After a receiving a “no” vote from Otterbein’s Interfraternity Council on Wednesday, Nov. 28, Phi Delta Theta will not soon become an official Greek chapter on campus.
Phi Delta Theta is a national fraternity with many chapters across the country as well as in Canada. President of the IFC and senior theater and English double major Pascal Domicone said that he told Phi Delta Theta President Andrew Pea, a political science major, to remain optimistic. “Keep your hopes up and do the final things. … Keep it going, and they can get voted in.”
Domicone said he remains optimistic but was not surprised by the outcome. “Going in, I had a feeling I knew what the result would be. … The vote was ‘no’, but it’s very doable next time they do it.”
Domicone served as a mediator in the vote and his job was to make sure personal feelings were set aside.
Pea said he was upset by the outcome. “(We) can’t control how they vote. … (We have got to) keep our heads up about things.”
Pea said the fraternity was handed a list of about 10 requirements, and they had met all but the social and executive functions. It was because of these missing requirements that the IFC voted no.
He also said that they utilized a variety of outlets to promote the organization. He created a Facebook event as well as a Twitter for supporters to follow. “We didn’t do any campaigns but spoke to individuals,” Pea said.
Phi Delta Theta needed to meet with Zeta Phi and Alpha Sigma Phi as part of their requirements to join the IFC. Pea said that Phi Delta Theta has already met with some fraternities, including Eta Phi Mu, Lambda Gamma Epsilon and Sigma Delta Phi.
According to Pea, the group has interacted with other fraternities and sororities on campus as well. He spoke to executives from both Eta Phi Mu and Lambda Gamma Epsilon, and the group played capture the flag with Sigma Delta Phi.
Matt Cole, freshman music business major and a new member of Sigma Delta Phi, said “In my opinion, I think I agree with IFC voting down Phi Delt. IFC gave Phi Delt a list of things to complete and they approached IFC before they completed them.”
Senior guitar performance major Isaac Maupin and President of Sigma Delta Phi spoke on his feelings about the vote. “Since they did not complete their IFC requirements that’s why they were not let in. … They have not met with me personally, our chapters did have a mixer (though).”
Kayla Walsh, a freshman BFA acting major and new member of Sigma Alpha Tau, said “Frankly, Phi Delt men are the most gentlemanly fraternity on campus, and it’s disappointing that they are not ‘official’,” she said.
Kappa Phi Omega senior and music education major Bethany Stang also spoke on the issue. “I think they would offer so much to campus, but I thought they had all the requirements.”
After the vote, Phi Delta Theta tweeted that even though they were saddened, they are still proud to be Phi’s and thankful for those who supported them through the vote.
