National Fraternity
The
Red Carnation
A Publication of Alpha Delta Gamma National Fraternity
A Message from Andrew Brothers, 60th National President
My Brothers,
I have been thinking of what to write to you all in this unprecedented time. The truth is there are no words that I can write to you today that will set anything right for us as Alpha Delta Gamma. But what I can write are words to reassure you that you, your chapter, and Alpha Delta Gamma National Fraternity will survive.
I know this semester did not go how any of you planned. Schools made decisions quickly, sometimes overnight, and that ended
several members’ college careers months early. Events that you all had been planning for weeks and months were canceled. It is okay to mourn these losses, but remember that part of the mourning process is acceptance and moving forward. Rarely is this a linear process of time, but we will all move forward.
Your National Council encourages you to continue to talk as a chapter. Call, text, Snapchat, GroupMe, play video games, or use
whatever app allows you to stay in touch with each other. Reach out to Brothers from other Chapters you met over the years. Join the ADG hosted Virtual Happy Hours on Friday evenings and/or gaming nights on Sundays. Seniors, share with underclassmen the lessons you learned during your time as an Active.
Now is the time to start making plans for the fall semester. Hold virtual chapter meetings when and if appropriate. Come back to
campus with brand new ideas for the best Rush your campus has ever seen. Attend the weekly ADG Office Hours to talk with your
National Council about how to plan for the fall semester. We continue planning because it is what give us hope during this difficult
time. Ad Dei Gloriam.
City Walled,
Andrew Brothers
On Suicide
Nick Radlof, National Moderator
Brothers,
Suicide. It is hardly the topic that anyone wants to talk about, or enjoys talking about, but for an organization like ours, it is a topic that we cannot ignore. Recent studies have shown that 12% of college students have had thoughts of suicide at least once during their time in school. If we aretruly to be a city walled, we need to take care of each other. For this reason, I was asked to write a few words on how we can address this issue as brothers. There will, no doubt, be times when a brother will approach you with a difficulty in their life. It makes sense. We are here for each other and our brothers are some of our closest friends. However, sadly, there is a stigma associated with depression, anxiety, and other forms of mental difficulty.
Therefore, I think it is important in discussing these issues, or anything related to them, that we keep an open mind, do not judge, and listen to what our brothers have to tell us. That said, there is a chance that due to the stigma in our society, someone might not speak up. So, what can we do? The answer is simple: Be observant and take action when needed. There are some warning signs that we can keep an eye out for and when we see them, we can get our friends the help they need.
Be Observant For those who are struggling, there are some common warning signs that may appear. The following is a non-exhaustive list in no particular order:
· Talking about death or wanting to die
· Looking for ways to kill themselves or buying a weapon
· Speaking of hopelessness/not having a reason to live
· Talking about feeling trapped
· Talking about being a burden
· Increasing alcohol or drug use
· Reckless behavior
· Sleeping too little or too much
· Withdrawing or isolating themselves
· Showing rage or talking about revenge
· Extreme mood swings If any of these are observed, take action.
This is a serious issue and requires a serious response. Here are some options for how to address these situations:
· When talking to them, be direct and matter-of-fact. Don’t talk around the subject. You may need to ask...
Are you thinking about suicide?
Do you have a plan?
How can I help?
· Be willing to listen.
· Don’t judge them. Don’t talk about whether suicide is right or wrong or if the feelings are good or bad.
· Be available. Be supportive
· Don’t act shocked. This response can create distance. These feelings can happen to anyone.
· Remove means of suicide such as pills or weapons from where they live.
· Don’t leave them alone. Most importantly, seek professional help.
The National Suicide Hotline is 1-800-273-TALK (8255). This is a growing issue in our communities, and it is an important one. The
good news is that it is an issue we can do something about. Take care of your brothers and ask yourself how you can support them. As we are often reminded, we are not called to be separated from each other, but Christ came so that we “all may be one.” Be united for each other and in doing so, we can do something about this issue.
God Bless You,
Deacon Nick Radloff, National Spiritual Moderator
Alpha Delta Gamma Happy Hour
Matthew Bergmann, Alpha Eta Chapter
Brotherhood, it is a word that gets thrown around a lot to describe a fraternity. But what does it truly mean? Aaron Judd, National Executive Vice President of Alpha Delta Gamma, describes brotherhood as “really saying family, because throughout your whole lifetime friends will come and go, but brothers are forever”.
