Tony Cashen ’57 DU has been an important influence and part in my life since my undergraduate days. Alumni like Jack DeForest ’19, Bert Antell ’28, Nelson Schaenen Sr. ’23, and Nels Schaenen Jr.’50, along with all of my classmates, have been mentors and steady friends to me. I’ve tried to give back a little in return for what I’ve received from my DU associations, hoping that the experience of new brothers will be equal in value to what I’ve received. The Raising Our Game Capital Campaign will help sustain our cherished Cornell DU heritage.
Dale Mueller ’77 Being a DU was a life changing experience for me and is still important to me today. We are a fraternity of men who believe that doing well, living life to its fullest, and being great friends are very important. It was through DU that I met my wife. P of I, of almost 40 years. I am excited for the campaign and to reconnect with the boys!
John Hock ’90 The generosity, support, and guidance of DU alumni had a tremendous impact on my experience at Cornell and throughout my career. This is about giving back.
Mark Kamon ’75 I went to Cornell, I graduated from DU.
Brandon Potter ’09

As an undergrad, I took more from DU than I could possibly ever give back. The experience taught me how to be an adult, and provided me my most valued friends. Today, more than ten years after I joined, I continue to reap the benefits of our fraternity. I would not be where I am, both in my career and as a person, without the experience that Delta Upsilon afforded me.

I give to DU because I want to pay our Brotherhood forward. I hope to provide the same experiences and opportunities to the next generation of DUs. Given everything that DU granted me, I hope to return at least some of the favor.
Doug Porter ’78  DU @ Cornell was absolutely the “foundation” for the rest of my career, personal relationships and opportunities. I’m very grateful that my freshman roommate, the infamous Mike Fleury, and I both received bids to DU. I learned more about life, leading others and accomplishing things by living with 50+ great guys – how to pull together for the greater good. I feel very privileged to have been part of DU and am committed to trying to extend that opportunity to undergrads every year. An annual dues gift and a special stretch for the capital campaign is really just a small token of how to repay what I was given.
Chuck Larson ’75 Cornell and DU were life changers for me. Some of the best memories of my life.
Chris Mitsos ’87

I can still remember like it was yesterday, John Conti (’86) and Frank Pullano (’86) approaching me in the Cornell Weightlifting Club after they saw I was wearing a Cornell Baseball Jacket. They first asked me what year I was and if I was in a house. When I replied “I am a sophomore and no, I am not in a house”, they quickly sprung into action and invited me to the House for Monday Night Football.

I remember being very excited and anxious at the same time, after all I had heard plenty of “stories” about the fraternities at Cornell, especially since I was a sophomore living off campus with 3 guys who did not believe in the fraternal way of life. Needless to say, that following Monday night was a night that changed my life forever. I can go on and on and on about the next two and a half years and the 30 years since, but I will keep it short by saying, “Joining Delta Upsilon was probably one of the greatest single things I have ever done in my life”.

This is why I choose to give.
Tom Scott ’78 There is no question that when I was at Cornell I was the beneficiary of the DUs that came before me. Whether it was the great guys in the house when I was there as a freshman (classes of ’75,’76, ’77) or the amazing alumni from previous classes that took the time to get to know me and the other brothers during my undergraduate days, being a DU while a student meant that I was on the receiving end of many and varied gifts. And it is a gift that keeps on giving as I meet the tremendous new brothers coming in and many of the 1,000+ living alums that I had not previously met. And of course, there are the guys in my class. Lifelong friends. No matter how long it has been since we have seen in each other, we pick right back up where we left off in our undergrad days. And now it’s one of those times when I have the honor and privileged to give back and make sure generations to come will have the experience I had and continue to have. Thank you to all for being there for me and being there for all of us during this exciting time!
Ed Gajewski ’78 How do you put a price on the DU experience? The friendships, memories, and life lessons that have withstood the test of time. Many of those friendships may, quite possibly, be stronger today than the were 40 years ago. I could never repay the “gift” that DU has afforded me. Giving back is a way to say thank you and a means to assure that others may have the same opportunity to build lasting memories and friendships.
Frank Tataseo ’76  I have carried a huge debt of gratitude to DU and all my brothers since my first “smoker” and every day of my life since. Track and Field brought me to Ithaca, Cornell supported me financially and DU kept me there. All three deserve my financial support, but DU gets all my love!
Scott Keenum ’76  The “Boys of DU” have become the “Men of DU”. Some say that although we have grown older, we have yet to mature. Yet, it is this loving and passionate spirit in each of us that allows us to proudly say that we are a Cornell DU. I firmly believe that those events and memories at 6 South Avenue have left an indelible mark in our lives. It has been 45 years since I was introduced to Cornell DU and not a week goes by that I do not communicate with one of the “Boys.” I do hope that the capital campaign will help preserve and grow our loyalty to the “House” and each other.
J. Michael Knuff ’74 DU Cornell is unique. The friendships that we developed during our college years have only grown over time. I am fortunate to be a part a larger family of friends that truly care about one another, and through all these years, continue to be there for each other regardless of individual circumstances. In every sense, we are a “band of brothers”!
Mark Clemente ’73 What we learned was how to balance our lives. A lot of that happened at DU. The key phrase that we learned at Cornell, and at DU, was “freedom with responsibility.” Most of what I learned at Cornell had absolutely nothing to do with the classes I took. It came from the social interaction, the mental stimulation, the camaraderie and the challenges of my fraternity brothers. Anywhere I went on campus, I was a DU first and foremost. There was a pride, a responsibility and an attitude that went along with that. When we go back to Ithaca, it’s not to hang around with the guys from the Ag school or the arts college. It’s to see our DU fraternity brothers.
Kevin Bruns ’79 DU was my Cornell home. To me as an undergraduate, being a DU meant three things: its rich history as the best house on the hill; the pride of knowing how respected the house was on campus; and the deep sense whenever I was among brothers that I was loved and accepted. As corny as that may seem, when it comes down to it, that’s what set DU apart. We were a bunch of guys who absolutely loved each other and loved the house. We supported each other in good times and bad. Most people never know such bonds of friendship. We, DUs, are the lucky ones: “We few, we happy few, we band of brothers; For he today that sheds his blood with me, shall be my brother.”

Add Your Own “Why I Give”

Send your reasons for giving to DU to [email protected].