The local chapter of the Delta Upsilon fraternity will return to Ohio University's campus when they begin recruitment Oct. 1.

Delta Upsilon's headquarters closed the fraternity's OU chapter Spring Quarter 1996, when chapter operations deteriorated and alumni members stepped in to stop the violations, said Matt Wilson, Delta Upsilon's national director of expansion.

The national headquarters had to petition the university to start a new chapter on campus. In February, the Greek Life Committee recommended Delta Upsilon to the Dean of Students, who gave the final approval, said Carole Cox, assistant director of greek life.

Now that a new chapter has been granted, Delta Upsilon must begin the colonization process by finding members who would be willing to establish an OU chapter. Wilson, along with a leadership consultant, will begin the recruitment process on Oct. 1, Cox said.

The process will take place after men's fall recruitment, which starts with charter tours from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday and Monday. Potential members will have the opportunity to visit the houses of their choice for three days following the tours. The process ends Sept. 30, one day before Delta Upsilon comes to town.

"We'll conduct an initial recruitment effort - try to find guys from diverse backgrounds and interests," Wilson said. "When we find our members, we will have membership training and will choose the officers. Fourteen months from now they will be able to choose their own."

Delta Upsilon will be faced with the task of finding men who have not already accepted bids for other fraternities.

"The nice thing is they can attract men who haven't been part of the greek community before, like juniors, sophomores, and even some seniors," Cox said.

Delta Upsilon's later recruitment schedule also gives those interested another chance at becoming a member of OU's greek life.

"I think it is a good idea for students who gave other fraternities a try and didn't find what they were looking for," junior Jake Smith said.

The fraternity is arranging for meeting space on campus while Delta Upsilon alumni are working on finding a house for next fall. The university bought the house they lived in before leaving in 1996 and demolished it to make room for Bentley Hall's renovation, Cox said.

"We called to see if there was any way to rent it, but it cost $800,000," sophomore Matt Fink said. "So we decided to live in the dorms instead."