Concepts
Our earliest brothers abhorred most of what they saw in their fraternity system. They felt the fraternities of that day were unquestionably harmful to their individual members and to the campus atmosphere as a whole. At that time they had but two choices - join the fraternity system of which they disapproved, or go entirely alone as an ostracized independent. In reaction to this situation, our founding brothers met to determine if there might be another way. They wished to find a third alternative, combining the best of fraternal and independent life and eliminating the undesirable aspects of both. In their early conferences, our founding brothers soon learned that they individually shared common beliefs, concepts, and concerns. These concepts, which were to be woven through the fabric of Delta Upsilon, are enunciated in the form of our four simple, yet very profound principles:
The Advancement of Justice
The Development of Character
The Diffusion of Liberal Culture
The Promotion of Friendship
In order to understand the significance of that which our founders accomplished in the establishment of Delta Upsilon, it is necessary to have a working knowledge of these principles.
THE ADVANCEMENT OF JUSTICE
Reduced to its simplest terms, justice is granting to each his earned due. Justice implies judgment and the idea of judgment embodies the further concept of enlightened conscious choice. Enlightened conscious choice requires knowledge, careful consideration, and firm determinations upon which action can be predicated. Justice countenances no special favor or privilege, it gives no quarter to prejudice and it abhors ignorance.
THE DEVELOPMENT OF CHARACTER
Character is the word chosen to connote and collect the most worthwhile traits of man. It encompasses the whole field of ethics and includes the common ideas of honesty, integrity, and compassion for the plight of fellowman. The development of character is the noble aspiration of the men of Delta Upsilon to ever improve themselves and their brothers in the leadership and fulfillment of potential. Implicit is individual responsibility. There is no such thing as a group character.
DIFFUSION OF LIBERAL CULTURE
This is another way to express the balance of sensitivity, humanity, history and aesthetics which must govern men of reason in the shaping of their futures with the tools which the genius of science and technology have given them. It includes the responsibility of every college man to take advantage of the boundless opportunities which lie before him to educate himself for the position of leadership which society imposes upon educated men.
THE PROMOTION OF FRIENDSHIP
This is most profoundly expressed through the experience of brotherly love. Brotherly love emanates from the depths of compassion, respect, and concern. It interjects always into justice the quality of mercy, into character the concept of kindness, and into culture the humanity of reason. It is the forgiving balm, the moderating force, which heals and unites our brothers everywhere in the common bond of fellowship.