"Make This House a Home" Campaign

In 2003, alumni leaders decided that reestablishing the chapter could best be accomplished by a full break with Alpha Delta Phi’s recent on-campus history.  Without surrendering its charter to the International, the chapter was nonetheless allowed to expire by attrition and graduation.  The chapter house then stood empty for two years while early renovations were undertaken.

During this time, alumni leaders developed criteria under which a new chapter would be recruited.  A “Statement of Recolonizing Principles,” written by Andrew Olson ’72 in 2004, articulated the new chapter’s rededicated purpose and standards of conduct.

Rocco Manzo ’86, with help from the International’s chapter consultant, worked with the University’s Cliff Alexander Office of Greek Affairs to plan for the recruiting of a new undergraduate chapter.  Two other fraternities were colonizing on campus in the same timeframe, requiring some negotiation to add Alpha Delta Phi to the list of supported projects.  Manzo publicized Alpha Delta Phi’s proposed return to campus, liaisoned with interested students and brought together a dozen or so other alumni to host the first rush open house in April 2006.  The first class of eight new members was formed, educated and initiated in fall of 2006; Manzo and other alumni interacted closely with the new chapter, attending all chapter meetings and providing constant assistance.

Because of energetic recruiting by alumni and undergrads, the chapter doubled in size with each of its first few rushes.  Most gratifying was the number of alumni who urged their sons to join the fraternity, resulting in many “legacy” new members (Catino, Becker, Buehler, O’Brien, Richardson, Close, et al). The strength and quality of early recruiting classes not only reaffirmed the decision to reestablish the chapter, but encouraged alumni and undergraduate leaders to set a new goal of returning to its former status as a top-five fraternity at Miami.

The chapter has made strong progress toward that goal.  In 2008, Rocco Manzo joined the Miami faculty and continued his role as a highly engaged chapter advisor.  In 2008 and 2009, the chapter posted strong GPAs and has become increasingly involved in the campus social, athletic and philanthropic scene.  In 2009, TJ Catino ’09 was recognized as Outstanding Fraternity President by the University’s Interfraternity Council.  By spring 2009, active undergraduate membership totaled 59.

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