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Chapter Designation:
Address:
Chapter Letters:
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Alpha Kappa
112
Waverly St.
ΘΧ |
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Rush Chair Info: |
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Advisor Info: |
Dan Selby, Chapter Advisor
(304) 685-2444 (cell) |
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Local website:
National website: |
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WVU Charter Date:
Nat'l Founding Date:
Nat'l Headquarters: |
February 8, 1921
April 10, 1856
Indianapolis, IN |
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Colors:
Flower:
Mascot:
Symbols: |
Military Red & White
Red Carnation
Rattlesnake
Badge, Coat of Arms, New Member Button, Recognition Buttons, and Flag
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On the evening of April 10, 1856, Frederick Norton Freeman and Arthur P. Chase met in secret in Freeman's room found in the Old South Barracks. Both young men were cadets at Norwich University, a small military and engineering college in the hills of Vermont. Freeman, age seventeen, and Chase, age twenty, had been planning this occasion for some time. The two friends, who shared a high level of idealism and a set of common values, planned to bind themselves together in fellowship. They felt strongly that together, they could help each other be better men. With this in mind, at 9 o'clock they placed their hands on the Bible and initiated one another into the Theta Chi Fraternity.
February 8, 1921 is when the charter was given to install the Alpha Kappa Chapter of Theta Chi Fraternity on the West Virginia University campus. It was on March 19, 1921 that the officially instillation took place. Harry McGraw is the founding father for our chapter. For 86 years we have been providing excellence and service to the University and community. We have graduated doctors, lawyers, engineers, military officers, and computer engineers to name a few. We currently have brothers in all fields of study. Theta Chi is represented on the Engineering, Medical, and Downtown campuses. Our members are from all around the world. One brother is from the Philippines, one brother has lived in Japan, another in Germany, and we are well represented with brothers across the U.S. With all the different backgrounds, Theta Chi has an excellent collection of personalities, which leads to growth as a person. It also leads to networking, a huge additive that comes from a diverse fraternity. The biggest emphasis is that you will meet the best friends of your life in Theta Chi. These are the guys that will be by your side at your high points and your lows. If you go to any Theta Chi and ask for help, they will help you. Our motto is “Extend the helping hand.” Whether you just got initiated or you are a 90-year-old alumni, our doors are always open. We have four brothers who have won the Congressional Medal of Honor, Steven Spielberg a world famous film producer is an alumni, as well as Ross Greening and Harold Watson, two of the 32 pilots who participated in the famous Doolittle Raid in April 1942.
Foremost the process of becoming a member of Theta Chi begins with rush. During rush prospective new members meet brothers, see the house, learn information about the Fraternity, and have any questions answered. Then prospects that are seen by the chapter having the characteristics to make a good brother are given a bid card, which is nothing more than a lifetime invite to the Fraternity with no other commitment needed to be made. If the bid is accepted, the new member starts the pledging process. It is a 4-5 week process that entails learning information about Theta Chi. They learn our history, locally and nationally, our traditions, they learn about the offices and how operations are run, and most importantly we teach new members the meaning of brotherhood and respect. Don’t worry about pledging, WVU has a no hazing policy. Our goal is to make new members into brothers. Hazing doesn’t accomplish any good for the Fraternity and we do not condone it.
Theta Chi is a rapidly growing fraternity. It has undergone many changes over the past few years, but the traditions that have characterized Theta Chi Fraternity remain the same. Those include an emphasis on brotherhood, service to others, loyalty to alma mater, and striving to live up to our ideals. A few years ago we experienced some adverse situations, but have flourished since then. We had 9 initiates two years ago, 12 last year, and 17 this year. Currently there are 34 active brothers. On the national spectrum there are over 156,00 initiates, 214 installed chapters, 131 active chapters, and 11 colonies and interest groups.
Each semester there are opportunities to meet brothers from around the country. Our International Headquarters (IHQ) holds Mid-year Leadership Conferences (MYLC) held at chapters around the country. These involve educational services to help improve chapter operations. Every two years there is a National Conference during the summer that involve elections, legislative sessions, and educational meetings similar to those held at MYLC’s. Nationals also publishes a magazine called The Rattle that is published once a semester. The Rattle acknowledges the accomplishments of alumni as well as informs chapters of current activity going on in the national headquarters.
