TRUSTEE, HOUSE CORPORATION
I believe the Theta chapter’s future is at a crossroads. On the eve of the chapter’s 150th anniversary, we are faced with decisions that are equal in magnitude to the decision to disband the chapter. I will always agree that the alumni made the right decision even though many may have thought otherwise. The chapter was a risk and had no real hope of correcting all the operational issues it faced.
I know that the closure of the chapter and how it was handled has led to some skepticism and mistrust of the Ohio Wesleyan University administration, but we must not dwell on the past and instead look to the future. The future that I hope for is one that has an active chapter in Delaware, Ohio.
We have been lucky because we have been able to sustain communication between alumni since the chapter’s disbandment. Eventually this communication will begin to wither without continual chapter activity. I have begun to sense that we have seen the peak and have begun the downward slope of communication. If we lose communication between alumni we will be stuck in a difficult position, one that makes recolonization nearly impossible.
Can we have a successful return to Ohio Wesleyan? Yes, we can have a stronger chapter, one that we all can be proud of if we work together and one that will be fully partnered with the Men of Principle Initiative. Upon our initiations we took seven obligations to which we willingly agreed. One obligation was that we would forever uphold the Theta chapter as a chapter of Beta Theta Pi. It is now time that we once again pledge ourselves to this obligation. So how do we go about recolonizing the chapter? The first step is that we must strengthen the lines of communication between our members while reconnecting with the General Fraternity and Ohio Wesleyan University. Discussions need to take place about the future of the chapter between our alumni. Further we must keep communicating with the administration, both Dean Delaney and the new staff members in charge of Greek Affairs and develop with them a plan to return to campus. The second step is that we must have dedicated alumni who are willing to serve as advisors for the chapter once it is recolonized. The advisors will help the chapter achieve long term success by mentoring the undergraduate members. The advisory team can be developed as we move along in the process. There are many questions that surround a recolonization at OWU. For instance, is a chapter house necessary? Many would say yes, I say no. Beta Theta Pi has had many successful colonies start without housing. Nowhere does it say that a chapter of Beta Theta Pi is a sole product of its house. The house is just bricks and mortar while the chapter consists of men. The chapter is the more important of the two. Another question is, how will we be received if we start recolonization efforts? That is a question I do not have the answer for, but that is why it is so important to stay involved with the University. We have a number of things that will help us. We are the first fraternity to be founded at OWU. We have had numerous alumni who have played important roles in both the Fraternity and the University. We will bring something new to the campus —a fraternity who is grounded in the values of their organization and whose members truly are about bettering themselves and the community.
Which way will the Theta chapter take at the crossroads? Will it return to prominence at OWU or will it stay dormant for many years to come? The bottom line is that if we want the chapter to return, the drive must come from us, the members of the Theta chapter. I will forever uphold the Theta chapter as a chapter of Beta Theta Pi. What about you? For more information about the recolonization process please look at the Convention 2002 issue of the Beta Theta Pi magazine. If you are interested in assisting in the Theta Chapter recolonization effort or have questions please contact me at eeickhoff@wooglin.com.
Respectfully submitted in –kaiEric John Eickhoff
Senior Education Consultant
Ohio Wesleyan 2000
~1641~ Theta Chapter
Eric John Eickhoff graduated from Ohio Wesleyan in December of 2000. During his four and a half years at OWU, Eric was involved with both the Inter-Fraternity Council and the Theta chapter, holding multiple positions in each organization. He was the recipient of the 2000 Spirit of Eos award, given by the Panhellenic and InterFraternity Councils. He was also initiated into Phi Alpha Theta and Phi Sigma Tau honorary societies. Upon graduation, he accepted a job with Beta Theta Pi General Fraternity, serving as an education consultant. Eric still holds this position, traveling the Northeast region. Currently residing in Oxford, Ohio, Eric is originally from Pepper Pike, Ohio.
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