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Delta Kappa

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This article is about the fraternity founded at Buffalo in 1920. It is not to be confused with Yale freshman society founded in 1845.

Delta Kappa Fraternity (ΔΚ) was an American national fraternity that existed from 1920 to 1964. It survives today with two local chapters in New York state.

Delta Kappa
ΔΚ
Crest of Delta Kappa National Fraternity
FoundedSeptember 1920; 103 years ago (1920-09)
Buffalo State College
TypeSocial
ScopeNational (US)
Mission statementTo foster the development of fellowship, scholarship, and leadership through the socializing influence of fraternal life.[1]
MottoTrue leadership is possible only through honorable and upright living
MaximKorufaios, Kathapos, and Kosmos
Member badgeDelta Kappa Badge with Alpha Chapter Badge Guard
Colors  White and   Maroon
FlowerRed Rose
JewelPearl and Ruby
PublicationThe Deltan
Chapters21 undergraduate chapters installed
2 locals active
Members1,200+ lifetime
NicknameDK
Merged withSigma Pi, scattered
HeadquartersMilwaukee, Wisconsin
United States

History edit

Founding and early growth edit

The fraternity was founded in 1920 as Kappa Kappa Kappa at the State Normal School (now Buffalo State College) as a fraternity for students majoring in education.[2] Its founders were James Finley, Albert Meinhold, Albert Stalk, Fred Weyler, and Arthur S. Bellfield. It assumed the name Kappa Kappa Kappa (ΚΚΚ) to represent the tri-Kappa symbolism of Korufaios, Kathapos, and Kosmos.[3]

In 1925, it became a national fraternity with the chartering of its second chapter at SUNY Cortland.[4] Its headquarters were in Buffalo, New York. The organization was first incorporated in New York in 1930.

At its 1936 convention, the fraternity voted to change its name to Delta Kappa to avoid being confused with the Ku Klux Klan.[5][2] It was incorporated for a second time under the new name in 1937.[5] At the same time, the fraternity changed its emphasis from professional to social and allowed any bachelor's degree-granting institution to host a chapter.[4]

The fraternity went inactive from 1944 to 1946 during World War II. Delta Kappa quickly reactivated seven chapters by the end of 1948. The organization then began expanding outside of the state of New York by adding chapters in six other states. This growth was hastened when the fraternity decided to drop the requirement that at least half the members of any petitioning fraternal group be working toward a degree in the teaching profession.[6]

Loss of chapters edit

Delta Kappa grew until a 1953 edict by the SUNY Board of Trustees forced the abandonment of all chapters affiliated with national societies in state-supported schools.[7] This impacted seven of the fraternity's eighteen chapters.[2] Delta Kappa, along with several other Greek Letter organizations, fought this edict in court under the case name Webb vs. State University of New York where they argued for the benefits of national affiliation and showed the lack of discriminatory clauses in their constitutions.[8] Unfortunately for Delta Kappa, the courts sided with the SUNY Board of Trustees in 1954 by ruling that the trustees were acting in their supervisory powers.

The decision cost the fraternity eight chapters in New York State. In a later petition, the fraternity claimed that the edict also caused the closing of two other chapters (ΔΡ and ΗΦ).[9] With the loss of the court case, the chapters at SUNY institutions became independent local fraternities after 1953.

The loss of chapters and know-how threw the Delta Kappa national leadership into a tailspin. The Delta Chi and Kappa chapters left the fraternity and affiliated with other organizations.

Reorganization in Wisconsin edit

Within the space of a year, Delta Kappa went from having nineteen chapters to seven. With most of the active chapters now in Wisconsin, a meeting was called in 1954 where it was decided that there should be an attempt to save the fraternity. In 1956, the fraternity was incorporated for the third time in the state of Wisconsin, and the national offices were moved to Milwaukee.[6][4]

Delta Kappa added two chapters between 1954 and 1963, but Phi, Chi Delta, and Sigma Phi chaptes disaffiliated to join other organizations. By 1963, there were only six chapters left in the fraternity.

