History of Greek Life at Shippensburg University
PTZ Timeline at Shippensburg University

Lambda Chi Alpha International Fraternity was founded at Boston University in 1909, it currently has over 200 Chapters and Colonies in the US and Canada and over 260,000 initiated brothers. 2009 marked the 100th anniversary, or Centennial, for Lambda Chi Alpha.

The local chapter at Shippensburg University is known as the Phi Tau Zeta chapter, and was chartered in April 1982 and has over 440 initiated members. Unfortunately despite a rich tradition at SU and great alumni support, Phi Tau Zeta died in the summer of 2008 when it was closed by the general fraternity due to the actions and inactions of it's active members. Their negligence and financial problems were capped off with the destruction of the chapter house in an act of criminal vandalism.

August 2009 marked the return of an actively elected alumni corporation which has to now deal with the fallout from the chapter's untimely demise. This group has set a goal to hold the people responsible for what has happened and clear the way for Phi Tau Zeta to return to campus in the coming years.

Looking back to some of the better times…the chapter had won a variety of academic and athletic awards over the years, and is most proud of the Two Grand High Alpha awards that it has won for being one of the best Lambda Chi Chapters in the country. Lambda Chi Alpha was operating continuously for 26 years from 1982. Chapter alumni had obtained two houses for the chapter to live in over the years as well.

The Fraternity also had a strong social standing, which included parties with both Greeks and non-Greeks, mixers with sports teams and sororities, date parties and an annual formal. Homecoming marked a huge annual social event as well for the chapter with chapter members and alumni- having won the Homecoming Parade best float in show with Alpha Omicron Pi in 2005 and Delta Zeta in 2006 made these both events to remember. Also an annual Golf Outing was held at the Cumberland golf Course for over 20 years each Fall after Labor Day.

Community Service was also a strong point of the chapter. With activities such as Adopt a Highway on route 81, helping senior citizens at the local Episcopal Squrare Home, and working for over 17 years with a local church based book sale, Lambda Chi Alpha was one of the top fraternities for total hours of community service at the University year in and year out. It also participated in the Lambda Chi Alpha North American Food Drive each fall, which is the biggest single day Philanthropy event by a Greek letter organization in the world.

New members could expect an excellent Fraternal education program during the association period where "associates" learn what the bond of Lambda Chi Alpha is about, both locally and nationally.

Phi Tau Zeta is backed once again by a strong and active alumni group. With the chapter's passing, now there is one focus, the return of our beloved chapter to the Greek Community. The chapter has weathered many challenges over the years and now the bar has been set higher for us once again.

We'll Be Back

~The Alumni of Phi Tau Zeta
September, 2009

Early in 1959, when Shippensburg University was named Shippensburg State College (SSC), our first Greek organization was born. It was a National Fraternity named Phi Sigma Epsilon. Later that year, two more National Fraternities were founded, Sigma Tau Gamma and Tau Kappa Epsilon. Also in that same year, the first sorority was founded, the local organization Alpha Sigma. In 1960, another Men's Fraternity, Sigma Pi, officially became a part of SSC's Greek Community.

Not until five years later did SSC welcome its second and third sororities. Both Theta Kappa and Zeta Beta were local women's organizations that became part of SSC in 1965. The very next year, 1966, SSC welcomed its fourth National Men's Fraternity, Acacia. In 1968, as Theta Chi began at SSC, so did two other local women's organizations Delta Rho and Sigma Delta. The last organization to become a part of the SSC Greek Community in the 1960's was Kappa Sigma, a National Men's Fraternity.

The next decade saw much growth in the Greek Community as it welcomed 7 more organizations to Shippensburg's campus. In 1971, Shippensburg's first National Sorority, Alpha Sigma Tau, was founded. Also in 1971, another local sorority, Lambda Tau was founded. In 1972, Delta Zeta came to Shippensburg as the second National Sorority. In 1973, the first historically African-American men's organization was found here at Shippensburg in the local group of Alpha Beta Omega. In 1976, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, INC. was founded, and in 1977, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, INC. began. Both groups are historically African-American women's organizations. In 1977 another first happened on campus, two organizations merged to make one. Zeta Beta and Lambda Tau merged to make one local group and renamed themselves Lambda Zeta Pi.

