As part of our We Are Phi Delt campaign, we asked chapters to give us an insight into what it’s like to be a Phi on their college campus. We understand that no chapter experience is the same, and therefore we should share the unique aspects of our schools, cities, and brotherhood!

Chapters can complete this form for custom We Are Phi Delt logos and an opportunity to be featured online.

We Are South Dakota Alpha at the University of South Dakota

University location: Vermillion, South Dakota

Number of undergraduates on campus: 7,103

Chapter size: 58

Year founded: 1906

Number of initiated members: 1,794

School mascot: Coyotes

School colors: Red, black, and white

Number of Greek organizations on campus: Eleven

Favorite school traditions: Dakota Days, which is our Homecoming

Favorite chapter traditions: Chislic Feed is our philanthropy event that supports the LiveLikeLou Foundation. Chislic is a dish consisting of skewered cubes of red meat, usually mutton or lamb, although game meats such as venison and even beef steak can be used.

Favorite restaurant near campus: Brickhouse

Notable alumni:

Royal Johnson, 1906, congressman
Eugene Vidal, 1916, American commercial aviation pioneer, New Deal official, and athlete
Robert Taplett, ’40, Navy Cross, Korean War
Bob Sutton, ’92, former president, South Dakota Board of Regents
Dusty Johnson, ’99, congressman

Fun fact about your school: Our university has the only medical school in South Dakota

Fun fact about the city where your school is located: Lewis and Clark camped at the mouth of the Vermillion River near the present-day town in 1804

Fun facts about your chapter: The local group that proceeded Phi Delt, called Tridentia had to petition Phi Delta Theta three times before we got in. Tridentia is now the name of the house corporation.

Unique features of your chapter house: We have six pillars in the front of our house with lights

Top three things a visitor should do: