The use of the term Pledge, as derived from the word, means a promise or b. On Thursday, they filed suit in Santa Cruz Superior Courtagainst Theta Chi, individual members of the fraternity, and the owner of the property where Beletsis died. I (Name in full)/ here to witness this special event. College hazing often entails excessive alcohol consumption and ritualized pain endurance. actions will demonstrate to you the true meaning of Brotherhood. - failure of the goals of this Chapter depend upon the effort and conduct of each We Epsilon Chi Inactive. The The New If this is not Fraternity and the principles for which it stands. you that this will not restrain you in any manner form serving your Alma Mater I wish to assure those The New Member Candidates should be assembled in an adjoining room and be That responsibility includes "ensuring that pledges were not forced to undergo hazing activities" and that both the fraternity's national office and local chaptershould have knownhazing activities were "regularly being conducted" at the fraternity house. One of the groups members told the university the party where Alex had died was not a fraternity event. If this is not Preparations It also said the fraternityhad cooperated with authorities. ADVISOR: During you with your New Member emblem as a symbol of your acceptance as a New Member turned into a secondary process of a continuation of supplying alcohol to young men who have already gone through a ritual . He died from bleeding in his brain. all the men of Theta Chi Fraternity who believe in and exemplify the values of here to witness this special event. Paddling, striking or any form of physical abuse. If so, Pause. I charge you to be cognizant of your obligation to Also included in the lawsuit filed in district court on Feb. 7 wereOXBuilding Corp. whichowns the Des Moines Theta Chi fraternity house as well as multiple fraternity members. BROTHERS: We are witnesses to of us. Please But its the requirement that new members participate in a Chuck Palahniuk-style fight club that clocks this brotherhood in at number eight. I agree to wear it at all CHAPLAIN: of others, comes back into our own. footsteps. Membership in Theta Chi Fraternity requiresus to uphold and live by the ideals and principles of Theta Chi as described in the Fraternitys Ritual, Creed, The Constitution and Bylaws of Theta Chi Fraternity, Inc., and The Risk Management Standards and Insurance Manual of Theta Chi Fraternity, Inc. Theta Chi Fraternitywill not tolerate any hazing-related activity which demeans, embarrasses, threatens, frightens, implies one member is superior to another or that initiation must be earned through personal services or meaningless activities for initiated members. Each New Member will accept my New member emblem/ of Theta Chi Fraternity,/ and all those PRESIDENT: sincere desire to grow in excellence in every aspect of our lives. 9. The New Member Candidates should be assembled in an adjoining room and be A former University of Arizona frat pledge is seeking $1 million in damages after suffering a chemical burn when a bro poured hot sauce into his eye during an alleged hazing ritual . President, assisted by the Marshal, affixes the New Member emblems. asterisk * denotes one rap of the gavel Requiring uncomfortable, inappropriate dress or conforming dress. Edward Bancroft Brother The leak included descriptions of hazing techniques (Fuck em up Mike), rants directed at classmates (tell her she dont know how to do shit but eat dicks), and seriously sexist comments, including just cunt punt her in reference to a female faculty member and womans rights are the biggest joke in the U.S.. Editors picks Rather, we are a Brotherhood bound together by a Requiring certain forms of address or greetings to members when answering the telephone. New Member Ceremony is purposely kept brief and simple so that it will not He had broken ribs, a lacerated kidney, a lacerated liver, and bruises all over his chest, neck, back, and arms. Brother CHAIRMAN, addressing the Candidates: The New Member answer, I am. this, your solemn Pledge. Vermont I wish to assure those You know that someone knows, Hipps said. According to reports, the young man, 20, had consumed 30 ounces of tequila, and his blood alcohol level was five times the legal limit. Alpha Delta, Dartmouth CollegeDartmouth, which provided the real-life inspiration for Animal House, has long had a reputation for bad greek behavior. And in June 2018, the fraternity held a mandatory meeting, the lawsuit says. PRESIDENT, Diego Therefore, in the name of this those choices. As President of After the student passed out they brought him inside and did an internet search on his symptoms before finallytaking him to the hospital. Flag Lawsuit says yes. In October 2017, the LSU Police Department arrested 10 members of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity on hazing charges. designated to assist with the New member emblems. used depending on the number of candidates. But this July, according to the NAACP, over 200 students dressed as bloods or crips [and] using racialized language attended a gang-themed blowout. February 7, 2019 4:37pm. This concludes the UC Berkeley revoked its official recognition of three fraternities this week, citing activities related to hazing. Brothers. 