Fall/Winter 2016
Sixty Five in Comeback Class! | Mike Whalen '87
We’re back at Syracuse University in a really big way. DU Headquarters’ on-campus recruiters, Jacob Ellis ’16 (Purdue) and Hayden Rahn ’16 (Oregon), have built a return class of 65 "Founding Fathers". Up in Syracuse for the November Dikaia Annual Meeting, Rick Holland '83, Kevin Stein '83 and I had dinner with the NGs at Panda Express on Marshall Street (Panda Express is next to what was the Generic Bar in the early/mid 80s). Our Founding Fathers are very good guys. At dinner, I sat with 8 NGs. We talked effortlessly the whole time. Lots of laughs. Keeping with our Founding Principles, my table was very diverse in backgrounds, majors, interests and ethnicities. It was fun to listen to the NGs talk about the colony executive offices each wanted to go for. They asked about old traditions and I told them about ending Chapter Meetings with Boner/Bonus of the Week, passing the gavel so everyone can have a say, and belting out Two Rivers making the walls shake; the DU Rules of Etiquette; Black Label and all that’s swell that goes along with this swill; Pledge Pranks; 711 Open Parties; Pledge Tests; Paddle Talks; and so on. Eyes were wide, big ‘ol grins around the table. Good time. We’re off to a great start.
DU philanthropy & bonding at a recent Syracuse Crunch game
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Jacob Ellis (far left standing) and Hayden (far right) with some of the NGs after they beat AEPi in a charity basketball game.
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Delta Upsilon Tailgate Supreme Update |Dave "Sarge" Sugrue '90
On October 1, 2016, 78 Brothers and their families came together in camaraderie and friendship at MetLife Stadium where Syracuse football hosted Notre Dame. Brothers came from Washington, Florida, Virginia, the District of Columbia, Maryland, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New Jersey, New York and even far away Chile (thanks Brother Bruce Willett)! We hired Mancave Events to cater the event. Mancave put on an outstanding spread and its tailgate trailer opened to reveal not only 3 flat screen TVs, but even its own restroom and two beer taps. While other tailgate parties had to line up and wait at the reeking public Johnny-on-the-Spot portapotties, we had a DU-exclusive, executive-style washroom that was available only to our party. Never underestimate the importance of an executive washroom at a tailgate!
Brotherhood at The DU Tailgate Supreme
The experience of a keg party was the first in decades for many Brothers and the rust showed. For example, after we tapped the first keg, it yielded nothing but foam. A debate broke out as to possible countermeasures. While he forgot the exact technique a few decades ago, Brother Bob Vrooman ’89 swore that putting your left leg up on the keg while you poured with the right hand was the fastest way to eliminate foam. Others volunteered that the tap pumping technique was the key to getting rid of foam: one slow pump followed by two fast pumps. While no consensus ever emerged, Bob shared one gem of keg beer dynamics: “Look, you may disagree with how the keg should be tapped. But you can't disagree with the fact that when you control the tap, you’re the king, the KegMaster. At big keg parties at SU, he who held the tap held the power. Eventually everyone would come seeking the blessing and a refill of beer from the KegMaster. The KegMaster had the opportunity to strike up conversation with every pretty girl, to aid every friend and deny any beer to any pains in the ass who showed up. When you had the tap, you didn't have to go to the world. No, no, no! The world would come to you!”
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I felt that way the whole day. The world had come to me. I had everything I could possibly want: old friends, an ocean of booze, a spread of chicken wings, burgers and sausage sandwiches all under our own tent. At game time when it was time to go into MetLife, I stayed at the Tailgate. Why? Because there was nothing in there that was better than what I had at the Tailgate. Going inside to watch the game would have been a step down. Nowhere and nothing could have been better.
The event also gave me the opportunity for a Paddle Talk with Jacob Ellis ’16 (Purdue), the young man leading the recolonization recruitment activities on campus. To do any job right one must have the right tool and Jacob is the perfect candidate. As a Purdue DU, he held an officer role nearly ever semester, including Pledge Educator, Service Chairman, and of course, Chapter President. His major in Organizational Leadership provided a solid academic foundation for his leadership efforts. After graduation, he parlayed this experience into a job at DU Headquarters in Indianapolis. His results in our Comeback are nothing short of spectacular! He and Hayden Rahn ’16 (Oregon) have recruited 65 men for our Comeback class.
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From left to right: Brothers Vrooman ’89, Dan Gacetta ’88, Sarge (kneeling) and Mike Miller ’89. Mike came all the way from Washington State.
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So, while Syracuse lost the game, I felt I won. This event was a ton of fun. It brought us one step closer towards realizing our dream of bringing DU back to Syracuse. I’d like to think this Tailgate event will be a new tradition. Next year will be bigger and better!
