Purdue Chater Reinstalled

“A fraternity is a living organism. It's a living organization. You have high times, you have low times, times of strength, times and weakness. In truth, it becomes what you make it to become.”

Al Parker, Purdue ’75, used these words to describe the Purdue Chapter and its history during his Charge Address on March 26, 2023, as part of the chapter’s Initiation and Reinstallation Ceremony.

The chapter, which started as a local fraternity, the Cleofan Club, in 1902, officially became a part of Delta Upsilon during its Chartering on Dec. 6, 1914. Then, as Brother Parker described, the chapter had a series of high and low times in which membership numbers would ebb and flow and multiple chapter houses would come and go. Each time, a group of passionate, dedicated brothers would revive the group. Eventually, in fall 2019, a small group of members remained in the chapter and decided cease operations. Even though the chapter had closed, once again, alumni brothers worked closely with International Fraternity staff to secure the chapter’s future and an eventual return.

In spring 2021, Delta Upsilon began expansion recruitment efforts to return the Purdue Chapter to West Lafayette. With gathering restrictions still in place on campus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the first group of associate members were recruited virtually or during one-on-one meetings with DU staff. During this time, DU Leadership Consultant Matthew Ferguson, Nebraska ’20, lived in the Purdue Chapter house to help alumni with upgrades to the facility and manage recruitment efforts. The group’s Associate Chapter Ceremony was held on April 25, 2021, marking Delta Upsilon’s official return to campus.

Over the next year, the associate chapter worked diligently to complete the requirements for Reinstallation, which include continued recruitment and other operational benchmarks. During this time, the Purdue Associate Chapter also took part in a Delta Upsilon first. During the 2021 Leadership Institute, the International Fraternity’s Constitution & By-laws were amended to allow associate chapters to initiate members prior to their Re/Installations. In fall 2021, the Purdue Associate Chapter members became the first group of associate members in the Fraternity to take part in the Initiation Ceremony.

During his Charge Address, Brother Parker continued to remind the young Purdue DUs of the importance of their Fraternity membership and creating a lasting legacy.

“I probably learned more about management and running organization as an undergrad at DU, than I did all my courses at Purdue and my degrees going forward,” Parker said. “You never finish being a DU, and perhaps DU is never finished with you. … I charge you to become a better man. These few years that you're at our chapter, they go by so very quick, and yet they set the tone for your entire life.”

The Purdue Chapter’s Reinstallation Ceremony was held at the Purdue Memorial Union on March 26, 2023, with alumni, parents and friends of DU in attendance. During this time, the Initiation and Officer Installation Ceremonies were also held, and the Purdue Alumni Chapter presented scholarships to undergraduate brothers. The Ritual Team consisted of Bob Lannin, Nebraska ’81, Chairman of the International Fraternity Board of Directors as Master; Chapter Advisor Jacob Ellis, Purdue ’16, as Examiner; Chapter Advisor Chad Laux, Purdue ’95, as Chief Marshal; and Alumni President Jeremy Laux, Purdue ’97, as Chaplain. A reception was held at the chapter house following the ceremonies.