Update from President-elect Tanner Schoen

Being able to become a part of Delta Theta Sigma has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life and the reason I decided to run for president was to see that the fraternity grow and prosper in all areas. Already we have seen a dramatic increase in the area of recruitment. In past years we have relied heavily on our in house scholarship program, this is a great program but the winter 2012 new members and myself felt like this should be a supplementary tool not a lifeline. During the final spring quarter at Ohio State we made our first recruiting trip to the ATI campus in many years and this year the fraternity had its most successful involvement fair in recent memory. This year we have set a goal of a new member class of 15 members with a 50/50 in house to campus recruit ratio which we are well on our way to accomplishing.

What we have learned from this success in recruiting is that no one officer can handle the entire task so it is essential to accomplish goals through group work. The rush chair coordinates events and places people where he believes they will produce the greatest results. My goal as president is to implement this type of committee delegation system to all facets of Delta theta Sigma to give us the greatest opportunity to thrive. Along with many members of the winter 2012 class we’ve decided that the best strategy is to take all of the responsibilities of the house and divide them up into five or six committees.

The offices would stay the same and these individuals would be in charge of running those committees. This would encourage participation while fostering a sense of stronger brotherhood with working towards precise goals. I believe that with this system that all areas of the house will improve and its members will become closer while making Delta Theta Sigma stronger than ever.

Join the Men of Delta Theta Sigma Nov 19 in an OSU Blood Drive!

The Men of Delta Theta Sigma will be hosting a Blood Drive to Beat Michigan and help save lives Monday, November 19, from 2 - 8 pm at Archer Hall (on Ohio State's Campus).

Please see event page for more information:

Recruitment Off to a Great Start

At this time last year the men of Delta Theta Sigma were winding down their summers and beginning to pack to return to The Ohio State University. 

Today we are at a much different point. School is four weeks in already due to the semester transition, and recruitment has never been better.

One year ago we had no prospects for a Fall term. We planned to do our usual bit at the Student Involvement Fair with the knowledge that it would be all but pointless. We were ready for a few costly events that would probably not yield the kind of numbers or quality that we were looking for.

Today is much different. Today marks a new chapter in the Alpha Chapter. Today marks a commitment to recruiting better: to finding more men, better men, men prepared to step up and continue the traditions of excellence here at the Alpha Chapter of Delta Theta Sigma right here at THE Ohio State University.

Good things have been happening already. The steadfastness of the recruitment chairs, Austin Davis and Adam Bennett has been astounding. The blood, sweat, and tears that they have put it into this program is definitely one of the record books.

We have already had one big recruitment event: Paintball, which took place last Sunday. Tomorrow night is the Trace Adkins concert. We have had a plethora of men come to Monday night chapter dinners, which has been very beneficial to meeting potential new recruits.

There are still plenty of events to come to. Please refer to the picture below:

Due to the semester switch, New Member Training will begin October 1st. By then we will have a more accurate number of gentlemen that will be going through the process to become members of DTS. Stay tuned for further information but know that we are off to a great start!

Reunited and It Feels So Good

Now that the 2012 - 2013 School Year is just about under way, all of our members are now comfortably situated in their new rooms.

After a long night of meetings, a clear path for brotherhood, scholarship, leadership, and involvement, our men are fully prepared to hit the ground running. With six new additions to the house (currently as scholarship move-ins), we have already been able to accomplish more than anticipated.

Yesterday was the Norton-Scott-Archer Ice Cream Social, and the men of Delta Theta Sigma were out in full force representing a beacon of welcoming for the class of 2016.

With everyone fully prepared to tackle their upcoming responsibilities, the outlook for the future could not look more exciting.

For example, today was the Student Involvement Fair. Typically, few names were gathered and very little was gained from tireless efforts. This year, with the dedication of several members including Tanner Schoen, Adam Bennett, Nick Wise, Austin Davis, and Dave Dziak, we were able to gather 40 names (roughly 36 more than usual) of potential recruits. Not only were names gathered, but basic professional relationships were formed. Even if only a fraction of those who signed up come to our recruitment events, we will still have a sizable potential rush class for Winter Semester.

