Photos courtesy of Kyle Johnson, Eta Beta/Eastern Kentucky 2015.
In February 2012, Theta Chi Counselor Darick Brown and Associate Executive Director Ben Hill visited Northern Kentucky University’s Greek Life Office to inquire if the university was open to the prospect of Theta Chi Fraternity coming to NKU. At that time, another fraternity was in the process of expanding at NKU and it was recommended that Theta Chi wait until the other fraternity had completed its expansion.
In November 2012, Director of Recruitment and Expansion, JD Ford, and Brown, interested alumni and active chapter members from Eta Gamma, Eta Beta, Zeta Rho and Beta Omicron Colony presented their case for expansion to the IFC and Student Life Office at NKU. IFC unanimously chose Theta Chi over other national fraternities to expand on NKU’s campus.
In January 2013, Theta Chi’s International Headquarters send Leadership and Education Consultants Jeffrey Draluck and Alex Nunchuck to the NKU campus to begin the process of forming an interest group and prospecting for potential members. Some of the referrals they had received included students from a group who had publicly stated that they had no interest in joining a fraternity - yet had established a loose organization that very much operated as one. These students, Micah Pugh, Kevin Keith, Brad Shirden, and Matt Nachazel, who had sworn off fraternities, agreed to meet with Darick Brown, Jeffrey Draluck and Alex Nunchuck at the local Smashburger restaurant near campus.
Surprisingly, members of the group were excited about the opportunity and were convinced that they could be the core that would start Theta Chi at NKU. They brought others from their group into the fold, and Draluck and another Leadership and Education Consultant, Kyle Griffis, continued to interview and recruit until the group reached 20 men.
On March 1, 2013, the men formally became a colony of Theta Chi Fraternity during a ceremony held in the Student Union Ballroom at the Northern Kentucky University campus. More than 200 people attended the event.
In the months that followed, the group continued to participate in events on the NKU campus. They continued to grow as leaders. They continued to gain recognition as fraternity of promise.
On November 9, 2013, 51 members were initiated into Theta Chi Fraternity and were installed as Iota Tau Chapter during a ceremony held at the Student Center at Northern Kentucky University. National Counselor Joseph S. Couch presided. Micah Pugh (2014) was installed as Iota Tau's first President and is now roster #1.
Also in attendance was a large delegation from the International Headquarters including Associate Executive Director Ben Hill, Senior Director of Recruitment and Expansion JD Ford, Sr. Director for Event and Member Services Joel Wendland, Director of Standards Jason Handberg, Director of Volunteer Development Bill Russo, Assistant Director of Recruitment and Expansion Joe Macko and Leadership and Education Consultant Jeffrey Draluck. Theta Chi Counselors present were: Darick Brown, Jarid Ison, and Robert Leitch.
17 Theta Chi chapters were represented at the ceremony, including: Chi/Auburn, Beta Lambda/Akron (with 4 members), Beta Omicron/Cincinnati (boasting 13 charter members that helped to reinstall their own chapter in May 2013), Gamma Delta/Florida Southern, Gamma Kappa/Miami (OH), Gamma Tau/Drake, Delta Kappa/Ball State, Epsilon Zeta/Tampa, Epsilon Xi/Clarion, Zeta Beta/Adrian, Zeta Tau/Michigan-Flint, Eta Beta/Eastern Kentucky (with 10 members, including William Gulla, who had transferred to NKU and began assisting the colony), Eta Gamma/Morehead State (5 members), Eta Kappa/James Madison, Theta Epsilon/Kennesaw State and Iota Lambda/Longwood. Each of the men attending from another chapter became an Honorary Member of Iota Tau Chapter and will receive a certificate.
The Iota Tau Initiation and Installation Ceremonies were notable as they utilized the updated version of The Ritual, which was revised to include connections to Theta Chi's new Sacred Purpose movement. The first Vice President of Health and Safety installed in the history of Theta Chi Fraternity was Iota Tau's Tyler Spegal (2015).
Also of note at this installation was the presence of family. Several legacy members were initiated into Iota Tau Chapter and were pinned by family members. Bill Kruspe, Jr., Gamma Kappa/Miami (OH) 1985 pinned his son Will Kruspe, III; Eli Newsted, Eta Beta/Eastern Kentucky 2016, pinned his twin brother Austin Newsted; Eta Beta/Eastern Kentucky Treasurer Adam Dunn (2016) pinned his cousin Kenny Angel; and finally, Brandon Loschiavo (2014), who was President of Zeta Rho at the University of Kentucky during their reinstallation in 2011, pinned his little brother Daniel Loschiavo.
