​Q.  What happened to Delta Upsilon at Syracuse University?
A.  In 1996, Syracuse DU alumni, in consultation with the University and DU International, made the difficult decision to close the chapter because the brothers were primarily focused on parties and no longer respecting the house.  In short, the fraternity had become a place that was no longer representing the values of DU and the issues were too widespread to simply remove a few of the undergraduate brothers.

As Brother Laidlaw states, "We must not let one hundred twenty-seven bright and shining years of good fellowship, great times and outstanding brothers and career leaders be eclipsed by the events that led to the chapter's downfall. With the dedication and support of our 750 living alumni, DU will be restored to its rightful and traditional place on the Syracuse campus."

Q.  What are the plans to ensure DU stays on the Syracuse University's campus?  Read the Syracuse Recolonization Plan
A.  Over the past decade, DU International has conducted extensive research on the most effective approaches to ensure long-term success and sustainability of chapters.  Success and sustainability are critical to the long term health of new chapters and ultimately to DU International.  DU International has identified the three key success factors in recolonizing a chapter:

1. Recruiting:  Long-term success begins with recruiting high quality "founding fathers".  One of the most important elements of the DU recolonization effort is that DU is a non-hazing and non-secretive fraternity.  This differentiated message, which was appealing to us as undergraduates, is even more relevant and appealing to today's undergraduates.   In fact, from 2007 to 2014, undergraduate DU membership grew nationally by 84% to an all-time high of 4,171. 
2. Educational Programs:  DU has created industry-leading and award-winning educational programs.  These sessions are designed to teach undergraduates a range of topics including conducting rushes, identifying chapter priorities, creating action plans and becoming an effective leader.  The educational endowment that we fund will permanently guarantee undergraduate DUs will attend periodic conferences and seminars.
3. Undergraduate Advisory Board:  Creating a group of 10-12 alumni who work directly with the undergraduate chapter officers and brotherhood to ensure they understand the importance of consistently recruiting quality men. The Undergraduate Advisory Board will monitor the activities of the chapter and serve as mentors to the undergraduates

Q.  How much does it cost to recolonize? What is the fundraising goal?
A   Our immediate goal is obtain commitments of $325,000 by December 2016.  The money will be used as follows:

1. Compensate DU International for providing on-the-ground support to recruit and train new colony members in Fall 2016.
   DU International will provide three full-time professional staff, who will recruit and provide training and leadership development to the Founding Fathers of the Syracuse Colony. There will one DU International staff member on campus for the first two semesters.
2. Assist in providing the support to educate and sustain a high performing chapter through educational scholarships. Funding will permanently endow and provide the following scholarships every year through a Chapter Legacy Plan:
   1. 8 registrations for the Regional Leadership Academy.
   2. 2 registrations for the Global Service Initiative.
   3. 1 registration for the DU Emerging Leader Experience.
   4. 1 additional registration to the Leadership Institute (3 total).
   5. 2-4 Men of Merit Recruitment Scholarships.

          These above mentioned scholarships are in addition to the currently provided scholarships:

1. 1. Chapter President attends President's Academy at no additional costs.
   2. Recruitment Chairman attends the Recruitment Symposium at Regional Leadership Academy at no additional costs. 
   3. "Building Better Men" retreat hosted for entire chapter at no additional costs. 

Q. What is the breakdown of the $325,000 the alumni need to raise by June 2016?  
A. $75k for three recruiters and one staff on campus for a year, plus operational costs.  $250k for the educational endowment to pay for the educational programs (note: the educational programs are an important tool for recruitment as well).

Q.  How do I make a tax-deductible donation toward the fundraising goal?
A.  Click Here

Q.  Does my donation also make me an active alumni with DU International?
A.  Once you are initiated into Delta Upsilon, you are a DU for life (i.e., there is no "inactive" status).  As long as Delta Upsilon International has your current address, you should receive periodic Delta Upsilon publications.  When you make your donation to the Delta Upsilon Education Foundation, which will be specifically earmarked for the return of the Syracuse Chapter, you can update your contact information.  Click Here to Donate.

Q. What about the new Chapter House? Can we restart DU without a house on campus?  
A.  Delta Upsilon International typically establishes new chapters without a Chapter house.  When new brothers are recruited to DU in the Fall of 2016, we will target those men seeking for an alternative to the fraternities that already exist on campus. We will recruit men interested in DU's principles and want to be at the start of something new.

Delta Upsilon International's view on best practice is to not provide the new brotherhood with a house immediately - rather it is best to wait for the new brotherhood to be thoroughly established.  Also, from a practical perspective, houses are expensive to purchase and maintain.  We will need a critical mass of brothers/pledges to ensure the house’s long term viability.

