Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
DEI POSITION STATEMENT
Since our founding in 1890, Delta Chi Fraternity strives to create a culture of action where all of our members promote friendship, develop character, advance justice, and assist in the acquisition of a sound education. These values cannot be exemplified without the Fraternity actively practicing inclusive excellence at all levels of operation.
We believe that the dignity and worth of all members is paramount to the fraternal experience. We affirm that our bond is strengthened by fostering an environment that welcomes, supports, and elevates members of differing races, colors, creeds or religious identity, national origin, age, marital status, ability, citizenship, or sexual orientation. We believe that the lived experience of our member’s matter.
The Fraternity will not tolerate or condone hateful or discriminatory behavior by any member, Associate Member, employee, volunteer, or entity acting in our name.
DEI COMMITTEE WORK
Since our founding in 1890, advancing justice has been a core value and expectation of membership in Delta Chi. In an effort to support the experience and development of our members and to better align our actions with our values and Ritual, the Fraternity established a diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) work group to begin an organizational review. This led to the creation of our inaugural Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion steering committee, whose work continues today.
- The DEI Committee has reviewed the collective efforts and reports from Delta Chi’s International Headquarters DEI Workgroup to understand the current state and needs of the organization.
- Reviewed and provided feedback on multiple DEI resources including the DEI Chair position description.
- Developed a membership survey for collegiate and alumni members to begin benchmarking our membership and their experiences.
- Drafted Delta Chi’s position statement on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.
- Supported ongoing educational opportunities including webinar sessions for members.
- Proposed changes to Delta Chi Law to reflect DEI efforts and language updates.
- Finalizing communication and distribution timeline for the DEI Membership Survey.
- Creating subcommittees to begin work on priority areas and projects.
- Reviewing Delta Chi’s history and identifying elements that should be more prominently highlighted.
- Policy and organizational review for inclusive excellence.
- Benchmarking projected to identify peer and aspirant organizations.
- International scorecard project.
- Exploring opportunities for scholarship support.
Delta Chi’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee will assist Delta Chi in identifying priorities and recommendations on Delta Chi policy, education, support and other initiatives surrounding our DEI efforts.
This member-driven effort includes opportunities for support at the individual, local, regional, and international level. We are grateful for the contributions of our collegiate members, alumni, and friends of the Fraternity who are sharing their time and talents to help Delta Chi continue to create positive, welcoming, values based experiences for all our members.
DELTA CHI DATES OF SIGNIFICANCE
At Delta Chi’s 49th International Convention held in Atlanta, Georgia, Bill Williams, Gannon ’83, became the first African-American member elected to the Executive Committee, being named the International Secretary (“CC”) on August 4, 1994 during the Convention’s second general session.
At the 51st International Convention in St. Louis, Missouri, Delta Chi elected its first African-American “AA”, Bill Williams, Gannon ‘83, during the second general session on August 6, 1998.
In his first Founders’ Day message, Williams included the following in his letter:
“The 51st Convention selected me to the position of ‘AA’. This marks the first time that an African-American has been elected to this position in the history of the Fraternity. This milestone in Delta Chi history takes on a greater sense of achievement when one stops to consider that, until the 1954 Convention, membership in Delta Chi was restricted to white male college or university students. I thank you for seeing beyond my color and into the content of my heart and the character of my spirit (soul).”
Ratheen Chintamani “RC” Damle, Texas ’01, became the first South Asian member elected as a Regent, serving in the role from 2002-2006. He previously served as a Vice Regent from 2001-2002.
Ratheen Chintamani “RC” Damle, Texas ’01, became the first South Asian member elected to the Executive Committe, being named the “CC”. He served in that role from 2006-2008, later serving as the “DD” from 2008-2010.
At the 55th International Convention in Cleveland, Ohio, Ron Montgomery, Oshkosh ’88, became the first African-American “BB” Emeritus on July 26, 2006.
Ratheen Chintamani “RC” Damle, Texas ’01, was the first South Asian member elected as “AA”, serving from 2010-2012.
At the 60th International Convention, Delta Chi adopted a resolution on July 28, 2016 that recognized a transgender member who “identifies as a man is eligible for membership in the Fraternity, if otherwise determined to be qualified.” The Fraternity’s admission of a transgender member does not jeopardize its single-sex exemption under Title IX.
In summer 2019, Cameron Barnett, Duquesne ’11, was named the first African-American Ritualist and Chairman of the Ritual Committee in Delta Chi.
The Delta Chi Fraternity released a position statement in July 2021 declaring its stance on Diversity, Equity, and Justice.
“Since our founding in 1890, Delta Chi Fraternity strives to create a culture of action where all of our members promote friendship, develop character, advance justice, and assist in the acquisition of a sound education. These values cannot be exemplified without the Fraternity actively practicing inclusive excellence at all levels of operation.
We believe that the dignity and worth of all members is paramount to the fraternal experience. We affirm that our bond is strengthened by fostering an environment that welcomes, supports, and elevates members of differing races, colors, creeds or religious identity, national origin, age, marital status, ability, citizenship, or sexual orientation. We believe that the lived experience of our member’s matter.
The Fraternity will not tolerate or condone hateful or discriminatory behavior by any member, Associate Member, employee, volunteer, or entity acting in our name.”
At the 62nd International Convention in St. Louis Missouri, Bill Williams, Gannon ’83, became the first African-American “AA” Emeritus. Williams served as the “AA” of Delta Chi from 1998 to 2002 and was the first African-American to hold the position/equivalent to International President of any traditionally white fraternity affiliated with the North American Interfraternity Conference.
As voted on at the 62nd International Convention, the DEI Committee officially became an standing committee of Delta Chi. It previously existed as an ad-hoc committee.
As voted on at the 62nd International Convention, the Fraternity changed all instances of the word “colony” to “provisional chapter.”
FROM THE QUARTERLY
First African-American EC Member
(Fall 1994)
First African-American “AA”
(Fall 1998)
First African-American “BB” Emeritus
(Winter 2006)
First African-American OWC
(Fall 2012)
A Point of Pride: Paul Lin
(Winter 2018)
Thank You for a Generation of Service
(Summer 2019)
The Perpetuation of Change
(Summer 2020)
