Junior business major Brody Stevens and freshman finance major Aaron Tuminaro having fun at the Delta Tau Delta welcome barbecue.
Zachary Billiot/ The Lion's Roar
For the past few years, Delta Tau Delta has hosted an event in the fall semester designed specifically to get new students on campus introduced to other new students. On Wednesday, Aug. 23, Delta Tau Delta hosted this year’s annual fall barbecue. according to members it had more attendees than it ever had before.
“The barbecue is basically our Welcome Back to Southeastern event.” said Claudio Franc, a junior biological science major and returning member of Delta Tau Delta. “It’s basically where we invite everyone on campus, even some of the faculty is invited too, where everyone can come out, enjoy a free burger, free hot dog, enjoy some drinks, have a good time and meet some people that they might not have met before. It’s mainly tailored towards freshmen who are just coming here and might not really know some of the people on campus. It’s an easy way for them to meet some people, possibly in their major or have the same interests as them. Things like that.”
Ryan Thomas, a junior business administration major and new member of Delta Tau Delta, explained that the barbeque was meant to introduce new students to each other and to Delta Tau Delta so that they can make friends before the semester really kicks off.
“It just starts them off being able to make friends and just meet people that they can talk to in classes and as they see around campus,” said Thomas. “After joining this organization, I say ‘hi’ to someone everywhere I go. I know so many people now.”
Franc also explained that, over time, the number of students attending the event has increased a lot.
“I want to say this is either our second or third annual,” said Franc. “I’m not positive but I would say that with each year that’s passed, the bigger it’s gotten. Because I can remember last year, we probably had maybe three-fourths or maybe half of the attendants we have today. So, that’s a really positive sign, and I’m really happy about that because it seems like we’re doing something right for the students, and that’s really all I care about.”
Thomas expressed his feelings about the number of attendees as well.
“I feel like it’s a good sign,” Thomas said. “It was a very large turnout and we’re very happy about it.”
As the day moved on and more incoming freshmen and some upperclassmen arrived, the members of Delta Tau Delta never stopped walking up to guests and asking if they needed anything. They constantly made sure every guest they could reach was satisfied and enjoying their time and continued to introduce guests to each other and themselves.
David Cuevas, a freshman information technology major felt that the event really helped him get a good footing for his first semester.
“I think it’s pretty cool,” said Cuevas. “It’s gonna help me get involved and just help me succeed overall in college. I wouldn’t have done almost anything that I did this summer or this year if it wasn’t for fraternity stuff.”
Delta Tau Delta had a good turnout of freshmen and other students.
Zachary Billiot/ The Lion's Roar