Oklahoma University Sing
         This Fall 2008 semester, Delta Tau Delta pledges have been working hard on Oklahoma University Sing, U-Sing.  U-Sing is a showcase of artistic, vocal and acting abilities of the OU community. Within the Greek community, it is a competition at the University of Oklahoma.  Every fraternity pairs up with a sorority to learn between six to ten songs that they must be able to sing, dance, and perform in front of an audience of judges.  Every year has a new theme, and this year the theme is Family Television shows.  The television show Delta Tau Delta picked was the Wonder Years.  This year there are twelve groups competing for six spots to perform three nights in front of sold out audiences.  Delta Tau Delta joined up with Alpha Tau Omega and Alpha Phi. After auditioning, we were one of the six acts that made the show!  We are currently practicing for the show five days a week for two hours a night.  We have a great pledge class that is eager to learn and everyone is working hard.  Shane Linehan has been our U-Sing director for four years after performing in the show his freshman year. Shane has high expectations for Delta Tau Delta this year, “This is the best group of people I have ever directed. I think we will do great. Wish us luck.”
 
Academic Report
         The Delta Alpha chapter places a large emphasis on academics. A newly developed program has given the men of Delta Alpha motivation to excel in their studies. Among other things, the chapter test files database is among the best at the University of Oklahoma. Not only does the database contain a large number of tests in many different departments, all files are online at www.oudelts.org for all our members to access as needed. Another resource to assist our members is complete compensation of all tutoring costs. Thanks to donations from generous alumni, Delta Alpha is able to reimburse members and pledges for all tutoring costs. Members simply fill out a “Tutoring Reimbursement Form” with information about the tutor, including phone number and e-mail, and tutors, with their permission, are added to a database.  Another incentive for our members is payment for “A’s”. Should a member receive a 90 or above on any exam or project worth more than 5% of the final grade for the class, the member is paid $5. If the exam or project is worth more than 20% of the final grade, the incentive increases to $10. Members can claim their reward money by filling out a test form and submitting it to the academic chairmen. This form, in addition to the tutoring form, is available at www.oudelts.org and hard copies are available at a central location in the shelter.
        Although our chapter wishes to provide many incentives for excellent academic performance, Delta Alpha also has a probation and suspension program to allow struggling members the chance to get their studies back on track. A member can be placed on academic probation should they fail to achieve a 2.5 GPA for any one semester. Members on probation are required to complete 10 study hours per week in the house library and are not allowed to attend date parties. The study hour log-in system is more advanced than any other system on campus. Adapted from a University program, with permission from the University of Oklahoma, it allows members to enter their OU-ID number to log-in and out of the system and tracks the time each member spends in the house library. Members on probation are also required to submit their grades to the academic committee at the midpoint of the semester. This program, in its second year of existence, has seen a decline in members on probation from 24 in the spring of 2007 to 4 in the fall of 2008. Should a member not achieve at least a 2.5 GPA during their semester on probation, the member is placed on academic suspension. Members on academic suspension are not allowed to live in the chapter house, attend date parties, or vote in chapter.
        Finally, in addition to our member resources, pledges of Delta Alpha receive the same benefits as members and are required to perform 10 monitored study hours per week. These study hours are monitored by the pledge trainers and take place in the University of Oklahoma library.
        The academic programming at Delta Alpha has paid off in recent years with an increase of 0.239 from the spring of 2006 to the spring of 2008. The chapter ranked third for the fall 2007 semester for most improved member GPA. Our chapter looks to continue or academic growth as we further develop a culture of academic excellence on the University of Oklahoma campus.

Philanthropy Report
•    4th Place in Anchor Splash, a synchronized swimming competition along with swimming races that is hosted by Delta Gamma.
•    Shack-A-Thon with Alpha Chi Omega.
•    Our philanthropy event for this semester, Tropical Thunder, had over 380 people in attendance from the Greek system alone. Participants enjoyed tropical smoothies, fruit, and cookies while listening to a live band, Hosty Duo. We raised over $1,000 for the Norman Veterans Center.
•    We had over 40 men attend the Tri-Delt pancake breakfast.
•    The leadership department of the University of Oklahoma has assigned us Dr. John A. Banas as our Adopt-a-Prof for this semester.
•    Salvation Army Bell Ringing will begin in December.
•    Our 3rd Annual Delt Dive benefiting Bleed Purple, an association that helps college students that have been diagnosed with cancer, begins in the Spring.
 
