Phi Delta Sigma (Bethel College, Tennessee)
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Phi Delta Sigma (ΦΔΣ), founded at Bethel College (Tennessee) in McKenzie, Tennessee during the 1928-29 school year, has thrived as local group throughout its history. When other campus Greek organizations affiliated with national groups during the 1960's, the fraternity resisted the trend. All campus groups that went national eventually folded, leaving the "Phi Delts" to continue their distinct contribution as a local campus group.
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[edit] Purpose
Phi Delta Sigma encourages personal development, scholarship, character, and a spirit of brotherhood that is ever-growing and ever-widening. The fraternity's stated purpose has remained essentially unchanged since its founding:
It shall be the purpose of this fraternity to promote a spirit of brotherhood; to develop the social,
moral, intellectual, and spiritual life; to build the personality; to inspire greater determination and
sincerity among the members; and to contribute in every possible way to the best interests and progress
of Bethel College (Phi Delta Sigma Constitution, Art. I, Sect. 2).
[edit] Membership
The brotherhood has inducted over 500 members since its founding and approximately 243 members during the decades of the sixties, seventies, and eighties.
The procedures for choosing new members have progressed considerably over the group's history. According to the fraternity's 1959 constitution, a unanimous vote was required in order for a student to become a member. The constitution of 1960 states that three negative votes were necessary to "blackball" or bar a student from membership. In 1964, the fraternity eliminated any trace of the once common "blackball" method, changing to a more democratic three-fourths majority vote which continues to present day. Authentic brotherhood demonstrates that each brother adds to the group's distinctiveness. Membership is not restricted by race, religion or national origin nor is hazing tolerated in any form.
The fraternity records contain the following statement from the sixties regarding the pledge program which has been duplicated in later programs. It states:
This pledge program is designed to develop the relationships of those pledging with those already in
the fraternity. All functions of this pledge program are to help the Greeks (those pledging) to get better
acquainted with the brothers of the fraternity, and vice-versa. The functions of this program are designed
to necessitate teamwork between Greeks, as well as between Greeks and brothers....Finally, each individual
Greek will be expected to show signs of brotherhood and develop individual creativity as well as teamwork.
Student population was large in the sixities as were pledge numbers. During most of the sixties, the pledge program consisted of a balanced and constructive "marathon" in five phases. The first week was called "get acquainted week," the second was "intellectual week," the third was "physical fitness week," the fourth was "service week," and the last was "social week." Earlier in the sixties a seven-week pledge program had been implemented. By the eighties, a three-week program was in place.
In the nineties, after a hazing misshap involving another fraternity, there was growing awareness on campus that certain ideas relating to fraternities in film and popular culture had little to do with authentic brotherhood. Phi Delta Sigma members worked with other student body representatives in a student initiated effort to eliminate all official blackballing in student groups which was accomplished through the Student Government's Constitutional Board of Review. Phi Delta Sigma affirmed the student government's adoption of a new statement against hazing on campus and worked to raise consciousness on the dangers of hazing and through positive pledge programs endeavored to build true fraternal spirit rooted in dignity and mutual respect.
[edit] Racial Integration
The depth of the bonds of brotherhood and the strength of a leadership that valued each person's dignity and rights was evident in a matter involving the residency of a black student on campus. Despite the fact the the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church had declared its position in 1957 that all facilities of higher education within the denomination "should be open to all persons regardless of race," the first black student was not admitted until 1961.
The fraternity initiated its first brother of African American descent but he was not permitted to live on campus because of his race. The fraternity took action and in a letter dated May 29, 1963 to Dean of Students John David Hall from Doug Phelps, fraternity president, it was requested that administrative action by the college be taken on the following:
That, since, Mr. Billy Belmont is an initiated active Brother of our fraternity and since we shall
have our own section in Laughlin Home beginning next year, Mr. Belmont should be given an equal
opportunity to live in the Phi Delta Sigma section of the dormitory if he wishes to do so. We ask that
permission be granted by the Administration to allow Mr. Belmont this equal right as a student of
Bethel College and as an active member of our Brotherhood, and that this be effective as of Fall
Quarter, 1963.
