Chapter 1: Pledgeship at Delta Upsilon

What is an Associate Member?

An associate member is a prospective member who wishes to join an organization and has yet to complete a training program, probationary period, or other requirements. The word pledge is not a derogatory term, although many actives may hold it over your heads. Being an associate member of Delta Upsilon does not require you to undergo any humiliation, torture, inebriation, or other demeaning acts of stupidity that may be dangerous, hazardous to your health, or detrimental to your outstanding reputation. Remember: YOU DO NOT HAVE TO DO ANYTHING THAT YOU DO NOT WANT TO DO. If anyone threatens or forces you to do anything that you do not feel comfortable with, then you contact your membership educator or chapter president immediately to have the situation remedied. By reporting such acts, you are not being unbrotherly; you are upholding the principles, morals, and values of Delta Upsilon.

There are requirements for going active which will be discussed later, but you will not have to drink beer till you fall over, elephant walks, or any other such nonsense. Your associate membership is a proving ground. It is a time for you to show your dedication to becoming not just a member but a productive member of the organization. Not just show your feelings, but examine your feelings about the organization. Not just attend classes but demonstrate your scholarship abilities. And finally, not just teach you to be polite but teach you to be a gentleman. Remember, when active’s call you "pledge" it is really nothing personal.

What Will Be Expected of You?

• You will be expected to attend all chapter meetings, associate membership meetings, fraternity-sponsored events, and mixers.
• You will be responsible for acting in accordance with our reputation as a gentleman’s fraternity. (This means no obscene language, improper belching, public flagellation, public nudity, or otherwise unsociable stupid behavior while representing our organization.)
• Your associate membership class as a group will be charged with one philanthropy, which will fulfill a major requirement for your associate membership. Attendance is mandatory by everyone. The event must be developed within the pledge class. Philanthropy is simply a public service project. This philanthropy does not exempt you from whole house philanthropies.
• Your associate membership class as a group will be charged with an associate membership class fund-raiser. This event also must be developed within the associate membership class. This also must be attended by all associate membership.
• You will obey all of the laws of the United States, the state of Missouri, the city of Canton, Culver-Stockton College, and Delta Upsilon fraternity or be subject to disciplinary measures. Delta Upsilon carries a NO TOLERANCE policy in regards to alcohol and drugs. Do not get caught abusing or even possessing drugs. You will regret it one way or the other.
• You will be expected to keep your grades above the minimal mark. There will be no leniency for new members or associate members. Delta Upsilon places education at the top of our priority list of on-campus achievements and hopes that you will come to realize that success in education is the reason that any of us are here.
• You must pay all of your dues on time or within a time frame suitable to the active treasurer of the fraternity. Please remember that our chapter dues are designed to provide the fraternity with the money to operate efficiently. If the money is not there, our chapter suffers.
• You will, throughout your associate membership, develop a friendship and brotherhood with every member of our chapter. This is not mandatory, but rather a natural course that will take place as you live and work amongst these men who are now your brothers.

Requirements For Going Active:

1. A grade point average of 2.25 or higher
2. Perfect attendance at every chapter meeting
3. Perfect attendance at every associate member meeting
4. Participation in associate membership class philanthropy
5. Participation in associate membership fund-raiser
6. Pass all quizzes with an average of 85% or higher
7. Pass the final exam with a score of 90% or higher
8. Pass all chapter evaluations

Associate Membership Fees:

1. $60 Pledge fee due the day of pledging the fraternity
2. $100 First semester dues
3. $200 Activation fee due the day you go active
4. $100 Second semester dues

Associate Membership Files:

Every associate membership has a file. This is a place to keep your quizzes, interviews, and other general information about you for reference purposes. These files are kept in the chapter room for easy access for you and your associate member educator.

Chapter Meetings and Associate Membership Meetings:

Chapter meetings are held weekly for the purpose of discussing business. We are a busy organization with much to accomplish and not much time to do it in. These meetings are run in parliamentary procedure. They start with the president’s bang of the gavel. Roll call is then taken and attendance is recorded. The president speaks first with the presidential report followed by the Executive Board in order of succession. Next, the committee chairmen are called to make their reports. Next, old business is discussed followed by new business. The meeting is finished with the vote of the brother of the week and a cheer. It is a good idea to bring a note pad or planner to these meetings there is usually much to discuss and it is good to know what is going on.

Associate membership are a little more relaxed but are more in the classroom format. These meetings are to discuss what are on your quizzes, your philanthropy, your fund-raiser, and just generally what is going on.

What are Big Brothers?

Big brothers are active members of the fraternity that assist their ‘Little Bro’ through their associate membership. They also help you study, answer questions, take you to parties, and are generally someone that the associate membership looks up to and talks to. You will choose a big brother while at the same time they choose a little brother. We try as often as possible to match up the choices but occasionally two associate members choose the same big brother and vice-versa. Therefore it is necessary to have first and second choices for your big brother.

Formal Pledging:

Formal pledging is a formal ceremony welcoming you to the fraternity. You will receive your pledge pin and take an oath of honor and intent. As the name implies, this is a formal event. Please feel free to invite anyone you wish to this event as any other ceremony/event sponsored by Delta Upsilon.

Inspiration Week:

Some of you might have heard this period of time referred to as "hell week". We do not wish to label this so negatively so this is generally referred to as I-week. This week is chalked full of fun and exciting brotherhood activities. At DU, we have a non-hazing policy and uphold this at all cost. We try to make this week fun without hazing.

Associate Membership Evaluations:

Associate member evaluations are simply reviews of your performance and adaptability to fraternity life. They generally take place sometime after midterm and during I-week before voting takes place. This is where your associate membership file becomes important. Your associate membership file will reflect your dedication and willingness to work amongst and with our brotherhood at bettering yourself. You will be brought into a room and have your associate membership files reviewed in front of you and probably asked a few questions. Overall, this is not an intimidating process.

Delta Upsilon Fraternity Honor Code:

1. So long as I am associated with Delta Upsilon Fraternity, no matter in what capacity, I shall always show respect to Delta Upsilon.
2. I shall ever strive to guide my actions by the four founding principles of Delta Upsilon, and above all, to practice justice in all that I do.
3. I shall make a special effort to treat with respect and courtesy, all members of the Fraternity
4. I shall associate members of Delta Upsilon as well as any guest of the fraternity.
5. I shall do all in my capacity to adhere to the following member charges:

• To accept my position as member with all of the pride, honor, and gratitude shown by DU’s for the past century and a half.
• To learn, study, and live by the principles of my fraternity and to act in a manner becoming a DU.
• To be especially helpful and mindful of the needs of my pledge brothers and the actives of this chapter.
• To wear my pledge pin on all occasions when it is permitted.
• To act in a mature way, always upholding the high moral standards encouraged by Delta Upsilon.
• To work for the chapter; devoting time and talent towards the operation and projects of the chapter, realizing that the more I do, the more I benefit.
• To budget my time skillfully, so that I can maintain maximum scholastic achievement.
• To observe all house rules carefully.
• To observe the laws of the chapter, school, city, state, and nation concerning controlled substances.