Zeta Chapter was first installed at the University of New Hampshire in 1910. In 1974, the chapter closed due to low membership, but was reinstalled in 1984 only to become inactive again in 1993. After two decades of absence, in February 2013, the University of New Hampshire invited Theta Chi to recolonize Zeta Chapter.
In January of 2014, then-Assistant Director of Recruitment and Expansion Joe Macko and then-Leadership and Education Consultant Tanner McCullough traveled to the University of New Hampshire to spearhead the recruitment and recolonization efforts. They were later joined by then-Recruitment and Expansion Specialist, Tyrone Brooks. An interest group was soon established and the members began to invite other like-minded gentlemen of to join.
Soon the interest group had grown to 24 and petitioned Theta Chi’s Grand Chapter to colonize. On March 22, 2014, 22 men were pledged during the Recolonization Ceremony held in the Memorial Union Building at the University of New Hampshire. Tyrone Brooks presided. Guest speakers included Dan Fleetham Sr. (Alpha/Norwich 1934) and his son, Dan Fleetham Jr. (Theta Chi/GC Honorary 2006). The Fleethams presented Zeta Colony with a photo of one of Alpha's Chapter Houses at Norwich University, framed with wood salvaged from the house. Colony Advisers Joseph Pilsbury (Epsilon/WPI 1999), and Bill Lucas (Epsilon/WPI 1998) were present, amongst alumni from several other chapters.
In the months that followed the Recolonization Ceremony, the group set out to be the fraternity that changed the way Greek Life was viewed on campus. The colony attended the United Asian Coalition’s Lunar New Year Festival, participated in Greek Week, Relay for Life and co-hosted “Questions without Cuffs” with one of the local sororities.
When the new school year began in fall 2014, the colony's membership dwindled below their projections. The group committed themselves to overcoming this shortfall and with motivation gained from Theta Chi's Initiative Academy held in July 2014, the group was able to recruit ten new men.
The colony began to strengthen their relationship with the community by participating in UNH Campus Clean-up, the Phi Mudder and a Wheel Chair Dodgeball Tournament. They also hosted their own events such as a Suicide Prevention Workshop, their Pie-a-Chi Fundraiser, the Holiday Fashion Show benefiting the Portsmouth Salvation Army, and an Effective Study Habits workshop that they hosted with Sigma Nu.
For the spring 2015 semester, they continued to excel. The colony revamped their recruitment and new member education programs, and sent 11 members to the Mid-Year Leadership Conference hosted at WPI.
They continued to show a presence on campus by participating in the Alpha Chi Omega Spelling Bee and the IFC Talent Show. They also hosted a sexual harassment and rape prevention workshop on campus, and partnered with Sigma Chi to put on a LinkedIn Workshop for members of Greek Life.
Zeta Colony went on to host “Cuts for a Cause,” benefiting St. Baldricks Foundation, co-sponsored the SHARPP Sexual Harassment Prevention Walk, and hosted their own G.I. Theta Chi event to benefit the USO. The brothers wrapped up the year with the Theta Chi Helping Hands Golf Tournament.
The men were also involved in a wide variety of activities on campus such as: The New Hampshire (UNH newspaper), New Hampshire National Guard, the American Red Cross UNH Club, On Belay Community Service Club, Circle K Community Service Club, University of New Hampshire Veterans Association, Students of the Armed Forces, CONNECT, Buddies without Borders, Phi Alpha Theta Honors Society, University of New Hampshire Honors Program, University of New Hampshire Pre-law Society, University of New Hampshire Golden Key International Honors Society, Accounting Students Association, Movies, Lectures and Poetry (MUSO), Campus Resident Assistant, University of New Hampshire Sales Club, University of New Hampshire Marketing and Advertising Club, Club Signal, University of New Hampshire Event Staff, Department of Housing Fire Safety, Volunteer Firefighter and First Responder, Lambda Pi Eta Communication Honors Society, Editorial/Fundraising board, COMM-entary Academic Journal, the University of New Hampshire's Outdoor Adventures Club, New Hampshire Gentleman A Capella Group, University of New Hampshire Sailing Team, Campus Recreational Society, Student Activities Fee Committee, Diversity Support Coalition, United Asian Coalition, Black Student Union, Men of Strength, Diversity, Education, Family (MOSDEF), Korean Culture Club, Vietnamese Student Union, Latino/Hispanic Organization (MOSAICO).
On May 2, 2015, 39 men were initiated into Zeta Chapter of Theta Chi Fraternity during a Reinstallation Ceremony held at 1 p.m. at the Oyster River School in Durham, NH. Past National Vice President Joseph D'Amore presided.
