An independent Penn State fraternity earned chapter status at an international convention held in Clinton, N.Y., on Friday after six years as an affiliate of the university.
Members of Alpha Delta Phi wrote a report and gave a presentation to the International Board of Governors, a group of Alpha Delta Phi alumni and each chapter's delegates. The international convention unanimously voted to give the fraternity Nittany Chapter status. Until Friday's decision, the status of the fraternity was as a Nittany affiliate. Although the fraternity has gained chapter status, it is still not part of the Interfraternity Council (IFC) at Penn State.
"This is something we're very honored to be presented with," said Joe Gherardi, Alpha Delta Phi president. "They don't just give it to anyone."
The literary-based social fraternity originated at Hamilton College in Clinton, N.Y., in 1832 and is the fourth oldest fraternity in the country, Gherardi said. In 2001, 10 students brought the fraternity to Penn State. This is the first year Alpha Delta Phi has tried for chapter status.
Edward Donahue, a former national president of the organization, has been the Penn State chapter's alumni adviser since 2001. He said he encouraged the fraternity to apply for chapter status early last spring.
"Gaining chapter status is a significant milestone," Donahue said. "It indicates that the rest of the fraternity thinks they have critical mass and viability."
The fraternity will now have a vote at the international convention, giving it say in how the fraternity runs. It will additionally receive an increased amount of support from the convention because of its chapter status, said Ted MacDonald, the former vice president of Alpha Delta Phi at Penn State.
"A lot of [the benefit of gaining chapter status] is just recognition from the international fraternity," MacDonald said. "It's something we've been working on for six years. It says something that we were able to start from nothing and build up to getting chapter status."
Brad Fitzpatrick, the vice president of communications for the IFC in 2006, said he could not think of another affiliate gaining chapter status in the last four years.
"It's rare that an affiliate fraternity gets chapter status because they need to abide by rules of the IFC," Fitzpatrick said. "They need to jump through a lot of hoops ... It's a fairly big deal because of all the red tape."
MacDonald said joining the IFC is something members of the fraternity have been looking into, but because of all the IFC requirements, the fraternity will have to wait until it expands more.
Alpha Delta Phi currently has 14 brothers but is looking to recruit 16 more this year, Gherardi said.
Fraternity benefits of joining the IFC include going to IFC functions, applying for IFC funding for philanthropy and access to several LISTSERVs to spread information about future events, Fitzpatrick said.
"[Alpha Delta Phi] will definitely benefit from joining the IFC," Fitzpatrick said. "It'll help with their rush; it'll help with charities they're trying to do; it'll help with their funding. There's really no disadvantage from joining the IFC."
For now, Gherardi said Alpha Delta Phi wants to be recognized by Penn State, which will give the fraternity added credibility.
"Down the road we'd look into joining the IFC," Gherardi said.