Editor’s Note: Larry Richmond ’90 gave Dave Sugrue ’90 his nickname as a pledge when “Sarge” took control of organizing a Sorority Wake-Up. Well, Sarge is still at it. Having done a great job single-handedly organizing the Tailgate, Sarge has soldiered on to putting together the Colonization Ceremony at the Hall of Languages on January 28th. Sarge is doing a lot for the House. Thank you, Dave.
Editor’s Note: Larry Richmond ’90 gave Dave Sugrue ’90 his nickname as a pledge when “Sarge” took control of organizing a Sorority Wake-Up. Well, Sarge is still at it. Having done a great job single-handedly organizing the Tailgate, Sarge has soldiered on to putting together the Colonization Ceremony at the Hall of Languages on January 28th. Sarge is doing a lot for the House. Thank you, Dave.
Next All-Brotherhood Gathering: Recolonization Weekend!!
Syracuse NY | January 27-29, 2017
Syracuse NY | January 27-29, 2017
WEEKEND AGENDA:
Friday, Jan 27, 2017:
4:00pm - Alumni Happy Hour at Faegan's
Saturday, Jan 28, 2017:
12:00pm - SU Basketball Game vs. Florida State
7:00pm - Colonization Ceremony, Hendricks Chapel
8:00pm - Colonization Reception, Hall of Languages Room 500
Sunday, Jan 29, 2017:
11:00am - Alumni Brunch at Sheraton Hotel
GET YOUR TICKETS TO THE SU vs. FSU GAME
A large block of tickets has been reserved so that all 65 colony members and alumni can watch the game together.
To get your tickets, please visit the Ticketmaster website. When prompted, please enter the code DUSU16. Tickets are in Section 306 and 305. Cost is only $40 each.
Note: If someone needs seating due to limited mobility, they can sit in Section 103 which is directly behind the student section. 5-6 colony members have already offered to sit with alumni in this section Please send email to dusyracuse@gmail.com.
GET YOUR OFFICIAL SU/DU T-SHIRT
We have created custom t-shirts to be worn by alumni and new colony members. We will handout the shirts before the FSU game and the reception following the Recolonization Ceremony. To order your $16 tshirt visit this website.
LOOK WHO IS ATTENDING SO FAR:
Ken Berlin, Chris Calabrese, Larry Cantor, Brian Cleary, Steve Cowan, Adam DeMichele, Dave DeRobbio, Rick Donah, Steven Hochberg, Richard Holland, Ken Hyman, John Kellerman, Bruce Laidlaw, Mark Linnan, Pete Maescher, Phil Miller, Chris Naum, Dennis Nave, Jeff Ploshnick, Dave Plotkin, Greg Simon, Paul Simon, Kevin Stein, Dave Sugrue, Dick Thorpe, Michael Whalen, Dave Zimmer
Friday, Jan 27, 2017:
4:00pm - Alumni Happy Hour at Faegan's
Saturday, Jan 28, 2017:
12:00pm - SU Basketball Game vs. Florida State
7:00pm - Colonization Ceremony, Hendricks Chapel
8:00pm - Colonization Reception, Hall of Languages Room 500
Sunday, Jan 29, 2017:
11:00am - Alumni Brunch at Sheraton Hotel
GET YOUR TICKETS TO THE SU vs. FSU GAME
A large block of tickets has been reserved so that all 65 colony members and alumni can watch the game together.
To get your tickets, please visit the Ticketmaster website. When prompted, please enter the code DUSU16. Tickets are in Section 306 and 305. Cost is only $40 each.
Note: If someone needs seating due to limited mobility, they can sit in Section 103 which is directly behind the student section. 5-6 colony members have already offered to sit with alumni in this section Please send email to dusyracuse@gmail.com.
GET YOUR OFFICIAL SU/DU T-SHIRT
We have created custom t-shirts to be worn by alumni and new colony members. We will handout the shirts before the FSU game and the reception following the Recolonization Ceremony. To order your $16 tshirt visit this website.
LOOK WHO IS ATTENDING SO FAR:
Ken Berlin, Chris Calabrese, Larry Cantor, Brian Cleary, Steve Cowan, Adam DeMichele, Dave DeRobbio, Rick Donah, Steven Hochberg, Richard Holland, Ken Hyman, John Kellerman, Bruce Laidlaw, Mark Linnan, Pete Maescher, Phil Miller, Chris Naum, Dennis Nave, Jeff Ploshnick, Dave Plotkin, Greg Simon, Paul Simon, Kevin Stein, Dave Sugrue, Dick Thorpe, Michael Whalen, Dave Zimmer
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Fund Raising Update |Rick Holland '83
DU Brothers…It’s time. In every life, there are moments of commitment; that instant when the heart and head join forces to say “yes.” As an undergrad at SU, you said “yes” to a DU pledge pin and made the commitment to see it through to initiation. Now, on behalf of the 65 new DU colony members on the SU campus, we’re asking you to say “yes” again. In this holiday season, if you are grateful for any part of your DU experience, past or present, it’s time to stand up and be counted (with nearly 200 other Syracuse DU alumni and friends) who have invested in the campaign to return our fraternity to campus and keep it there forever. Please take a moment to recall an experience you had in DU; think of a friend you made because of the fraternity … let these thoughts put a smile on your face. And as your DU-related recollection washes over you, don’t let it drift away, but instead please act upon it with a contribution to the Return DU to SU Campaign. The amount you give is not as important as the commitment to contribute something. But time is short. We must finish our job by December 31, 2016, to endow 12 leadership education scholarships for our new SU DU’s – opportunities that will help change the lives of our young brothers every year, in perpetuity. Please find a place to add your name to this list that reflects the intersection of your gratitude for DU, and your capacity to contribute to the young men who will follow. Tax-deductible gifts can be made in less than 60 seconds on the DU International website.
