Since Allegheny’s Phi Delta Theta chapter, more commonly referred to as Phi Delt, was suspended from campus last spring, rumors about the fraternity’s potential return have circulated. Recently, the fraternity was not present at Run Out, the event held every semester by all the Greek organizations on campus to welcome their pledges to their respective organizations. Phi Delt’s absence left many wondering about the present and future status of the fraternity.
“Of course we are,” said former president of Phi Delta Theta Brayden Devinney, ’26, when asked whether the fraternity was seeking reestablishment. While Phi Delt is not officially back on campus, he said, it hopes to be back by the end of spring semester.
“The goal has always been this semester, and with everything we have heard from Student Life and our GHQ (General Headquarters of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity) we are all on the same page about that,” Devinney said.
Since being suspended in the spring of 2025, Devinney said the chapter has been in regular contact with the Office of Student Life regarding reestablishment. Student Life, which is responsible for signing off on the establishment and reestablishment of Greek Organizations, has been helping facilitate the fraternity’s return and has acted as the administrator of the arduous reestablishment process.
“We want fraternities and sororities to be successful,” said Student Engagement Manager Ella Horner, ’23. “It is our hope and goal that Phi Delt returns to campus.”
While Phi Delt is making major progress towards the end of its suspension and will most likely return by the end of this semester, there has been no publicly stated reason for its suspension last year. Panhellenic President Lyra Lindsay, ’27, Associate Dean of Student Life Gretchen Beck, the former president of the Panhellenic Council, Devinney and Horner all declined to provide The Campus with the reason for Phi Delt’s suspension.
“All of that information has been made confidential by Student Life,” Devinney said.
Sensitive cases like the suspension of student organizations, and sometimes the students themselves, require careful consideration. Student Life verified that information surrounding the suspension of the fraternity was made private.
“There are no barriers to their reentry,” Beck said.
Horner has been helping the fraternity through the reestablishment process. This process is outlined in the Compass Supplement for Fraternity and Sorority Life — the guide which dictates how fraternity and sororities are run and recognized.
“All Greek organizations have to follow the Compass Supplement, but aside from Allegheny’s guidelines, each sorority or fraternity has their own guidelines,” Beck said.
While the administration process is primarily Student Life’s purview, the fraternity will also be in talks with Allegheny’s Interfraternity Council and Panhellenic Council. As outlined in the Compass Supplement, to be an established chapter, fraternities need to “contribute to the existing Greek community as well as the campus community at Allegheny College.”
“GHQ will be on campus later this semester,” Lindsay said. “I will have a discussion with them. We do not know what these discussions will be about.”
Phi Delt and GHQ are reconnecting with the other Greek organizations on campus. Student Life is very clear that reconnecting with the students and school is an essential part of the reestablishment process and imperative the fraternity wants to find its footing again.
“We hope that when we are fully reestablished we can hit the ground running,” Devinney said. “We plan on continuing initiatives that we have already established, such as the lint collection program, as well as supporting families that are affected by ALS — we had done a very good job historically.”
The philanthropy that Phi Delt supports is the fight against Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, also referred to as Lou Gehrig’s disease or ALS.
Both Horner and Beck hold high hopes that the fraternity’s suspension will be lifted soon, and both stated that Phi Delt’s suspension has not affected their path to reestablishment.
While the official status of the fraternity is still up in the air, and therefore the group does not have an official house, a house on Loomis Street is currently the home of many former Phi Delt members.
“Phi Delt doesn’t have an official house,” Devinney said. “As it has always been, there are congregations of Phi Delts that live together.”
Like some other organizations, club houses can be made up of members of another entity. In the future, the house on Loomis Street could become the new home of Allegheny’s Phi Delta Theta chapter.
Devinney is hopeful for the fraternity’s future and remains prideful in the organization. He has one message for those tracking the organization’s path forward: “Rush Phi Delt.”
