Phi Delta Theta Ohio Iota

Phi Delta Theta Ohio Iota is a chapter of the Phi Delta Theta Fraternity located on the campus of Denison University in Granville, Ohio. The Ohio Iota chapter was created on March 26, 1915 and continues to serve as a member of the Greek community to this date. There are currently 1,602 active and alumni members of the Ohio Iota Chapter stemming from its founding father to its current chapter president Donald McCunniff. The Ohio Iota chapter is involved with many aspects of the Denison community from athletics to philanthropy, referred to as Phis or Phi Delts, the Ohio Iota chapter continues to operate from its original house despite Denison’s non-residential fraternity system.
Quick History of Phi Delta Theta
Phi Delta Theta was founded on the campus of Miami (Ohio) during the Christmas season of 1848. There are six founding fathers: Robert Morrison, John McMillan Wilson, Ardivian Walker Rodgers, Andrew Watts Rodgers, Robert Thompson Drake and John Wolfe Lindley. (Reference 3) The founding fathers of Phi Delta Theta are known as the immortal six and their bond has lasted from 1848 until 2010. Currently there are 142,000 living alumni and over 100 fraternities operating under the bond of Phi Delta Theta. (Reference 3)
Ohio Iota Chapter
The Ohio Iota chapter of Phi Delta Theta takes philanthropy very seriously and holds an annual paddle tennis tournament that benefits people with ALS or as it is commonly known Lou Gehrig’s disease. (Reference 4)
In addition to ALS the Ohio Iota chapter of Phis also raised money to fight breast cancer in 2009. They sold t-shirts titled “Phight Breast Cancer” as a way to make money to support a research for breast cancer. The obvious play on words involving Phi and fight gives the t-shirt dual meaning as it represents charity and Phi Delta Theta. (Reference 4)
The Ohio Iota Chapter is also involved in Denison athletics. Many of its current actives play on the highly ranked men’s lacrosse team. This list includes: Treasure Ty King, Recruitment Chair Emmett Jones, Secretary Matt Lowell, Social Chairman Cy Ryan, Warden Trey Sanders and 2009 DIII All-American James Minor. (Reference 5)
Ohio Iota Non-Verbal Communication
According to actives of Phi Delt there are numerous secret ways that one can recognize another Phi Delt active using verbal and non-verbal clues. But, the active members of Ohio Iota have developed there own system of salutation as a way of bonding the chapter closer together. Ohio Iota actives flash P-D-T in American Sign Language (ASL) as a way of silently greeting each other. An ASL “P” is signed by pointing the pointer finger out, the index finger down and the thumb over the index finger. An ASL “D” is signed by pointing the pointer finger up while the rest of the fingers touch the thumb creating a circle. And finally, an ASL “T” is signed by creating a vertical fist with the thumb slipped under the pointer finger. (Reference 6)

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