Acacia Fraternity of Syracuse

RSVP’s are now being taken for the Memorial Weekend Pig Roast (PR07) and Golf Tour. The Pig Roast will take place on Sunday, May 27th at our home, 110 Dale Drive, Tonawanda, NY, beginning mid afternoon with dinner at 4:00 PM. For more information, check out the Alumni Events page here.

On Monday April 16th, Robert Smith, Venerable Dean (President) of Syracuse Acacia was recognized for all the hardwork and sacrifices he has made in the past year with the highest honor that the InterFraternity Council can bestow on a member. A shocked Smith had no idea that he was even nominated for the award and after his name was announced Smith sincerely said it was one of the greatest moments of his life.

Below is the nomination put in for the award as written by Senior Dean Cutshall:

Robert L. Smith, President of the Syracuse University chapter of ACACIA Fraternity, upon entering his current position, found himself confronted by a lack of information about the actions, dues, and paperwork necessary to run the fraternity. Despite the lack of organization and information left by past Presidents, Smith struggled through the daily hardships and turn it into the success that it is today. Always aware and willing to let people know what needs to be done he has worked to ensure the Fraternity reach it’s full potential, and it definitely has.

Smith’s leadership and commitment to the chapter has resulted in its most productive years since its re-founding in 2001. This year the Fraternity was able to garner it’s Charter and begin it’s tenure on Syracuse University’s campus as an
active chapter. Also, this past semester the chapter took in it’s largest pledge class since its re-founding. The new members,
primarily sophomore and junior students, will ensure the chapter’s continued presence on campus…something that was not a certainty a year ago.

Because of the difficulty President Smith has had to face, and the time commitment that it has required of him, he has had to make personal sacrifices. This past semester he found that while trying to manage his academics, the fraternity, and his advertising and sales position with the Daily Orange, he spread himself too thin and was unable to
give any of the three the commitment that they truly needed. As a result, despite its significance to his career aspirations, he made the decision to part with the Daily Orange and focus solely on his academics and the fraternity. President Smith has worked to ensure that all procedures and tasks necessary to run the fraternity are now
kept for the brother who will follow him when it is time for him to step down. He has worked tirelessly to ensure the chapter will have the potential to be as successful as it has been this year, next year and the year after, and for his efforts the brothers of the chapter are truly grateful.

I, Charles Cutshall - Senior Dean of the ACACIA chapter of Syracuse University, backed by the brethren of the
fraternity, nominate and strongly believe that President Robert L. Smith is an outstanding Chapter President and that there is no more deserving candidate for this award.

Congratulations Rob, You absolutely deserved it and myself and all the brothers thank you for bringing honor and great leadership to our beloved fraternity.

On Sunday April 15th, Syracuse Acacia added six new brothers to their roll, and the chapter couldn’t be happier. Brothers Matt Hagerty (645), Jeffrey Zhong (646), Tyler Chu (647), Dan Briggs (648), Zachary Raymond King (649) and Paul Hodum (650) were initiated after fulfilling all the challenges and tasks asked of them during the six week pledging process. Now, with the brotherhood stronger than ever with 27 brothers, Syracuse AcaciA is closer to fulfilling its destiny of redefining Greek Life at Syracuse University. These are exciting times indeed.

Brother David Flagg has compiled an updated brothers roll from the first Syracuse Acacian to the 644th Acacian. Head over to the Alumni Page to check it out and impress your friends with Syracuse Acacia knowledge.

This year yet another Syracuse Acacian was selected to represent Syracuse University at the annual Model United Nations conference hosted in New York City. Following in the footsteps of Brothers Steven Cooper and Benjamin Peskin, Bro. Cutshall packed his bags and headed down to the city to represent the Republic of Guinea as its delegate to the African Development Bank Committee. Taking place at the Marriott off of Times Square the event was host to over one thousand students from around the world. The conference, recognized as the largest of it’s kind, allowed students from different universities from around the world the opportunity to interact with each other and exchange thoughts and ideas about the nature of global affairs.

“It was amazing! Being in New York City and staying in a hotel where all fifty plus floors were filled with students interested in what was going on in the world… it was refreshing and uplifting!”