Merger edit

In an attempt to save the remaining chapters and preserve some unity, the fraternity began looking at other organizations for a merger. Fraternities with active chapters at the six schools where Delta Kappa was active were not considered. Of the remaining organizations, Sigma Pi Fraternity was chosen since it was considered best at fulfilling the goals of its members.[9]

With the approval of the Delta Kappa convention in July 1964[2] and the Sigma Pi convention in September, the two fraternities completed the merger in late 1964.[5] Of the six chapters, four (Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Wisconsin-Stout, Milton, and Western State College of Colorado) became Sigma Pi chapters. The chapter at Wisconsin-Oshkosh decided to go its own way and affiliate with Delta Sigma Phi Fraternity. The chapter at Ithaca College (which is not a SUNY institution) became a local fraternity.

With the merger, Sigma Pi gave the joining Delta Kappa chapters designations starting with Delta to help maintain their sense of history; this was out of order since its new chapters were then being named in the Gamma series.[10] Sigma Pi also initiated any Delta Kappa alumni who wished to attend their initiation ceremonies.

After the merger, Sigma Pi made an effort to reach out to Delta Kappa alumni in Wisconsin by colonizing at schools that once had DK chapters or where alumni were nearby. Between 1966 and 1971, five chapters were chartered at Wisconsin-Stevens Point, Wisconsin-Oshkosh, Wisconsin-Whitewater, Wisconsin-Platteville, and Wisconsin-LaCrosse.[10] When the SUNY ban on national fraternities was lifted in 1976, Sigma Pi contacted the surviving chapters of Delta Kappa in New York state but there was little interest in joining a national organization again.

Symbols edit

The fraternity's colors were white and maroon.[5] Its flower was the red rose.[4] Its jewels were the pearl and the ruby. The Delta Kappa motto was "True leadership is possible only through honorable and upright living."[4]

The fraternity's badge was a triangle with a black center with the Greek letters Δ and Κ in gold.[4] The Greek letter of the chapter name was attached to the badge and served as a guard.[4] The Delta Kappa recognition pin featured the letters Δ and Κ joined at the middle.[4]

 
Delta Kappa Pledge Manual, 1959

Publications edit

  • The Delta Kappa Pledge Manual was last published in 1959.
  • The Kappan was a yearbook that was published every year.[2]
  • The Deltan was a newsletter that was published at the discretion of the national officers, starting in 1958.[11]
  • The Operational Handbook was an aid for chapter officers.

Membership edit

Membership in Delta Kappa, like most fraternities, was limited to males. The 1959 Pledge Manual stated that "membership is open to any male who believes in a supreme being." According to the 1963 edition of Baird's Manual, there were no membership restrictions. Baird's also stated that the organization had 1,200 members in 1963.[12]

Governance edit

Grand Chapter edit

The Grand Chapter of Delta Kappa met in the spring during the National Convention and was composed of the Board of Directors and delegates from each chapter and alumni club.[4] The Board of Directors was composed of six national officers: president, vice president, corresponding secretary, recording secretary, treasurer, and librarian. Each chapter could send two voting delegates to the Grand Chapter, while alumni clubs received one voting delegate. A two-thirds vote was needed for the Grand Chapter to pass by-laws or to suspend chapters. The National Convention was held annually with a different chapter hosting each convention and arranging the accommodations.[13]: 13 

Two awards were given during the National Convention. A Scholarship Award was given to the chapter with the highest Grade Point Average. A Distance Travelled Award was given to the chapter that traveled the farthest to attend the conference.[4]

A Fall Business Meeting could also be called at the discretion of the National President. Attendance was not compulsory.[13]: 14 

Board of directors edit

The Board of Directors governed the fraternity when the Grand Chapter was not in session.[4] Board members were elected to one-year terms at each meeting of the Grand Chapter. The president was the executive of the fraternity, while the vice president oversaw the ritual and was the director of expansion. The corresponding secretary kept meeting minutes and oversaw correspondence, and the recording secretary kept membership records. The treasurer kept the fraternity's finances, and the Llbrarian acted as the historian and publisher of The Kappan.[13]: 13 

Each chapter was inspected yearly by at least one member of the Board of Directors during a chapter visitation.[13]: 15 