Zeta Rechartering Members include: Justin Beauchaine, Theodore Belanger, Theodore Brown, Andrew Butts, Austin Cote, Brendan Donovan, Devereux Evans, William Driscoll, Patrick Farrah, Michael Galgano, Conor Griffin, Nicholas Guidoboni, Casey Hargbol, Edward Hoogasian, Logan Howard, Michael Jackovitz, Cameron Kenney, Nicholas Krantzoulidis, Spencer Leman, Anthony Maganiello, Nate Manning, Daniel Nemr, Matt Neuschwender, Michael Ray, Jacob Rolfe, Chris Severance, Patrick Sherican, Andrew Scoville, Aaron Sickel, Daniel Silvestri, Kelly Smith, Malone Soeun, Michael Titlebaum, Michael Vitale, Erik VanDenBerghe, Josh Weiss, Bradley White, Casey Wilson, Robert Wilson, Seth Wyskiel, and William Schemeck.
In attendance representing International Headquarters were Sr. Director of Collegiate Services Ray Vanlanot and Field Executive Zack Brown.
The original Zeta Charter was represented by James E. Hellen (1957) and Allan L. Leavitt (1968).
Eleven additional chapters were represented at the Reinstallation Ceremony including Alpha/Norwich, Gamma/Maine, Epsilon/WPI, Eta/Rhode Island, Alpha Iota/Indiana, Epsilon Psi/NJIT, Zeta Sigma/Wisconsin-River Falls, Eta Beta/Eastern Kentucky, Eta Pi/East Stroudsburg, Theta Chi/GC Honorary, and Iota Xi/Georgia College. Each of the men attending from another chapter became an Honorary Member of Zeta Chapter and will receive a certificate.
Brian Evans (Epsilon Psi/NJIT 2014) completed a 'hatrick' having attended the installations of Iota Chi/Binghamton and Iota Psi/RIT during the final two weekends of April while Shoumajit Banerjee (Epsilon Psi 2012) made it two-in-a-row having also participated at Iota Psi/RIT. Diego Jimenez (Epsilon Psi/NJIT 2016) attended his third (re)installation of the 2014/2015 academic year having previously attended the ceremonies for Eta Upsilon/Texas A&M and Iota Phi/South Carolina. In all, Epsilon Psi Chapter was represented at five of the seven (re)installations held during 2014/2015.
Former Leadership and Education Consultant Tanner McCullough made the trip from his new home in Georgia to see the culmination of the work he had started with fellow staff members Joe Macko and Tyrone Brooks just 17 months prior. He shared, "When I went out to help restart the Zeta Chapter, the biggest thing I wanted to accomplish was to share the experience that I had starting Iota Xi Chapter with another group of potential brothers. I became great friends with the guys during that semester, and besides the multiple snow storms, I was sad to leave New Hampshire and really missed the time I had with them."
He added, "When Justin Jones contacted me and invited me to assist with the Reinstallation, I was very excited. The guys at Zeta Colony didn’t believe me when I told them I would be back to see them become brothers."
McCullough noted, "When you help bring a group of almost 50 guys together it’s very rewarding and just shows what Theta Chi can do. It was really cool to see the Zeta alumni come back to be a part of the Reinstallation Ceremony. I wished I could have talked with him more, I never even caught his name. It was also great to see the Fleethams since they had been present for the Recolonization Ceremony."
Zeta Sigma/Wisconsin-River Falls Chapter President Jon Hogan (2017) made the long trek from western Wisconsin. He shared, "In May of 2015 I traveled 2,800 miles round trip from River Falls, Wisconsin to Durham, New Hampshire to fulfill a promise I made to Andrew Butts at the Initiative Academy in August 2014. We formed a friendship that has continued to this day. Andrew inspired me to reach a goal of being president of my chapter. Our communication throughout the year motivated me many times to work harder and to be uncompromising in my leadership within my chapter. I promised Andrew that that I would attend the Reinstallation of Zeta Chapter if it happened within a year. Fortunately Andrew got everything to work out and hit the goal!"
[Editor's Note: To read more from brothers who attended Zeta's Reinstallation, check out our supplemental article, "A Nail in the Wall".]
Another attendee did not have quite the same distance to travel but was decades removed his undergraduate days. A true testament to Theta Chi for Life, Dan Fleetham, Sr. (Alpha/Norwich 1934), at the age of 103, represented the legacy of Alpha Chapter at Norwich and the heritage of Theta Chi's birthplace. He was joined by his son, Dan Fleetham, Jr. (Theta Chi/GC Honorary 2006), a fellow Norwich alumnus. The Fleethams presented Zeta Chapter with a photo of Zeta's original Charter Members from 1910.
