News

Delta Tau Delta receives UM charter

By Ira Perkins

Posted on Nov. 22, 2004, at 12:00 a.m.

sarah bigney

AT LAST - Kevin Taschereau, Delta Tau Dalta Chapter President, accepts the charter from Rock Clinton (seen clapping) vice president from East Texas State, class of 1965. DTD became the official Gamma Nu chapter after two years as a colony.

There’s a lot to be said for hard work, and sometimes there’s even a lot more shown for hard work. This was true Saturday night at the Spectacular Events Center in Bangor when nearly 40 Delta Tau Delta brothers were rewarded for their efforts during a two-year period as a colony with the presentation of their charter. The group is now officially a fraternity here on the University of Maine campus.

Scott Heydt, a UMaine alumni and DTD brother, was on hand for the installation of the fraternity into the Gamma Nu Chapter.

“Their journey is just beginning” Heydt said about the new group. The event marked a milestone, he said, with so much more up the road. Heydt said these young Greek members are proof that all people can come together to obtain a common goal, even in the face of enormous obstacles.

DTD House Advisor Gustavo Burkett was on hand as well to congratulate and wish the brothers the best of luck. Burkett is a brother of Sigma Phi Epsilon and a graduate student here at UMaine. He said he is looking forward to helping DTD achieve their best and consistently show forward progress. Burkett said he wants to be there to help them remember their principles of courage, faith, truth and power.

“They’re the most outstanding leaders I’ve seen on this campus,” Burkett said of DTD.

Among the items received by Delta Tau Delta was the Eversole Badge and gavel, which goes to the fraternity president as a symbol of his role as leader; a Bible, which signifies the togetherness of everyone under the fraternity; a framed picture of their mission and values, which work as their inspiration; their charter, a document that sanctifies the fraternity; and a drawing of the original DTD house from a brother who lived in it some seven decades ago. That house was destroyed in a fire. The fire proved to be devastating, members said, but the DTD brothers and alumni of the day came together to keep the fraternity alive.

There were stories all night from alumni who traveled thousands of miles to get here and congratulate the brother’s of Delta Tau Delta. There was food and drinks, for family members and girlfriends who were there to celebrate with their loved ones. By the end of the night there were hundred’s of pictures taken, and even more hand shakes and hugs exchanged.

“We’re proud to bring back values and do some really good things for the community,” DTD brother Patrick Healy said.

Overall, those in attendance noted the day’s special significance.

“I think tonight was really a special thing,” brother Ross Theriault said. “It’s not something that happens everyday.”

This entry was posted on Monday, November 22nd, 2004, 12:00 am. You can follow any responses to this article through the RSS feed.