Theta Chi achieves associate member status by IFC

The fraternity was granted associate member status Thursday by IFC.

By Megan Stroup

Published Feb. 23, 2009

The Interfraternity Council voted the local Theta Chi fraternity to associate member status Thursday at the IFC presidents' meeting. Nineteen of the 27 IFC chapter presidents voted for the promotion, satisfying the two-thirds vote requirement.

A group of students decided to start their own fraternity and researched national organizations not active at MU. They selected Theta Chi because one student in the group had alumni relatives, and they appreciated what the fraternity had to offer. After making contact with Theta Chi's national organization, the chapter became an interest group in December 2007 with 10 members.

Theta Chi became a colony in May and applied for associate membership with an informal presentation to the executive board of IFC last November, Theta Chi colony President Daniel Henry said.

Theta Chi presented an overview of the fraternity's activity as a colony at the IFC presidents' meeting Thursday.

"Theta Chi gave a very well put-together presentation of how they not only plan to promote those values, but how they've already made strides through outlets such as philanthropy participation, academic excellence, campus leadership, and a strong internal brotherhood," IFC President Danny Jonas said in an e-mail.

Certain standards must be met to become an associate member of the IFC. The colony must be sponsored by its national fraternal organization, be recognized as a student organization by the university and its constitution must contain an anti-hazing policy and other requirements as set forth by student government organizations, Henry said.

Henry said Theta Chi has helped four different Panhellenic Association sororities at MU with their philanthropies, but the chapter could not participate in IFC activities.

As an associate member fraternity, Theta Chi can "partake in all IFC-related activities, but the chapter cannot vote at President Council meetings or hold an IFC office," IFC spokesman Ryan Morimura said in a news release.

The chapter is now eligible for IFC events, such as Greek Week, intramural athletic teams, the IFC Olympics and Greek Honors Night.

The IFC constitution states that after two semesters, Theta Chi can apply to the Presidents' Council for full membership. During these two semesters, Jonas described several requirements that must be met by the chapter, including a consistent membership number, representation at mandatory IFC events and participation in service aspects of Homecoming and Greek Week.

Theta Chi must also maintain a chapter GPA of more than 2.50 and individual GPAs of 2.25. The fraternity will schedule semester meetings with the IFC president and IFC advisor to discuss the chapter's progress and address any questions.

"At the end of the two associate semesters, the chapter presidents will vote to either approve or disapprove granting them full membership status, by a three-fourths vote," Jonas said.

If voted in as full members, Theta Chi would be eligible to vote at presidents' meetings and members will be able to serve in IFC positions.

"We look forward to participating as associate members as well as achieving full member in the future," Henry said.