Theta Chi Fraternity (ΘΧ) is an international college fraternity. It was founded on April 10, 1856 as the Theta Chi Society, at Norwich University, Norwich, Vermont, U.S., and was the 21st of the 71 North-American Interfraternity Conference men's fraternities.

History[link]

Founding and early years at Norwich[link]

Theta Chi was founded on April 10, 1856, at Norwich University in Norwich, Vermont, by two military cadets, Frederick Norman Freeman and Arthur Chase. A third man, Egbert Phelps, is considered to be the "assistant founder" for lending his help and advice to Freeman and Chase although he was never an undergraduate member himself (he was a member of the Chi Psi Fraternity). The first initiates after the founders were Edward Bancroft Williston, Frederick Howard Farrar, Ridge Hudson, and Lorenzo Potter. Theta Chi's early history is closely connected to the history of Norwich University. In 1866 a massive fire devastated the University, completely destroying the Old South Barracks, where the Fraternity had been founded. This disaster prompted the University to move from Norwich, Vermont to its present location in Northfield, Vermont. During fall quarter in 1881, Norwich University was reduced to only 12 students and Theta Chi membership was reduced to one undergraduate member, James M. Holland. In November of that year, Phil S. Randall and Henry Hersey approached Holland and insisted that they be allowed to join Theta Chi; Holland agreed, thus saving the Fraternity from extinction.

Growth[link]

The Fraternity was incorporated in Vermont in 1888, and acquired its first chapter house two years later. However, it remained a single entity for 46 years until Beta Chapter was installed at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1902. A Grand Chapter was organized in 1908 to direct the fraternity and promote its growth. In 1942, Beta Kappa Fraternity joined Theta Chi, bringing 16 undergraduate chapters and over 6,000 undergraduate and alumnus members into the ranks. The Foundation Chapter was established in 1953 as a charity to provide educational scholarships and assistance. In 1965, the Zeta Gamma Chapter was installed at the University of Alberta in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, making Theta Chi an international fraternity.

Headquarters[link]

Initially, the Alpha Chapter and Grand Chapter volunteered to maintain all records of the Fraternity until 1923, when the first Executive Office was established in New York City. In 1928, the headquarters was moved to Huntington, West Virginia. In 1932, the headquarters moved again, this time to Trenton, New Jersey. Since 1990, Theta Chi Fraternity's headquarters office has been located in Indianapolis, IN.

Ideals, traditions, and symbols[link]

The Greek motto of Theta Chi is Θηρόποσα Χείρ, which is translated as "An Assisting Hand."^[1] Theta Chi's motto was secret from the founding in 1856 until the 1930s, at which time it was made public and incorporated into the fraternity's coat of arms.

When Freeman and Chase founded Theta Chi in 1856 they very clearly spelled out the purpose of the Fraternity in the original Constitution. Article I stated that the objects of Theta Chi were to “bind by closer bonds the members to each other and the mutual assistance of each of its members;” “the advancement and carrying out of any measures at the institution in which it shall be established which shall be of importance to its members,” and “the mutual benefit and improvement of all its members.”

The Fraternity's maxim is "Alma Mater First and Theta Chi for Alma Mater," and refers to one of the founding ideals of the Fraternity: loyalty to one's college or university over the course of one's lifetime.

The Fraternity's colors are military red and white. Its flower is the red carnation. The national alumni publication is The Rattle, named for the rattlesnake that appears on the Fraternity's coat of arms and badge. It has become a Theta Chi tradition to celebrate Founders Day on April 10, usually as an alumni gathering.

Badge of Theta Chi[link]

The original Theta Chi badge was designed by Egbert Phelps, assistant founder of the Fraternity, sometime before the founding date. The records show that the first badges were ordered by Freeman from a Boston jeweler on April 12, two days after the founding.

Coat of Arms[link]

Sometimes mistakenly called the crest, the Fraternity Coat of Arms consists of a gold shield with a red bend containing two downward pointing swords and a knotted rattlesnake, surmounting a scroll bearing the date of the Fraternity's founding and the motto in Greek. An esquire's helmet sits on top, on which stands a gold eagle.

According to The Manual of Theta Chi, The original design for the coat of arms was suggested by Freeman, and members of Alpha Chapter used his ideas to develop an official image. The coat of arms has undergone over a dozen modifications since, with the current design being approved in 1939.

New Member Button[link]

New Member Button: Sometimes mistakenly called a pledge badge, the new member button is an insignia worn at appropriate times by new members pledging Theta Chi. The new member button is a small metal oval, red in color, with a white edge, and crossed diagonally with white stripes forming an "X". After a new member is initiated, he may wear the Fraternity's official member badge.

Recognition Badges[link]

A recognition badge is a small button which is worn on a coat lapel, and comes in three versions. The official recognition button is a small reproduction of the official badge. A second version is a miniature coat of arms, while a third version utilizes the fraternity letters.

Creed[link]

Frank Schrenk (Kappa/Pennsylvania 1915) wrote the Creed of Theta Chi. It is both an affirmation of the founding principles of Theta Chi and a mission statement for the Fraternity:

I believe in Theta Chi, its traditions and its ideals. Born of sturdy manhood, nurtured by resolute men, ennobled by high and sacred purpose, it has taken its place among the educational institutions of America as a promoter of knowledge, an advancer of culture and a builder of character.