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Rick Holland
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Howie Weekend 35th Anniversary | John Newhouse '82
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On the weekend of August 5-7, 2016, we gathered at Brother Howard Sashin's '81 house on Martha's Vineyard for the 35th anniversary of what is now simply referred to as "Howie Weekend" held the first weekend in August each year. Howie Weekend starts with golf on Wednesday, followed by the beach then lobsters and steamers on Thursday. 
Dick Lowery ’82 heading to the beach wearing Bob Gingrich’s wife’s pajamas
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Howie Sashin ’81 cradling a case of the
Beer of the Nude Gods
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Friday is usually the first day of majority attendance and the day is spent on the beach, then on to the "Fruity Drinks" portion of the early evening. Friday night is the always questionable combination of Howie's Mystery Chili and the first of two robust games of quarters. These games have become the stuff of great legend. Silence is always a wise strategy but Brother Rick Holland's tactic of screaming platitudes at the thrower as the second quarter careens of the mark is something to behold.
Saturday it's off to the beach, more fruity drinks and "Meat Night" where all sorts of meats are grilled courtesy of Brother Bob Gingrich '82. Sunday starts the shuttle to the ferry and our return to civilian life with full bellies, heartburn and liver damage courtesy of Black Label beer, the official beer of HWXXXV. 
From left to right: Dick Lowery '82, Howard Sashin '81 and Bill Strickland '81.
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Howie Sashin ‘81 and his Mystery Chili
What has always made these weekends so special, besides the bond that we all share with each other is that no matter what our lot in life may be, success, wealth, unemployment, sickness or whatever, to each other we are all still the same #$%@& we were back at Syracuse. Let that never change. Keeping it up, year after year, that's DU. |
Alumni News
We’ve had a number of great submissions to our Alumni News page. Send a paragraph or two on your life happenings to Mike Whalen at mwhalebones@gmail.com to be included in Alumni News.
We’ve had a number of great submissions to our Alumni News page. Send a paragraph or two on your life happenings to Mike Whalen at mwhalebones@gmail.com to be included in Alumni News.
Have interest in being an advisor to our new brotherhood? Learn how.
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Have a DU memory or story to share? Submit your story.
Do we have your latest contact information? Update it now.
How You Can Help
There are many ways to get involved! Help organize and event, find missing Brothers, be an advisor to our new undergraduate brotherhood, make calls to raise funds, write a Bazoo article, etc. It's all up to you! This website has an extensive FAQ, a list of missing Brothers, dozens of Bazoos, DU's history at Syracuse University and more!
Contact any of the Task Force members directly or email us at dusyracuse@gmail.com.
Mark Linnan, '85, Chairman, Housing Committee
Rick Holland, '83, Chairman, Fundraising Committee
Ken Hyman, '88, Chairman, Undergraduate Advisory Committee
Al Stauderman, '58, Chairman, University Relations Committee
Kevin Stein, '83, Chairman, Communications Committee
Oz Street, '80, Chairman, Finance Committee
Dick Thorpe '60, Chairman, Task Force
Mike Whalen, '85, Chairman, Legal Committee
There are many ways to get involved! Help organize and event, find missing Brothers, be an advisor to our new undergraduate brotherhood, make calls to raise funds, write a Bazoo article, etc. It's all up to you! This website has an extensive FAQ, a list of missing Brothers, dozens of Bazoos, DU's history at Syracuse University and more!
Contact any of the Task Force members directly or email us at dusyracuse@gmail.com.
Mark Linnan, '85, Chairman, Housing Committee
Rick Holland, '83, Chairman, Fundraising Committee
Ken Hyman, '88, Chairman, Undergraduate Advisory Committee
Al Stauderman, '58, Chairman, University Relations Committee
Kevin Stein, '83, Chairman, Communications Committee
Oz Street, '80, Chairman, Finance Committee
Dick Thorpe '60, Chairman, Task Force
Mike Whalen, '85, Chairman, Legal Committee