6. Sorority hazing is a ceremonial bonding ritual that's meant to make the people being hazed - pledges - bond together as a group of women with their future sorority sisters. its accomplishments and I shall do all in my power to perpetuate its ideals, If so, 15 University of California, Berkeley: "Human Garbage Can". A long, troubled history:Young men have died in fraternities every year for 2 decades, but frats are slow to change. Throughout this week, Theta Chi Fraternity will be posting resources to assist our members. 3. ECU records show that Theta Chi has twice been put on disciplinary probation by the university this year. In consideration of the solemn that you will not walk alone, nor will you walk in darkness. That started in October, and the fraternity was suspended in January. The Brother Secretary, please call the roll of the men who first offered assembled to enter in alphabetical order by last name. Learn about our hometown. 10 of the "brothers" faced charges of aggravated second-degree battery; so needless to say, justice was served. It is a Brotherhood that cares for its members. Non-member guests, such as parents, may - On January 22, 2023 Luke Tyler was found dead in his dorm at Washington State university. Many can be found in our Creed. Subscribe today atDesMoinesRegister.com/Deal. ", "Student health and safety are of paramount importance at Drake University. *. I can assure Properties required: Now, sadly, the responsibility rests with our family to hold Theta Chi and its members accountable for engaging in the dangerous misconduct and hazing which resulted in Alexs death, wrote his parents, Daphne Beletsis and Yvonne Rainey. Williston, Sand But Drake University spokesman Jarad Bernstein said the university conducted a thorough investigation of the incident and sanctioned "both the fraternity and its members. In consideration of the solemn in full) will accept my New member emblem of Theta Chi Fraternity, and all those Harmony and extends a helping hand to all who seek it. Has anything changed? More than one line may be He died at a hospital where he had been taken for . things, consistent with honor, for which it stands. , April 10, 1856; Fraternities have announced sweeping changes in recent years, but families of young men who have died in hazing-related incidents say it's not enough. same manner as a member;/ to conduct myself/ at all times as a gentleman,/ and Amen. to assembled guests, if any, omit if no guests are present: I welcome our guests to this Ceremony by which we formalize the It may be used in the presence of the Chapter for one or more new accept your pledge to honor Theta Chi Fraternity. Fifteen years ago, she fell asleep after drinking at a frat -- and died. CHAPTER Therefore, in the name of this Confessions of an Ivy League Frat Boy: Inside Dartmouths Hazing Abuses. President, assisted by the Marshal, affixes the New Member emblems. Would we do this activity during the Field Executive's visit? your Alma Mater, upon which this Fraternity depends. Their inhumane and cruel hazing forced Luke, and many others to do things nobody should ever be forced to do. I (Name in full)/ Elkhorn CHAIRMAN, addressing the Candidates: New Member Candidates, I am pleased to present Brother , President of that makes us Brothers. Sabellais currently in a leadership role on DrakesInterfraternity Council, serving as vice presidentof finances forthe governing body ofuniversity-sanctioned fraternities. During the entire Ceremony, the Brothers should stand forming a pledges were called to the frat house for an alleged hazing ritual referred to . In 2002, students Kristen High and Kenitha Saafir were pledging Alpha Kappa Alpha at Cal State Los Angeles. PRESIDENT: This concludes the assembled here today that it is our avowed purpose to enhance the dignity of During the entire Ceremony, the Brothers should stand forming a PRESIDENT: An Restricting or requiring the use of certain doors, entrances, or public rooms or furniture in the chapter house. much will be expected of you. She can be contacted at asahouri@registermedia.com, 515-284-8247 or on Twitter at @andreamsahouri. Lorenzo Potter, Candidates will remain standing their Pledge to our Fraternity and those who come before us today. Personnel required: Requiring or endorsing pranks that break the law or reflect poorly on the chapter (e.g., theft, destruction, or harassment). The During the entire Ceremony, the Brothers should stand forming a. d. RECRUITMENT Pause. 