Students help reinstate fraternity after it disbanded

Greek life is on the move at OSU.

The greek community will be adding another member to its ranks this fall with the resurrection of the fraternity Theta Chi.

The fraternity, which came to the OSU campus in 1947, disbanded in 2003.

One of the students spearheading the revival is junior Kyle Cooper.

"We want to return Theta Chi to its former glory," Cooper said.

Cooper declined to comment on why Theta Chi was disbanded and said the new members only want to look to the future and not dwell on the past.

He said he hopes the new chapter of Theta Chi will dispel the stereotypical preconceptions people have about fraternities being nothing more than parties and drinking. It will be more academically focused.

Jamie Sinclair, a junior, is another individual involved with Theta Chi's development.

Sinclair, also a transfer student, was involved in a fraternity at his old school but found getting membership to fraternities at OSU to be difficult.

"Frats are generally looking for younger students when they are recruiting," Sinclair said.

Along with Cooper, Sinclair is getting the chance to be a founding father for fraternity.

"The Alumni had a lot of support for us restarting the frat," Cooper said.

Cooper said Theta Chi is a community-oriented fraternity involved in a number of philanthropies, including Micah, where members  volunteer at retirement homes.

The fraternity also puts a heavy focus on community events and youth mentoring.

"Our motto is ‘The Helping Hand,' " said Thomas Tinnin, national vice president of Theta Chi.

Theta Chi has 130 chapters, including a few in Canada, which gives it the honor of being an international fraternity.

At OSU, it has 29 members but hopes to raise that number by February.

"Fall ‘09," Tinnin said, "The legend returns to OSU."