Activities Report
        Since the beginning of the semester, our activity calendar has begun to literally overflow. To start the year off, we are doing the annual University Sing with the Alpha Phi sorority along with Alpha Tau Omega fraternity. Out of 12 groups that try out for the show only 6 make it and actually get to perform on parent’s weekend. Our wonderful group, I’m proud to say, made the show, a true honor. I know that they will place as well. We have around 20 pledges/members that are in the show. Alongside University Sing is homecoming, our other major priority.
        Homecoming this year is being done with Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority and Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity. So far, things are running smoothly and are on track. Everyone has done a fantastic job already contributing to the success of our great group. With Kappa Kappa Gamma and Lambda Chi Alpha not making University Sing, it gives us a cushion of comfort with the fact that they both are as competitive if not more in wanting to win homecoming. I know that all 3 of our houses will with no doubt WIN homecoming. Pomping the float has already begun and homecoming is the weekend after OU/TX. Each member and pledge are required to pomp the float for a minimum of 10 hours per week. Pomping takes a long time and we wanted to get a head start so we could really make things look great and not have to rush. The final thing that I will mention is that Sooner Scandals, similar to University Sing, will be held in the spring semester and we are looking forward to doing that with Chi Omega sorority.
        To sum up everything, the fraternity is absolutely thriving right now. With so many great things happening here with activities as well as other parts of the chapter, it makes anyone feel crazy not to be a Delt. I’m sure that we will succeed and even further the already tremendous ongoing success of our great fraternity.

 
Pledge Education
        This year’s Delta Tau Delta pledge class ranks among the best on the University of Oklahoma’s campus. The Delta Alpha chapter signed 40 pledges into the fall pledge class, and these new men have begun the journey towards becoming Delts.
        The pledge program has been revamped to include more interaction between members and pledges and also to put the pledges into roles inside the pledge class immediately after the beginning of pledgeship. The first night of pledgeship, elections were held to gain officers and executive committee members. These officers in the pledge class act much the same as the fraternity’s counterparts, on a smaller scale within the pledge class.
        Another addition to the pledge program is the creation of the pledge honor board. The pledge honor board was created to also mirror the fraternity version. This honor board oversees the actions of the pledge class members, and is able to hand out fines and various punishments for the breaking of rules and regulations within the pledge class. This allows the pledge class to be held accountable for their actions from their own pledge brothers. This honor board has been a great success since its inception.
        The pledge class’s main concern is of course academics, and the pledge trainers, along with the academics chair, have implemented a great program for pledge academic success. The pledge program is structured to allow for adequate study time, and also as a way for pledges to be instructed in proper study habits, time management skills, etc. Through a required eight hours of weekly study hall, the pledge class is able to finish most school work in a closed, quiet environment. The pledge trainers, along with an active alumnus, attend all study halls and are available to help any pledge with their academics throughout the study hall. Alumnus Jim Murphrey is a director of academics in the Norman Public Schools district and is always willing to assist in any way that he can.
        The pledge class has participated in intramurals and has done extremely well so far. Two pledges placed in the top four in horseshoes and allowed Delt to sweep the event. Two pledges also participated in the Greek golf scramble and helped lead Delt to a third place finish. The pledge class also participated in both football and basketball.
        Delta Tau Delta always strives to gain strong pledge classes, which allows the proud nature of the fraternity to continue.  The Delta Alpha pledge class is one of the best pledge classes that Delta Alpha has seen in many years, and this committed group looks to push the Delt house to the forefront of the Greek system on the University of Oklahoma campus.

Intramural Report
•    Currently Ranked 1st in the Fraternity Rankings for this Semester.
•    Football: Currently 2-1.
•    Tennis: Finished 3rd in Mixed Doubles.
•    Golf: Finished 4th.
•    Beach Volleyball: Finished 2nd.
•    Horseshoes: 3rd in Singles, 4th in Doubles, and 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th in Mixed Doubles.
•    Duathalon: Finished 5th.
•    Members are required to participate in at least two intramural events per semester.

Alumni Events
•     An Alumni Dinner is schedules for November 2, 2008. Attending alumni will be teaching current members old Delt songs.
•    An Alumni Golf Tournament has been scheduled for April 4, 2009. Mark your calendars and be looking for more details.
•    Dad’s Day and an Alumni Tailgate has been planned for Parents’ Weekend, November 1, 2008.
•    Founder’s Day Formal Dinner will be on February 22, 2008. 

 
Further Information
        If you wish to get in contact with any of the chapter leadership, click on a contact name below: Chad Gregory (President), Lyle Baker (Internal VP), Forrest Klein (External VP), James Mobley (Recording Secretary), Bryan Johnson (Corresponding Secretary) and Grant Manfolk (Alumni Relations)