Omega Delta Phi

Omega Delta Phi
ΩΔΦ
The official crest of Omega Delta Phi.
Founded	November 25, 1987 Texas Tech University
Type	Social
Scope	National
Motto	One Culture, Any Race
Colors	Scarlet, Silver and Black
Symbol	Knight
Flower	Silver Rose
Chapters	34
Nickname	ODPhi
Sacrament	Unity, Honesty, Integrity, Leadership
Headquarters	P.O. Box 91610 Phoenix, Arizona USA
Website	www.omegadeltaphi.com

Omega Delta Phi (ΩΔΦ), also known as O D Phi, is an intercollegiate fraternity founded on November 25, 1987 on the campus of Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas. Started as a service and social organization for the minority student body at Texas Tech, Omega Delta Phi's entities have since then garnered numerous awards for their philanthropic involvement and student-body leadership, including being named Fraternity of the Year for 2003, 2004, and 2005 by the National Association of Latino Fraternal Organizations. These accomplishments are motivated by the fraternity's goals of graduating all its members, promoting higher education and philanthropy by serving the community, advancing its members by promoting athletic and social excellence, and to experience a complete fraternal lifestyle. To achieve this, the ideals of Unity, Honesty, Integrity, and Leadership are taught as the organization's official sacraments.

History

Omega Delta Phi Fraternity Inc. began as the brainchild of Joe Cereceres. In the fall of 1987, seven Men of Vision came together on the campus of Texas Tech University to form the brotherhood.

These seven founders were:

• Joe Cereceres
• Eugene Dominguez
• Arturo Barraza
• Juan Barraza
• Tommy Hurtado
• Chris Forbes
• Elliot Bazan

In the early 1990s, Omega Delta Phi chapters were established in well-known university systems such as the Texas A&M University System, University of Texas System, New Mexico and Arizona systems. Later on, because of the increasing popularity of the internet, the fraternity experienced tremendous growth and chapters began to be founded in larger cities such as the Dallas / Arlington / FT. Worth Metroplex area, Houston, and Seattle. The fraternity established a short-lived chapter in Mexico City, Mexico as well.

In 2000, Omega Delta Phi founded an alumni association to provide a support group for its alumni base. The fraternity now has several alumni chapters throughout the U.S. and Mexico. The organization continues to grow beyond the Southwest and Midwest United States and now has chapters, colonies, and clubs in both the west and east coasts.

Mission

The purpose of this brotherhood, a service/social fraternity dedicated to the needs and concerns of the community, shall be to promote and maintain the traditional values of Unity, Honesty, Integrity, and Leadership. This brotherhood was founded in order to provide, to ANY man, a diverse fraternal experience which coincides with a higher education.

Philosophy

Omega Delta Phi's philosophy of inclusion is summed up as "One Culture, Any Race". Based on the universality of this motto, the fraternity has a history of appealing to many races and backgrounds, preferring to focus on its growth and future versus its past. Omega Delta Phi's expansion premise is summarized as follows:

"Race is a limiting concept that often forces people of a nationality and/or color into preconceived roles and expectations. However, any man will tell you that people of the same nationality can be as different as day and night in their beliefs and ideals. A culture, however, is defined by shared ideals, traditions, and values. Omega Delta Phi Fraternity, Inc. is founded on the concept that in order to truly grow as an individual, one must experience views that challenge existing perceptions to foster growth and enlightenment. One Culture, any Race. This is a completely new way of looking at ourselves and the world in which we live. One Culture, any Race. A challenge to the closed-minded to look beyond what they believe to be truth and realize the truth is largely dependent on one's perspective. One Culture, any Race. A philosophy that suggests the coexistence of various races can be a win-win situation if we are willing to learn from one another."

With this philosophy in place, common OD Phi practices, such as those mentioned below, are reinforced by the entities in order to exceed the fraternity's expectations of excellence:

• Active members are forbidden to consume alcohol while wearing Omega Delta Phi paraphernalia. It is the belief that the letters worn are sacred and that alcohol and debauchery stain and disrespect what the founders worked so hard to achieve.
• Entities require active members to commit to minimum community service hours and GPA in order to maintain their active status. In most cases, the entity as a whole will commit to more hours and a higher GPA than the minimum.
• Entities are encouraged to participate in all key campus activites, including college-wide student programs and Greek initiatives.
• Members and alumni are fully encouraged to greet, meet, and network with members from other entities via conferences, events, road trips, job interviews in other cities, moving, etc.

External links

Omega Delta Phi

• Omega Delta Phi Fraternity Incorporated website

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