The Daily OrangeFraternity officially recognized
Group comprises gay, bisexual men
By Amy Potenza
Posted: 12/6/05, 12:27 AM EST Section: News
Two years ago, Delta Lambda Phi, a national, social fraternity for gay, bisexual and progressive men, started as a colony at Syracuse University and was chartered on the national level as a formal chapter on Oct. 22.
DLP was founded nationally in Oct. 15, 1986 and considers itself to be the only national gay fraternity.
Paul Mercurio, an alumnus from the Boston chapter of DLP, began graduate school at the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry in fall 2003 and began the colony at SU.
SU and the Office of Greek Life and Experimental Learning worked with Delta Lambda Phi fraternity in its steps to become a formal chapter.
Delta Lambda Phi hosted rush, had four pledge classes, participated in community service, philanthropy events and traveled throughout the country attending national conventions and visiting other chapters.
Mike Sanocki, a senior biology major, is currently a Delta Lambda Phi fraternity member.
"The university was very supportive of us," Sanocki said. "Our only opposition was the amount of work that had to be done with only 12 members at the time."
With its formal recognition as a chapter at SU, Delta Lambda Phi fraternity will now participate in spring 2006 rush and has just joined the InterFraternity Council.
James Kaechele, a senior environmental science major and Delta Lambda Phi fraternity member, was this organization's first president.
"The night before we had the reception and before the chartering, I remembered being in the same position 23 months before without knowing what was going to become of all this," Kaechele said. "Now we have the opportunity to share this experience with others; it was very gratifying."
Delta Lambda Phi, along with many other student groups, is affiliated with the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Resource Center. The LGBT Resource Center provides Delta Lambda Phi with meeting space and news and events that are occurring on campus.
DLP was founded nationally in Oct. 15, 1986 and considers itself to be the only national gay fraternity.
Paul Mercurio, an alumnus from the Boston chapter of DLP, began graduate school at the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry in fall 2003 and began the colony at SU.
SU and the Office of Greek Life and Experimental Learning worked with Delta Lambda Phi fraternity in its steps to become a formal chapter.
Delta Lambda Phi hosted rush, had four pledge classes, participated in community service, philanthropy events and traveled throughout the country attending national conventions and visiting other chapters.
Mike Sanocki, a senior biology major, is currently a Delta Lambda Phi fraternity member.
"The university was very supportive of us," Sanocki said. "Our only opposition was the amount of work that had to be done with only 12 members at the time."
With its formal recognition as a chapter at SU, Delta Lambda Phi fraternity will now participate in spring 2006 rush and has just joined the InterFraternity Council.
James Kaechele, a senior environmental science major and Delta Lambda Phi fraternity member, was this organization's first president.
"The night before we had the reception and before the chartering, I remembered being in the same position 23 months before without knowing what was going to become of all this," Kaechele said. "Now we have the opportunity to share this experience with others; it was very gratifying."
Delta Lambda Phi, along with many other student groups, is affiliated with the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Resource Center. The LGBT Resource Center provides Delta Lambda Phi with meeting space and news and events that are occurring on campus.
