Epsilon Rho Recolonized
Trenton, NJ - The city of Trenton, New Jersey has a special place in Theta Chi’s rich history. Although it was once home to two chapters, it is more widely known as the previous home of the Executive Office (now International Headquarters) for nearly 60 years. However, since 1998, Theta Chi was nonexistent in a city that once was the central hub of its operations. That all changed this past March with the recolonization of the Epsilon Rho Chapter at Rider University.
The return to Rider started in the summer of 2016 when International Headquarters staff members JD Ford and Taylor Dahlem presented to the Rider IFC expansion selection committee. Based on the expansion plan, pledge program, and the dedication of the Epsilon Rho alumni, the Fraternity was granted permission to expand to campus starting in the spring 2017 semester. Field Executive Marc Bodine was dispatched to Trenton in January to find collegians to help restart the chapter.
After being on campus for only a few months, Epsilon Rho was recolonized on March 5, 2017. The ceremony, held at Greenacres Country Club in Lawrenceville, New Jersey, was presided over by past International Vice President Joseph D’Amore and saw 23 men become pledges of Theta Chi Fraternity. The colonization ceremony was organized by Marc Bodine. Attendees included Theta Chi’s Chief Development Officer Philip Thornton, Rider Alumni Board of Directors member Kenneth Isky (1977), collegian Akshay Somana (Epsilon Psi/NJIT 2017), Rider’s Director of Fraternity and Sorority Life Amanda Eisele, Chapter Advisory Board members Mike Mehlhorn (Gamma Rho/Florida State 2009) and Jim Benton (Epsilon Rho/Rider 1973), Epsilon Rho Faculty Advisory Board members Dianna Clauss, Mike Schoch, and Christine Mehlhorn, and friends and family of the colony members.
The recolonization banquet that followed the ceremony was also held at Greenacres Country Club. Amanda Eisele stated how excited she was that there will be a new IFC fraternity on campus - one of her goals when she first arrived at the university. Philip Thornton spoke about the current happenings from the International Headquarters and the support it provides to our collegiate and alumni members. Marc Bodine elaborated on how the men were recruited and how they have exceeded the expectations set at the beginning of the semester.
"This is a great group of gentlemen that continue to exceed expectations,” stated Bodine. “Their drive and dedication in creating a high caliber chapter at Rider and across the nation is exciting. I can't wait to see what Epsilon Rho will be able to accomplish in the coming years."
The main goals for the group are to have 45 members by the end of the fall 2017 semester, maintain the top grade point average among IFC fraternities that is also above the all-men’s average, host a USO event by the end of the fall 2017 semester, and to ensure every member is involved with another student organization before they are reinstalled.
Rider University, located in Trenton, New Jersey, is a private coeducation and non-sectarian university focused on being a leader in higher education. The mission of the university is to place students first and at the center of their learning and living community. It is home to approximately 5,400 full-time collegians. More commonly known as the Broncs, Rider is a Division 1 school that competes in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference.