Our nationals offers multiple scholarships each year and range from $500 to a couple thousand dollars. The amount depends upon the funds available for scholarship. Scholarship within the chapter is upheld with weekly study hours. Opportunities are available to all members to apply for various awards. One award is called the James Ralph “Shug” Jordan Award in honor of Brother Jordan who led the University of Auburn to a football national championship in 1957. The award goes to a worthy candidate who exemplifies scholarship, athletics, and service to Fraternity. Many other individual and chapter awards are available.
AUGUST
- Friday August 17th - Cookout at 174 Grant St. It is a white house on the same side of the street as Summit. If you are coming from Summit, it is the first house you will hit if you walk towards Life Sciences. If coming from Life Sciences it is the last house before Summit.
- Monday, August 20th - Fall Fest activities starting at 4 pm. Come hang out with the Brothers and enjoy free food at the house. Then head down to the Green to enjoy the performances.
- Tuesday, August 28th – Smoker at the house. Relax and enjoy cigars while getting to know the Brothers. Starts at 7 pm.
SEPTEMBER
- Saturday, September 1st – TAILGATE! Meet at the house an hour before the Pitt opens or meet us at the Pitt to kick off the Mountaineer football season against Western Michigan.
The Fall is a fun time because we attend the football games, but just as much fun is tailgating in the pit. We try to get everyone up to the house by 8am where we hangout and head to the pit around 9. They are great times that really help bring out the college game day experience. Of course we have fun social events. Sometimes we have themed parties downtown or at someone’s house with sororities. Other times we have date parties either downtown or at the house. In the spring we hold our formal. The past few years it has been held at Wheeling Island Casino. It is a blast and new experience each and every year. In the fall and spring semester we have brotherhood retreats. We go camping for a weekend and it is a time where we all get to know each other a lot better. It is also a time where we brainstorm new ideas to help improve the Fraternity.
Every April we have ΘX Roast. It is our Founders Day celebration. It is to celebrate the beginning of our Fraternity. It is a weekend long celebration that involves a party, golf tournament, and a pig roast. It is also an alumni and parents weekend. We also have an alumni and parents weekend during the fall semester on homecoming weekend.
Dodge, Dip, Duck, Dive, and Dodge. Five words that sum up our philanthropy.
Each year sororities participate in a dodgeball tournament to raise money for the National Leukemia Foundation. The philanthropic event is done in memory of our late brother, Steven Landis, who died from leukemia. This past year we raised over $600. Money is raised from team fees to participate in the tournament, clothing sales, and coin collections that take place all week long in the MountainLair (WVU's student union). It is a fun week of friendly competition that raises money for a great cause.
At the end of the week we have sweetheart interviews. Each sorority sends a sister to our house; we interview them, and vote on which lady will best fill the role of our chapter sweetheart. For the past three years the philanthropy event has been dodgeball, but we are always looking for new ideas for great events. The goal each year is to raise as much money as possible for a worthy cause.
Associate Member Financial Obligations
Associate Member Fall Dues (Fall 2007): Total = $250
- $60 National New Member Fee. Pays for The Manual of Theta Chi Fraternity, the workbook, and new member buttons. This fee is due during the second week of pledging.
- $250 initiation fee is due before or on the day of initiation. This fee is sent to International Headquarters (IHQ) and covers the membership badge, certificate (shingle), and membership card..
Active Member Financial Obligations
New Brother Dues for Spring (Spring 2008): Total = $300
- $149 is for IHQ to pay for insurance.
- $70 is for IHQ to pay for rechartering fees.
- The remaining $81 is for chapter operation fees that include house phone, philanthropies, social events, house maintenance and other operations.
Brother Dues for following Fall semester (Fall 2008):
Living in house: $300
Living out of house: $450
- Each brother is encouraged to live in the house pending in-house room availability for two undergraduate years.
- Dues are paid in four cycles during each semester either online or by mail through Omega Financial services.
- After living in-house for at least one year, brothers will still pay the in-house dues of $300 even if they live out of the house.
- Out of house brothers who pay in full at the beginning of each semester receive a $50 discount. (i.e. only pay $400 for the semester)
- For further financial information or questions, contact our treasurer Bobby Phillips at 973-787-4184.
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