NIC edit

Delta Kappa was not a member of the National Interfraternity Conference (NIC).[12] Between 1954 and 1964, the fraternity lost three chapters to NIC member fraternities. This did not violate the NIC anti-pirating rule since it only applies to member fraternity chapters.[14]

Expansion Plan edit

Delta Kappa's expansion plan called for contacting local fraternities with at least ten members at accredited four-year colleges. Petitioning groups paid installation fees but had their first-year chapter dues waived.[13]: 14 

Chapters edit

Following is a list of the undergraduate chapters of Delta Kappa.[5][2]

Chapter Charter date and range Institution Location Status References
Alpha September 1920–1944
1946–1953 		Buffalo State College Buffalo, New York Withdrew [15][a]
Beta 1925–1944
1946–1953 		State University of New York at Cortland Cortland, New York Withdrew [15][16][3][b]
Gamma March 1926–1944
1946–Fall 1953 		State University of New York at Oswego Oswego, New York Withdrew [15][17][18][c]
Delta 1927–1932
March 14, 1953 – 1953 		State University of New York at Plattsburgh Plattsburgh, New York Withdrew [15][19][d]
Epsilon 1931–1944
May 1948–1964 		Ithaca College Ithaca, New York Withdrew [15][e]
Zeta May 26, 1935–1944
September 1946–1953 		State University of New York at New Paltz New Paltz, New York Withdrew [15][20][f]
Eta November 1942–March 1943
December 6, 1947 – 1953 		State University of New York at Oneonta Oneonta, New York Withdrew [15][21][g][h]
Theta June 1, 1946 – 1953 State University of New York at Potsdam Potsdam, New York Withdrew [15][22][23][24][i][j]
Iota 1948–1953 State University of New York at Geneseo Geneseo, New York Withdrew [25][26][k]
Kappa March 4, 1950 – 1954 Indiana State University Terre Haute, Indiana Withdrew [15][27][28][l]
Delta Chi January 27, 1951 – 1953 Southeast Missouri State University Cape Girardeau, Missouri Withdrew (ΤΚΕ) [29][30][m]
Delta Rho April 21, 1951 – 1954 James Madison University Harrisonburg, Virginia Withdrew (ΤΚΕ) [1][31][32][33][n]
Phi 1951–1960 Clarion University of Pennsylvania Clarion, Pennsylvania Withdrew (ΘΧ) [34][35][36][o]
Sigma Phi 1951–1962 Frostburg State University Frostburg, Maryland Withdrew (ΤΚΕ) [p]
Sigma November 30, 1951 – 1964 University of Wisconsin–Stout Menomonie, Wisconsin Merged (ΣΠ) [15][37][q]
Chi Delta March 14, 1952 – 1961 University of Wisconsin–Whitewater Whitewater, Wisconsin Withdrew [15][38][r][s]
Eta Phi March 15, 1952 – 1954 University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire Eau Claire, Wisconsin Withdrew [39][40][41][t]
Chi Gamma April 24, 1953 – 1964 Milton College Milton, Wisconsin Merged (ΣΠ) [15][42][43][u]
Omicron May 12, 1953 – 1964 University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee Milwaukee, Wisconsin Merged (ΣΠ) [15][44][43][v]
Iota Alpha Sigma 1962–1965 University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh Oshkosh, Wisconsin Merged (ΤΚΕ) [45][w]
Chi Sigma November 17, 1963 – 1965 Western State College of Colorado Gunnison, Colorado Merged (ΣΠ) [46][47][x]

