It is an opportunity for the AM class to give to the chapter they are members of, helping them to defray the cost of dues as well as fund events for recruitment and Brotherhood. There is no minimum requirement of funds needed to be raised; however, it is expected that the men of the AM class give this project their best effort, both in coming up with and executing their fundraiser. Previous classes have gone to Six Flags and worked at a nature reserve.

A Word on Hazing

Delta Chi was the first Fraternity to abolish "Hell Week" in 1929, a traditional period of brutal hazing that initiates would have to undergo before being accepted into fraternities. We are very proud of this tradition of upholding human dignity, and therefore refuse to participate in activities that can be abusive, offensive, or derogatory to our AMs. We also work closely with the school and the administration to insure that our educational program does not contain any activities that could be harmful to our associate members and does not fall within the school's hazing policy.

Additionally, the Associate Member program strictly adheres to Delta Chi's national policies concerning hazing, as well as the Lake Forest Chapter's policies forbidding hazing. Finally, all new members are given absolute freedom to either not participate in any activity they wish, or quit the program at any time for any reason.

All members of the AM class will be given a lecture from a Resident Life administrator informing them about the school's hazing policy, followed by a video and a Q&A session to ensure that all participants understand the policy.