News

NEW ORLEANS, LA – Theta Chi Fraternity is proud to announce Eta Phi Chapter at Oakland University as the 2023/2024 recipient of the David L. Westol Sacred Purpose Award, presented at the 168th Anniversary Convention held in New Orleans, LA.

The mission of Sacred Purpose is to protect our brothers and the broader campus community by providing health and safety education. By offering programmatic support at the chapter and international levels, Theta Chi inspired its members to live up to our Fraternity’s highest calling.

Outside of completing the required events and obligations within the Sacred Purpose initiative, Eta Pi Chapter places an emphasis on looking out for one another. 

Eta Pi Chapter has not only been proficient in their ability to bring the public into their discourse about the five tenets of education but continues this in their other areas of brotherhood. Specifically, brotherhood bonding events and alumni events are key conversation points when talking with the leadership of the chapter. They truly do not just cover topics as superficial checkmarks, but live this out in the very acts of brotherhood we all share.

Through video testimonials, brothers of the chapter shared experiences noting how the brothers of the Fraternity had been there for them during times of need. The chapter then utilized the education they received in the areas of Sacred Purpose to create a safe space for their members and others in the campus community.

Congratulations, brothers and we salute your great work as men of Theta Chi Fraternity!

The Sacred Purpose award is named in honor of David L. Westol (Beta Zeta/Michigan State 1973), whose volunteer and professional career have been devoted to the health, safety, and protection of fraternity and sorority members.

After graduating from Michigan State, Dave worked for his alma mater as Assistant Director of Student Activities and Advisor to Fraternities. He was admitted to the Michigan Bar in November 1979 and became an assistant prosecutor for the Office of the Prosecuting Attorney in Kalamazoo County, MI.

From 1975-1980, Westol served as a Regional Counselor for Theta Chi before being elected to the Grand Chapter as International Vice President in 1980. He remained in that role until completing his maximum second term in 1988. In December of that year, he was named the Fraternity’s Executive Director and held that position for 18 years. Today, he is the founder, owner and CEO of Limberlost Consulting.

Westol’s interfraternal career is equally impressive. He was elected to the board of directors of the Fraternal Information and Programming Group (FIPG) in 1993 and also served FIPG in the roles of Director of Policy Interpretation and Administrator. In July 1998, he was elected to the Fraternity Executives Association board of directors and served as president from 2002-2003. He has also served on the board of directors for HazingPrevention.org and on the Association of Fraternal Leadership and Values.

Dave has become a universal figure at fraternity and sorority leadership development events. He has performed his signature anti-hazing presentation “Hazing on Trial” over 1,800 times since 1981 and has spoken on more than 350 campuses and at over 200 Greek leadership events. Dave has served as a faculty member for the Association of Fraternity Leadership and Values, the Northeast Greek Leadership Association, the Southeast Interfraternity Conference, and the Fraternal Risk Management Trust, Inc. From its first session in the early 1990s through 2010, he was a faculty member for “Risk Management on the Road,” an annual workshop for traveling consultants of women’s national fraternities and sororities.

In 2012, Dave Westol was named a recipient of the North-American Interfraternity Conference’s Gold Medal, the most prestigious honor in the inter-fraternal world. Brother Westol is one of only four Theta Chi members to have received the Gold Medal.