Notes edit

  1. ^ Chapter formed at State Normal School - Buffalo, now Buffalo State College. It became Delta Kappa (local) fraternity in 1953.
  2. ^ Chapter formed at Cortland State Normal School, now SUNY Cortland. It withdrew and became Delta Kappa Beta (local) fraternity in 1953; it lost university recognition in 1991 and was banned by the university in 2000.
  3. ^ Chapter was founded at Oswego State Normal School, now SUNY Oswego. It became Delta Kappa Gamma (local) in 1953, changing its name to Delta Kappa Kappa in the fall of 1955, and is still active.
  4. ^ Chapter was founded at Plattsburgh State Normal School, now SUNY Plattsburgh. It became Delta Kappa Delta (local) fraternity in 1953 which closed in 1979.
  5. ^ Chapter became Delta Kappa (local) fraternity in 1964. Ithaca removed recognition from most Greek letter organizations in the 1980s and the chapter went inactive in 2009.
  6. ^ Chapter formed at the New Paltz State Normal School, now SUNY New Paltz. It became Delta Kappa Zeta (local) fraternity in 1953.
  7. ^ Chapter formed from the merger of two local fraternities, Pi Delta Alpha and Phi Lambda Chi at Oneonta State Normal School (now SUNY Oneonta).
  8. ^ Chapter became Delta Phi Kappa (local) fraternity in 1953 and closed in 1984.
  9. ^ Chapter was founded as Potsdam State Teacher's College (now SUNY Potdam) from Sigma Tau (local). Sigma Tau was the reformation of Sigma Sigma Sigma, a local fraternity that was established in 1932 but became dormant during World War II.
  10. ^ Chapter became Delta Kappa Theta local fraternity in 1953.
  11. ^ Chapter formed from Alpha Sigma Epsilon (local), established at Geneseo State Teacher's College (SUNY Geneseo) as the Delphic Society in 1871. It became Delta Kappa Tau (local) fraternity in 1953.
  12. ^ Chapter formed at Indiana State Teacher's College (now Indiana State University). It disaffiliated from the national organization in the winter term of 1954 and became the Kappa Zeta (local) fraternity. In May 1954, it became the Indiana Delta chapter of Sigma Phi Epsilon.
  13. ^ Chapter formed from Delta Chi Delta (local), established in March 19, 1949. It disaffiliated from Delta Kappa and became the Delta Zeta chapter of Tau Kappa Epsilon in 1953.
  14. ^ Chapter formed from Sigma Delta Rho (local), established in 1947. It disaffiliated from the national organization in 1954 and became Sigma Delta Rho (local). It became the Mu Tau chapter of Tau Kappa Epsilon in 1969.
  15. ^ Chapter formed from Alpha Phi Alpha (local), established in 1930. It disaffiliated from the national fraternity in 1960 and became the Epsilon Xi chapter of Theta Chi later that year.
  16. ^ Chapter formed at State Teachers' College at Frostburg (now Frostburg State University) from Omega Sigma Phi (local), established in 1935. It disaffiliated from Delta Kappa and became the Theta Chi chapter of Tau Kappa Epsilon in 1962. It is now Alpha Theta Chi (local) and is not recognized by the university.
  17. ^ Chapter formed from Sigma (local), established in 1946 at The Stout Institute (now the University of Wisconsin–Stout). It became the Delta Sigma chapter of Sigma Pi in 1964.
  18. ^ Chapter formed from the Chi Delta Rho (local) fraternity, formed as Beta Kappa Nu (local) in 1929 and became the Beta chapter of Chi Delta Rho in 1939. It was reorganized as Chi Delta Rho after World War II.
  19. ^ Chapter disaffiliated from Delta Kappa in 1961 and became Chi Delta Rho (local) again. It became the Lambda Iota chapter of the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity in 1965.
  20. ^ Chaper formed from Eta Phi (local), established on February 16, 1949. It disaffiliated in 1954 and became Eta Phi (local) again. It became the Iota Sigma chapter of Tau Kappa Epsilon in the fall of 1963.
  21. ^ Chapter formed as a local fraternity that became the Gamma chapter of Chi Delta Rho state fraternity before World War II. It became a colony of Sigma Pi with the national merger in 1964 and its Delta Gamma chapter in 1968. It went dormant when the college closed.
  22. ^ Chapter formed from Omicron Omicron Omicron (local) fraternity. It became the Delta Omicron chapter of Sigma Pi fraternity with the national merger in 1964; it has been dormant since 1972.
  23. ^ Chapter became the Epsilon Beta chapter of Delta Sigma Phi fraternity in 1965.
  24. ^ Chapter became the Delta Chi chapter of Sigma Pi with the national merger in 1965. It went dormant in 1972.