The 1980's began by recognizing the first national historically African-American men's organization, Kappa Alpha Psi, which was founded at Shippensburg in 1981. In 1982 Lambda Chi Alpha, a National Fraternity, was founded. In 1984, Shippensburg State College became Shippensburg University, and it welcomed two more national organizations as the members of Lambda Zeta Pi helped form Alpha Omicron Pi, a National Women's Fraternity, and Pi Lambda Phi, a National Fraternity, found a home here as well. In 1985 Phi Sigma Epsilon underwent a national merger with another National Fraternity, Phi Sigma Kappa. All Chapters of Phi Sigma Epsilon took the name of Phi Sigma Kappa including, the chapter here at Shippensburg. In 1986, three more organizations were founded on this campus; Pi Kappa Phi, a National Fraternity, Phi Beta Sigma, an historically African-American Fraternity, and Kappa Tau Epsilon, a local women's organization. In 1987, the National Women's Fraternity Phi Sigma Sigma began its chapter here. Theta Chi also closed it's doors in the 80's.

The 1990's did not see as much growth as the other decades; however, six organizations were founded during this time. In 1991, Alpha Chi Rho, a National Men's Fraternity was founded, and Chi Gamma Iota began as a local men's organization. For the second time in Shippensburg's Greek Community, 1991 saw two local organizations merge to form a third, Alpha Phi, a National Women's Fraternity. In 1995, Delta Upsilon was founded, followed in 1997 by Alpha Phi Alpha, a historically African-American Fraternity. The last addition to our campus was Phi Delta Theta, in 1999. The nineties also saw the closing of Sigma Tau Gamma, Phi Sigma Kappa, Chi Gamma Iota, Tau Kappa Epsilon and Kappa Sigma. The fraternities that began the next decade strong were Lambda Chi Alpha, ACACIA, Phi Delt, and Pi Kappa Phi. These four were aided by superior housing and strong membership.

2004 saw the return of Sigma Tau Gamma as well as Kappa Sigma to campus, but the real change occurred when Lambda Chi Alpha along with their national fraternity purchases the Acacia House at 101 Brookside Avenue. This marked a huge change in the Greek system at the college.

Between 2005 and 2006, Pi Kappa Phi permanently closed their doors as well as Delta Upsilon and Alpha Chi Rho "Crow". At the end of 2006 the fraternites recognized by the IFC were Lambda Chi Alpha, TKE, Sigma Tau Gamma, Pi Lambda Phi, Kappa Sigma and Phi Delta Theta.

Lambda Chi Alpha ceased operations in 2008 due to the actions and inactions of it's active undergraduate membership

2009 marked the 50th anniversary of Greek Life at Shippensburg University

1959
The Raider Room opens. Phi Sigma Epsilon begins to bring a cannon to football games.

1960
"IFC" first appears in the yearbook.

1961
Sigma Pi wins first place in the fraternity division for floats at Homecoming.

1962
Sigma Tau Gamma wins first place in homecoming

1964
Phi Sigma Epsilon wins first place at homecoming.

1971
Sigma Pi sponsors powder puff football.

1972
Lambda Chi Alpha Outlaws hazing in all chapters- pledges now known as "associate members"

1974
Delta Rho plays Alpha Sigma in the Turkey Bowl, which is still an annual tradition today. Theta Kappa sponsors a sexy legs contest.

1977-78
Sigma Tau Gamma is the intramural champ. Phi Sigma Epsilon has the highest GPA among fraternities, and Lambda Zeta Pi wins first place at homecoming.

1981
A Greek Council forms, taking representatives from IFC, ISC, and NPHC.
Lambda Chi Alpha colonizes in April of 1981, becomes the biggest colony ever of Lambda Chi Alpha.

1982
Colony of Lambda Chi Alpha becomes chartered as the "Phi Tau Zeta" and becomes the 251rst chapter of the international fraternity
Colony sets up Housing at "Love Dump" on Hollar Ave.

1984
Lambda Chi Alpha wins Grand High Alpha Award for being one of top Lambda Chi Chapters in North America
"Greek Week" appears in the yearbook for the first time.
Lambda Chi Alpha Alumni Association begins
Lambda Chi moves to 13 North Morris Street

1987
Lambda Chi Alpha wins 2nd Grand High Alpha Award for being one of top Lambda Chi Chapters in North America
TKE and Alpha Omicron Pi win Greek Week.
TKE subsequently burns down house on Middlespring Ave.
First Alumni Golf Outing Held at Owen Meals' House at Cumberland Golf Course

1989
ACACIA Housing Corporation Builds first new fraternity house ever at Shippensburg
Lambda Chi Alpha moves to 109 N Penn Street
Theta Chi loses recognition on campus and then charter
Lambda Chi Alpha and TKE become involved in one of largest fights in college history at 72 College Park
200th Lambda Chi Alpha brother initiated at SU

1991
Lambda Chi Alpha wins Greek Week
Lambda Chi House at 339 E. Burd Street
Tau Kappa Epsilon loses recognition on campus.
Sigma Tau Gamma loses charter over hazing incident

1992
Lambda Chi Alpha celebrates 10th anniversary

1993
Lambda Chi Alpha House moves again to 124 North Earl Street
Lambda Chi Alpha goes into a state of remission- Fall 1993 only semester ever with no new members
Lambda Chi Alpha House Alumni Association stops having meetings begins to go into remission

1994
10 men join Lambda Chi Alpha in Spring- fraternity revitalized
Lambda Chi Alpha takes over 207 South Washington Street
Greek Week kicks off with a Greek Clean.