Dean of Students John Hall responded to Mr. Phelps in a letter dated July 1, 1963 and Mr. Belmont was later permitted to live in the dormitory with the fraternity on campus:
This will be granted subject to the Board of Trustees' concurrence in the recommendations of Dr.
Baker and myself. You realize our strong personal feelings and wishes must be tempered by the total
situation as seen by our Board.
[edit] The Rest of the Sixties
In an editorial of the June, 1965 issue of the Bethel Beacon, Johnny Phelps wrote an article encouraging responsibility and thoughtful consideration among those wishing to join Greek organizations. Phelps also noted that Phi Delta Sigma was planning a trip to a children's home in Memphis where the group was sponsoring a child. In addition, it the fraternity made contributions to the Red Cross and the Cancer Fund.
From yearbook photographs it is evident that the sixties were filled with social activities for Phi Delta Sigma and Lambda Sigma. Among these activities, the fraternity often held dances, an "annual wiener roast," and spring banquets with Lambda Sigma Sorority. There were nearly as many members in the sixties as the seventies and eighties combined.
The emphasis of the organization upon development of interpersonal relationships is evident in the verses of Brotherhood Supreme, the fraternity's song written in 1963 by Walter Shipley and E. Larry Bivens.
[edit] The Seventies
In the seventies, an alumni retreat was organized by the fraternity in order for members to get back in touch. Among the service projects of the fraternity was included the cleaning of the campus fish pond. In the area of academics, both Phi Delta Sigma and Lambda Sigma in 1975 retired the college scholarship trophy after winning the award for three successive years.
In 1976, the group furnished a plaque in honor of Gifford Andersen, a fraternity advisor and deceased assistant professor at Bethel. The fraternity also held a spring banquet with Lambda Sigma and worked to create a scholarship fund.
In the scholastic arena, Phi Delta Sigma ranked first in 1977. They also assisted Lambda Sigma in sponsoring a gospel singing in the fall. In the spring, they held another banquet in Paris.
The active membership fell to two in 1978. At the start of 1979, there was only one active member. That year, Phi Delta Sigma gained eleven new members. They worked to revitalize their constitution and pledge program. The Log Cabin yearbook reports that they enjoyed various picnics and suppers with Lambda Sigma.
The fall of 1979 saw the return of many brothers to campus with the fiftieth year reunion at Homecoming. The fraternity visited and held an ice cream social at a local nursing home. Members also drove citizens to the polls who were unable to do so alone.
[edit] The Eighties
In 1981, the group continued visits to the nursing home and sponsored two members on overseas mission trips. In addition, they sponsored a gospel singing group composed of Bethel graduates. The group was also actively participating in intramurals.
In 1982, the fraternity participated in an effort to raise money for Bethel College. One project included assisting in renumbering houses in McKenzie. They also led worship in the campus vespers services. In addition, they received a plaque for giving the most blood in the campus Blood Mobile.
In the fall of 1984 the group sponsored an ice cream social for a local nursing home. In 1987, they cleaned the fishpond and the area surrounding it as a service project for the campus. They continued their Big Brother program and a sixty-year reunion of the fraternity was held in January 1989.
The fraternity accomplished a long-time goal in establishing a scholarship fund for brothers in 1989. Criteria for awarding were adopted after extensive work by an ad hoc committee. They continued the big brother campaign and joined with Sigma Phi Omega Fraternity in building a new cross near the Log Cabin on campus. They yearbook reports that they attended numerous bowling trips and participated in intramurals.
During the 1989-90 year the fraternity raised money for the C.P. Children's Home to fund a new playground for the youth and cleaned the cemetery and lawn around a local church. That year they received the "Most Outstanding Organization Award" presented by the Student Government Association of Bethel College. It was also the first year that the fraternity scholarship was awarded.
