Chi Phi, Theta Chapter: Difference between revisions
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The house was originally located on First Street, but the house was destroyed in a fire around the turn of the century. After not having a dedicated house for many years, a new house was built in 1912 with the purpose of being a permanent home for the Theta Chapter. Now located at the corner of 15th Street and Sage Avenue, the Theta Chapter still occupies this house. Additionally, a second house next door was donated to Theta by an alumnus in 1954. This annex was worked on for several years by the house to convert it from a two-family home into a better living space for the brotherhood. | The house was originally located on First Street, but the house was destroyed in a fire around the turn of the century. After not having a dedicated house for many years, a new house was built in 1912 with the purpose of being a permanent home for the Theta Chapter. Now located at the corner of 15th Street and Sage Avenue, the Theta Chapter still occupies this house. Additionally, a second house next door was donated to Theta by an alumnus in 1954. This annex was worked on for several years by the house to convert it from a two-family home into a better living space for the brotherhood. | ||
==Suspension== | |||
In the early 1980s, house culture had developed from being a gentleman’s house, as it was at its founding, to one more focused on partying and other antics. By this point, the house had strong ties to the RPI Basketball team and had gained a reputation of hosting outrageous parties. Many events and problems in the culture led to the house’s shutdown. One major activity that resulted in the school kicking Theta from campus was an activity known as the “Tube Toss”. This was a very boisterous activity in which tube TVs would be thrown from the second floor of the annex onto the lawn, resulting in them exploding upon hitting the ground. The Tube Toss, along with other such activities and culture issues, resulted in a ten-year suspension from the school. | |||
During the suspension, the Pi Beta Phi sorority occupied the house. In order to prevent both properties from being seized by the school or the City of Troy, the Theta Housing Corporation pursued legal actions to continue holding the property and rent it to Pi Beta Phi. This prevented the property from being reclaimed by the school and also from the City of Troy by helping it meet certain zoning requirements. | |||
Revision as of 18:28, 8 October 2024
Old Theta
The Theta Chapter of the Chi Phi fraternity was founded at RPI in 1878 by a group of men dissatisfied with the current fraternities on campus. Originally designated as Eta Deuteron, after gaining more notoriety was given designation as the Theta Chapter. Theta was founded originally as a more professional house, and its original chapter room was designed to look more like a gentleman’s clubhouse than a comfortable space.
Some of RPI’s most famous alumni were founding members of the Theta Chapter. On the original charter is the signature of George W. G. Ferris, the man who invented the Ferris wheel, a great feat of engineering at the time. A father and son duo, Frank and Kenneth Osborne, Frank being on the original charter as well, also ended up founding a reputable construction firm. This company would end up building some of the most iconic stadiums in the United States, including Yankee Stadium, Wrigley Field, and Fenway Park.
The house was originally located on First Street, but the house was destroyed in a fire around the turn of the century. After not having a dedicated house for many years, a new house was built in 1912 with the purpose of being a permanent home for the Theta Chapter. Now located at the corner of 15th Street and Sage Avenue, the Theta Chapter still occupies this house. Additionally, a second house next door was donated to Theta by an alumnus in 1954. This annex was worked on for several years by the house to convert it from a two-family home into a better living space for the brotherhood.
Suspension
In the early 1980s, house culture had developed from being a gentleman’s house, as it was at its founding, to one more focused on partying and other antics. By this point, the house had strong ties to the RPI Basketball team and had gained a reputation of hosting outrageous parties. Many events and problems in the culture led to the house’s shutdown. One major activity that resulted in the school kicking Theta from campus was an activity known as the “Tube Toss”. This was a very boisterous activity in which tube TVs would be thrown from the second floor of the annex onto the lawn, resulting in them exploding upon hitting the ground. The Tube Toss, along with other such activities and culture issues, resulted in a ten-year suspension from the school.
During the suspension, the Pi Beta Phi sorority occupied the house. In order to prevent both properties from being seized by the school or the City of Troy, the Theta Housing Corporation pursued legal actions to continue holding the property and rent it to Pi Beta Phi. This prevented the property from being reclaimed by the school and also from the City of Troy by helping it meet certain zoning requirements.