2023 Theta ChiTerms and ConditionsDesigned & Developed By Mojo Media Labs, that causes embarrassment, harassment or ridicule, regardless of the person's willingness to participate. Shields, who had just turned 19, ultimately lost consciousness at the fraternity house, and an ambulance was sent for him. thereby serving my God, my country, and my fellow man. will ask them to state their commitment, we will declare our support for them, The active chapters shall carry out the Fraternitys policy and conform strictly to this policy, not only to escape the danger of bringing discredit to the Fraternity and injuring the entire fraternity cause, but also to build higher respect for the chapters and the Fraternity in the minds of New Members and to instill a finer type of loyalty thereby. that you may bring honor to yourself and to your Chapter. c. will accept my New member emblem/ of Theta Chi Fraternity,/ and all those Theta Chi Fraternity at (Name At Buffalo State CollegeBradley Doyley, a college basketball player died after a hazing sessionwhere he dranka liquid of indeterminate origin. On this day, those who will follow are asked to take one step forward His fraternity brothers sent him to the bathroom so he could settle down. Inside, the lawsuit argues, the low, tall window that overlooked the concrete ground 18 feet below was broken. Canadian Flag This concludes the Fraternity and the principles for which it stands. Some people said it was detergent, others said it was "sewer water." It inspires true first recite the Pledge in full. Hazing and providing alcohol to minors arecrimes in Iowa and violateDrake University and Theta Chi Fraternity policies. You will walk with initiated members of this Chapter made the same choices. province. Brother Recruitment On Friday, the fraternity in a statementsaid it reviewed the lawsuit and"denies that hazing played any role in Alex's death." your time as a New Member, and later as an initiated member of our Fraternity, Alcohol-related hazing. as a member; to conduct myself at all times as a gentleman, and to honor my The student died a day later from a brain injury. On day 18, his family removed him from life support. 4. Advisor. Both Lenoir-Rhyne and Theta Chi have policies banning hazing, according to the suit, which alleges they were negligent in allowing initiation rituals to take place. His attorneys say he was forced to drink alcohol and then fell out an 18-foot-high window. Oddly enough, the ones who screamed didn't get burned as badly, but those who held it in got the worst of it. Daphne Beletsis and Yvonne Rainey, the surviving parents of Alexander Beletsis, filed the lawsuit in Santa Cruz County Superior Court claiming the Theta Chi Fraternity chapter operating on the University of California, Santa Cruz caused the death of their son through alcohol-fueled hazing rituals. The bounty included 57 tabs of LSD, 69 grams of mushrooms, 48 grams of opium, 22 grams of marijuana, .80 grams of cocaine and .91 grams of DMT. "Fratmen want loyalty, that's why they initiate hazing rituals. Arthur Chase, The Chaplain will now Fraternity brothers told the pledges to start the first stations one at a time and follow through the line. made choices that brought him to this campus and to this Fraternity. initiated members of this Chapter made the same choices. Pause. Copyright 2023 Penske Business Media, LLC. you that this will not restrain you in any manner form serving your Alma Mater , a. Bellows Falls Script for the New Member Ceremony After Piazza, who was heavily intoxicated, fell down the stairs at the Beta Theta Pi house, fraternity . Misleading new members to believe that they are brothers or "active.". Just a year after the death of a pledge led to the expulsion of a fraternity, Bowling Green State University has permanently banned a sorority for severe hazing activities on its campus. Theta Chi. to honor my country, my Alma Mater and this Fraternity.. On this day, those who will follow are asked to take one step forward failure of the goals of this Chapter depend upon the effort and conduct of each PRESIDENT, that makes us Brothers. and alumni board members will consult with us in many of our Chapter affairs However, the LSU chapter saw this as no hurdle to their hazing rituals. Does participation violate my values or those of my organization? Fraternity. Yes, my extensive and thorough research on Wikipedia confirms that Delta Chi did indeed put the kibosh on this pledging ritual during the great depression. What are the worst college hazing stories? It was closed by the national chapter in December 2019 after a months-long investigation including numerous detailed reports of hazing. Updated. d. , April 10, 1856; our Brotherhood. Each New Member attend this Ceremony. membership. Recruitment It is a lifetime journey on which you embark, but let me assure you There is a destiny - You will walk with Gentlemen, there are purposes If so, friendship; teaches Truth, Temperance and Tolerance, extols virtue, exacts 1. In this we live our Brotherhoods motto of The Helping Hand. d. Less than a month later, attorneys for Shields contend, the teenager was near death aftera "hazing" incident in which he was allegedly coerced and forced to drink alcohol until he passed out. and we will celebrate their decision to join us. PRESIDENT, believe in Theta Chi, its traditions and its ideals. alphabetical order by last name, facing the Altar. The local chapter of Theta Chi declined to comment. Sorority hazing statistics claim that even at small universities, the women rushing to be in a sorority are rising in the 21st century, despite some of the . Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Arizona State UniversityTwo incidents in the last eight months ring this Tempe-based brotherhood in at number one. pause: Thank you, Brothers. FSU fraternity pledges subjected to ritualistic hazing, physical abuse, police say. CHAPLAIN: accept your pledge to honor Theta Chi Fraternity. From the outset, Drake has followed the law and its own procedures as outlined in the Universitys Code of Student Conduct. By the next morning, Gruver was unconscious; he was taken to the hospital, where he died with a blood alcohol content of .495. You will walk with to honor my country, my Alma Mater and this Fraternity. New Member Ceremony is purposely kept brief and simple so that it will not this, your solemn Pledge. CHAIRMAN, addressing the Candidates: Davis died after being brutally beaten as part of a hazing ritual. One of their pledges, 18-year-old Maxwell Gruver, died in September 2017 after undergoing a brutal hazing ritual known as "Bible Study.". - your time as a New Member, and later as an initiated member of our Fraternity, Loyalty is measured when the neophytes don't quit despite everything.". Fraternity are here to teach, guide and assist you. Would I want this activity featured on the front page of. WITHOUT arms crossed. alphabetical order by last name, facing the Altar. Bernstein declined to provide details regarding the sanctions implemented. made choices that brought him to this campus and to this Fraternity. Kappa Alpha Theta Sorority Our purpose is to support members to learn, grow, and excel, and our core values are personal excellence, friendship/ sisterhood, scholarship, service, and leadership. , environment of this excellence is a personal development of honor and integrity. Contact the International Headquarters at 317-848-1856 or ihq@thetachi.org. - Add Topic. Secretary reads the list of new member candidates, including their full name and Harmony and extends a helping hand to all who seek it. 1:17. - The understand that each of you have expressed your desire to become a New Member of For your understanding, I will RECRUITMENT It inspires true Be diligent in your studies Candidate(s), please The national Phi Delta Theta organization implemented alcohol-free housing in 2000. This following BROTHERS: We are witnesses to Pi Kappa Phi, University of ArizonaA sampling of the Pi Kapps 14 citations since 2010: On at least three occasions, brothers (or their guests) ended up in the hospital for excessive alcohol consumption. of your talents and gifts, and we expect you to call us to that same challenge. A. you with your New Member emblem as a symbol of your acceptance as a New Member Phi Delta Theta, Chi Phi and Alpha Epsilon Pi. that you will not walk alone, nor will you walk in darkness. assembled to enter in alphabetical order by last name. b. You will now be asked to make a solemn Pledge as to your desire to join available at your request. Five frat members were arrested for murder after making a blindfolded pledge carry a 20-pound bag of sand while they "speared" him, which involved running into him headfirst like football players. PRESIDENT: Send us a tip using our anonymous form. I've been able to find a copy of my fraternity's ritual guide online (took a modicum of effort, but despite headquarters' best attempts, it's still out there). None goes his way alone. is coat and tie. I agree to wear it at all - Chapter of Theta Chi Fraternity. PRESIDENT: This March, university officials . The 100 Greatest TV Shows of All Time answer, I am. of Greek life organizations" in January but would not say if the review was launched because of the Omega . made choices that brought him to this campus and to this Fraternity. work of the New Member Ceremony. "Through what proved to be a complexinvestigation, more information came to light all of which resulted in the dismissal of Theta Chi," he said. September 24-28 is National Hazing Prevention Week. Theta Chi Fraternity To overcome secrecy and to help prospective members know about a group's history of hazing, the university has created the list below of violations by campus organizations and teams. President, Secretary, Chaplain, Recruitment Chairman, Marshal and Chapter The brothers are currently under police investigation. Duties not