History

The Rebirth of the Theta-Tau Chapter at Wake Forest University

Lambda Chi Alpha is at the same time one of the oldest and one of the newest fraternities at Wake Forest.  Originally, the fraternity was founded in 1924 as a chapter of  Theta Kappa Nu. It was not until 1939, during the largest merger in fraternity history, that that the chapter became Theta-Tau Zeta of Lambda Chi Alpha. For the next forty years, the chapter had an exemplary record of culturing outstanding students and preparing them for a life of service and success. Within the Wake Forest Community, such students include our very own Chaplain Ed Christman, and Dr. Duke B. Weeks of the Department of Anesthesiology at the Wake Forest Medical School. Also, Brothers Mike Queen and Bruce Gupton have served the Wake Forest community as members of the Board of Trustees.  Beyond the walls of Wake, Brothers of Theta-Tau have contributed much of their lives to the public good such as Justice I. Beverly Lake (left) of the North Carolina Supreme Court and Justice James Thomas Turner, a Federal Judge on the US Court of Claims in Washington DC. Also, Brother Norris McDonald has played a prominent role in the Environmental Justice Movement, an initiative that combined issues of the civil rights movement and the task of ensuring minorities did not bear a disproportionate amount of pollution in their communities. In addition, many brothers of Theta-Tau have gone onto successful careers such as Brother James Perdue, CEO of Perdue Chicken, the third largest chicken distributor in the country.

In 1984, as a result of a mutual decision by the national organization and the administration, the chapter's charter was revoked and Theta-Tau was designated inactive. It was not until ten years later in 1994 that an interest group was formed leading to the eventual recolonization of Lambda Chi Alpha at Wake Forest University. The group, known as The Chis, was not satisfied with the current status quo of fraternities and set out to redefine the meaning of fraternal experience. It was with this reasoning that The Chis adopted the stance as a substance free organization in the hope that brothers would be able to focus on brotherhood and serving the community. Although many people helped the foundation of the interest group, there were five main leaders. They were Brian Cornell, a brother who transferred from George Washington University, Keith Rugh, who graduated as a brother from Wake Forest in 1996, Cameron Pierce, who transferred to North Carolina State University in the Spring of 1995, George Scott, who became the first High Alpha of the reinstalled fraternity, and Rob Brachowski, who graduated as a brother in 1997. Before Lambda Chi Alpha was re-colonized, the interest group was very active on campus, hosting events from athletics to dances, and cookouts to philanthropic events.

In order for Lambda Chi Alpha to again be officially recognized by the university, a four step process of chartering and organization had to be completed. The first step involved gaining the approval of the Chartering Committee of Student Government. This process involved drafting a constitution and a set of by-laws that met both Lambda Chi Alpha's and Wake Forest's requirements. Next, the general membership of the student government had to vote on whether or not they felt that the ideas and mission of the prospective organization were something that the students truly wanted and would benefit from at Wake Forest. These two steps were successfully completed and the process of chartering an organization advanced to the third stage.

The third stage of the process involved gaining the support of the Student Life Committee, a university committee comprised of faculty, staff, and students. This was one of the more complex stages in the process due to the rising anti-Greek sentiment among faculty and staff. Ultimately, the committee decided that Lambda Chi Alpha would enhance Greek life at Wake Forest because of the positive differences and influences between Lambda Chi Alpha and other Greek organizations. The fourth and final stage of the chartering of a campus organization required the support of the Faculty Senate. To aid in this effort, Lambda Chi enlisted the support of Dr. Mark Leary, a renowned psychology professor and very respected member of the faculty. He convinced the faculty that Lambda Chi would be a worthwhile addition to the campus and the faculty voted to allow Lambda Chi Alpha to re-colonize on the campus, pending the approval of the Grand High Zeta, the ruling body of the National Fraternity.

Following the national fraternity's approval, Greg Younghans, a Regional Leadership Director for the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity, came to Wake Forest in January of 1995 to help re-establish Theta-Tau. He assisted in setting up the offices, approve the membership group, and to help with Lambda Chi's first experience participating in IFC's Spring Rush. In January of 1995, twenty four students were initiated in the first class of the new Theta-Tau colony. The High Point University chapter performed both the Associate Membership ceremony and the Initiation ceremony for the group. Upon completion of the Initiation ceremony, the High Point chapter of Lambda Chi Alpha presented us with a bible, which is still used in our ceremonies today.

For the next three years, Lambda Chi Alpha strove to gain notoriety and stability on campus. Providing additional direction and support to the colony was Brother Dan Anthony, an alum of Miami University of Ohio and a practicing attorney in the Winston-Salem area, who served as the colony's first High Pi (alumni advisor). The early founders discovered the task to be an arduous one without a tower displaying the fraternity's letters, nor a lounge to call a place of their own. Both of which were necessities that all other fraternities on campus took for granted. Some of the Brothers made their temporary home in the halls of Luter Residence Hall and held their meetings in classroom 104 of Wingate Hall, now the main office of the Divinity School. However, in the fall of 1998, with the diligence of Brother Samuel Newlands and Brother Tim Fisher, the High Alpha (President) at the time, the university granted to the fraternity a tower in Davis Residence Hall and a lounge underneath the Sundry Shop. Finally, after fourteen years, the letters of Lambda Chi Alpha returned to the campus of Wake Forest University.

Throughout this time, the young colony published the Theta Tauker in an attempt to reach out to the alumni of Theta Tau's past. Slowly but surely, the alumni responded. In the summer of 1999, Brother James Steadman, '64, contacted the colony and expressed the desire to hold a 50's and 60's reunion during Homecoming weekend. The idea was well received by the undergraduate brotherhood and resulted in a successful Reunion that included a golf tournament, a tailgate party, a presentation from the undergraduate brotherhood, and an alumni banquet.  The Homecoming weekend, however, accomplished much more than reliving shared memories and catching up with old friends. It sparked an interest to form an alumni association that would benefit both the alumni as well as the undergraduate brotherhood. On December 2, 1999, the Theta Tau Alumni Association, Inc. (TTAA) was founded; Brother Walter Murray, '63, would be its first president.

One of the first undertakings of the new association was to inform and enthuse the alumni of Theta Tau through the first color publication of the Theta Tauker. This feat was made possible by the generous donation of technical assistance and printing supplies by Brother David Bright, '59. Within this newsletter, the association's objectives were outlined and described their intent to maintain a formalized network of alumni and to give support to the undergraduate chapter, whether it be in the form of guidance or financial assistance. In the following months, the alumni held regional dinners and began to send in their registrations elevating the association's membership to well over one hundred active members and growing.

The road to receiving a national charter and receiving chapter status from the National Fraternity involved the fulfillment of twelve standards. Early on, the colony had met eleven of the twelve, but struggled to achieve the last standard of acquiring forty men. However, the colony did succeed in replacing their membership as brothers graduated and maintained an average of twenty-five members. Throughout the colony's history, despite not filling the final standard, Theta-Tau constantly received favorable reports from visiting Educational Leadership Consultants and were described as being more efficient and financially sound than many other existing chapters.  In the Spring of 2000, with the increased support from the alumni association and a proven record of success, the Grand High Zeta granted a national charter to the colony elevating it to the status of Theta Tau Zeta, an official chapter of Lambda Chi Alpha. Click here for photos from the Chartering Celebration.

Since recharterting, the Chapter has continued to excel, particularly in academics, chapter operations, campus involvement, and community service. In 2003, Theta-Tau received the Grand High Alpha award, the most prestigious honor that the national fraternity can bestow upon a chapter.

*excerpts from a history by Brother Rob Brachowski

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