150 Years of Syracuse Delta Upsilona

As one of Delta Upsilon’s Four Founding Principles, The Promotion of Friendship is perhaps the most pure and fundamental value we hold. College friendships turn into lifelong relationships, and the shared experience of being a DU unites men from across generations. This is the case for all Delta Upsilon chapters, and it has been evident in the Syracuse Chapter for 150 years.

The weekend of Oct. 6-8, 2023, the Syracuse Chapter celebrated its brotherhood with a 150th anniversary celebration that welcomed more than 120 brothers to campus.

Delta Upsilon’s 22nd chapter was first installed on Nov. 14, 1873, and was one of the first fraternities at Syracuse. (In 1871, Delta Kappa Epsilon became the first fraternity at Syracuse.) The chapter stood for 98 years before closing in 1971. It would reopen in 1976 for another 20 years before closing again in 1996; and it would reopen once again with its latest Reinstallation Ceremony held on Jan. 27, 2018.

Whether the chapter has been open or closed, the Syracuse alumni have always been keen to keep the bonds of brotherhood alive. The alumni chapter has remained one of Delta Upsilon’s strongest for decades, even earning the Fraternity’s Outstanding Alumni Chapter Award in 2018. So it came as no surprise that the alumni would plan a large scale anniversary reunion to honor the chapter’s sesquicentennial.

Talks of a celebration began in January 2023 during an alumni chapter call attended by 95 alumni. Keeping the Syracuse football schedule in mind, plans truly began to take shape after a date was chosen that would avoid the logistical challenges of hosting an event on a weekend with a home game. From that point on, alumni were kept abreast of plans via regular emails, social media posts and the chapter’s newsletter, The Bazoo.

A welcome reception was hosted at the chapter house on Friday evening, Oct. 6, where alumni had the opportunity to connect with undergraduates before hitting the town and favorite Syracuse establishments. On Saturday, the Dikaia Foundation Board, which annually grants more than $25,000 to undergraduate brothers, hosted a meeting and visited Bird Library to explore its archive of Delta Upsilon memorabilia. Later that day, a golf tournament was held at Drumlins Country Club, and a football viewing party was held at Faegans. Finally, a gala at the Collegian Hotel & Suites was held Saturday evening with speeches, stories and laughter. The weekend ended with brunch at the Sheraton Syracuse University Hotel & Conference Center.

“The 150-year celebration was more than a commemoration of the past; it was a testament to the enduring bonds of brotherhood," said Andrew Schirmer, Syracuse ’84. “These enduring relationships enrich the fabric of our Fraternity and contribute to its vibrancy.”

The planning committee was led by Mark "Minty" Linnan, Syracuse ’85, and included Mateo Diaz, Syracuse ’17; Vinny DiPaola, Syracuse ’18; Rick Holland, Syracuse ’83; Ken Hyman, Syracuse ’88; and ET Tecosky, Syracuse ’91.