In the spring of 2014, Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP) invited Theta Chi Fraternity staff members to recolonize the Epsilon Eta Chapter. In June 2014, Executive Director Mike Mayer and Senior Director for Recruitment and Expansion JD Ford met with university officials and alumni to solidify the details.
In August 2014, then-Field Executive Tyrone Brooks and Field Executive Alex Nunchuck arrived at the IUP campus and began making contacts and forming an interest group.
On Sept. 27, 2014, ten men pledged Theta Chi Fraternity and were formally bound together as Epsilon Eta Colony in a recolonization ceremony held in Pierce Hall, the ROTC building on the IUP campus. More than 100 fraternity brothers, alumni, family members, ROTC representatives, Provost Timothy Moreland, and other university officials were present for the day’s events. Executive Director Mike Mayer presided over the ceremony. Tyrone Brooks served as Marshal and Alex Nunchuck served as Secretary. Colony Advisor, Brandon Zimmerman, Epsilon Eta/IUP 2006, also assisted with the ceremony. At the conclusion of the ceremony, a Citation of Honor was presented to Carl Amenhauser, Epsilon Eta/IUP 1967.
“Theta Chi has a proud history at IUP. The alumni of Epsilon Eta are extremely excited that Theta Chi is present on the campus once again. The events on September 27th really helped to ignite a new start for Theta Chi at IUP. A lot of hard work, time, and energy went into the process, and our alumni are truly grateful and appreciative to be back,” said Brandon Zimmerman.
This year’s Theta Chi Heroes Memorial Scholarship was awarded to top cadet Brad Butz of the ROTC program. A Citation of Honor was presented to Lt. Colonel David Meyer, who was the head of the ROTC when the alumni originally developed the scholarship, and to Bob Clarke (1969), who created the portraits of the fallen brothers that now hang in Pierce Hall and the Criminology building.
Following the recolonization ceremony, a luncheon was held at the Kovalchik Convention Center. Following the luncheon, alumni, undergraduates, staff members and guests gathered for a tailgate before the football game. All wore their red Theta Chi hats into the stadium. During the half time show, IUP football and baseball legend Gerald A. “Jerry” Clark (1969) was inducted into IUP’s Athletic Hall of Fame.
"We are still working with staff and community by setting up meetings and creating a better network and marketable fraternity as well as befriending the correct audience to make Epsilon Eta the best it can possibly be,” said Colony President Andrew Krakoff. “We are starting to work towards our first couple charitable events one being switching places with the president of the university for a day. In terms of recruitment, we are always making that our number one goal since it is the key to creating success,” said Krakoff.
Congratulations and Good Luck to Epsilon Eta Colony!
Delta Sigma Nu, a fraternity at Indiana State Teachers College in Indiana, PA, was installed as the Epsilon Eta Chapter of Theta Chi Fraternity on Nov. 2, 1957. Among the members of the installation committee were National President William F. Frantz; National Treasurer Ralph H. Griesemer; National Counselor Fred J. Holl; Executive Director George W. Chapman; Field Secretary Gavin A. Brown; and then-Regional Counselor Howard R. Alter Jr.,
Epsilon Eta Chapter flourished on IUP's campus for more than five decades and initiated nearly 1000 members. University recognition of the chapter was withdrawn in 2011, with Theta Chi staff members setting up plans for Epsilon Eta’s eventual return to IUP.
Founded as the State Teachers College at Indiana, PA, the school opened its doors in May 1875 with one building and 225 students. Today the 374-acre campus is a mixture of 63 old and new brick structures. The original building, John Sutton Hall, is listed on the national Register of Historic Places and stands at the heart of the campus. Student enrollment at IUP is nearly 15000 and is home to 33 fraternities and 16 sororities.