Past President’s Report Theta Chapter’s Return will Require Your Help

Theta Brothers,
In the March 2001 Theta Data, I wrote, as president of the Alumni Association, about the status of the chapter as seen through the eyes of the Alumni Executive Board. We had many real concerns at that time about the future of our great chapter. A combination of circumstances brought us to a critical juncture by the end of the school year in May as to what our options really were. Major points included undergraduate (actives) behavior, OWU Greek rules and requirements, and the position of the General Fraternity at Oxford. It was because of these we needed to act before heading toward 2001-2002 with a very small undergraduate group and a proven lack of commitment. It was at this point we came to the decision to close the chapter and surrender the physical house use to OWU. Under these conditions, the chapter is suspended/disbanded but the Charter is not revoked, allowing for a possible return to campus sometime in the future.

There were understandable comments and criticism from a few Theta alumni, but also substantial wide support from others for our action. Our house was given to Alpha Sig whose members were living in the dorms. We understand they spent about $200,000 on renovation. Pledging for this year has just concluded with approximately 100 freshmen pledged (compared with 86 last year) to the 11 remaining national houses on campus. Several other houses are at risk due to size of their chapters, financial and other problems. It is logical that further chapter losses are possible on campus.

What is our future at OWU? As dictated by the General Fraternity, new chapters can only be colonized as “Men Of Principle” houses. To do that requires a substantial organizing effort by the alumni. Miami Alpha has done it over the past four to five years. They started with five men and now have well over fifty undergraduates and a large and strong pledge class. It can be done and our goal is to position Theta, if possible, to attempt such a return. Alumni support in many ways will be needed to do it. As the Theta Alumni Association communicates with you in the future, they will lay out plans for your consideration.

~ Dick DeVos ’54

Dick DeVos ’54