Barry McNamara  |  Published September 03, 2020

Meet the New Neighbors: The Men of Phi Delta Theta

After moving into its new home, fraternity members reach out to connect with residents on East Boston Avenue.
Bryan Peters '22, president of the Illinois Gamma chapter of Phi Delta Theta, introduces himself to Joyce Redlich, one of the fraternity'...
Bryan Peters ’22, president of the Illinois Gamma chapter of Phi Delta Theta, introduces himself to Joyce Redlich, one of the fraternity’s new neighbors on East Boston Ave.

MONMOUTH, Ill. – Realizing that it might not be every homeowner’s dream to have a college fraternity move in next door, the men of the Illinois Gamma chapter of Phi Delta Theta at Monmouth College decided to be proactive.

The chapter purchased and delivered gift baskets to the two neighbors in the 1000 block of East Boston Avenue whose backyards border its new Porter Hall residence in the College’s Founders Village.

“We just wanted them to know that if they ever need anything – like having their yards mowed, or their leaves raked, or furniture moved – that we’re here and we’re ready to help out any way we can.”
– Bryan Peters ’22, Phi Delta Theta president

Previously, the chapter lived in the College’s Fraternity Complex, which was bordered on nearly every side by either the College or by two other Greek facilities – the new Pi Beta Phi house and Stewart House, the founding site of Kappa Kappa Gamma.

“We know the neighbors might not be thrilled that a fraternity is moving in next door,” said chapter president Bryan Peters ’22 of Addison, Ill. “We just wanted them to know that if they ever need anything – like having their yards mowed, or their leaves raked, or furniture moved – that we’re here and we’re ready to help out any way we can.”

Peters dropped the first basket off at the home of Joyce and Joe Redlich.

“We should be giving you a basket,” said Joyce, upon receiving the laundry basket that contained chocolates, pretzels, a tablecloth and a card that introduced the new fraternity neighbors and detailed the ways the men of the chapter could help out with chores.

Peters said the good-neighbor policy came about during the fraternity’s first meeting of the new academic year.

“It all started on our first day here when we had a chapter meeting,” he said. “One of our members looked out and said ‘Oh, cool, one of our new neighbors has a trampoline.’ That just sparked an idea that we ARE neighbors and that we should be building a connection and trying to do some neighborly things.”

 

 

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