The most recent class of men (Winter 12) have truly stepped up as leaders within the fraternity. Their efforts have helped to streamline efficiency and increase involvement on campus as well as within the Greek Community.

Previously our committee structure was nothing more than a myth, but the young guns of DTS have helped to make them work much more efficiently, increasing the amount that the committee can actually do.

It would be an understatement to say that we DTS members are excited about this upcoming year. 2012 - 2013 may very well be our most successful year yet.

Please stay tuned for further updates. It is an exciting time to be associated with this fraternity. As always, stay connected via Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and our website.

Thanks for visiting!

Delta Theta Sigma Earns High Marks

Well, the results are in.

It's fair to say that we are excited, but not necessarily surprised.

Reports from the university put Delta Theta Sigma as 3rd in grades among OSU fraternities. This came from a 3.3 GPA. Yes, it is not first, we realize that. But it is much closer to the top than we have been recently. The past few quarters have been rough with our men taking some of the most challenging courses Ohio State has to offer. We were finally able to turn the countless hours of homework and studying into results, however.

These high marks came from a variety of new initiatives.

First: DTS instituted a rudimentary form of study tables. This caused more men to travel to the libraries in droves. The Science and Engineering Library (open 24/7) saw many members pass through its doors, with wide gaps from entrance to exit. Long hours were spent hitting the books, calculations were made, and many chapters were read.

Secondly, we resurrected a formerly failed idea of "Academic Fantasy Teams." The four members with the highest GPAs drafted the rest of the house, creating four separate teams. This friendly competition caused team members to pair up for studying purposes, and discouraging sloth-like behaviors. This was one of the catalysts of the mass exodus to libraries across campus.

Due to these factors combined with the hard work and determination, thoughtfulness, and sincerity of the members, our grades skyrocketed to 3rd place. Now, third place is only a bronze medal, and we are going for gold. The good news is: we blew the other agricultural fraternities clear out of the water in terms of grades, just another subtle reminder of the reasons Delta Theta Sigma is excelling.

As aforementioned, we are going for gold. Look forward to this year consisting of even MORE library trips, stronger study table sessions, and overall better GPAs. We don't settle for third place. It is a motivator to keep on trucking to get to the top!

Be sure to stay in contact with us.
Like us on Facebook (Delta Theta Sigma OSU)
Follow us on Twitter (@DeltaThetaSigma)
Subscribe on Youtube (DeltaThetaSigmaOSU)
and visit our website (http://dts.org.ohio-state.edu/)

DTS on a Philanthropic Roll!

Two weekends ago Delta Theta Sigma raised $700 for MDA.
This past weekend DTS raised $570 for American Cancer Society.
In two weekends from now, DTS will raise money for St. John's Community Kitchen through Wifflefest.

Let that sink in for a minute.

Got it? Ok, awesome.

Let's take a minute to think about what all of that means. Four years ago, Delta Theta Sigma did not do anything to give back to the community, aside from items over on Ag Campus. Three years ago, we began with Wifflefest. Two years ago, we raised $1400 dollars. This year, we already have almost $1300, and we still have one philanthropy to go. If there was ever a way to say, "Hey that's progress," then this is certainly it.

Delta Theta Sigma cares deeply about the community that has supported its growth since 1906. Over the past few years, we have been able to do a lot with a little.

This past weekend, April 28th and 29th, DTS set up shop at Lincoln Tower Field for Relay for Life. Unfortunately, we had almost the entire house head back to their respective homes for duties on the farm. We had actives: Andrew Metzger, Austin Bahnsen, Austin Kirk, Dave Dziak, Tanner Schoen, Michael Moore, and Jordan Schaeffer help out with Relay. Dave Dziak, Tanner Schoen, and Michael Moore stayed overnight, making it nearly the whole 24 hours.

Kirk and Bahnsen were able to help sell pulled pork sandwiches to help us reach our $570 mark. Schoen and Dziak spent nearly all of their time at Relay behind the stand, providing OSU with quality pulled pork sandwiches.

With only 3 or 4 men there at a time, we were able to contribute to this worthy cause. It is a true sign of the quality of men that DTS has within its house.

