History of Theta Xi
The Founding of Theta Xi at Texas Tech
The original idea of Theta Xi occurred between a group of individuals one night on the 4th floor of Murdough on the Texas Tech Campus. A couple had gone through the formal rush, and even more had no interest in the current fraternities. It is that idea, of creating something different, that spurred the insight into founding Theta Xi. Weston Harding, Gamma Tau 1, took it upon himself to email the Theta Xi national headquarters (the largest national fraternity not currently at Texas Tech University). The rest is history. On November 17th, 2002 the Texas Tech interest group of Theta Xi became the Texas Tech colony of Theta Xi.
We the founding fathers of Theta Xi are 30 members strong, and look to one day be one of the largest and most significant chapters on the Texas Tech campus. Now that we have become the Gamma Tau chapter of Theta Xi, we see the ever growing realization that we are here for good and there is no turning back. Only now are we showing that we are the explosive chapter, that we once said we would be, which will rock the ground of the Texas Tech social foundation.
The National History of Theta Xi
Theta Xi was founded at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) in Troy, New York, on April 29, 1864, by Peter Henry Fox, Ralph Gooding Packard, Christopher Champlin Waite, George Bradford Brainerd, Samuel Buel Jr., Henry Harrison Farnum, Thomas Cole Raymond, and Nathaniel Henry Starbuck. Minutes of the original meeting, Constitution and Ritual have been preserved by the Fraternity to this day. Our tradition is truly continuous.
Christopher "Kit" Waite, whose father was destined to become Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court, was from Toledo, Ohio. Peter Fox from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania and Thomas Raymond, a downeastener from West borough, Massachusetts, together with Waite, were the only Founders from out of state. Nathaniel Starbuck was a local from the campus town of Troy whose father, a leading citizen of the town, was often called upon to address public meetings to arouse popular support for the Lincoln administration. The remaining Founders were all New Yorkers: George Brainerd from Brooklyn; Samuel Buel, Jr. from Poughkeepsie; Ralph Packard from Niagara Falls and Henry Farnum from Port Jarvis.
In 1864, Rensselaer was attempting to rebuild. The Civil War had threatened the future existence of the institution, just as it had threatened the future existence of our Union. In 1861, the collar factories, for which Troy was famous, nearly all closed down, and several other large manufacturing plants went idle. In 1862, sparks from a passing locomotive ignited the roof of a covered bridge spanning the Hudson at Troy, and before it could be halted, the fire swept across the 75-acre tract, completely destroying eight hundred structures in the heart of Troy's business section, including the downtown campus and the original building of RPI, the Old Bank Building.
All of the Founders were members of Sigma Delta, a local fraternity established in 1859 to rival Theta Delta Chi, the only secret society then at Rensselaer. Crude in its beginnings, Sigma Delta gradually increased and prospered so that, by the fall of 1863, it had become a secret center of attraction for all freshmen.
Debates formed a regular part of Sigma Delta meetings (as in other fraternities at that time), and these were judged by the presiding officer. Spirited debates were held on such topics as: "Genius is more necessary in the pursuits of science than in the pursuit of art," "The use of tobacco is injurious," and "The rum barrel is more potent than the gun barrel."
Dissension within Sigma Delta became apparent on October 30, 1863, when George Brainerd tendered his resignation to the society. The resignation was unanimously declined, but it contributed to a rift that would not heal. On that same day, due to a seeming desire of some of the members to bust up Sigma Delta and try to become part of another organization, Samuel Buel suggested that Sigma Delta try to obtain a charter from some large and flourishing society such as Sigma Phi, which had been founded in 1827 at Union College and had six chapters at the time. He had previously had an interview with a minister who belonged to Sigma Phi, who assured him that he favored such a move. He promised to do all in his power to help them obtain a charter. Sigma Phi sent representatives to Troy who were entertained and had their hotel bills paid.