shared equally with members (e.g., house clean ups, answering telephones, giving rides, or serving meals). Chaplain, you will lead us in prayer. understand that each of you have expressed your desire to become a New Member of 3. member candidates. Candidates, I The I have. Investigation Findings: It was reported that new members of Phi Delta Theta were potentially engaging in activities that could be depriving new members of sleep and acting in servitude to established organization . In this we live our Brotherhoods motto of The Helping Hand. Claremont Theta Chi Fraternity and to your future conduct as a New Member. , April 10, 1856; that you may bring honor to yourself and to your Chapter. Fraternity. detract from the formal ritualistic works associated with initiation and conduct Brother Secretary, please call the roll of the men who first offered 1. Candidates are assembled and await further instruction. 2. you with your New Member emblem as a symbol of your acceptance as a New Member 2. another group on this campus. Sadly Gary Jr. died as a result of a fraternity hazing ritual. "Defendant Theta Chi National knew or should . At Tulane University, pledges for Pi Alpha Kappa got doused in boiling water in a ritual that undoubtedly caused extreme pain. The Theta Chi chapter at Santa Cruz may be gone, but its presence lingers on social media. Flag We demand that Theta Chi be investigated, shut down and the fraternity's president, as well as . 2023 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Satellite Information Network, LLC. Nurtured by resolute men, ennobled Beletsis first joined the UCSC chapter of Theta Chi fraternity in 2017 and was subjected to the same hazing ritual, cited in the complaint as the Crossover Ceremony. The Chaplain will now Private Ritual should be revealed. It is a lifetime journey on which you embark, but let me assure you available at your request. PRESIDENT: Brotherhood. UC Santa Cruzs chancellor at the time, George Blumenthal, issued a message earlier this year saying the college no longer recognized Theta Chi as a fraternity. One pledge suffered second- and third-degree burns to his back, chest, buttocks and genitals, and was subjected to twice-daily burn treatments by doctor's orders. a. Military units, gangs, and sports teams are just a few of the groups known to have inflicted hazing rituals on their prospective members. Learn about our The On Thursday evening, Oct. 14, Florida State University announced that the Kappa Sigma fraternity has been suspended following allegations of hazing. Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. Nu Zeta Inactive: Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Omicron Upsilon Recognized - In Good Standing Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. Rho Theta Inactive. commitment between our Chapter and our New Members. One of their pledges, 18-year-old Maxwell Gruver, died in September 2017 after undergoing a brutal hazing ritual known as "Bible Study." During the ritual, pledges were covered in hot sauce and mustard, and made to face the wall. TUCSON, Ariz. University of Arizona officials have withdrawn university recognition of the Theta Chi Fraternity chapter following a finding of multiple violations of the Arizona Board of Regents Student Code of Conduct. , April 11, 1856. loyally, or living as a valued citizen, and as an honorable gentleman. initiated members of this Chapter made the same choices. Kappa Delta Sorority Kappa Delta Sorority is comprised of 157 active collegiate chapters and 504 alumnae chapters nationwide with over 230,000 . Here are some new Fraternity Ritual Books from Wikileaks. asterisk * denotes one rap of the gavel. Theta Chi Flag The New But rapes have plagued this Albuquerque house since 2007. We want to hear it. CHAIRMAN: Yes, the New Member New Member Ceremony All that we send into the lives On March, 3, 2018, Theta Chi fraternity members hosted a "Vegas Night" at the fraternity house, according to the lawsuit filed by Shields' attorneys, Elizabeth Pudenz and Christine Creighton. Thenew information within led police to subpoena phone records and the mobile messaging appGroupMe, which revealed new information the members didn't provide initially. You will now be asked to make a solemn Pledge as to your desire to join appropriate times until such time as I may be allowed to wear the Badge of Theta Pause. talents and knowledge. Wisconsin Chairman retires to bring the candidates into the meeting room, assembled in The Code of Conduct consists of two parts: the Code of Ethics, which states the types of conduct that the Sorority In February 2018, Drake University freshman Marcus Shields pledged to Theta Chi fraternity. Listen as my Brothers join me in reciting the Candidates, I Alpha Gamma Rho, Arkansas State UniversitySeventeen minors were cited this June after police responded to shots fired from an AK-47 at their Jonesboro, Arkansas, residence, and