Alumni chapters edit

Alumni chapters were usually given the name of the local college chapter with the Greek letter Pi added before the local chapter name. Alumni chapters could be recognized if they had five or more men who had graduated or left school in good standing.[13]: 39  Known alumni chapters are:

Fraternity song edit

Hail Men of Delta Kappa edit

Words by Bill Fyfe, Music by Sam Forcucci [48][13]: 17 

Hail Men of Delta Kappa

 Keep your honor ever high.
Raise your heads fling out your banner
 Let the colors never die.

We are brothers all DK men,
 With a trust that men hold high.
It's a pledge we call good fellowship,
 Let our emblem fill the sky.

Sing out with voice proclaiming,
 Let our song be ever known.
We are proud to be DK men,
 With an emblem all our own.

We are brothers pledged together
 That our faith be ever true.
In the pledge we call good fellowship,

 Men of DK here's to you.

Notable members edit

This section includes alumni of the local Delta Kappa chapters in New York.

Name Original chapter Notability References
Richard Jadick Delta Kappa (local)
Ithaca College 		Combat Surgeon and Bronze Star recipient [49]
Bill Tierney Delta Kappa Beta (local)
SUNY Cortland 		NCAA lacrosse coach and player [50]
John Tournour Delta Kappa Tau (local)
SUNY Geneseo 		Nationally syndicated sports talk radio host [51]

