Johns-Ridouts Funeral Parlor was the location of the Eta Psi Reinstallation ceremony on Saturday, Dec. 8, 2012, in Birmingham, AL. National Treasurer Doug Allen presided at the 11:30 a.m. initiation of 42 pledges into Theta Chi Fraternity. National Counselor Joseph Couch assisted in the ceremony.
In attendance were: Past National President Dale Taylor, Norwich Housing Corporation Counselor Wes Wicker and former Foundation Chapter board member Marvin McConaghy. Representing the International Headquarters were Executive Director Mike Mayer, Director of Expansion and Recruitment JD Ford, Director of Volunteer Development Bill Russo, Director of Member Services Joel Wendland, Director of Housing William Toothacher, Director of Communication Bart Zino and Leadership and Education Consultant Jason Howeth.
A banquet followed the ceremony at the Harbert Center in downtown Birmingham.
In the 1930s the University of Birmingham won a federal grant to open an extension center in downtown Birmingham. The center opened in a two-story clap board house where the dining room served as the library and 116 students attended class in the bedrooms. The extension center eventually outgrew its space and relocated to its current location at Five Points South. In 1969 the center became an independent campus of the University of Alabama system.
Today the University of Alabama at Birmingham has a student population of roughly 18,000, and is home to 17 Greek organizations.