Delta ChiPictures



No one knows for sure how the records from the 1920's and 30's survived during the period of the chapter's inactivity. There is evidence that a core group of alumni kept in touch, suggested by a note in a guest ledger indicating an alumni get-together in 1938. After World War II, many young men who had served in the war were returning to universities as a result of the GI Bill. In 1947, Delta Chi headquarters decided to recolonize the chapter. A group of officers organized, and a group of alumni bought the chapter's current house, at 1705 Hill Street (northwest corner of Oxford and Hill streets) for $13,000.

As legend says, a bishop built the current house during the early part of the twentieth century (some time between 1904 and 1913). The first floor has remained relatively unchanged since that time. The current pool room (former dance floor/tube room) was a screened-in porch, while the living and dining rooms as well as the kitchen appear to have remained in their same location. The second floor contained a master bedroom in portions of the current Fireside and Grand Central rooms, a guest bedroom in what is now Front Triple, and a child's bedroom in the area of Windows. The area of Middle Earth was an open-air porch. The area around South Quad was either a sitting room or another bedroom. The current Closet and Bear's room were for the house servants, as indicated by the narrow back stairwell. It is unknown what the basement was like and the third floor was an open attic.

During it's many years, the house has been altered in several different ways. The basement has several doorways that were bricked up in the boiler room and tool closet. The second floor has several doorjambs from which one can visualize the former structure of the house. The drop ceiling in the upper foyer reveals a carved wood ceiling. There was also a step in door in the upper foyer from which one could go directly to the third floor stairs. The third floor was referred to as the "cold dorm", and Middle Earth was the "warm dorm", which referred to areas that several members in the fraternity would sleep.

The newly-organized officers and alumni reactivated the Michigan Chapter of Delta Chi on February 14, 1948. Brothers at Michigan State trained the new officers in the ritual. The Michigan chapter has had close relations with other Delta Chi chapters throughout its history. From the 1940's to the 60's, Michigan and Michigan State held an annual touch football game during the weekend of the UM/MSU football game. The Michigan Chapter had a hand in the formation of the Western Michigan chapter in 1955, helping initiate and teach its new officers. The chapter often partied with the Wayne State chapter in the 1960's and early 70's; a popular destination for pledge walkouts as well. In addition, the Michigan chapter bet skins on football games with other chapters around the country from the 1940's to the mid 1970's.

?The first years of the new Michigan chapter were the most fruitful in its history. Membership climbed rapidly, reaching an all time high of 43 active members during early 1950. Active recruitment during formal, open, and summer rush bolstered this membership. A longer school year also aided membership recruitment, which allowed for two pledge classes in the winter semester. Despite it's growing numbers, in 1951 the chapter reported a $2000 deficit. At the time, rent for the chapter was $25 a month. Actives also paid a parlor tax of $8 for the upkeep of the house.

The chapter established itself on campus during the 1950's by participating in a variety of campus events. The J-Hop (Junior Hop) continued to be the most important social event. As another activity, the brothers would switch residences for a week with a sorority, allowing the women a greater degree of freedom than they experienced in the sorority house. The week culminated in a big dance at the IM Building. To keep up with the changing times, the Michigan chapter purchased its first television set in 1950. During that year the chapter also made newspaper headlines by receiving a live sheep as the result of a bet with the Ohio State chapter over a football game.

Delta Chi during the 1950's was known as a lively place. Planned parties took place at least once every two weeks, and then increased to once per week by the late 1950's. The fraternity held formal dances during the fall and winter terms at hotels in the Detroit area. Several sorority exchange dinners allowed brothers to take an active role in the Greek system. In 1949-50, Delta Chi was named the top social fraternity on campus. In addition, the fraternity placed well in Michigras festivities held every Spring. By the 1957-58 year, the fraternity was holding several exchange dinners and athletic events with sororities each semester. Efforts were made to establish a new core of alumni, as the first Michigan "Delt" was sent out during the 1949-50 school year. This was the successor to the alumni newsletter of the 1920's, entitled "The Tie". The Delt was sent out anywhere from two to three times per year, and was also accompanied by monthly newsletters informing alumni of events at the chapter house.

Other 1950's Delta Chi events include a dinner visit by University President Harlan Hatcher. The University supported the Greek system at Michigan up until the late 1950's. Michigan, however, did issue a plea in 1953 to fraternity members and pledges to not participate in panty raids. The chapter also sent a dinner invitation to Bob Hope after a performance at Hill Auditorium in October, 1953 but he never responded.

Leadership positions fluctuated greatly during this time. At the recolonization of the chapter the committees were Athletics, Song, Steward, Social, Rush, House Manager, and Homecoming chairmen. Each position had an assistant. The members voted to expand executive board adding the Member-at-Large (MAL) in 1950 and Steward in 1952. The Steward, who was in charge of hiring a cook and getting supplies for the fraternity, often received a salary or a reduction in meal bills. Once the Steward hired a cook, 3 meals a day were served. The prices as of 1954 were $1.75 for dinner, $1 for lunch, and .50 for breakfast, with a coffee hour between 10 and 11am. All positions were originally semester positions, with the "A" being made a full year position (February to February) in 1953 and the "C", "D", and "E" becoming full year positions soon thereafter. The "B" remained a one semester position until the late 1980's while the "F" and MAL have always been one semester positions.

The end of the 1954-55 school year saw the first year-end awards being awarded for chapter luminary, pledge of the year, and athlete of the year. The school year during this period extended into late May. House bills during this time were defined as $1.95/day in meals, $2.50 in social fees, $9 in dues, and $6000 in rent.

?Due to concern about pledges, members formed the Pledge Co-Ordinating committee in 1954 to determine pledge policy. IFC required pledges to have above a 2.0 GPA. The chapter was fined $15 on one occasion for initiating someone below a 2.0. Pledges often made "pledge raids" throughout the course of their term, gathering objects from sororities. They had to inform the police before making a raid to avoid allegations of wrongdoing. During the term, there were mandatory "pledge critiques", in which required blackball votes were taken at 7, 10, and 13 weeks of the term. The 1959 pledge program included such aspects as fraternity and university history, studying the IFC, and a 2 week etiquette study. Pledges also addressed every active as "Mister", were required to use the back stair well, and needed to wear Delta Chi beanies whenever they went out. The active overseeing pledges received the title of "pledge trainer". The chapter later changed the name of this position to "pledge counselor" and then finally to "associate member counselor" in recent years (with the term "pledge" changing to "associate member" as well). Pledges were forced to endure "Help Week" which preceded initiation. During this week both actives and pledges were required to help with work around the house. Pledges were required to do 48 hours of work and get 8 hours of sleep before initiation, which was held during a regular chapter meeting. This made for some long chapter meeting times. The longest chapter meeting ever, in February, 1956, lasted 10 1/2 hours. In addition, a Junior IFC program, made up of pledge class presidents, operated during the 1950's and 60's.

?The chapter at this time generally paid for house improvements. The Alumni Finance Control Board helped pay for large expenditures. The chapter did experience some trouble with brothers paying their bills; and the University refused to release the grades of those owing house bills beginning in 1957. The chapter's accounts receivable often exceeded $500 or even $1000. The ACB set the capacity of the house at 26, and every member had to sign a contract stating that they would live in for the duration of their membership. There were conditions however, in which one could live out of house. In addition, the chapter hired a maid to help keep the growing fraternity clean.
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