The significance of the spiritual realm is suggested in the tradition of opening and closing each meeting in prayer.
[edit] The Nineties
Phi Delta Sigma members demonstrated leadership on campus, including the areas of Student Government, Intramural Sports, Homecoming, Greek Week, and various academic groups. Greek activities and brotherhood events like bowling, camping, football, and volleyball formed a well-balanced social program. In 1993, the fraternity was crowned intramural football champions. Two members won first and second in the singles intramural table tennis tournament. Together they took the doubles intramural table tennis tournament.
The brotherhood continued to stress the achievement of good education and the building of good friendships. Money was raised for the Laddie H. Lollar scholarship. By 1996, the corpus exceeded $17,000. Brothers gathered to form small study groups and members offered each other the support they need to thrive throughout their college career. Phi Delta Sigma consistently finished in the top two fraternities in overall GPA at the college. Phi Delta Sigma was runner-up in the fraternity highest grade point average competition following a win in this category last year. Phi Delt was also the earned the Student Government Association's "Most Outstanding Organization Award."
Brothers participated in various campus service projects, and the brotherhood along with Lambda Sigma sorority sponsored a cleanup of a two mile stretch of highway on the way to Gleason
The fraternity revised the Brotherhood Directory which showed over 500 members had joined at that point. Of the total, approximately 256 resided in Tennessee. The most common denominational affiliation was the Cumberland Presbyterian Church at approximately 140 members. Another notable statistic is that fourteen members served as Moderators of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. While students, the group has provided many opportunities for leadership with 224 of the members serving in at least one fraternity office.
[edit] Current Activities
Phi Delta Sigma hosts an annual Bluegrass Concert that began in April 2006 at Bethel College.
Phi Delta turns 80 in the Fall of 2008! To celebrate there will be a reunion dinner at Bethel College Homecoming, October 17 & 18. The Brotherhood is also organizing a 5K race called the Phi Delta Five K. First place trophies will be awarded to the top male and female finishers.
[edit] Sponsors and Advisors
There have been at least fourteen sponsors or advisors since the fraternity's founding: Hinkley Smartt, Clarence Smith, L. C. Waddle, Charles Reid, Joe Ben Irby, Bill Ingram, Larry Dailey, James Potts, Larry Black, Gene McMahen, David Lankford, Gifford Andersen, Dewayne Ervin, and Laddie Lollar. Serving for the longer terms as advisor were Laddie Lollar, 40 years; Hinkley Smartt, five years; Clarence Smith, five years; and Joe Ben Irby, four years.
[edit] Laddie H. Lollar Scholarship
An important goal of Phi Delta Sigma has been the development of the intellectual life of its members and the advancement of the college community. In pursuit of this goal, the fraternity established an endowed scholarship in 1989 to be awarded annually to a member on the basis of character, leadership and scholarship. The Board of Trustees was established in 1993 to oversee the the perpetuation and growth of the scholarship. The scholarship is named to honor Dr. Laddie H. Lollar, Professor of Education and Psychology at Bethel College. As fraternity advisor for over forty years, he demonstrated a true spirit of brotherhood and faithful service.
Contributions to the fraternity scholarship fund may be given in honor or memory of any individual who you specify. Only the yearly earnings from the endowment are used. Donations to the endowed fund may be made to: Phi Delta Sigma Fraternity, Laddie H. Lollar Scholarship, Bethel College, McKenzie, TN 38201.
[edit] Little Sisters
Interaction of the fraternity with its sister organization, Lambda Sigma Sorority, has been nearly continuous since their founding. Their origins were in an honorary group of Phi Delta Sigma know as the "Little Sisters" which began in the fall of 1937. They gained their own constitution in 1941 becoming an official sorority. Throughout the years the groups have participated in many activities together including social events and service projects.
[edit] External links
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