Q. Where will the brotherhood meet if they don't have a house?
A.  There are many meeting places on campus where our new brotherhood will be able to gather for Sunday Chapter and social events. We may also be able to secure dedicated space in dorms where brothers could live together until a new chapter house is found.  This would be considered an “interim” step which other fraternities/sororities have done at Syracuse University (as have many of new DU chapters around the country).

Q. Can I donate money to the new chapter house?
A. By mid 2017, we need to raise a significant amount of seed money to help pay for a new chapter house and your contributions are vital to make this happen.  Our medium-term plan is to establish a dedicated housing fund – in the interim, we ask that brothers donate to the Delta Upsilon Educational Foundation using this link (funds raised are segregated for the use of the Syracuse chapter only).

Q.  Why recolonize at Syracuse if the University is not supportive of the Greek System? 
A, Syracuse University is actually quite supportive of fraternities and sororities on campus. Over the last several years, they have continuously invited national fraternities like Delta Upsilon to start new chapters in order to expand the Greek System.  In spring of 2014, representatives from DU International and several alumni went to Syracuse to explain what makes DU unique. The University is excited to have a non-secretive and non-hazing fraternity on campus and encouraged by DU International's highly regarded educational programs for "Building Better Men".

Q.  How many fraternities does DU International restart each year? Has this been done before? 
A. Yes, it's been done before. In fact, DU International typically establishes 2-3 new chapters across North America per year. While some of these take place at universities which never had a DU before, they prefer to recolonize previously existing chapters due to the history and alumni support.  DU International has been extremely successful with re-colonizations. They have a demonstrated track record of starting new chapters and implementing proven best practices to keep them on campus.

Q.  What is the competition going to be in Fall 2016? How many other fraternities are restarting then?
A. There are no other new fraternities being established at Syracuse University in the Fall 2016.

Q.  What happens to the Dikaia Foundation?  
A. The Dikaia Foundation will continue to play a vital, albeit different role in the future of DU at Syracuse.   Our plan includes three critical bodies to ensure the ongoing success of our new chapter:

1. The Dikaia Foundation (“Dikaia”):  Dikaia will provide strategic direction to the new chapter and continue to award educational scholarships as they have done in the past. We strongly believe that Dikaia’s history of support, including the educational scholarships, will be an important differentiator when recruiting new brothers for the re-colonization.   
2. The Undergraduate Advisory Board (“UAB”): This will be a group of 10 -12 alumni who will act as  1:1 mentors and advisors to the new brothers.  Their role is to support the brothers with coaching, leadership training, recruitment, interfacing with DU International, building the relationship with Syracuse University, etc.   Remember that our undergraduate brotherhood experiences 100% turnover every 4 years!  This group of alumni will ensure the health, success, and continuity of the brotherhood.  Ideally, some advisors will live close to campus although with recent developments in social media and online video, geographical proximity is not as important as it once was. Learn more about the Undergraduate Advisory Board or sign up.
3. The Housing Corporation Board (“Housing Corp”): This group will be responsible for everything to do with the physical plant: purchases, mortgages, repairs, leases with brothers, insurance, taxes, etc.   The Housing Corp will essentially be the landlord once a house is established.    Importantly, there will not be any overlap in membership between the Advisory Board and Housing Corp (DU International has advised that separation is much easier/clearer for undergraduates to understand).

Q.  Does the Dikaia still own the former chapter house at 711 Comstock Avenue?
A.  No, the house was sold to Syracuse University in 2003.  The University subsequently sold it to a fraternity, and Theta Chi Fraternity is the current owner.

Q.  What are the Dikaia's current assets?
A.  The Foundation's current endowment is approximately $350,000.

Q.  Will Dikaia contribute funds toward the $325,000 requirement to re-start the chapter?
A.  Yes.  Dikaia has expressed full support of the campaign to re-start the chapter and is developing a plan to announce a specific level of financial support by the end of July 2015.  Dikaia recognizes its future and that of the new chapter are inextricably linked and thus Dikaia and Syracuse DU Alumni are aligned in returning DU to Syracuse University.

Q. Where are the DU artifacts from the Chapter Houses at 426 Ostrom and 711 Comstock? 
A.  Much of the Delta Upsilon artifacts are housed at Bird Library.  If you have Delta Upsilon information to share, please feel free to pass along and we will post on this site and on Facebook.  You can find Bazoos and select composite photos on this site.  Bird Library archives has the circular stain glass DU window that was in the peak of the front of 426 Ostrom.  And yes, we are still searching for the moose head from 711!