In February of 2014, Sr. Director of Recruitment and Expansion JD Ford delivered an expansion presentation to the University of Texas - El Paso Interfraternity Council and University Officials discussing the possibilities of starting a chapter of Theta Chi Fraternity there. On April 8, 2014, the IFC extended an invitation for Theta Chi to expand onto the UTEP campus beginning in fall 2014.
In late August 2014, Field Executives Darien Key and Chris Barker arrived on campus and began contacting various students to form an interest group. After an interest group of ten men had been established, the Field Executves began to instruct them on the procedures of operating as a fraternity and becoming a Theta Chi colony.
On Sept. 22, 2014, 15 men pledged Theta Chi Fraternity at the University of Texas-El Paso in a ceremony held at the Hilton Garden Inn El Paso. Field Executive Chris Barker, presided with Darien Key, serving as Marshal and Secretary for the ceremony.
In attendance were UTEP Coordinator of Student Activities, Fraternity/Sorority Life, Kristy Pacheco, and sororities, Alpha Sigma Alpha and Alpha Xi Delta. Alpha Sigma Alpha brought red and white frosted cupcakes and a card signed by all of their members for the new colony.
“There was a high turnout of family, friends and two sororities,” said Barker. “We had people standing in the back because the room was so packed. It was great to see such a turnout,” he said.
A reception followed the ceremony. Guests mingled for more than an hour and got to meet the members of the new colony.
“It is a huge deal for me that we have reached colony status,” said UTEP Colony President, Matthew Palfreeman. “I never saw myself joining a fraternity let alone founding one,” he said.
“Prior to becoming a colony we went to UTEP's biggest prep rally of the year called "Minerpalooza,” said Palfreeman. “We went around to the different organizations on campus and introduced ourselves as a Theta Chi interest group. We were also asked to participate in UTEP's Homecoming by a sorority, Alpha Xi Delta, and a fraternity, Lambda Chi. What this entails is a series of competitions between different organizations on campus for points, which are eventually added up and a winner is declared. The competitions include things like lip syncing contest to float designing and building. What is so big about this is - if we were to win, it would be Theta Chi's first win at homecoming as a colony, and because this is also UTEP's centennial year, it is a huge deal,” Palfreeman added.
“It has been a pleasure to have been a part of this project and see the rapid growth of the members throughout a very compact time span with Darien and myself,” said Barker. “All members were eager for the opportunity to forge a strong fraternity at UTEP to enhance Greek life and create a stronger presence in the community. The gentlemen we have left in charge we believe will lead the colony to achieving their vision and admirations. Recruiting men all above a 3.0 grade point average, who were all very service driven wanting to give back to the El Paso community, while also being involved and leaders in the UTEP community is a recope for continual success we hope can be a model for other chapters to follow for years to come,” Barker added.
“As we continue to build into a chapter we are looking to become the best on campus. We want to better Greek life here at UTEP,” said Palfreeman. Another goal of ours is to have the best GPA of any organization on campus. As of now with our 18 guys, I believe our GPA sits in the 3.6 range. We are also working on planning our first philanthropy event,” he said.
The University of Texas El Paso opened its door in 1914 as the State School of Mines and Metallurgy. In 1919, the school name was changed to the University of Texas Department of Mines and Metallurgy, when it was made a branch of the University of Texas by act of the Texas State Legislature. In 1920, it was changed to the Texas College of Mines and Metallurgy (TCM). TCM's students painted a large "M" for Miners on the Franklin Mountains in 1923; this was later moved to a site adjacent to the Sun Bowl Stadium in the 1960s where it remains today. The school's name was changed again in 1949, to Texas Western College of the University of Texas (TWC). Notable events at TWC have included the training in 1961 of the nation’s first Peace Corps class, the construction of Sun Bowl Stadium in 1963, and the winning of the NCAA Men's Basketball Championship in 1966. The school's name changed for the last time In 1967, to the current University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP).
Because of the geographic location of the campus on the US-Mexico border, UTEP has allowed generations of students to pursue a higher education in one of the largest binational communities in the world. In the university’s 100 year history, enrollment has grown from 27 mining students to a student population of more than 23,000. UTEP is home to seven sororities and five fraternities.