DTS is truely an organization that acts upon its foundation, and for that reason, it is one to join and become a part of. DTS is on the incline, while other organizations are either stagnant or facing problems. It has never been more of an exciting time to be a part of DTS.

Be sure to stay involved and follow us on Twitter! Thanks for reading!

Reservations About Joining? Read This.

-From Former Delta Member Trainer Dave Dziak

Hey there folks! As a former freshman looking into Greek life at Ohio State, I had a few concerns. I was worried about being hazed. I wanted to be accepted and knew that I would have to do something to earn my place, but I didn't want it to be something dangerous, like being forced to drink or do something gross. In my searches among Ohio State fraternities, I wasn't necessarily convinced that I would be able to avoid that. That is, until I came over to Delta Theta Sigma.

Right away I felt at home, something that seemed sort of alien when on my own for the first time in my life. I met then president Nick Atterholt, as well as Cody Beucler (then rush chair), Jed Bookman (then VP), and Joe Greene. After conversing with Nick for awhile, he turned to me and said something I will never forget.

"Dave, you're exactly the kind of big guy we need around here."

Thinking back, I think he was referring to my large stature, but the idea that I was needed and had something to contribute only appeared at DTS. In the other fraternities that I had rushed, I was perceived as just another person. I was a number in a quota of people that the fraternity had to fill. But at DTS, I was already a friend. That friendship with the House would build over the next few times I was over, and I began to trust the guys as people that were there for me. Through random acts of kindness, I realized they actually cared about my well-being, as opposed to some of the risky behavior I noticed while at other houses.

When it came time to join, I knew I was in good hands. I put my trust in them, and they didn't let me down. I began my journey at the beginning of Winter Quarter 2010. I can proudly say that I was not hazed, nor forced to drink alcohol or take place in risky business.

Over the course of the past four or so years, DTS has completely revitalized its "pledge process," and has truly made it into a new member training course.

Our process rests on three main ideas: No Hazing, Professionalism, and Brotherhood.

In its current form, the process lasts six weeks. Each week, new members learn about an aspect of the fraternity's core values, as well as get trained on an aspect of professionalism. Through this process, we have been able to educate our men on brotherhood, service to fellow man, academics, and involvement. In addition, we have prepared our boys to become professional men by:

-Providing training on portfolios
-Resume building workshops
-Social media training
-Public speaking
-Time management
-Risk management
-Diversity training
-Event planning

all culminating with a mock job interview.

By the time our delta members are initiated, they are fully trained on the aforementioned items. They also have accumulated extensive knowledge about DTS, Greek Life in general, and Ohio State history.

Anyone can join a student organization at Ohio State. There are over 1,000 to choose from. But if you as a student want to become a leader of men and succeed in future endeavors, then Delta Theta Sigma is the right fit for you.

What's Next?

Hey Folks, Dave Dziak here again.

You may be thinking, "Okay, so these guys raised $700 for MDA, big whoop." While it is true that we hardly beat our mark of $700 last year, we are still making great progress. This Roast Away was done with only 1 other Greek organization attending (props to Delta Zeta). When we, as a community, continue to work together, we can accomplish great things.

Speaking of great things, we have some more philanthropic efforts on the way. Our next effort will be on May 12th, 2012. We will be hosting our 3rd Annual DTS Wifflefest! This is a Wiffleball tournament benefiting St. John's Community Kitchen. The event will take place at Fred Beekman Park, from Noon until 4:30. We will be handing out two trophies, one for the Women's Bracket, and one for the Men's. Last year, we raised $700. I am confident that we can grow those numbers this year. Please be sure to visit our website to register. As I always say, there are two types of philanthropies: ones that involve food, and ones that involve sports. This happens to be one of said sporting events. Whether an Indians or a Reds fan, be sure to come on down and compete against the best.

As if that weren't enough, DTS currently has two philanthropies on the horizon. The first is in its early stages. We would like to keep it a surprise, but we will give you a bit of a teaser. First, we will be pairing up with Delta Gamma. Secondly, this is a philanthropy that involves neither sports nor food (seemingly against my hypothesis), yet remains possibly the most American philanthropy ever put on in the history of America. Be sure to stay tuned for more information as we slowly leak this event. It is set to take place in the fall.