A banquet was held that evening at 6 p.m. at Huddleston Hall in Durham, NH. The event was attended by Greek Life Coordinator, Erin Courville, Past National Vice President Joseph D’Amore, International Headquarters staff members, friends, and family.
Sr. Director of Collegiate Services, Ray Vanlanot, delivered remarks entitled, “The Unfortunate Stigma that Surrounds Fraternities and How They Need to Strive to Change that Stigma". Erin Courville spoke about Zeta Chapter’s achievements both scholastically and philanthropically. Past National Vice President Joseph D’ Amore spoke about Theta Chi for Life and how to contribute and give back to their chapter. Zeta Chapter President, Andrew Butts (2017), spoke about learning from previous challenges faced by Zeta Chapter throughout the 1970s and 1990s and working together to forge Zeta's new legacy.
Joe D'Amore shares, "When asked to represent the Grand Chapter once again, I eagerly accepted. This installation was especially significant because it was one of our older inactive ‘Single Letter’ chapters. All Theta Chi alumni have a special affinity for bringing back single letter chapters. I especially was honored to be named as the Installing Officer." He added, "The original Zeta Installation in 1910 was led by National President J. Albert Holmes and future Grand Chapter members Dr. Robert L. Irish (Alpha/Norwich 1889) and Edwin D. "Nick" Huntley (Alpha/Norwich 1907) - - - Certainly good company to have the honor to follow in our 2015 Reinstallation."
Brother D'Amore presented a Zeta Badge Guard from his personal Badge collection to President Andrew Butts.
Former Regional Director Dick Doyon presented Zeta Chapter with another Zeta relic - their "2nd" original charter, a replica made when the original had been lost in a house fire in August 1968. When Zeta became inactive in 1993, Doyon was charged to pick up the charter, and he had held the charter in his home since then. Doyon was relieved to give it back.
Awards were also presented: the Active Chapter Service Award to President Andrew Butts and the Outstanding Senior Award to Theodore Brown.
"Two of the members are in the New Hampshire National Guard and had to miss the initiation for scheduled drill," said Chapter President, Andrew Butts. "This was unfortunate for them as they were not able to partake in the Ceremony with us. However, we were able to initiate the two of them on Thursday May 7th, which was special for them as it was more personalized and it gave the chapter a chance to perform its first Initiation Ceremony which was completed without any hiccups or difficulties. Our brothers were very passionate about being involved in the Ceremony to make it as special as possible for those two brothers," he said.
Moving forward, the brothers plan to increase their GPAs and to have members on the IFC exec board. They also plan to hold a larger scale USO philanthropy.
“Zeta Chapter is a historic single letter chapter that has finally been re-installed after a 20-year absence from one of the Northeast’s largest universities,” said Butts. “The men of this chapter are highly motivated and dedicated to bettering themselves and their university. Despite the challenges faced by Zeta Chapter throughout its history, we will always live up to the ideals and objectives of Theta Chi. We will forever strive through adversity," he said.
Zeta Chapter will continue to be supported by a strong Chapter Advisory Board consisting of:
- Bill Lucas (Epsilon/WPI 1998) - CAB President/Chapter Adviser
- Joe Pilsbury (Epsilon/WPI 1999) - CAB Vice President
- Adam Coen (Epsilon/WPI 2014) - CAB Secretary
Chapter Adviser Bill Lucas noted, "It was a really great day. I want to thank everyone for their participation and for allowing me to be part of it. I am looking forward to helping the guys decorate their office on campus with all of the cool items bestowed to us. I continue to chat with them on a regular weekly basis in an effort to put ourselves in a better position to be more successful this upcoming year."
Letters of congratulations and notes of encouragement may be sent to Zeta Chapter President Andrew Butts at ard98@wildcats.unh.edu.
To view the Chapter’s Facebook page, click here. You can also find them on Twitter: @ThetaChiUNH
Founded as New Hampshire College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts in 1866, NHU was first located in Hanover and had a connection to Dartmouth College. NHU moved to Durham in 1893 after a farmer, Benjamin Thompson donated land and money to the further advancement of the college. In 1923, Governor Fred Herbert Brown signed a bill changing the name to New Hampshire University.
Today UNH is one of the top national research institutions, and with more than 15,000 students, it is the largest university in the state. UNH is also home to 11 fraternities and seven sororities.