When I hear the word brotherhood, I think of a group of men that will be there for you when the going gets tough. This definition of brotherhood applies even during this national pandemic. This raises the question, how can I be able to stay connected with my brothers and use the networking opportunities to my full potential? One answer: take advantage of the official Alpha Delta Gamma Happy Hour, being conducted via ZOOM video call. If you are not familiar with ZOOM, it is free to download on your computer or mobile device. ZOOM is a great platform to video chat and have great face-to-face interactions.
The ADG Happy Hour idea began with a conversation between Aaron Judd and Matt Caraway (an Alpha Eta Alumni). The
discussion did not last long, as they both realized the benefits of this idea on maintaining brotherhood and keeping ADGs
connected. Self-isolation can very quickly turn to loneliness and boredom, and we never want Alpha Delts to feel alone. This
Happy Hour idea would be a social release for our actives and alumni, allowing opportunities to stay connected and potentially
even network for job opportunities. After a soft roll-out on March 27th (with 20 ADGs in attendance) we now have the weekly
ADG Happy Hour. This social conference call will occur every Friday at 7:30 EDT/ 6:30 CDT throughout April (and maybe
longer). The call is designed for all actives, candidates, and alumni. The initial Conference Call-style Happy Hour lasted 2.5 hours,
so jump on whenever you can. This not only provides an opportunity to espouse the Social S, but also provides an opportunity for
brothers to talk about anything on his mind, there will be brother to listen and give support!
In an interview with Matt Caraway, he stated it was a successful first week and hopes this can continue even after the national
pandemic is over. The first week of this video call consisted of 20 brothers representing 8 of our 11 chapters, including: Actives,
Alumni, National Council Officers, and more! This event was so successful, that National Council will continue to work with
Actives and Alumni to provide more opportunities to connect virtually with your brothers... stay tuned!
To join the next call, click on this link:
COVID-19. What Is It and How Can You Protect Yourself?
Dr. Robert Breneman
Brotherhood, it is a word that gets thrown around a lot to describe a fraternity. But what does it truly mean? Aaron Judd, National Executive Vice President of Alpha Delta Gamma, describes brotherhood as “really saying family, because throughout your whole lifetime friends will come and go, but brothers are forever”.
COVID-19 is a new strain but belongs to a group of viruses called the coronavirus, which can range from the common cold to Sever
Acute Respiratory syndrome. When coming in contact with the virus, it travels through your mucous membrane of the trachea or nose and can spread to the lower respiratory tract causing damage to the lungs. In severe cases, patients have experienced inflammation of the air pathway (CDC).
The strain was first recognized in China but has since spread all over the globe with researchers continuing to study the full extent of the virus and its effect on the body. Common symptoms of COVID-19 include:
· Dry Cough
· Shortness of breath
· Fever
· Inflammation of the air passageway
Protective measures to prevent spread of COVID-19:
· Wash your hands with hot water and soap for 20 seconds often following use of
bathroom, before/after eating, and after going out to public establishments.
· Avoid close contact with those you know are sick
· Avoid touching your fact, nose or eyes with unwashed hands.
· Clean and disinfect frequently used items in the household
· When in public keep atleast 6 feet between you and other individual
Times are tough and we are all trying to find ways to fill the void of connection and continuing our relationships with others, but it is
imperative we follow the guidelines set by the CDC to prevent the spread of this virus.
For more information on the COVID-19 virus you can visit the CDC website below:
Reference
What Is COVID-19? (CDC). Retrieved April 2, 2020, from https://coronavirus.dc.gov/page/what-covid-19
Upcoming Fraternal Events
Every Friday in April – ADG Afterhours, A Social Distancing Happy Hour
· 7:30PM ET, 6:30PM CT, 5:30PM MT, 4:30PM PT · https://zoom.us/j/3722620731
Thursday, May 28, 2020 - ADG National Council Info Session
· 8:30PM ET, 7:30PM CT, 6:30PM MT, 5:30PM PT · https://zoom.us/j/3722620731
Wednesday, August 12 – Saturday, August 15, 2020 – ADG National Convention
Authors
60th National President of Alpha Delta Gamma: Andrew Brothers
National Vice President of Internal Affairs: Dr. Robert Breneman
National Spiritual Moderator: Deacon Nick Radloff
Alpha Eta Active: Matthew Bergmann
Editors
National Vice President of Internal Affairs: Dr. Robert Breneman