Hillsdale’s Delta Phi Alpha honorary receives thirteen new inductees during their Oktoberfest celebration. Courtesy | Wikipedia

Thirteen students joined Hillsdale’s chapter of Delta Phi Alpha at the German department’s Oktoberfest celebration Sept. 29.

The event took place at Assistant Professor of German Jeffrey Hertel’s house, where attendees ate German food and conversed in German.

Hertel said this year was the fourth year he has hosted the department’s Oktoberfest celebration.

“It’s a chance for the German department to get together and foster the German culture on campus,” he said.

Senior Brendan Henzel said he thinks Oktoberfest is a wonderful opportunity to practice language skills gathered in the classroom.

“Oktoberfest is great because in the class German is always really academic, but Oktoberfest helps you to get the social aspect, which is a huge part of any language,” Henzel said.

Henzel said he went to Oktoberfest his freshman year and every year after that, and that his interest in German was a surprise to even him when he started to become involved with the department.

“I’m a double major,” Henzel said. “I was just going to do the German minor, but then I realized that I might as well major in German too, because it only required four more classes and they were all classes I was already enjoying.”

Sophomore Zachary Briley, a new DPA inductee, said he enjoyed the food and the community.

“This is actually my first Oktoberfest, and it’s pretty great,” Briley said.

According to Hertel, Oktoberfest is also a chance for students in the 201 course or higher to join DPA.

“It’s also good since we get to welcome new members to Delta Phi Alpha and to celebrate everything we do here,” Hertel said.

Oktoberfest is one of two events during the year when students can become members of DPA, the other being Grillfest in the spring.

“I’m excited to get to wear a pin that’s not an American flag,” Briley said.

The celebration had Bratwurst, potato salad, pretzels, and Dr. Yaniga’s home-brewed beer for those above 21.

Briley said he was especially excited about the pretzels.

“German is one of those cultures where you can actually celebrate with good food, unlike in one of those French class celebrations or something,” Briley said.

Hertel said that he appreciates the chance to gather that such a staple of German cultural tradition offers.

 “We have a vibrant, lovely German community, and this is an expression of that,” Hertel said.