References edit

  1. ^ a b "National Frat Installs Group". The Breeze. Madison College. May 4, 1951. p. 4.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Lurding, Carroll and Becque, Fran. (October 8, 2023) "Delta Kappa". Almanac of Fraternities and Sororities. Urbana: University of Illinois. Accessed December 7, 2023.
  3. ^ a b "History of DK - Delta Kappa Beta". Google.com. Retrieved 2015-04-18.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Robson, John, ed. (1963). Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities (17th ed.). Menasha, Wisconsin: The Collegiate Press, George Banta Company, Inc. pp. 364-365.
  5. ^ a b c d e Robson, John, ed. (1968). Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities (18th ed.). Menasha, Wisconsin: Banta Publishing Company. pp. 769–770.
  6. ^ a b "History". Delta Kappa Fraternity of Ithaca College. Delta-kappa.com. Archived from the original on 2015-04-02. Retrieved 2015-04-18.
  7. ^ "Fraternity Communication: New York State Fraternity History". Fratcomm.blogspot.com. Retrieved 2015-04-18.
  8. ^ "WEBB v. STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK | 125 F.Supp. 910 (1954)". Leagle.com. 1954-06-07. Retrieved 2016-10-26.
  9. ^ a b Delta Kappa Letter of Petition to Merge with Sigma Pi, 1964
  10. ^ a b "Chapter Roll". Sigma Pi Fraternity. Retrieved 2023-09-22.
  11. ^ "Deltan" (PDF). 1 (1). May 1958. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  12. ^ a b Robson, John, ed. (1963). "Non NIC Members". Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities (17th ed.). Menasha, Wisconsin: Banta Publishing Company. p. 365.
  13. ^ a b c d e f g Delta Kappa Pledge Manual, 1959
  14. ^ "(By Laws Sec. 5)". Archived from the original on 2015-10-11. Retrieved 2015-11-03.
  15. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Delta Kappa Pledge Manual, 1959. pp. 46-51.
  16. ^ "Kappa (1925-1991) Fraternity". Cortland.edu. Archived from the original on 2015-04-02. Retrieved 2015-04-18.
  17. ^ "Ontarian 1956:: SUNY Oswego". History.nnyln.org. Archived from the original on 2016-03-06. Retrieved 2016-10-26.
  18. ^ "Delta Kappa Kappa Fraternity - Fraternity History". www.deltakappakappa.org. Retrieved 2023-12-08.
  19. ^ "Delta Kappa Delta Honors Brothers and Alma Mater with Scholarship and Memorial". Plattsburgh.edu. Archived from the original on 2015-03-16. Retrieved 2015-04-18.
  20. ^ "2013 Reunion Brochure" (PDF). Newpaltz.edu. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-04-15. Retrieved 2015-04-18.
  21. ^ "DeltaPhiKappa | Fraternity based at SUNY Oneonta, NY". Deltaphikappa.wordpress.com. Retrieved 2016-10-26.
  22. ^ "Delta Kappa Theta Fraternity". deltakappatheta.com.
  23. ^ "Potsdam Greeks United: Delta Kappa Theta Fraternity". Retrieved 2015-04-18.
  24. ^ "Potsdam Greeks United: Social Fraternities in Potsdam". Retrieved 2015-04-18.
  25. ^ "1949 Oh-Ha-Daih - geneseoyearbook". Geneseoyearbook.smugmug.com. Retrieved 2016-10-26.
  26. ^ "1955 Oh-Ha-Daih - geneseoyearbook". Geneseoyearbook.smugmug.com. Retrieved 2016-10-26.
  27. ^ Visions Archived 2015-09-05 at the Wayback Machine , Indiana State. p. 118.
  28. ^ Visions Archived 2015-09-05 at the Wayback Machine. Indiana State. p. 130.
  29. ^ "1953 by Southeast Missouri State University". issuu. Retrieved 2016-10-26.
  30. ^ "1954 by Southeast Missouri State University". issuu. Retrieved 2016-10-26.
  31. ^ "Schoolma'am 1952". Retrieved 2016-10-26.
  32. ^ "Schoolma'am 1955". Retrieved 2016-10-26.
  33. ^ "Bluestone 1969". James Madison University. 1969. Retrieved 2016-10-26.
  34. ^ "Sequelle 1951". Retrieved 2016-10-26.
  35. ^ "Sequelle 1960". 1960. Retrieved 2016-10-26.
  36. ^ "Sequelle 1961". 1961. Retrieved 2016-10-26.
  37. ^ "The Emerald of Sigma Pi" (PDF). Sigma Pi Fraternity. 1965. pp. 204–205. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-04-16. Retrieved 2015-04-18.
  38. ^ "Lambda Chi Alpha: University of Wisconsin-Whitewater » Local History". Uwwlca.com. Retrieved 2015-04-18.
  39. ^ "ResCarta-Web - Image Viewer". Rescarta.apps.uwec.edu. Retrieved 2016-10-26.
  40. ^ "ResCarta-Web - Image Viewer". Rescarta.apps.uwec.edu. Retrieved 2016-10-26.
  41. ^ Periscope, 1963. Vol. 1963. Wisconsin State College at Eau Claire. 1963.
  42. ^ "The Emerald of Sigma Pi" (PDF). Sigma Pi Fraternity. 1968. pp. 62–63. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-04-16. Retrieved 2015-04-18.
  43. ^ a b Sigma Pi Fraternity, International. "Sigma Pi Fraternity » Chapter Roll". Sigma Pi Fraternity. Archived from the original on 2015-03-15. Retrieved 2015-03-20.
  44. ^ "The Emerald of Sigma Pi" (PDF). Sigma Pi Fraternity. 1965. pp. 202–203. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-04-16. Retrieved 2015-04-18.
  45. ^ Anson, Jack; Marchesani Jr., Robert F., eds. (1990). "VIII Fraternities That Are No More". Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities (20th ed.). Baird's Manual Foundation. p. 6. ISBN 0-9637159-0-9.
  46. ^ "The Emerald of Sigma Pi" (PDF). Sigma Pi Fraternity. 1965. pp. 86–88. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-04-16. Retrieved 2015-04-18.
  47. ^ "The Emerald of Sigma Pi" (PDF). Sigma Pi Fraternity. 1995. pp. 35–36. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-09-24. Retrieved 2015-08-28.
  48. ^ "About - Delta Kappa Kappa - Oswego, NY". Deltakappakappa.org. Archived from the original on 2015-04-02. Retrieved 2015-04-18.
  49. ^ Name * First Last. "Alumni Directory - Delta Kappa Fraternity of Ithaca College". Delta-kappa.com. Archived from the original on 2016-12-05. Retrieved 2016-10-26.
  50. ^ "Delta Kappa Beta Cortland". Archived from the original on 2016-03-12. Retrieved 2016-10-26.
  51. ^ Kaplan, Sean (November 11, 2007). "Grad Commands National Airways". The Lamron. Geneseo, New York. Archived from the original on October 19, 2020. Retrieved October 14, 2020.

External links edit

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