The Mission of Delta Tau Delta is for every brother to be “Committed to Lives of Excellence”. Being a Delt comes with the responsibility of being better than one was prior to joining. The excellence that each brother must strive towards goes beyond the boundaries of the campus. Community outreach and volunteer work are ways to demonstrate your value to your chapter and your surrounding environment. Academic achievement is the foremost duty of any undergraduate brother, and grades should reflect this.
These ideas are nothing new; these are some of the staples of our organization. It is not good enough to simply meet the standards and feel a sense of intense pride. To excel is to go beyond the necessary amount, to raise the standards, to make a tangible change. If a brother does not meet our standards, an injustice is being performed. Each Delt takes an oath, and each takes on the obligation to excel in life and to aid his brothers in doing the same. Excellence is not the commitment of the individual; it is an effort that can most easily be obtained as a cohesive body.
You ARE your brother’s keeper, with each brother having the burden of carrying his brother(s) when needed. Each brother must have the best interests of his brothers and chapter when conducting himself in any situation. Each Delt, despite the attire, always wear our letters. Do NOT allow yourself to fall short of excellence, EVER! If so, an injustice is being done unto every brother in your chapter, the thousands currently active across the country, the hundreds of thousands who have preceded you, the countless more who will follow and most importantly, yourself. Better yourself, better your brother, better the Fraternity. In a brotherhood that gives so much and asks for so little in return, the least we all can do as Delts is to continue to live a Life of Excellence.
Thomas Peterson (Florida Atlantic University) is a senior majoring in political science and a member of the Undergraduate Council. He is involved in Student Government, Army ROTC, Habitat for Humanity, and Boys and Girls Club. Peterson has served his chapter as the petition chairman, FAAR chairman and sergeant-at-arms.
Comments