New fraternity one step closer to campus
Multicultural Greek Council (at SMU) approves application for gay, bisexual progressive men's organization
By Jennifer Velasquez
Contributing Writer
April 15, 2003
For those of you that haven't found a fraternity to call home, you might have a new option. Next fall, men of all sexual orientations may have a fraternity of their own. Multicultural Greek Council approved an application for a colony of Delta Lambda Phi, a national fraternity for gay, bisexual and progressive men, to join the council.
In 1986, in Washington D.C., Vernon L. Strickland, Esq. sought to establish a fraternity that would not discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation. And so the Alpha chapter of Delta Lambda Phi was born.
The Alpha Kappa colony of Delta Lambda Phi has been in Dallas since August 2002. Randy Hubach, a junior history and political science major, was cleaning out the Women's Center closet two years ago when he and some friends came across the fraternity's pledge binders and paddles from when DLP had been at SMU in the mid-90s. They took it a step further and looked into restating it into a colony.
Hubach said that as a first-year he thought of going through recruitment for the Inter-Fraternity Council, but none of the fraternities seemed to fit.
"I met some of the other chapters of Delta Lambda Phi and this one felt like home," he said.
Its eight pledges had to apply to MGC to be considered an SMU colony. Hubach said they hope to become brothers in the fall.
MGC looks for certain criteria in order to consider an incoming fraternity or sorority. They must have at least 10 chapters nationwide, have a strong alumni base and be able to get the support of an advisor.
MGC also looks at how the incoming organization would fit in with the other greek organizations on campus. Once invited on campus, the fraternity would be a colony for a semester and then considered for chapter status.
The application now goes to Vice President Caswell, and if he approves it, Delta Lambda Phi will become an SMU colony.
Potential members would go through a month-long recruitment process, then an eight week new member education program. The new colony would have to abide by the anti-hazing and alcohol policies of MGC.
This national fraternity has chapters across the United States at schools such as Florida International University, Boston University and Purdue.
"It's not just for gay men, I think that's important to clarify," Michelle Espino, MGC adviser, said. "It is a progressive fraternity open to all regardless of sexual orientation. One of their main goals is to develop respect for the diversity of all people."
In fact, one of the members, Steven Vanderpool will soon be married to his fiancée.
"Stephen is very open minded and liked the group of guys," Hubach said. "He though it was something new and since he likes to go against the grain, he gave it a try."
Espino said the opportunity for expansion is a rare opportunity. "We are finding places for everyone on campus. If you want to be in a fraternity or sorority, you can be."
For more information contact Michelle Espino at (214) 768-4405 or visit their website at
www.dlp.org <
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