Next Winter, we are looking to pair with Phi Sigma Rho for a bowling tournament, named Strikes for Spielman. Stephanie Spielman was an influential Buckeye who lost a battle with cancer. Let's be sure to treat those pins as if they were cancer, and knock them down. No tentative dates have been set as of yet. Be sure to stay tuned for more information on this philanthropy as well.

Delta Theta Sigma is an organization that is committed to giving back to the community that has given it so much since 1906. With your help, we can continue our efforts to donate to worthy causes. We'll be sure to keep you posted as more details come!

Thanks for reading ya'll!

Why We Roast Away

The following article appeared in The Odyssey on April 18th, 2012.

Are you going to the OSU Spring Game? Yes? Good. No? Well read this anyway. On Saturday, April 21^st from 9am – 4pm, the men of Delta Theta Sigma and Alpha Gamma Rho as well as the Committee of 88 will be hosting the 2^nd Annual Roast Away for MDA. The event will be held at The Women’s Field House, on Lincoln Tower Field. If you’re heading over to the game, be sure to stop by first. Or after. Or during. If you can’t find us, follow the music as we will have a DJ. We will be selling pulled pork sandwiches for a suggested donation price of $5. With that comes the hefty half pound of delicious smoked pulled pork sandwich, access to an exclusive barbeque sauss, aka a nectar sent straight from Zeus himself, known to us mere mortals as Sweet Baby Ray’s, a bag of chopped taters known as chips, and an ice cold beverage of the soda variety. If you’re not in a hurry, stick around for awhile and play corn hole with DTS and AGR, as there will be plenty of boards available. And again, we will be blessed with the musical stylings of various American musicians selected by none other than the famous DJ Edge of Alpha Gamma Rho.

                As aforementioned, this is the second annual event. The first took place last year at Beta Theta Pi with DTS and AGR. $700 was raised last year for the Muscular Dystrophy Association. You may have heard of MDA before when Firefighters across the nation stop traffic during events with their “Fill the Boot” campaigns to raise money for MDA. For just a simple dollar or two, you received a sticker. Well my friends, though stickers are great and I certainly approve, for just a small suggested retail price of $5 you receive much more than a sticker. For a rundown of the pallet teasing menu, please refer once again to the first paragraph.

                Jokes aside, Muscular Dystrophy is a serious disease. MD deteriorates the muscles over a person’s lifetime, and causes severe issues with everyday activities, such as walking. The event was originally inspired by Olivia Campbell, a Kent State Delta Gamma. Campbell is very active at Kent promoting Greek life, as well as working with MDA. She has been a facilitator at Camp Cheerful, an MDA camp near Cleveland that works with children with MD. She was also recently quoted in the Kent State newspaper this past March. She also gave a speech on Monday, April 9^th.

                “The Muscular Dystrophy Association, for example, has become the most fabulous, supportive second family whom I would never have met without my diagnosis. They were there for me through testing, hospital visits, surgeries, school, summer vacation, you name it; and for that, I am beyond grateful. No one ever talks about whom you turn to after the shock of a diagnosis sets in, and they should, because organizations like MDA change lives. I would never say MD made me the person I am today, but I would be ignorant if I didn't acknowledge how greatly it has impacted the person I've become.”

                We as a Greek community are all about service, philanthropy, and brotherhood. In my opinion, there is nothing more touching than a community coming together to help one of our own.

                “Here I am today, a sister of Delta Gamma Fraternity, studying Health Care Administration and Health Services at Kent State. It is because of the many people I have encountered along my journey that I plan on entering the health care field. It’s time for me to give back what I have been given and I dream that one day I will be able to ease the pain for at least one other person, in the way that so many have done for me,” Campbell said in her speech.

                No matter the university, no matter the letters, no matter fraternity vs. sorority, we are a community. We have done great things as an Ohio State Greek Community, and I know that we will continue to support not only our own, but also those that have been “dealt a stack of cards in which we have no clue what's to come.” You can help people like Olivia by making a donation to MDA at our booth or getting some ridiculously delicious pulled pork sandwiches at our Roast Away Philanthropy on April 21^st from 9-4 at the Women’s Field House. We are a community. Greek strong.