How to Join
Bid Process
A "bid" is a formal invitation to begin the process of becoming a member. The process of getting a bid is a simple three step process:
Be interested in joining and let us know! You can email vpr@cwrudeltau.org or reach out to a current brother to start getting involved. Our Facebook and Instagram accounts will be the most up-to-date source of recruitment and event information.
Get to know brothers of the chapter at recruitment events and other chapter events! You don't need to strain yourself to meet every brother, just enough that we can place a face with a name and brothers can vouch for you. You can find our Spring 2021 recruitment calendar on our social media accounts (or the homepage of this website)!
Await the chapter's decision. 50% of the chapter must vote to extend you a bid in order for you to receive one. Bids are awarded on the basis of merit, character, and how well we think you would fit into the chapter and how well the chapter would fit into your life.
This whole process is streamlined at the beginning of each semester when the chapter holds larger recruitment events across campus. However, you can spend time with the chapter and receive a bid at any time during the semester. So if you want to become a member of DU but the two-week recruitment period at the beginning of each semester has ended, don't let that stop you from letting us know you're interested!
If you receive a bid, congratulations! Once you return it to the chapter and confirm your willingness to begin your Associate Member period, things will be well underway. Bids are good for exactly one year from the date of initial extension and can be returned any time in that one year; if your bid expires but you still wish to join, the chapter must vote to extend you a new one. If you do not receive a bid, do not see it as a diminishment of your character or accomplishments but instead that the brothers of the chapter believe that it would be best for you and the chapter that we allow you to find a chapter which better suits you and your pursuits.
Associate Member Period
Your Associate Member period begins immediately after you are inducted and lasts for no more than 8 weeks. During this time, you and the rest of the Associate Member class are paired with the chapter's Associate Member Educator: an older individual in the chapter who is passionate about DU and educating future generations about what it means to be a member of the fraternity. With him you will meet approximately once a week for 1 to 2 hours to complete each week's session.
As an Associate Member, you will not yet have full voting privileges in the chapter but will be otherwise treated as an equal by the chapter members. Additionally, we want you to see the Associate Member period as the "test drive period." If you reach a point where you don't think it would be best to continue toward membership in DU, you are free to walk away from the program at any time.
At the end of the Associate Member period, the brothers of the chapter take a final vote of confidence in each of the soon-to-be brothers and the Associate Member class is initiated into full membership at Initiation.
Dues Assistance Fund
The Western Reserve chapter maintains a fund for assisting brothers with dues payments during times of financial hardship. Any brother or Associate Member may apply for dues assistance at any time by submitting a request to the Vice President of Finance. The VPF will then anonymize the request and form a panel of three randomly selected executive board members to decide on whether assistance should be granted, and if so what amount, relative to the requested amount. The VPF can advise the assistance panel but does not vote on whether to grant relief as they know the brother’s identity. The VPF will then inform the individual of the outcome of the panel.
The Dues Assistance Fund is not a loan, and any brother or Associate Member who is granted money from the fund will not be required to repay it.
Zero Tolerance Hazing Policy
The Western Reserve chapter along with the international fraternity have in place a zero tolerance hazing policy. The local chapter has adopted the policy and definition of hazing as provided by the international fraternity:
"No chapter, colony, member, alumnus, or employee of the Fraternity shall conduct nor condone hazing activities. Permission or approval by a person being hazed is not a defense. Hazing activities are defined as: 'Any action taken or situation created, intentionally, whether on or off Fraternity premises, to produce mental or physical discomfort, embarrassment, harassment, or ridicule. Such activities may include but are not limited to the following: use of alcohol; paddling in any form; creation of excessive fatigue; physical and psychological shocks; quests, treasure hunts, scavenger hunts, road trips or any other such activities carried on outside or inside of the confines of the chapter house; wearing of public apparel which is conspicuous and not normally in good taste; engaging in public stunts and buffoonery; morally degrading or humiliating games and activities; and any other activities which are not consistent with academic achievement, fraternal law, ritual or policy or the regulations and policies of the educational institution, or applicable state/provincial law.'"
Any chapter member suspected of hazing anyone associated with the fraternity will be subjected to disciplinary procedures, including expulsion from the fraternity and being reported to CWRU for further student discipline. Should any Associate Member feel as though they are being hazed, they are encouraged to privately contact with chapter's Associate Member Educator and President. Should these channels fail, anonymous reporting of hazing can be done to the Anti-Hazing Hotline at (888) 668-4293, to Delta Upsilon International Headquarters at (317) 875-8900, or to the CWRU Office of Greek Life at (216) 368-3954.
