The following recap of the re-installation of Epsilon Tau/Stephen F. Austin State University was sent in by former Theta Chi Leadership & Education Consultant Gary Holverson, Epsilon Tau/SFASU '91Theta Chi made its triumphant return to Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas on May 9th, 2009. Following a record-breaking eight month expansion period including just four months as a colony, the group organized by Expansion Coordinators Phillip Burns - Iota Lambda/Longwood University, and Corey Fischer - Iota Beta/Missouri State, was installed as the Epsilon Tau Chapter.
On the evening of May 8th, 37 Pledges of the Colony including three alumnus members, were initiated into Theta Chi Fraternity in the Austin Ballroom of the Clarion Inn in Nacogdoches, TX. The Alumni Charge was administered by two Epsilon Tau Alumni; Jerry Bristow, uncle to the undergraduate Recruitment Chairman Kyle Bristow, and Jim Wark an original founding-father of the chapter.
Undergraduate Initiates were; Jonathan Albarado, Kevin Arnold, Justin Blair, Kyle Bristow, Jonathan Carr, Danny (DJ) Currington, Andy Dawkins, RobbyHale, Ronnie Hall, Kevin Hickey, Erick Jenkins, James Jenkins, Nathon Jones, Carl Kalmick, Justin Knight, Jarrett Luthy, Anthony Martin, Geoff Miller, James Miller, Josh Norris, James Parrish, Eric Phelps, Stephen Ptaszek, Billy Reese, Brice Rodrigues, Casey Roe, Scott Shuman, Brandt Silvi, Jamal Smith, Darren Stewart, Cody St.John, Hunter Throckmorton, Brad Whitworth, Lucas Windham.
At 10:30 am Saturday May Ninth, 2009 the chapter installation ceremony began also in the Austin Ballroom of the Clarion Inn. Shortly before noon, surrounded by mysterious circumstances, the Epsilon Tau interest group had slowly slipped from existence. In its place nearby was found alumni spanning over four decades with visiting undergraduate brothers along side the members of the newly re-chartered chapter of Theta Chi Fraternity.
National Marshal of the Grand Chapter, Brian Hall of Theta Eta / Sam Houston State University served as Installing Officer for the occasion.
Other representatives of the International Fraternity serving on the Installation Committee were; Terry Johnson – National Historian of the Grand Chapter, Gamma Pi / State Univ. of New York in Buffalo, Ben Hill – Director of Undergraduate Services for IHQ, Eta Kappa Chapter at James Madison University, Alan Carter – Regional Director, Charter Member of Eta Omicron / Northwestern State James Guillory – Regional Counselor, Theta Rho / McNeese State University, Jeremy Higgins – Director of Risk Management for SFASU, Theta Eta/Sam Houston State University and Expansion Coordinators Phillip Burns and Corey Fischer.
The Installation Committee also consisted of Undergraduate Brothers from the following Chapters: Delta Mu / University of Texas, Eta Omicron / Northwestern State University, Eta Rho / Centenary College of Louisiana, Theta Rho / McNeese State University, Iota Delta / Southeastern Louisiana University. In comments following the ceremony, with the exception of Delta Mu which was established prior to 1961, visiting undergraduate brothers commented that their roster books listed members of Epsilon Tau as honorary chapter members in attendance at each of their home chapter's installation.
A luncheon followed the Chapter Installation at 1:00 pm at the Piney Woods Country Club. Darren Stewart - Epsilon Tau / Senior 2009 Introduced the Master of Ceremonies, Gary Holverson from the Colony Advisory Board. James Jenkins - Epsilon Tau / Senior 2009 gave the Invocation. Alumnus Brother Michael Clifton said a few words in memory of his pledge brother Larry Alexander – Fall 1980 who passed to the Chapter Eternal just 30 days before. Terry Johnson – National Historian said a few words in memory of Howard Alter – Executive Director Emeritus who passed to the Chapter Eternal earlier in the morning. Kevin Hickey - Epsilon Tau / Senior 2009 introduced the following University Faculty / Staff:
• Beverly Farmer – Director of Student Activities,
• Jonathan Elder – Coordinator of Student Organizations and Greek Life,
• Amanda Horne – Coordinator of Student Activities Association and
• Jeremy Higgins – Director of Risk Management and Chapter Faculty Advisor.
Kevin Arnold (Mr. SFA 2009) - Epsilon Tau / Senior 2009 read a letter from Baker Pattillo, University President congratulating the new chapter. Brian Hall – National Marshal and Terry Johnson – National Historian presented Citation of Honor awards to Jeremy Higgins, Gary Holverson, James Crow, George Reese and John Ward for their efforts to re-establish the chapter at SFASU. Erick Jenkins - Epsilon Tau/Senior 2009 closed the luncheon by leading the group in singing "Dear Old Theta Chi".
Also, of note, in attendance at the luncheon was Lauren Spencer, President of the Zeta Tau Alpha chapter at Stephen F. Austin, and Lauren Clifton, daughter of Brother Michael Clifton also representing Zeta Tau Alpha.
It seems not quite ironic, but almost fitting that the day of our Executive Director Emeritus Howard Alter's passing into the Chapter Eternal, that Epsilon Tau was reinstated as a chapter. Our hope is that our rebirth as an active chapter of Theta Chi will honor Brother Alter by not only becoming the chapter that it once was, but to become the chapter that Howard inspired all chapters to be.
The Epsilon Tau Chapter was removed from campus by the Grand Chapter in 2001 for risk management violations. Recently the University, already familiar with Theta Chi's risk management standards and long standing leadership within the North-American Interfraternity Conference, invited IHQ to re-establish the chapter at SFASU.
Fraternally,
Gary Holverson, Epsilon Tau/SFASU '91
The Epsilon Zeta Chapter at the University of Tampa has been doing some great work at Shriner's Orthopedic Hospital for Children.
