Why Join A Fraternity?

A university as large as the University of Maryland, College Park can be overwhelming and at certain times many students may feel lost or without identity. Thus, one of the best ways to make lasting friendships and have fun is to join a fraternity. Fraternity membership will provide you with the opportunity for academic assistance, leadership and organizational development, intramural competition, networking skills, and community service work. It will also provide you with a way to form a quick, permanent, and well-respected group identity with which you can develop both spirit and pride. As an alumni, it provides a place to come back to and reminisce with old and new friends for the rest of your life. Most importantly, membership can provide lasting memories and lifelong friendships that are formed and tightened through a bond of brotherhood.

Why Join Delta Sigma Phi?

Joining a fraternity is an important decision. Although there are many available, try to find one that meets your individual needs. Founded locally in 1924, Delta Sigma Phi is one of the oldest fraternities at the University of Maryland. We want members who can work together as a team and yet stand alone as strong individuals. Delta Sigma Phi is a place where members develop character and live by a set of time honored traditions. Since 1899, Delta Sigma Phi has long stood for excellence. Setting itself apart from other fraternities. Choosing Delta Sigma Phi is an investment in your future. Through membership development programs such as Regional Leadership Academy,Leadership Institute, National Convention, and Brotherhood Retreats, Delta Sigma Phi makes men into campus leaders. We believe that your fraternity participation should be something you experience for a lifetime. After you graduate, many opportunities remain to stay involved in the Fraternity because the friends that you make, and the experience you gain, will last forever.

What Are The Eligibility Requirements To Pledge?

Campus requires new members to have a minimum of 12 credits and a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5.

What Does Pledging Entail?

Since rush season is so short, it's very hard during this period for recruits to get to know everybody in the brotherhood, and vice versa. Therefore, Delta Sigma Phi's pledge program is designed around our prospective members getting to know the fraternity, and the fraternity getting to know the prospective members over the six week period of time. Pledges are expected to have interviews with the brothers in the house, which can be as informal as sitting around and watching TV or getting something to eat, as long as by the end the pledge and brother both feel they have bonded. Being a fraternity over 100 years old, and a chapter over 80 years old, pledges are expected to learn the history of the fraternity and chapter. Pledges are also expected to become familiar with Greek Life at University of Maryland and become familiar with campus policies. And most importantly, pledges are expected to have a good time as they bond with the brotherhood and their pledge class, making pledging something they can look back on as an enjoyable experience.

What Is Delta Sigma Phi's Hazing Policy?

The Delta Sigma Phi Fraternity has a national no-tolerance policy for hazing: "No chapter shall conduct hazing activities. Hazing activities are defined as any act or attempt to embarrass, humiliate, intimidate, ridicule, shame or endanger physically or mentally any person, or to compel physical activity or do physical or emotional harm to any person, or to require consumption or ingestion of liquids, food, or other materials."

Will Pledging Affect My Grades?

If anything, pledging will improve your grades. In Delta Sigma Phi, academics are the most important priority. We know the only reason to attend a university is to learn; therefore we drive our new members to make above average grades. We do this by setting standards, such as study hours, providing brothers that excel in a particular subject as tutors, and doing grade checks with current classes. Although we encourage all pledges and members to be as active as possible in the fraternity, we make sure that their involvement is not taking away from any needed time for homework or studying.

What Is A Big Brother?

Every pledge is assigned a big brother based on common interests. This person is a member of the fraternity who is willing to act as a guide for you and help you through the process of pledging.