Rick Baloh ’91
No one likes change. Especially me. Unless, of course, it’s for the better. Often, however, we don’t know whether the change is for the better at the time that it’s happening. We usually think the worst and try to resist, holding firm to what we know and feel comfortable with.
Over the past couple of years, I have had the opportunity to meet some of the current undergraduates and discuss with them the changes and issues they are facing as KDR moves forward. They are concerned, and rightfully so, about issues such as pledging, house renovations, tradition, brother responsibilities, and social privileges. All these things still exist, just in a different environment and context than they did twenty, ten or even five years ago.
From the time my class pledged in 1987 until the time we graduated in 1991, the University, the Greek system and KDR underwhent major changes. These were mostly social, and of course, we thought it was the end of KDR as we knew it… but it wasn’t. I bet you can imagine how much the fraternity system, and KDR along with it, has changed in the last 50 years. But, here we are, still going strong, and we’ll still be going strong 20 years from now if we all remember the things that made KDR great from the start and the reason we all pledged…a stong sense of pride. Pride in our house and pride in the men we choose to be Penn State KDR’s.
Trust me on this: casting your vote as a brother for a potential KDR pledge might seem trivial at the time, but many of these men will end up being your closest friends and sharing your life’s most memorable experience…at KDR and for many years thereafter.
Even though we are all different in many ways, we share the same common bond that will always link us no matter where we go or how old we get: the link of KDR Zeta. In addition, at some point, though it is tough to comprehend now, you will want someone you care about (a little brother, a nephew, a cousin, or even your own child) to walk through the front door and have the same opportunity and experience you had while at KDR.
These aren’t the only reasons that we much do our part to keep the brotherhood and the house at 420 East Prospect Avenue strong, but they are the most important to our past brothers and future ones.
Remember, time will pass and, inevitably, changes will take place, from the clothes we wear, to the music we listen to and yes, even the fraternity system. But, in the end, what will keep KDR Zeta strong are the things that will remain constant: a strong sense of pride for our house and our brothers.