It inspires true friendship: teaches Truth, Temperance and Tolerance, extols virtue, exacts harmony, and extends a helping hand to all who seek it.

I believe in the primacy of Alma Mater; in the usefulness of my Fraternity, in its influence and its accomplishments and I shall do all in my power to perpetuate its ideals, thereby serving my God, my country and my fellow-man.

The Creed is traditionally recited by members at chapter meetings, and is often discussed in new member education programs to teach the values and ideals of the Fraternity.

Monument[link]

The Monument of Theta Chi Fraternity

On August 29, 1931, the day of Theta Chi's 75th Anniversary Convention, a stone monument was dedicated at Norwich, Vermont. The Monument of Theta Chi is a remembrance of the founding of Theta Chi Fraternity:

On a site 200 feet northeast of this monument in the Old South Barracks of Norwich University, Frederick Norton Freeman, '57, and Arthur Chase, '56, founded Theta Chi Fraternity at 9 p.m., April 10, 1856^[2]

Theta Chi today[link]

Theta Chi currently has 130 active chapters,^[3] and seven colonies across the United States and Canada and has initiated over 165,000 members since its founding.

Today, Theta Chi Fraternity's undergraduate members are involved on their respective campuses with a multitude of leadership organizations, including Omicron Delta Kappa (ODK), the Order of Omega, Student Government Association (SGA), Phi Beta Kappa, Florida Blue Key, NCAA athletics, and multiple philanthropies, including the Children's Miracle Network, the American Red Cross, Relay for Life, Habitat for Humanity, as well as various organizations that support the U.S. military overseas.

Chapters[link]

Colonies and interest groups[link]

Theta Chi has formally colonized at: Averett University, the University of Alabama at Birmingham, Colorado State University, Texas State University, the University of Illinois at Chicago, Southern Polytechnic State University and the University of Richmond.

Recent successful expansion efforts include the University of Wisconsin (2011), Georgia College & State University (2011), the University of Rhode Island (2011), the University of Arizona (2011), the University of Kentucky (2011), the University of Nebraska (2012), Florida International University (2012), Louisiana State University (2012), and Oklahoma State University (2012).

Notable alumni[link]

References[link]

1. ^ "About Theta Chi". Theta Chi Fraternity. http://www.thetachi.org/join/our-values/. Retrieved 2012-04-30. 
2. ^ Chapman, George W. The Manual of Theta Chi. Ed. Dale A. Slivinske and David L. Westol. 17th ed. The Grand Chapter, 1998. 106-08.
3. ^ "About Theta Chi". http://www.thetachi.org/main/about/. 

External links[link]

• Official website

Look up chi in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

Chi may refer to:

Chinese

• Chi (length) (尺), a traditional Chinese unit of length ("Chinese foot"), approximately 1/3 of a meter
• Chi (mythology) (螭), a dragon in Chinese mythology
• Ch'i or qi (氣), "life-force" in Chinese culture

Greek

• Chi (letter), the Greek letter (uppercase Χ, lowercase χ);

Japanese

• Chi (kana), a Japanese kana
• 地, Japanese character ‎for Earth

other

• Chi River, Thailand
• Chi, a god in Igbo mythology

in science

• A probability distribution in mathematics:
  • Chi distribution
  • Chi-squared distribution
• Chi site, a DNA sequence that serves as a recombination hot spot
• Creatinine height ratio, a metric used in determining body composition
• A symbol for electronegativity

in fiction and popular culture

• Chi (magazine), an Italian magazine
• Chi (Chobits), a character in Chobits media
• Chi, a character in Chi's Sweet Home media
• "Chi", a song by Korn from Life Is Peachy
• Cationic Hydration Interlink (CHI), a beauty products company owned by Farouk Shami

CHI may stand for:

• Chile, the country.
• Carvill Hurricane Index, a measure of hurricane damage potential
• Catholic Health Initiatives, a faith-based, non-profit health system
• Channel Islands (Chapman code: CHI)
• Chichester, England, is known as Chi by local people in West Sussex
• Chingford railway station, railway station code
• Child Health International, a UK based charity for children's health (especially Cystic Fibrosis) in poor countries
• Columbia Helicopters, an American aircraft manufacturer
• Commission for Health Improvement, a former non-departmental public body of the Department of Health in the United Kingdom
• Computer-human interaction or human-computer interaction, the study of the interaction of computers and people
  • CHI (conference), an annual conference on computer-human interaction
• CHI, a secret society at Longwood University
• CHI, the IATA code for all Chicago airports
• CHI, the Amtrak code for Chicago Union Station
• Canada Health Infoway, a not-for-profit organization engaged in the development of a pan-Canadian electronic health record (EHR) system
• Community Health Index, a measure of the health of online communities
• Community Health Index (Scotland), a system of patient identification used in Scottish public healthcare

Sports[link]

• Chicago Blackhawks, a professional National Hockey League (NHL) ice hockey team based in Chicago, Illinois

People with the given name[link]

• Chi Cheng (musician) (born 1970), American musician
• Chi McBride (born 1961), American actor
• Chi Onwurah (born 1965), British Labour Party Politician

See also[link]

• T'ai chi ch'uan, Wade-Giles transcription for Taijiquan
• Chicago, known as Chi-Town
• A Song for Chi, an instrumental rock song
• Qi (disambiguation)

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