By Sangjun Hornewer ’20 and Rudo Ellen Kazembe ’20
Editor-in-Chief and Features Editor
Delta Chi is an international fraternity that was founded in 1890. The Lake Forest College chapter of the Delta Chi Fraternity was founded on February 18, 1950 and was re-chartered in 1995. There are 31 active members within the chapter. According to the President Altin Kukaj ’19, “Delta Chi…is the oldest active chapter on campus.” As a result of this, “there is [a strong]tradition and history and ‘brotherhood’ that has been formed over the years.”
One of the values of Delta Chi is that brotherhood can “promote friendship” and “develop character.” Che Raoul ‘20 feels that being part of the fraternity impacted him positively. “Delta Chi is great because the guys in the fraternity helped me transition into college,” Raoul said. “It also helped me grow as a person. I didn’t used to be as outgoing as I am now, and I recently took initiative to run for president this year.” Another member of the fraternity, Koffivi Vonor ’19, joined the fraternity because the members of Delta Chi he met ”embodied the perfect balance of work and play.”
According to the Kukaj, Delta Chi “changes the lives of many students through involvement.” He also said that “in various Delta Chi International Conventions, the Lake Forest chapter has won the excellence in involvement award due to our involvement in Student Government, Student Programming Board, several athletic teams, arts and music and most importantly community service at Feed My Starving Children, Gorton Community Center and North Chicago Schools.”
During the academic year, Delta Chi hosts two significant philanthropy events on campus. During the fall semester, the organization hosts the Miss Jimmy V Talent Show, which is one of the most well-attended events on campus. This year, over 200 students came to the event. Various student organizations on campus take part in it every year, with representatives from sports teams, Greek life organizations, and other clubs as well. During the spring semester, Delta Chi hosts the Pie a Delta Chi event. Through these philanthropy events, the organization has raised over $15,000. A devoted member of the fraternity Chase Garber ’20 stated, “there really isn’t any other feeling like giving back to others and seeing smiles on people’s faces.”
“Every member gets to hold a leadership position, from seven Executive Board positions to seven other chair positions,” Kukaj said. “Working under the guidance of the Gates Center and Student Government, our members excel in personal leadership qualities, which sometimes “non-greek” students find it hard to do.”
Members of fraternities and sororities will often highlight the various benefits of being in Greek life organizations such as acquiring leadership skills, gaining a support system and network-building. Kukaj said that Delta Chi has given him the opportunities to “become a better student leader” and to “travel to national and international conferences through which [he]met many amazing people who dedicate their lives to their communities.” Also, this sense of leadership carries on after college. “You get to share the same experience with people who now are mayors of cities, senators, congressmen or even presidents of United States,” he said. “Out of 18 US presidents who were in greek life, Delta Chi has one of its own, Benjamin Harrison.”
Sangjun Hornewer and Rudo Ellen Kazembe can be reached at hornewersm@mx.lakeforest.edu and kazembere@mx.lakeforest.edu.
