The colony at the University of South Florida had a full and busy first year as a colony. During

our first spring, we were merely an interest group with just around fifteen members. The first officers

selected were President Bryce Forbes, Vice President James Nauck, Secretary James “Alx” Thompson,

and Treasurer Sean Buck. Together, we were able to spread Theta Chi throughout the university, recruit

more members, and colonize all by the year’s midpoint. With colonization came our first election, with

the results of President Bryce Forbes, Vice President William Cebula, Secretary James Alx Thompson,

Treasurer Vince Maralit, Marshal Kevin Yim, Chaplain Christopher Ream, Librarian Anthony

Fransway, Historian Eric Alliman, First Guard Austin Goodman, Second Guard Joshua Semp, and Web

Resources Chairma James Geiger. We involved ourselves with different organizations both Greek and

Non-Greek, lending the helping hand wherever needed.

We did our best to help volunteer and get involved with the community on and around campus.

We allotted time on Saturdays to visit Shiners Medical and spend time with the children there. Within

the campus community we are involved with Stampede of Service to help clean up our University. We

have also assisted the Necessary Improvements to Transform our Environment organization with their

Walk a Mile in her Shoes and the Pride Alliance with their Day of Silence.

Our first event with another Greek organization was a very successful social with the women of

Sigma Delta Tau. Being such a small group at the time, we also invited brothers from Epsilon Zeta/

Universtiy of Tampa to join our social. Following this social, we held one with the sisters of Kappa

Delta. Both events were concluded without incident and helped warm the Pan Hellenic organizations

to Theta Chi. Both sororities enjoyed themselves and had nothing but good words to spread about us.

One of the colony's most monumental days was our colonization ceremony on November 22nd, 2008. Leading up to this event, our Colonization committee (along with CAB member Scott Passmore)

handled all the logistics for the ceremony. We reserved our Student Union's newly opened Oval

Theatre for the affair. Many different members of the Greek community were present at our ceremony.

It was presided over by Terry Johnson, National Historian. It was mentioned by Terry that this was one

of the more organized Colonization Ceremonies.

Following our colonization, we have tried to begin making a real name for ourselves around the

Greek community. With many larger fraternities at USF, making our Colony known was quite a

challenge. Our first push was during Kappa Delta’s Big Man on Campus philanthropy competition.

Brother John Harris was our participant in the contest. With all our effort, we placed 5th out of 10 other

men's organizations. This was still quite a step seeing as we did so without support from a sorority.

Following this we came out in large numbers to support our Intramural soccer team which ended up

making it to the post season. Our greatest achievement was winning Greek Week along with Sigma

Nu, Chi Omega, Delta Epsilon Psi, and Iota Phi Theta. With great teamwork and cooperation we came

out and showed immense amounts of Greek unity and talent.

At the beginning of the fall semester of 2009, we added twelve new men to our growing roster.

To commemorate their arrival we held a camping trip to Ocala National Forest with the entire colony.

The trip went well, it was a great bonding experience for the new and old members alike. We partook

in sports and games of all sorts as well as nature walks. To cap off the trip, we held a memorable

presentation to welcome in the new members. With the new members in place, we began to participate

in more philanthropies with fellow Greeks. Our first event of the year was a lip-synch event held by

Sigma Delta Tau. For homecoming, we participated as team Toro with the women of Alpha Omicron

Pi and the men of Zeta Beta Tau. We built a float for the homecoming parade and participated in many

events throughout the week, with brother Adam Cartwright placing second in the mechanical bull

riding competition. Next we held a Halloween party themed “Theta Chi Rocking the Grave” which featured a performance by a local band, On Carlton Road, and a fire presentation given by Brother

Anthony Fransway (who is a trained and insured, professional fire performer). The next major event

we held was a social with the sisters of Alpha Omicron Pi themed after the roaring twenties. To go

along with the theme, we held a best dressed contest and a swing dance competition. We are also

involved in various intramural sports here at USF including football, basketball, soccer, ultimate

frisbee, disc golf, and many others.

In October of 2009 we held our second election, which elected President William Cebula, Vice

President Ellison Riley, Secretary Mathew Parker, Treasurer Christopher Ream, Marshal James “Alx”

Thompson, Chaplain James Nauck, Librarian Davis Thomas, Historian Adam Cartwright, First Guard

Austin Goodman, Second Guard James Watts, and Web Resources Chair Joseph Leonard.

Our future plans consist of many opportunities to help the community as well as ourselves.

This semester we will participate in Zeta Tau Alpha’s “Think Pink Fashion Show” to help the fight

against breast cancer. Next semester, we plan to undertake the task of holding a benefit golf

tournament for Shiners Hospital for Children. Along with these plans, we look to hold numerous

fundraisers to help pay for all the endeavors we must take on after obtaining our charter.