Phi Delta Theta

Colonization- April 8th, 2011 The Founding Fathers before Initiation- November 11th, 2011

Location

336 C St.

Established

1912 as Calpha

Affiliated with Phi Delta Theta in 1954

Re-established in 2010

Contact

pdtcalep@gmail.com

Website

http://www.facebook.com/ucdphidelt

Phi Delta Theta is a fraternity represented on the UC Davis campus by the California Epsilon chapter. Since its association with Phi Delta Theta in 1954, the fraternity has initiated 779 members into its ranks.

Phi Delta Theta is a fraternity organized with three principle objectives: the cultivation of friendship among its members, the acquirement of a high degree of mental culture and the attainment personally of a high standard of morality. Phi Delta Theta looks to establish itself as a positive force in the lives of its brothers and the community in which it resides. The newly re-chartered fraternity is seeking to establish a positive reputation and improve the public perception of the Greek System at UC Davis as a whole.

Phi Delta Theta is a diverse organization, and its brothers come from many different ethnic, racial, and socioeconomic backgrounds. Many different religious and political beliefs are represented as well as a variety of lifestyles. The Fraternity feels that a diverse brotherhood focused on the three principle objectives is beneficial to the development of its members as well as providing a global perspective while living in Davis.

Phi Delta Theta is actively engaged in giving back to the community in an number of ways. One is with its ongoing project named Friday Afternoon Rectitude Time (F.A.R.T.). On Fridays you will find members of Phi Delt working in the garden of the United Methodist Church on Anderson. There, in the community garden, Phi Delts grow and harvest crops that are donated to the Food Bank of Yolo County. This past Halloween, the fraternity, working alongside The Harry Potter Alliance and the Davis Anime Club, turned their chapter house into a haunted house, and raised money for local schools. Phi Delt also is involved year-round in raising money for it's national philanthropy ALS (also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease, named after a Phi Delt alumnus).

Phi Delta Theta prides itself as a leadership fraternity, and it has a strong presence in ASUCD, especially in Picnic Day. However, you can find its brothers all throughout campus including: Unitrans, The Aggie, UC Davis Football, Rugby, Camp Kesem, and a large variety of other student clubs and organizations.

Additionally, the chapter has an expansive alumni network reaching back even to it's pre-Phi Delta Theta days as the Calpha Fraternity. Phi Delta Theta alumni are extensively engaged in the chapter's current activities as advisers and mentors to the brothers. An alumni association owns the house, which has been owned and operated by the fraternity since it's purchase in 1914.

Last but certainly not least, the fraternity still likes to have fun. There are weekly exchanges with other greek/non-greek organizations, parties, cocktails, formals, and member-only retreats.

UCD's chapter is located at its 336 C St. house, which will be completely renovated in the near future, using donations from the chapter's alumni network. The current house was originally built as a church in the late 19th century, and was soon bought out and expanded by the Fraternity. The Fraternity owns one of the largest houses in the city located in the middle of downtown, walking distance from Campus, right across from Central Park, and adjacent to Yolo Berry Yogurt. The house also sports a large backyard, which the fraternity uses for sports and other events. The house is unique among the Greek system in that it is a "dry" house- no alcohol is stored or consumed on the premises of the Phi Delt property (this is a national policy that has been in place since 2000). This allows for a cleaner house with less maintenance requirements, as well as lower insurance costs for all its members. Partially because of this, Phi Delta Theta is the cheapest social fraternity to join on campus.

Phi Delta Theta recruits year-round, and is always looking for quality men to join our brotherhood. For more information, find us on facebook, or email us at pdtcalep@gmail.com

Phi Delta Theta is a part of the Inter-Fraternity Council and is a strictly anti-hazing fraternity.

Current President: Jacob Morton

Phi Delta Theta is one of the oldest fraternities on campus. It is also the oldest land-owning fraternity in Davis. Phi Delta Theta has its origins in the Calpha agricultural fraternity established in 1912. Calpha was one of the original eight fraternities founded at UC Davis, back when the university was an extension of Berkeley's Farm School. They bought the fraternity house at 336 C St. in 1914. In 1954, Calpha associated itself with the Phi Delta Theta national fraternity, becoming the California Epsilon chapter. One notable alumni from the early years of the fraternity is Colby 'Babe' Slater, who won a gold medal at the 1920 Olympic Games as part of the first United States Rugby team. He was captain of the team in 1924.

In 2000 a member became the first UC Davis student in 95 years to die of alcohol poisoning. At this time, the chapter was already on campus probation for drinking and hazing problems. Eventually, in 2006, the charter was pulled (a member cited financial issues as the reason) and the chapter was officially closed.

During the 2010/2011 academic year, Phi Delta Theta's Expansion Director at the General Headquarters decided to start up again with an entirely new group of men. During the fall of 2010 Phi Delta Theta had 14 members when it was an interest group. In spring of 2010, Phi Delta Theta colonized with 52 members.

On November 12, 2011, Phi Delta Theta received its charter back marking a full return of the fraternity.

Comments:

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I believe they are not on campus any longer as their charter was taken away from their national organization. —DanielFriedman

• They are listed at the national site, although their website is down and they aren't listed at the ucdavis.edu list of groups. Did they expire? —jw
  

2006-07-21 17:44:52   During HB2K5 when the MedEvac Helicopter was landing on Slaughterhouse Island to give emergency care to the person who drowned, all of the boats respectfully and somberly stopped the music on their boats and kept hardcore partying to a bare minimum during the crisis. All that is except two boats docked very close to ours who just happened to be the Upstanding Gentleman of this house. I have never been so ashamed of another person or the Greek system in my life. Haven't met any since then but the ones I did meet. egh... —JonathanNasca

2006-08-14 10:53:31   We were shut down due to financial issues but will be reopening with a new group and remodeled house in about 2 years. —DrewTanguay

2011-11-29 23:52:40   possibly the least interesting fraternity on campus —AB

• Interesting opinion. I know many who disagree. What do you consider interesting and how does California Epsilon differ? —chrisindavis