In the spring of 2012, 12 men at Towson University met to discuss the idea of bringing a new fraternity to the campus. They had pledged a different fraternity the previous fall, but were released by the National Organization prior to initiation when it made the decision to close that chapter due to actions made by some of the active members. The men recognized the positives that Greek Life had to offer and wanted to create a fraternity that did what it was intended to do, but without all of the negative actions that had closed the chapter that they had pledged. On March 27, 2012, the men met in secret at the Liberal Arts Building on campus to discuss various fraternities with similar values. Each man did a presentation on one of the fraternities, and each fraternity was discussed and voted on. In the end, the men decided to bring Theta Chi Fraternity to Towson.
Leadership and Education Consultant Denny Vaggalis, Gamma Phi/Nebraska Wesleyan 2011, was sent to campus to meet with the group. The men explained to Denny that Theta Chi was chosen, not only because the fraternity’s values were in line with their own, but because of Theta Chi’s international reputation and success. The men agreed that Theta Chi seemed to be the fraternity that would offer them the greatest chance at achieving the success they wanted.
After a presentation conducted by Ben Hill, Associate Executive Director, the Towson Interfraternity Council voted May 7, 2012 to approve the interest group’s recognition as a fraternity. It was the third expansion at Towson in five years. In the fall of 2012, the interest group was formally recognized as Towson Colony in a colonization ceremony held Oct. 13, 2012.
In the months following the ceremony, Towson Colony members volunteered over 10 hours of service per member, totaling over 600 hours of community service. The colony raised over $6000 for various philanthropy efforts including Dance Marathon, Autism Walk, and Relay for Life. The members were also heavily involved on campus in many clubs in activities. Towson Colony campus leaders include: 4 Resident Advisers, 5 Orientation Leaders, 5 Presidential Ambassadors, President of the University Residence Government, Student Body Vice President, along with 4 additional SGA senators and 2 justices. This emphasis on campus involvement aided the group in growing their membership to reach their goal of 50 members. Despite a low budget, Towson Colony registered the second largest spring pledge class out of all of the fraternities on Towson’s campus. During Greek Week, Towson Colony placed 1st in Greek Sing, and 3rd Overall. With all of this involvement, the colony was able to maintain a 2.96 GPA. After all of their successes and contributions, the colony submitted their petition for installation to the Grand Chapter and they were approved to be installed as the Iota Sigma Chapter.
On Saturday, April 26, 2013, 61 members of Towson Colony were initiated into Iota Sigma Chapter of Theta Chi Fraternity in a 3 p.m. ceremony held at Mount Moriah Masonic Temple in Towson, Md. National Secretary, Joseph D’Amore presided. Jeff Cusick (2015) was installed as the first president of Iota Sigma Chapter.
Also in attendance were Senior Director of Recruitment and Expansion, JD Ford and Leadership and Education Consultant, Jeffrey Draluck, representing the IHQ.
Friendships and promises that were made to Towson Colony members during the 156th Anniversary Convention in July 2012 held true as brothers from Gamma/Maine and Epsilon Psi/NJIT drove to Towson while another, Evan Colmenares, Eta Psi/UAB 2013, the President installed when Eta Psi rechartered in December 2012, flew in from Birmingham. In total, 14 Theta Chi Chapters were represented at the ceremony, including: Gamma/Maine, Alpha Kappa/West Virginia, Alpha Psi/Maryland, Beta Alpha/UCLA, Beta Lambda/Akron, Delta Theta/Toledo, Epsilon Gamma/Widener, Epsilon Zeta/Tampa, Epsilon Psi/NJIT, Zeta Pi/Old Dominion, Eta Kappa/James Madison, Eta Psi/UAB, Eta Pi/East Stroudsburg and Iota Lambda/Longwood. Each of the men attending from another chapter became an Honorary Member of Iota Sigma Chapter and will receive a certificate.
An Installation Banquet followed the ceremony at 7 p.m. on the campus of Towson University. With family, friends and brothers in attendance, it was a great night to not only celebrate being a Theta Chi, but being a Theta Chi at Towson University. Matt Lenno, Director of Fraternity and Sorority Life, spoke so highly of the group that while listing off their accomplishments he had to pause because of how much they have done in such a short amount of time. Iota Sigma Chapter presented Matt Lenno with Theta Chi Fraternity’s Citation of Honor. Numerous other local awards were given out to undergraduate members, including the Brother of the Year to Jeff Cusick.
Towson opened in 1866 as Maryland State Normal School, the state’s first training school for teachers. In 1912, the state purchased 80 acres in Towson after the General Assembly issued a bond to finance the school’s move. In 1935 when the state decided that new teacher must have a baccalaureate degree, the school retooled its curriculum and changed its name to Maryland State Teacher’s College at Towson. With expanded offerings in 1963, the school became Towson State College, and in 1976, Towson State University. The final name change to Towson University came in 1997 to reflect the school’s evolution from a state-supported institution to a state-assisted institution.
Today Towson University is Maryland’s second largest public university with a population of nearly 22,000 students enrolled. Approximately 30 fraternities and sororities comprise the Greek Community at Towson University.