Posted on 12/10/2004 1:32:31 PM PST by newgeezer
AMES, IA -- A new fraternity has formed at Iowa State University, limited to homosexual and bisexual men. Formation of the Delta Lambda Phi chapter, approved unanimously last week by Iowa State's Interfraternity Council, happened quickly.
Brian Olechnowski, 22, of Long Island, N.Y., arrived as a graduate student in August. He was initially skeptical about the interest level of ISU students. But by September, the group had 11 members. By October, the group had raised the $600 petitioning fee and was recognized by its national fraternity.
"There are definitely people not in overwhelming support of the fraternity," said Olechnowski, the group's president. "One gentleman who is part of the gay community, he was very upset about the group being started up. He thought we were trying to be separatists or revolutionaries."
Delta Lambda Phi is a growing national fraternity with 2,000 initiated brothers, 20 chapters and 12 other groups working to become a chapter.
Delta Lambda Phi is open to gay and bisexual men, and allies, considered "progressive men." The group is now a "colony" at ISU, working toward full status as a chapter.
The fraternity will not get money from state government or student fees, and does not yet have a house. But it has all the rights and responsibilities of a fraternity, including representation on the Interfraternity Council and support from the university.
"They're a part of us. They're working with us," said Shawn Eagleburger, 22, an ISU interior design major who is president of the Interfraternity Council. "We're very excited to have this group. There's not a whole lot of opposition to it."
Dusty Garner, a vice president on the national board for Delta Lambda Phi, said this is a first for Iowa. An attempt by ISU students to form a chapter of Delta Lambda Phi four or five years ago failed. A chapter in Mississippi fought for two years against anti-gay policies before being recognized.
"It's a big deal that the Interfraternity Council was open-minded enough to say, 'Yes, please, come along,"' Garner said of Iowa State. "That shows a really great step forward in general in the Midwest for an open-minded society that probably wasn't there a few years ago."
Delta Lambda Phi, launched in October 1986 by three men in Washington, D.C., is expanding quickly in the Midwest with colonies forming in Toledo, Ohio, Raleigh, Mo., and Manhattan, Kan., Garner said.
"The news has been all positive that we've heard," said Phil Hernandez, vice president of ISU's Delta Lambda Phi, who described ISU as a friendly campus that doesn't discriminate. "Everything has been going well."
It will take between one semester and two years for Delta Lambda Phi to become a full-fledged chapter at ISU, which has 30 fraternities and is considered one of the predominant Greek systems in the state. The new fraternity is being mentored by those from the University of Minnesota.
The University of Iowa in Iowa City has 20 national men's fraternities but does not have a chapter of Delta Lambda Phi and does not plan to add a chapter in the coming years, said Jason Pierce, an assistant director in Iowa's Office of Student Life.
"We haven't had student interest," he said. "Students have not come forth in saying, 'This is something we need and want."'
Welcome to FR newbie...I wouldn't stand next to any tall metal objects if I were you.
"your FRiends"? Who the heck are you then?
Great idea.
>>My kids AND my money will DEFINITELY NOT be going to that school!
The school is one of the most clean-cut and conservative you will find.
ELEVEN freaks and losers from out of state won't define them
It's more likely that group is fishing for publicity or lawsuits by going to one of the most gay-unfriendly places on earth.
Attention on deck, we have brand new pro-sodomy cheerleader on board...and she's having a little hissy fit already.
I don't even know how many have been zotted in the last week or so - a good solid handful that I've seen.
It would be more interesting if they'd actually try to debate facts... That's right, they can't.
I agree, I wish the Mods would let us have a little fun.
Laughing at them is equivalent to enslavement, crucifixion or death in the colosseum? Right.
"Laughing at them is equivalent to enslavement, crucifixion or death in the colosseum? Right."
Certainly not. But I gather if givin the change, some in this thread would be all for such treatment.
Anyway, was just an example. My point is, do not feed thier victim mentality.
You're way out of line.
I just checked pnome's comments (obviously I didn't read all of them word for word, just checked which threads he/she responded to, and the general line) and this is the sum total of points made:
1. Some Christians are trying to force morality on pnome and this is bad.
2. Smoking marijuana is good.
3. Darwin is right and anyone who belives in Intelligent Design is wrong.
4. Sexual morality is stupid and orgies or other outrageous behavior next door won't affect anyone.
5. Comments about "gays" on this thread.
I think that about sums it up. I wonder how old you are, pnome?
Note - pnome, you are equally free to click on anyone's name and see what kind of comments they make!
I can see that you have not informed yourself about what homosexuals are doing to change the world to suit themselves. Conservatives such as myself and many others here could give a flying rat's *** what homosexuals or other sickos do in private.
But they do not want to keep it private. They want it in the Boy Scouts, they want it in Big Brothers and Big Sisters, they want it in the Girl Scouts, they want it taught to high school kids, middle school kids, and grade school kids. They want it down the street in "Gay Pride" parades, they want it in the par bushes, public beaches, and public bathrooms, they want mandatory pro-homosexual indoctrination for college students and employees of all kinds. And on and on and on and on.
Ignoring them is giving them power.
If you do not know about any of this, you should inform yourself before you are outed as a homosexual agenda promoter. In this issue there are two sides - the right side and the wrong side. There is no neutrality. To remain neutral means to accept the propaganda of the homosexual activists.
That would be "park" bushes.
Hard to tell really, your effeminate engross is a bit revealing.
You are all like Romans who persecuted Christians.
Excuse me? Finding a chosen behavior to be wrong is not "persecution", it's simply a matter of right and wrong.
They have no facts.
Zero, none, zilch, nada, nothing, nyet.
I mean, where is the categorical index of articles proving that homosexual behavior is normal, natural and healthy, and that they are not interested in children, have normal lifespans, are no more promiscuous, with no higher incidence of mental or physical illness, alocohol and drug abuse, or suicide than anyone else?
.....crickets chirping.
Stop being a persecuterator! If thinking a behavior is wrong and persecution, then I'm a soccer persecuterator.
I like being a persecuterator.
This is not a Libertarian or secularist position -what do you call it? I call it Socialism.
"I think that about sums it up. I wonder how old you are, pnome?"
I came here to debate. That is what these forums are for no? Not to be some echo chamber. Be careful though. I will sometimes play devil's advocate, even for a position I might not totally agree with. I'm 32 if you want to know.
"This is not a Libertarian or secularist position -what do you call it? I call it Socialism."
Socialism? I do not see your point. I do no see how this thread has anything to do with socialism
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