Members of Iota Tau's Chapter Advisory Board were also in attendance: Willie Barker, Eta Gamma/Morehead State 1985, Mike DeMarsh, Eta Gamma/Morehead State 1991, Cody Howell, Eta Beta/Eastern Kentucky 2006 and Chris Ruth, Delta Kappa/Ball State 2011.
The Installation Banquet was held that evening at 7:00 PM at The Madison Event Center in nearby Covington, KY with over 200 in attendance including dates, parents and other special guests. Northern Kentucky University was well represented by Dr. Jeffrey Waple, Asst. Vice President & Dean of Students, Kimberly Vance, Director of Fraternity & Sorority Life, Adam Dralle, Coordinator of Fraternity & Sorority Life, Erik Pederson, Student Government Association President, and IFC President Jesse Wynne.
An opening greeting was provided by Counselor Darick Brown and a concise invocation followed from Iota Tau Chaplain Brent Lamping. After a wonderful dinner, remarks were provided by Iota Tau President Micah Pugh, NKU's Dr. Jeffrey Waple, Associate Executive Director Ben Hill and National Counselor Joseph Couch.
In honor and in recognition of his commitment to politics and local affairs, Sr. Director of Recruitment and Expansion JD Ford received a gift from Patrick Reagan. Brother Reagan, the current President of NKU's College Republicans, "reached across the aisle" and took joy in presenting JD with an honorary membership in the NKU College Republicans and other very special gifts.
The Iota Tau Chapter presented several awards recognizing the achievements of their members:
- Sportsman of the Year: Mark Doerman
- Scholastic Achievement: Brandon Capps
- Scholar of the Year (GPA of 3.4 or above): Omar Alafisan, Brandon Capps, Kevin Keith, Patrick Reagan, Nick Schulte, Brad Shirden, Nick Thiem and Clayton Winstead
- Best New Member Award: Chris Evans
- Best Big/Little Award: Matt Nachazel and Jordon Levermann
- Assisting Hand Award: Omar Alafisan
- Brotherhood Award: Bryan Shirden
- President's Award: Bryan Shirden
- Active Chapter Service Award: Matt Nachazel
The brothers of Iota Tau Chapter then presented a Citation of Honor to LEC Jeffrey Draluck in recognition of all of his efforts in helping to establish Theta Chi at NKU.
Darick Brown presented Iota Tau Chapter with a framed copy of a print of Theta Chi historical items and relics to be hung whenever the chapter acquires a house. Brown then asked for some remarks for the Good of the Fraternity from several members including: LEC Jeffrey Draluck, the Newsted twins, Iota Tau's Recruitment Chair-elect Brandon Capps, Iota Tau Vice President Patrick Reagan (who is running for SGA President) and Iota Tau President-elect Matt Nachazel.
The final award presentation was a surprise: The Floyd Field Award honors outstanding Greek affairs professionals for their commitment to and support of the ideals of Greek student life. The award is named in honor of Floyd Field, Alpha Nu/Georgia Tech 1923, a 1902 graduate of Harvard University who became head of the Mathematics Department at Georgia Tech in 1909. Field later petitioned the University Board of Trustees to create the position of Dean of Men, in order to focus more attention on the personal development of college students. He was ultimately appointed the first Dean of Men at Georgia Tech and was the first initiate of Alpha Nu Chapter. The Grand Chapter of Theta Chi Fraternity voted to present the Floyd Field Award to Northern Kentucky University Director of Fraternity and Sorority Life Kimberly Vance in recognition of all of her assistance with Theta Chi's expansion at NKU and for all of her efforts in shaping a positive Greek Community at her alma mater. Kim was very honored by the award and discussed the wonderful partnership formed between NKU and Theta Chi.
After a slideshow detailing the progress of the group going from Colony to Chapter, the banquet came to a close and members and guests enjoyed themselves at the social event at the banquet hall.
Congratulations to our new brothers of Iota Tau Chapter at Northern Kentucky University! Special thanks to Counselor Darick Brown for all of his efforts over the past year in assisting these brothers.
Northern Kentucky University opened in 1948 as an extension campus for the University of Kentucky, known as the UK Northern Extension Center. After 20 years in service, the extension center changed its name to Northern Kentucky State College in 1968. Northern Kentucky State College expanded and changed its name to Northern Kentucky University in 1976.
The campus, located in Kentucky’s Highland Heights, is situated on 400 acres of rolling hills along U.S. Route 27, near Interstate 275 and Interstate 471. The university has a student population of 16,000 and is home to ten sororities and eight fraternities.