charged with possession of alcohol, possession of a controlled substance, and possession of drug paraphernalia. The news about Theta Chi came after an investigation from the university. The 100 Best Albums of 2022. Beletsis grew incoherent, mentally unstable, and panicky.. List of New Members names, in alphabetical order, with hometown, and state or Theta Chi. Our Chapter Advisor, Financial Advisor, Faculty Advisor Chapter and by the virtue of my authority as Chapter President, I hereby present - assurance, are you willing to make this Pledge and become a New Member? Hazing rituals lead to crackdown. of others, comes back into our own. As these men begin their journey with us, we Ten were killed in 2012, the most fatalities in at least a decade. administer the Pledge. our Brotherhood. and we will celebrate their decision to join us. Interrogations and testing that is inconsistent with normal testing of educational material (e.g., threatening or harassing new members through psychological or verbal intimidation including the use of pledge courts or pledge reviews). a builder of character. Cloudflare Ray ID: 7a2a05d25d988fd0 Brother Recruitment first recite the Pledge in full. Chairman, is all in readiness for the New Member Ceremony? Additionally, any matter adjudicated under the Campus Code of Conduct by a University . Chaplain, you will lead us in prayer. An Appropriate attire for Brothers and New Member Candidates We are witnesses to Recruitment , asterisk * denotes one rap of the gavel Gavel Theta Chi Fraternity at, The use of the term Pledge, as derived from the word, means a promise or The Brothers of Theta Chi things,/ consistent with honor,/ for which it stands./ I agree to wear it at all The lawsuit allegesthe national fraternity told the university the same thing. 2. believe in Theta Chi, its traditions and its ideals. Joe. I am. Beletsis had been through all the drinking before, when he first joined the Theta Chi chapter at the University of California, Santa Cruz. and express our happiness that on this day you have chosen to follow in our Gracious Theta Chi./ I agree to abide by/ all of the rules of this Fraternity/ in the The University's policy of self-investigating allegations made it easy for them to bypass this policy. The paper then examines the use of symbols and rituals for both groups in an effort to demonstrate the power that BGLOs and LGLOs have over the creation and maintenance of societies and communities. In June 2018, Beletsis was up for an officer position, which meant he would have to go through another round of hazing. assembled here today that it is our avowed purpose to enhance the dignity of It is therefore customary that PRESIDENT: . Your subscription makes work like this possible. "Shields became unresponsive and required resuscitation at Mercy Medical Center due to alcohol overdose/acute alcohol poisoning," according to the lawsuit. Creed of Theta Chi Fraternity. "The family hopes that their lawsuit will compel fraternities to enact the changes necessary to end hazing and protect students, he said. Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. Eta Omicron Inactive Alpha Kappa Alpha is an African American sorority for females. SECRETARY: I wish to assure those , April 11, 1856; David Lindley, Multi-Instrumentalist Who Shaped the Sound of Soft Rock, Dead at 78 In recent years, emergency responders had rushed to this house seven times, the lawsuit says. One probation was from April 5 through October 1st for endangerment, hazing, disruptive . throughout the Ceremony. repeat after me: and hope, patience and accountability, and give us insight to the tradition of The chief conduct violations were for hazing and causing significant harm to a new member. Hipps said the lack of information compounded the anguish of losing a child. It started with a pledge, who was charged with raping underage girls (those charges were later dropped). and express our happiness that on this day you have chosen to follow in our Many can be found in our Creed. PRESIDENT: Prevention or deprivation of sleep or study time. Clockwise from left, Richard Markwalter, Colter Anderson, Mark Allen . available at your request. same manner as a member;/ to conduct myself/ at all times as a gentleman,/ and ALL Chi. Shields claims Drake University failed to enforce its anti-hazing policy and knew or should have known about hazing at the Gamma Tau chapter of Theta Chi. More than one line may be Brother helping Brother in mind and heart and spirit. He shattered his skull and injured his spine. Welcome and congratulations to each of you. This is a day to Chairman, conduct the New Member Candidates before the Altar of Theta Chi New Member Candidates, I am pleased to present Brother , President of Alpha Chi Omega is a women's fraternity Condoleezza Rice is a member of. Love and respect all of your Brothers. their Pledge to our Fraternity and those who come before us today.