New Venerable Dean is Adam Burnette, a Freshman from Conway Springs, Kan. Adam was inducted into Acacia just this Fall.

New Senior Dean is Austin Curtis, a Senior from Glencoe, Okla. Austin has been a brother for 2 years now.

New Junior Dean is Chris Vassar, a Freshman from Ponca City, Okla. Chris was also incucted as a new brother this fall.

New Secretary is Brandon Ross, a Freshman from Enid, Okla. Ross was inducted this fall.

New Treasurer is Brian Thomas Jr., a Freshman from Alva, Okla. Brian is also a new brother this semester.

New Rush Chair is Caleb Wymer, a Freshman from Fairview Okla. Caleb is also a new brother.

This young group of leaders hopes to not only uphold the traditions of the NWOSU Chapter of Acacia, but also improve it and bring in new ideas that the Chapter will hopefully embrace.

Congratulations to the new officers!

Each year, the fraternity comes up with 12 human service projects to do around the community. These projects range anywhere from dressing up as Santa at the Domestic Crisis Center in Waynoka to reading Christmas stories at the Elementary schools.

The fraternity tries to stick with tradition but also likes to change things up a bit. Austin Curtis, Acacia Secretary, is in charge of the task this year, and he said things are coming along well.

"Well, we've already completed a few things, and we're currently working on getting the rest of them done. The trick is getting everyone together at the same time," Curtis said.

So far the fraternity has completed a Food Drive and putting up Christmas lights on the town square. The next few projects in mind are bell ringing for the Salvation Army and making Christmas candy for city officials.

Curtis said that it has been a rough project to complete; however, it's been fun.

"We (the fraternity) feel that we owe it to the community since they give so much to not only the fraternity, but the school as well."

"We have 78 role numbers now. It shows that our chapter is growing every year, and we haven't been here all that long," Kevin Kerr, alumni, said.

Acacia had several people come to the initiation ceremony.

"The alumni support was outstanding," Kerr said.

Acacia is focusing on homecoming. They are also planning on many activities throughout the year.

"I'm really excited to see what our group can do. I'm very proud and happy to have the new brothers here," Travis Biaggi, chapter advisor, said.

For more information about Acacia Fraternity, contact Travis Biaggi in the recruitment office.

Every pledge is different from one another. They have diverse personalities, ages and majors. They are majoring in everything from engineering to chemistry.

"This class is great because they come from all walks of life," Nick Holdeman, Venerable Dean, said.

Throughout the past six weeks, the pledges have been going to class every Tuesday to learn more about Acacia's values, goals and what it represents.

"I wanted to join Acacia to better myself and to help out on campus," pledge, Chr4is Bassar, said.

Acacia was founded in 1904 at the University of Michigan. It ha ssince branched out to include more than forty chapters and colonies spread across North America. Their motto is "In service of humanity."

"Acacia is all about human services," Holdeman said.

The fraternity is very involved with the community. Every year, Acacia is in charge of the toy drive which is part of their 12 days of Giving around Woods County.

This week, Acacia is focusing on their initiations.

"I-Week is the last leg of a long journey. Everything the guys have learned for the past six weeks has come down to this week," Jacob Sweet, Sr. Dean, said.

I-Week started on Monday and will be ending on Saturday. The pledges will then become active members after several events that go on throughout the week.

"It's not just getting experience in the Northwestern chapter, but 104 years worth of knowledge and wisdom passed down from brother to brother," Kevin Kerr, alumni, said.

After initiatin week, Acacia will be focusing on Homecoming.

"This is the most outstanding pledge class in years. They are willing to step in and help. We can't wait to get started," Holdeman said.

"We felt it was important to grab more guys sooner," Acacia Jr. Dean Andrew Nicholas said. "A week into school, peeiple start to get into their clicks and are less likely to join."

Acacia Fraternity began the week with a friendly game of Halo, then moved their events outdoors to the volleyball pit outside of Coronodo hall for volleyball and a cookout. Ultimate Frisbee and a game of pickup softball followed on Wednesday and Thursday.

"The Ultimate Frisbee day was probably the most successful. Most of the guys that played stayed around," Nicholas said.

Rush week was capped off with a formal dinner and meet and greet session at Acacia Alumni Troy Smith's home in Alva.

Acacia had a successful rush this year which boasted one of the largest pledge classes since 2003.

"We have 14 guys," Acacia Sr. Dean Jacob Sweet said. "We stand to double our numbers if they all are initiated."

These 14 students have begun their formal pledging now, and they will undergo formal education in not only the Fraternity, but also about the universityand they community they are involved in.

"The purpose of pledgeship is to prepare these freshmen and other studentsas educated men for the future," Nicholas said.

Chandler "Spunky" Deming is one of the 14 pledges involved with Acacia.

"It's been a lot of fun," Deming said. "It wasn't what I expected at all. The only thing I knew about Fraternities was Animal House. I was very surprised by the open faced kindness from all of the members. It should be a great experience."

According to Acacia Fraternity, they are very adamant about changing this stereotype that is associated with them, and are starting off on the right foot with this newest pledge class.

"We hope to guide them through, and show them what college life is really like," Sweet said.