Kappa Epsilon Installed
Oswego, NY – On April 4, 2017, Theta Chi Fraternity installed the latest chapter of the Kappa series - the Kappa Epsilon Chapter - at the State University of New York (SUNY) at Oswego located in Oswego, NY.
As an interest group in the fall 2015 semester, the men conceptualized the idea to start their own fraternity, not finding an existing organization that was a strong fit at SUNY Oswego. After researching many fraternities, they decided that their ideals best aligned with Theta Chi. They reached out to International Headquarters staff member JD Ford about their interest in starting up a new chapter of Theta Chi. After flying out to visit the men, Ford was convinced these men that they had what it took to become great brothers.
On January 23, 2016, SUNY Oswego was officially colonized. An event that was nearly derailed due to a snow storm, Field Executive Will Maher planned and led the colonization ceremony. Attended by brothers from Alpha Chi/Syracuse and Iota Psi/Rochester Institute of Technology, the ceremony saw twenty-two men pledge Theta Chi Fraternity. At this point, the men understood it was time to get down to business and build up the colony.
Just over a year later, on April 4, forty-seven men became charter members for the Kappa Epsilon Chapter at SUNY Oswego. The installation ceremony took place at the Hall Newman Center and was presided over by Executive Director Mike Mayer. Attendees included Director of Recruitment and Expansion Taylor Dahlem, Field Executive Matt Lynch, Editor of The Rattle Ben Hill (Eta Kappa/James Madison 2002), Associate Director for Fraternity and Sorority Life at RIT Eric Pope (Eta Zeta/Edinboro 2003), Iota Psi/RIT Chapter Adviser Michael D’Arcangelo (Zeta Lambda/Westminster 1978), and brothers from the Iota Chi/Binghamton, Iota Psi/RIT, and Iota Omega/SUNY Cortland chapters.
The installation banquet that followed took place at the Hall Newman Center as well. The guest speakers included Mike Mayer, Taylor Dahlem, Matt Lynch, Chapter President Will Bernston, and SUNY Oswego Student Involvement Advisor Nicole Morse. They all echoed the message that the journey for Kappa Epsilon is just beginning; how the chapter performs for the years to come will be largely influenced by these chartering members.
“As the Field Executive that led Kappa Epsilon’s initiation week, I take great pride in welcoming our newest brothers from SUNY Oswego to Theta Chi,” stated Matt Lynch.
Looking forward the brothers of the Kappa Epsilon Chapter look to expand their presence and involvement within the campus and Greek community, set up a Warrior 5K to benefit the USO, implement a chairman for intramurals and Greek week, and to eventually be recognized as the fraternity chapter of the year by SUNY Oswego.
The nation’s largest comprehensive public university system, The State University of New York (SUNY), was established in 1948. Since its founding, the SUNY system has evolved to meet the changing needs of New York’s students, communities, and workforce. SUNY initially represented a consolidation of 29 unaffiliated institutions, including 11 teachers colleges. These colleges, with their unique histories and backgrounds, united for a common goal: To serve New York State.
Today, the system includes 64 schools, a mix of 29 state-operated campuses and five statutory colleges—including research universities, liberal arts colleges, specialized and technical colleges, health science centers, land-grant colleges—and 30 community colleges. These institutions offer programs as varied as ceramics engineering, philosophy, fashion design, optometry, maritime studies, law, medical education, and everything in between. The University also operates hospitals and numerous research institutes.
