Theta Chi Re-Colonizing Eta Alpha Chapter at Clemson University

The Colonization Ceremony for the Eta Alpha Interest Group will take place on Saturday, October 17, 2009 at 9:30 AM in the Student Sentate Chambers on the Clemson University campus. The Eta Alpha Chapter was active at Clemson from 1970 until 2001.

Past National President Jim McEachern will be conducting the ceremony. There will also be representatives from International Headquarters of Theta Chi in attendance along with Eta Alpha alumnus members and members from other chapters.

Following the ceremony, members enjoy tailgating on the Greek Quad. The Clemson Tigers will be taking on the Wake Forest Deamon Deacons--will any brothers from Gamma Omicron be making the trip down to "Death Valley?"

If you would like to attend, please email Dan Lepper, the graduate advisor at Lepper@Clemson.edu .

Theta Chi is IU's BMOC--Again!

For the second year in a row, a brother from the Alpha Iota chapter at Indiana University is the winner of the Zeta Tau Alpha's "Big Man On Campus" philanthropy event.

Brother Tyler Webb, pictured at left, raised $18,000 in the fight against breast cancer.

The "BMOC" event raises more money that any other event by a single Greek chapter in the United States.

You can read full coverage of the event at the Indiana Daily Student website.

The National Eagle thanks Peter Stevenson of the IDS for the use of his photo above.

Brother Chad Ellsworth Elected President of HazingPrevention.org

Brother Chad Ellsworth, Alpha Upsilon/University of Nebraska-Lincoln ’01 has been elected President of the Board of Directors of HazingPrevention.org

"I'm humbled to be the president of the board of directors for HazingPrevention.Org, a group that includes representatives from fraternities and sororities, including three current or past fraternity and sorority international presidents, athletics, marching bands, renowned experts and speakers, and of course our very own brother Dave Westol," said Brother Ellsworth.

"In addition to its Web resources, HazingPrevention.org sponsors the Interdisciplinary Institute for Hazing Intervention, a training opportunity for administrators, coaches, educators, law enforcement personnel, and others; as well as the National Hazing Symposium, which brings practitioners and researchers together to develop a national agenda for hazing prevention," added Ellsworth.

Brother Ellsworth own experience in taking a stand against hazing is actually what led him to Theta Chi.

"Theta Chi brothers extended a helping hand to me - even though I was a member of a different fraternity at the time. Brothers Chris Wegener, Joe Kopp, and Trevor Johnson moved me out of another chapter house in the middle of the night after I stood up against hazing in that organization. They demonstrated true brotherhood, and inspired me to become involved in the anti-hazing movement, said Brother Ellsworth."

Professionally, Brother Ellsworth is the Coordinator of the Office for Fraternity and Sorority Life at the University of Minnesota. In 2007 he was name an "Anti-Hazing Hero" by HazingPrevention.org

Theta Chi Fraternity has long taken a stance against hazing. The Fraternity's policy on hazing states:

Theta Chi is based on the belief that true fraternalism is nurtured in an atmosphere of social and moral responsibility, respect for duly constituted authority, and loyalty to the principles and values of higher education.

Theta Chi is also based on the understanding that while social behavior cannot be legislated, a fraternity without morally sound precepts and practices is not a constructive influence upon college men.

Theta Chi is further based on the belief that a fraternity has a solemn obligation to develop its new members, initiates and alumni, and that this responsibility extends alike to the institutions where the Fraternity is represented. This obligation also extends to parents and others who make possible the education of new members and initiates as well as the communities where chapters are accountable for good citizenship. Finally this obligation is also owed to the college fraternity system of which Theta Chi is a part.

Theta Chi is also based on the firm conviction that one of the most damaging instruments to the fraternity system is the employment of a new member education program which includes hazing, and that this unproductive, ridiculous, and hazardous custom has no place in the fraternity system.

Furthermore, hazing is expressly prohibited by the Constitution & Bylaws of Theta Chi Fraternity, which states:

ARTICLE V, SECTION 11. HAZING PROHIBITED.

The Fraternity prohibits absolutely all physical hazing, paddling, uncalled-for humiliation, and public display in connection with pledging and pre-initiatory activities, and subscribes to the National Interfraternity Conference resolutions and the Fraternity Executives Association’s “Statement of Position on Hazing and Pre-initiatory Activities” which condemn all forms of hazing in connection with pledge/New Member education and pre-initiatory activities. The active chapters shall carry out the Fraternity’s 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 pledges/New Members and to instill a finer type of loyalty thereby. The Fraternity prohibits all forms of public initiation, and pre-initiatory and initiation activities shall not be permitted to interfere in any way with the scholastic obligations or class attendance of those involved.

Theta Chi Fraternity is a Gold level sponsor of HazingPrevention.org.