September 2012
September 26, 2012 - Spotlight on National Hazing Prevention Week (9/24-9/26)
National Hazing Prevention Week occurs during the last week of September and this year, is taking place on September 24th-28th. National Hazing Prevention Week is an opportunity for campuses, schools, communities, organizations, and individuals to promote the prevention of hazing. Bringing light to this issue allows the community, students, officials, and others to become well aware of these events and how to properly prevent any hazing activities. In 44 states, hazing is a crime. Hazing is subjecting a victim to physical or psychological abuse, harassment, violation of law, or otherwise designed to publically or privately cause humiliation and embarrassment.
During this week, the promotion of hazing, its consequences and prevention should be obvious throughout the community. The more involvement, the more educated and aware everyone will be. Sending press releases to local media and businesses, making t-shirts, holding on/ off campus events, and etc. is a good way to promote the cause. This is just a week to recognize anti-hazing however, it is something that should be promoted year round. It is important to emphasize that members have to take the initiative and use proper procedure when conducting recruitment and initiation.
As proud members of P.A.D., members should conduct themselves with the highest degree of professionalism while maintaining core principles to successfully fulfill the purpose of the fraternity. P.A.D.’s core values include integrity, compassion, courage, professionalism, service, diversity and innovation; it is important to always reflect these standards as a representative of your Chapter and P.A.D. National Hazing Prevention Week is a week to promote anti-hazing and should be promoted by your Chapter. Some of Phi Alpha Delta’s objectives are to promote the welfare of its members, and to encourage their moral, intellectual, and cultural advancement; hazing will never reflect any of these values.
Join us in honoring National hazing Prevention week. Phi Alpha Delta does not condone hazing. Follow the link to view P.A.D.’s anti-hazing policy.
Click here to read an article about some of the negative impacts hazing has caused.
September 18, 2012 - Spotlight on Dan Sylvester (Story)
Story Chapter Member Serves Veterans
Phi Alpha Delta has always been lucky to call our members some of the best. Story Chapter member and Nebraska native, Dan Sylvester is an exceptional P.A.D. member and exceeds the high expectations placed on law students.
While this year will be Dan’s last year in law school, his resume reads as if he has attended DePaul University College of Law for a lifetime. In addition to being a student leader and mentor, Dan is a summer associate at Holland & Knight, the July 2012 Illinois Veteran of the Month and a staff member of the DePaul Law Review, the driving force behind a potential Veteran’s Clinic at DePaul,.
Dan attended Georgetown University for his undergraduate degree on an ROTC scholarship. After graduating in 1988, Dan served as an active duty officer in humanitarian operations in Bosnia and Herzegovina as part of the Dayton Peace Accords. He rose through the ranks achieving Captain status and garnering awards for achievement and meritorious service.
When asked about his military service, Dan said his time in the Army provided him “great discipline and dedication.” After working as a recruiter, Dan ultimately decided to enroll at DePaul University College of Law in the Fall of 2010. He was initiated into Phi Alpha Delta at the first District XI Initiation on September 14, 2010.
While Dan founded a veteran’s service organization at DePaul called Veteran’s Assistance Service Organization VASO, he has shared his dedications with his fraternity. He has constantly found ways to engage the membership of both organizations through service and education. VASO and P.A.D. have coordinated on a number of events including Wool For Warriors, Beat the Curve, Angel Flight, Veteran’s Week, Wounded Warriors, and the annual Story Chapter Founder’s Day Auction
In the coming months Dan will continue working with Congressman Quigley's office on a number of veteran’s issues centering on disabled veteran’s and the effects of PTSD on them and their spouses. Additionally, Dan has just been asked to sit on a round-table with Senator Durbin’s Office on the “Family Care Giver Program.”
We are proud to call Dan a brother and are excited to see what he does post-graduation to continue to serve his community, school and the profession.
September 5, 2012 - Spotlight on Phi Delta Delta
Phi Delta Delta, Women's Integration Into P.A.D.
By Arturo Holmes, P.A.D. Fall 2012 Intern
In the fall of 1910, six female law students at the University of Southern California formed a meeting circle where the agenda consisted of tea and socializing. These six law students would begin the foundation for a legal Sorority.
On November 11, 1911, the presence of Phi Delta Delta (P.D.D.) Legal Sorority would change the way woman were incorporated into the legal profession. P.D.D. gained national status with the chartering of Beta Chapter at Washington College of Law and the Gamma Chapter at Kent College of Law. From there, the challenge to acquire membership would not only be an obstacle to overcome but a disheartening disappointment for the eager law students of P.D.D. to take on.
In the fall of 1914 the Sorority received a chartering inquiry by the University of Oregon, College of Law. Once the necessary chartering process had been fulfilled, Delta Chapter was installed followed by Zeta Chapter at George Washington University from 1915 through 1917. At the first Convention in Los Angeles in August 20-22, 1917, the sorority was officially deemed, Phi Delta Delta Legal Sorority. The five founders occupied the five national offices as well as amending the constitution, by-laws, and ritual. During Convention, “Sorority” was changed to “Fraternity.”
At the second Convention, amendments were passed changing “Grand” to “National,” and “Grand Council” to “National Executive Committee,” thus legally naming the organization Phi Delta Delta Legal Fraternity. P.D.D. became international when Omega Chapter was installed on January 30, 1926 at the Vancouver School of Law, now the Law School of British Columbia. These changes were made at the fourth Convention in Colorado on July 10-13, 1926.
Later, P.D.D. proposed a publication to promote the values and ideologies of the Fraternity. It was during the second Convention when the publication of The Phi Delta Delta was amended. P.D.D. began with 5 members and before the merger, they ended with five thousand members, 68 active and ten alumnae chapters; the founders would be exalted by the professionalism and integrity these outstanding ladies administered. P.D.D merged with P.A.D. on August 12, 1972 becoming a part of the largest law Fraternity in the world.
P.D.D. members played a major role in pushing women to the forefront of the legal profession. C. Raymond Judice (Houston Chapter) says it best in his official P.A.D. history, Phi Alpha Delta...the History Continues, “Members of Phi Delta Delta have been the first women to serve in various avenues of the legal profession: the first to receive a law degree, the first admitted to a Bar, the first appointed as a jurist, the first appointed to a federal, state, county, or city office, the first to be elected to a legislative body, the first dean of a law school, the first law professor, and many, many, other ‘firsts.’”
Keep in mind that around this time, women weren’t accepted amongst colleagues to participate in the legal profession and females were poorly represented throughout law schools and the Bar, however, today is a different day; the 19th Amendment, or the Woman Suffrage Amendment of 1920, assisted the ladies with their future endeavors. P.D.D. members have put forth great efforts to uphold the laws of the Constitution despite obstacles. The sisters of Phi Delta Delta Legal Fraternity, International have proven to be women of professionalism, integrity and high standards.
On behalf of Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity, International, we say "Thank you!" to the women of Phi Delta Delta Legal Fraternity, International.
