Theta Xi Fraternity came to campus earlier this year to open a chapter at University of Idaho.
“Theta Xi is looking to expand to campuses that fit our history,” said Ian Pellerin, associate director of Chapter Services at Theta Xi Fraternity.
Pellerin and his colleagues have already had meetings with several organizations on campus to establish the fraternity.
“We’re meeting with several different groups on campus to identify ourselves as being a Greek organization,” said Leadership Consultant Micah Krey. “We don’t want to just be another organization that’s competing against everyone else — we want to be an organization that’s involved with everyone.”
Since getting to UI, Pellerin said he and his colleagues have been researching the campus and its Greek community.
“We’re trying to get a feel for the campus and a feel for the students,” Pellerin said. “We want to be an aid for the students.”
Pellerin said a crucial part of recruitment, especially for a new chapter, is to understand the students and the campus.
Theta Xi is looking for successful, standout students who will make great leaders, Pellerin said.
“An organization is only as good as its members,” he said. “So we’re really trying to leave no stone unturned and meet as many people as possible, so we can identify those kind of people.”
Theta Xi was founded in 1864 at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in New York.
“We have the distinction of being the only fraternity founded during the Civil War,” said Will Farmer, colony development consultant. “We were originally founded as an engineering fraternity.”
Pellerin said Theta Xi Chapters are very diverse with members from all different backgrounds.
“The freedom to be diverse and dynamic was a huge part of our founding,” he said. “Theta Xi was founded as a bunch of engineering guys that got together during the Civil War.”
The opening of a UI chapter is the first step in a six-year expansion plan for Theta Xi.
“University of Idaho has a very unique campus,” Pellerin said. “The students have a small-school bond.”
Aaron Bharucha can be reached at [email protected]