We are a legally incorporated non-for-profit corporation managed by an elected board of Phi Delta Theta volunteers with the sole purpose of overseeing and managing the chapter’s housing facility. Over the years, the chapter initiated many men who would go onto achieve great success in life, including academy award-winning director Robert Wise, Governor of Indiana Roger Branigin, and college football coach Terry Hoeppner. When risk management violations resulted in the chapter’s closing in 2003, Franklin remained high on the list of campuses for Phi Delta Theta to return to. Indiana Delta recolonized in the fall of 2006, and members were able to move back into the historic chapter house the following year. By maintaining an alcohol-free house, the colony helped break stereotypes and became an integral part of the Franklin community. In December 2007, Jane Hoeppner, the widow of Terry Hoeppner, helped Indiana Delta launch the Phi Delta Theta Terry Hoeppner scholarship. The hard work of Indiana Delta’s alumni and Re-Founding Fathers paid off when the colony received its charter on April 5, 2008. Members are involved in a variety of sports and activities, and the chapter is well represented on the IFC with Re-Founding Fathers Andrew Ellis serving as President and Tyler Roell serving as VP of Recruitment.
“As a Founding Father, my son has gained the confidence and skills to succeed beyond college. He has had the opportunity to establish relationships that allow him to work through problems with fraternity alumni, officers of the national organization, and college officials. He has learned to influence his peers as well as to hold them accountable. His leadership and organizational skills have grown immeasurably. Choosing to be a Founding Father was one of the best decisions that he has made.”
- Bonnie Pribush, Faculty Adviser and Mother of Re-Founding Father Chris Pribush
Alcohol free housing policy
"In 1997, Phi Delta Theta spearheaded the initiative of having alcohol free housing within its chapters by the year 2000. The policy has since been adopted by other fraternities including Theta Chi and Phi Gamma Delta (FIJI), although Theta Chi has discontinued their Alcohol Free Housing Policy as of July 2010. However, unlike Phi Gamma Delta, Phi Delta Theta has no exemption policy allowing chapters that meet certain standards, such as a cumulative GPA higher than 3.0, to have alcohol in the chapter house." Alcohol Free Housing Five Year Progress Report for Phi Delta Theta Nationally
"In 2005, the fraternity issued a progress report. Significant improvements have occurred in many areas of fraternity life and operations. Since the implementation of the alcohol free housing policy, the all undergraduate grade point average rose from 2.77 in 2000 to nearly 3.00 in 2005. The insurance premiums of individual members have also gone down as risk management violations have decreased. Perhaps the most telling area is in membership, where Phi Delta Theta showed an increase of new members. In 2004, Phi Delta Theta had 3,102 new members while other fraternities averaged 2,415. In 1990, chapters of Phi Delta Theta were 18% larger than the typical fraternity chapter. In 2004, they were 30% larger. Also, in 2004, Phi Delta Theta was one of only 13 national/international fraternities to show an increase in total undergraduates from the previous year with an increase of 4.2%. The significance of this is highlighted by that fact that Phi Delta Theta had fewer chapters than other fraternities. Competitively, Phi Delta Theta has remained a constant among others. In terms of new members, it ranked ninth in 1990, eighth in 2000, and ninth in 2004. Many alumni members have credited the alcohol free housing policy in continuing this trend."
