News

Theta Chi Initiates Five Norwich University Graduates

Theta Chi Fraternity is excited to announce that on Friday, May 12, 2017, five cadets were initiated as alumnus members of Theta Chi Fraternity on the eve of their graduation from Norwich University. Mickenzie Walbridge, Jonathan Brewer, Power Donnelly, Brian Serafin, and Glenn Punzalan were entered into the roll as alumni of Alpha Chapter upon the completion of their initiation ceremony on the Norwich campus that evening.

The ceremony was presided over by International Counselor Darick Brown and assisted by Executive Director Michael Mayer, Director of Volunteer Development Zack Brown, and collegiate and alumnus members of Epsilon/Worcester Polytechnic Institute and Zeta/New Hampshire. Dan Fleetham, Jr. (Theta Chi/Grand Chapter Honorary 2006) was a special featured guest at the ceremony, representing his father, Dan Fleetham, Sr. (Alpha/Norwich 1934), who entered the Chapter Eternal this past September.

This news no doubt comes as a pleasant surprise to all Theta Chis. It also probably brings up many questions as to the status of Theta Chi Fraternity and Alpha Chapter at Norwich University.

Nearly 60 years have passed since Theta Chi has maintained an active chapter at Norwich University. The university’s policy prohibiting student participation in fraternities remains in place today and is expected to continue for the foreseeable future.

Since the implementation of this policy, the Fraternity has relied on Alpha Chapter alumni to ensure that the spirit of Theta Chi continues at Norwich. Unfortunately, as time passes, our Alpha Chapter alumni ranks become smaller and smaller. Recognizing the importance of preserving Theta Chi Fraternity’s legacy at Norwich, the Grand Chapter has dedicated considerable effort in recent years to ensuring that the spirit of Alpha Chapter will never die.

In 2015, a group of Norwich cadets petitioned the University Board of Trustees to allow fraternities to return to campus. In close collaboration with Theta Chi Fraternity International Headquarters, those involved in the petitioning process dedicated many hours to develop a very thoughtful proposal. Unfortunately, the petition was turned down by the Board of Trustees. While this was disappointing news to receive, the men involved in the effort maintained their interest in Theta Chi Fraternity.

Since 2015, the International Fraternity maintained contact with the petitioning cadets.  The Fraternity has sought a suitable means to recognize those young men who admirably worked to reestablish the fraternity system at Norwich. On the evening of May 12, Theta Chi was not only able to recognize those five graduating cadets who dedicated much energy to the attempt to reestablish fraternities on campus, but also made important steps towards preserving the legacy of Alpha Chapter.

Our five new Alpha alumni were initiated under a special provision enacted by the Grand Chapter earlier this spring known as the “Alpha Commission.” The Alpha Commission allows for alumni and soon-to-be alumni to be initiated into the rolls of Alpha Chapter. To be very clear, this structure does not provide for the operation of an Active Chapter on Norwich University’s campus. It is a means to formally initiate men who have been approved for graduation by Norwich University. As such, the Alpha Chapter remains on inactive status and there are no current plans to provide for a collegiate Theta Chi experience at Norwich.

The five men initiated on May 12 were selected following a nomination process and upon careful examination by the Grand Chapter and International Headquarters Staff. The Alpha Commission structure will make it possible for the Fraternity to conduct future alumnus initiations into the rolls of Alpha Chapter.

While the Fraternity had hoped to provide notice of the ceremony, the necessary approval and details of the ceremony were finalized just days before the initiation. Theta Chi anticipates being able to provide such notice of initiations in the future, now that a framework for the Alpha Commission has been better developed.

More information regarding the May 12 initiation and plans for future initiations of Norwich University cadets will be shared in subsequent Theta Chi publications. Inquiries regarding the Alpha Commission may be directed to the International Headquarters.

We congratulate our newest alumnus brothers of Alpha and express our gratitude to them for keeping the legacy of Theta Chi at Norwich alive!