In 2007, when hundreds of Theta Chi members arrived at the University of South Carolina for that summer's Chapter Leadership Conference, many were disappointed to learn that a chapter had never existed on that campus. Over the years, many members and alumni from Beta Psi/Presbyterian, Gamma Beta/Furman, Eta Alpha/Clemson, and Eta Iota/Newberry often questioned visiting staff members when the Fraternity would seek to establish a chapter in Columbia. Efforts were made in the spring of 2014, when staff members delivered a formal presentation to the University of South Carolina's IFC to be selected for expansion. Staff members were disappointed to learn that the IFC had opted to select other fraternities to invite to campus, but resolved to continue to achieve the goal of establishing the chapter. Perhaps the timing just was not right for Theta Chi.
Unknown to our staff members, student voices in Columbia began to echo the questions, "Why isn't Theta Chi at South Carolina? How can we get a chapter here?"
Some call it fate, others call it destiny, while others just use the word serendipity - one month after receiving the news from the South Carolina IFC, Sr. Director for Recruitment and Expansion JD Ford was contacted by a group of students at the University of South Carolina who wanted to bring a new fraternity to campus, specifically, Theta Chi.
In their application for colony status, the men wrote that they wanted to start a brotherhood using their shared vision and ideas of what a fraternity could be - one that celebrated a diverse brotherhood and cared about academics and the community. They had a desire to give something back to their University because it had given them so much.
Why Theta Chi? The members stated that they wanted to be affiliated with a large, nationally recognized fraternity. After asking friends at different SEC schools, a friend from Auburn University recommended Theta Chi and spoke highly of our [Chi] chapter. More research corroborated their friend's opinion of not only Theta Chi at Auburn - but of Theta Chi Chapters throughout the SEC. The members saw that Theta Chi is a diverse fraternity that cares about the schools they represent. The members were also attracted to Theta Chi's rich history and were proud of its 158 years since 1856.
Carter Kilmann, who currently serves as President of Theta Chi’s Colony, summarized, “Twenty of us got together and discussed our options and decided to look into colonizing a fraternity. We chose Theta Chi due to their national prominence.”
Former Field Secretary and Past-Theta Chi Funds President William Schuetze, Psi/Wisconsin 1969, was tapped to visit the interest group. He reported, "It was my privilege and honor to represent Dear Old Theta Chi in Columbia at a gathering of the interest group. This bunch is the real deal...they appear to be smart, self-confident, mature and savvy. If I had a vote, I would say full speed ahead. Work with these guys...they could develop into a really fine chapter at an SEC school."
In another twist of fate (or destiny - or serendipity) Past Grand Chapter member and Past-President of the Foundation Chapter, Warren Hoffman, Alpha Iota/Indiana 1976, had recently relocated from Indianapolis to the Columbia area. Brother Hoffman rose to the task and began to work with the undergraduate members and shared advice from his experience in aiding in Alpha Iota Chapter's recolonization process from 2005-2006.
Feedback from Brothers Schuetze and Hoffman prompted the Grand Chapter to approve the South Carolina Interest Group's petition for colony status during the summer months of 2014.
On Sunday, Aug. 24, 2014, 33 men pledged Theta Chi Fraternity during a Colonization Ceremony held in the Walsh Meeting Room of Barnwell College at the University of South Carolina. Past-Foundation Chapter President Warren Hoffman presided. Will Turner, Eta Iota/Newberry 2014, served as Chaplain, Josh Kendrick, Eta Iota/Newberry 2013, served as Marshal, Zach Beaty, Eta Iota/Newberry 2016, served as First Guard. Hunter Dolittle, Eta Iota/Newberry 2012, Joshua Brown, Eta Iota/Newberry 2014, Adam Thayer, Eta Beta/Eastern Kentucky 2002, and Steve Yount, Epsilon Phi/Central Missouri 1973, assisted with pinning the new pledges.
Additional attendees from Eta Iota/Newberry included Andrew Hermann (2003), Nate Nickel (2012), Michael Sexton (2014), Joseph Tompkins (2016), Seth Craven (2016) and Van Smith (2017). Also in attendance were Colony Adviser, Shick Sabbagha, Beta Psi/Presbyterian 1989, Carter Kilmann’s father, Peter Kilmann, a member of Kappa Delta Rho Fraternity at Lycoming College (1974), and representing the International Headquarters, Senior Director for Collegiate Services, Ray Vanlanot, who served as Secretary during the ceremony.
A reception followed the ceremony at the Walsh Meeting Room.
“We were able to become a colony because we are all committed to doing something different here at the University of South Carolina,” said Kilmann. “We are committed to each other and our ultimate goal of becoming a highly respected chapter. Our group is full of future leaders and supportive brothers, and I could not be prouder. We have done our best to be one step ahead of the growth process by recruiting as an interest group and reaching out to incoming freshmen before even being officially colonized. We hope to expand to approximately 50-60 members after rush this fall. We plan on being as involved as we can on campus, supporting other Greek organizations and creating our own philanthropic and social events. We will utilize our national partnership with the USO and work with the local police department and several other local based service organizations. We are striking while the iron is hot and will continue to ride this growing wave of momentum” he continued. “We appreciate all the support we have received from the national fraternity, alumni, and fellow undergraduates. We are thrilled to officially be a colony of Theta Chi and look forward to clearing the hurdles we now face in becoming a chapter,” Kilmann concluded.
Letters of congratulations and encouragement can be sent to Colony President Carter Kilmann at kilmannr@email.sc.edu.
To view the South Carolina Colony's website, click here.
To visit and like their Facebook Fanpage (facebook.com/thetachiuofsc), click here, and follow them on Twitter @uscthetachi
Established as South Carolina College in 1801 as an effort to unite South Carolinians after the Revolutionary War, the campus grew around the modified quadrangle of the horseshoe. Having survived an earthquake in1811, and a fire that gutted Rutledge in 1855, the college eventually succumbed to the upheaval of the Civil War. The college paid dearly, closing its doors in 1861 due to lack of students. The state revived the college in 1866 as the University of South Carolina.
Many of the buildings that stood during the Civil War era are still in use on the campus today, including the horseshoe, which is the heart and soul of the University of South Carolina campus. The university has a student population of more than 30,000, and is home to 41 Greek fraternities and sororities.