Interview with TDB Member

During an interview with an anonymous Theta Delta Beta member, I learned that this "underground" organization does not like to be classified as a fraternity, for they refer to themselves as a "brotherhood."


photo taken from TDB'swebsite

Here is what we had to say, on the record.

Q: Describe your experience as a member of TDB.

A: My experiences were very challenging. There were many things I had to learn and traditions and humilities I had to follow.

Q: What made you want to join?

A: The brotherhood and camaraderies made me want to join; also the networking and the challenge. It was a college experience I hope to look back at that I would never regret because it was fun. You make brothers and friends for life..

Q: What types of functions does your fraternity host?

A: We host all types of functions from parties and fundraisers to community service events. We really try and excel on making this fraternity as much of a business as it is a brotherhood. We also host annual events such as Friendship Games and Episode Showcase. We also participate in "stepping" competitions.

Q: Has your fraternity ever tried to become a chapter or be recognized by the school?

A: According to our traditions, my fraternity does and plan not to be chartered by the school. We embrace the fact that we are an underground brotherhood with the morals of family and such.

Q: Was that a conscious desicion?

A: My conscious decision would be to keep our traditions because after all, we are trying to kill the stereotype that to join a fraternity you have to pay for your friends. We highly believe in just spending time with each other, just being real without obligation. We choose not to be chartered by the school because we want to uphold our tradition of remaining an underground brotherhood.

Q: Does not being part of a school-recognized fraternity allow more freedom?

A: I think there would be pros and con to both sides of being recognized and not being recognized to the school. By not being recognized, we don't have to pay the campus regulations and abide by strict regulation at that. But because we are underground, it is slightly harder to get our name out to the students because we cannot really have a table during Greek Week.

Q: What does your fraternity do to get your name out there?

A: Its definitely all about strategy. Having a family member or close friend in the group helps, but word of mouth plays the biggest role. My fellow brothers and I also distribute fliers around campus to promote upcoming events like I mentioned before - Friendship Games and Episode Showcase.

Videos of TDB "stepping"



video taken from youtube.com



video taken from youtube.com

"We are a fraternity that enjoys each other's company, and we know how to have a good time," an anonymous member says.

Theta Delta Beta's spoof of Nike commercial



video taken from youtube.com

Unrecognized Fraternities on Campus

photo taken from TDB's website

Long Beach may be far from any Skull and Bones organization, but there are fraternities on campus not recognized as official chapters of the school, technically making them "underground."

Theta Delta Beta, a non-recognized organization, was founded in 1990 in Irvine within a group of close group of friends. It consists of mainly Filipino members and has expanded to include four chapters in UCI, UCLA, Cal State Fullerton, and most recently, Cal State Long Beach in 2002.

TDB members refer to themselves as "The Dark Boyz," making reference of their darker skin.

Interestingly enough, the Philippines is one of the very few countries besides the United States that has active Greek organizations with Greek letters.

TDB hopes to expand on CSULB with more members.

Greek Housing

When you imagine a Greek house, images that immediately come to mind are those from pop culture classics such as Legally Blonde (2001) and Animal House (1978). However, this idea of girls frolicking in their unmentionables and wild toga parties may be far from the truth, if they are abiding by the strict housing policies.



photo from rottentomatoes.com



photo taken from google images

Caitlin Roberts, CSULB Greek life coordinator, says that alcohol, drugs and boys sleeping over are strictly forbidden in all sorority houses. There are a few fraternities that do allow alchohol, given that they are of legal age. Perhaps thats an issue of sexism, but thats a whole different topic.

Housing is controlled by an organization of alumni that the members pay rent to. "Availability and preference determine which room you're in," a sorority member who lives in a Greek house says.

There can be anywhere from 8 to 12 members per household. Some members may share the larger rooms or may have a room all to themselves. Food tends to not be communal as members clearly mark which products belong to them. There is an unspoken mutual understanding that every member respects each other's property.

Although the houses are located near campus, sorority members are more likely to drive to CSULB because "it's just easier and Long Beach isn't exactly the most safe place to walk or bike through," one anonymous member says.

Underground Secret Academic Societies

President George W. Bush and John Kerry were allegedly both members of Yale's underground secret society "Skulls and Bones." Their allegiance to this society supposedly outweighs any loyalty to their political parties.

"Bonesman," term for the members, would meet in "The Tomb" to conduct their ultra secret meetings.



photo taken from crystallinks.com


Watch Kerry and Bush squirm as they are questioned about their alleged membership.


video from youtube.com



photo taken from crystallinks.com

Caitlin Roberts says its highly unlikely that CSULB has any of their own underground secret societies. But if there was an organization, "we wouldn't know anyway because its secret, Roberts laughs.

Greek Secrecy

photo from google images

Anyone not involved in a fraternity or sorority knows (or should know) not to ask any members about Greek rituals. One member who wishes to remain anonymous says it creates "an everlasting bond between frat brothers...[one] that cannot be shattered."

These highly sacred secrets and practices shared only between members upon initiation is and will forever be off-limits to any non-members and media, especially. "Many of the Greek organizations have strict media policies to follow, like the chapter's name cannot be revealed and certain information is kept out of the public," an anonymous CSULB sorority member says.

As secretive as fraternities and sororites may seem in our very own Cal State, members can still be recognized by their several items of clothing dressed in their Greek letters (most commonly, the token hooded sweaters, sweat/pajama pants, and patches for backpacks).

However, according to Caitlin Roberts, CSULB Greek life coordinator, underground secret social organizations still exist in several Ivy League Schools.