1995
Rumors of a Greek Row Begin circulation among Greeks
Sigma Tau Gamma loses house- TKE takes it over
The Phi Sigma Kappa Farm is destroyed by a tornado- landlord fights with brothers and throws them out

1996
300th Lambda Chi Alpha brother initiated at SU, recruitment begins a true upswing with 16 men initiated during 96-97 year
Tied for Greek Organization of the year with Alpha Chi Rho and was one of the first five star organizations as defined by the IFC.
Greek Row construction begins…
Sigma Tau Gamma gets first house on "Greek Row"- subsequently gets charter back

1997
TKE and Lambda Chi Alpha involved in huge altercation at TKE house on Britton Road
TKE subsequently burns down house on Britton Road
Kappa Sigma gets 2nd house on Greek Row
Lambda Chi Alpha House Corporation forms with new alumni and begins building over the summer and begins having meetings with the goal of getting a house
Website www.phitauzeta.org goes active for Lambda Chi Alpha

1998
Lambda Chi Alpha House Corporation gets recognized by the state of Pennsylvania- negotiates deal for next house on Greek Row with Developer Troy Beam
Lambda Chi Alpha House Corporation holds first annual board of directors meeting at Wanda's in Harrisburg
In the Spring, Delta Zeta, Sigma Delta lose recognition on campus.
In the Fall, Theta Kappa loses recognition on campus.
Big Brother Chapter of Phi Tau Zeta (Gettysburg- Theta Pi Zeta) closes due to lack of members
Phi Sigma Kappa and Chi Gamma Iota get 3rd and 4th houses on Greek Row

1999
Lambda Chi Alpha House Corporation get house built at 15 SunBeam Court Built- chapter moves in in July
Brothers of Lambda Chi Alpha bid farewell to 207 South Washington Street
In the Spring, Sigma Delta regains campus recognition.
In the Fall, Delta Zeta regains campus recognition, and Chi Gamma Iota loses its recognition on campus.
Kappa Sigma also gets their charter revoked.
The Infamous Sig Pi Mansion closes its Doors
Sigma Tau Gamma loses House- subsequently destroys it, Delta Zeta moves in

2000
Lambda Chi Alpha becomes the dominant fraternity on Greek Row begins to experience massive growth in membership and reputation
Phi Sigma Kappa loses their charter; Sigma Tau Gamma also loses their charter
Chi Gamma Iota member and two others accused of execution style murder of SU student
Kappa Sigma loses their house, Phi Sigma Sigma Sorority moves in

2001
Lambda Chi Alpha back to 40 man chapter for first time since 1991
Chapter begins to harken back to glory days of Mid 80's
Big Brother Chapter of Phi Tau Zeta (Gettysburg- Theta Pi Zeta)- recolonized with 33 new members at Gettysburg College
TKE manages to take over a sorority house on Greek Row

2002
Lambda Chi Alpha celebrates 20th anniversary at Shippensburg University

2003
Lambda Chi Alpha cuts ties with Troy Beam and takes over leasing rights to SU Foundation House at 26 Middle Springs Ave. (Pi Kappa Phi House)

2004
Kappa Sigma and Sigma Tau Gamma Recolonize on campus
Delta Upsilon Underground Chapter gets evicted from house on Greek Row
Lambda Chi Alpha and LCAP purchase the Acacia House at 101 Brookside Avenue from local Acacia Alumnus.
Jeff Hill Assumes control of Greek Affairs office

2005
Pi Kappa Phi loses their charter; Alpha Chi Rho also loses their charter
Lambda Chi Alpha places first in Homecoming Float Competition with Alpha Omicron Pi

2006
Jeff Hill leaves office of Greek Affairs in terrible shape on campus, leaves state of Pennsylvania
Lambda Chi Alpha places first in Homecoming Float Competition with Delta Zeta

2007
Lambda Chi Alpha celebrates 25th anniversary at Shippensburg University
Phi Tau Undergraduates begin downward spiral of lies and financial delinquency and refuses to work with High Pi and Alumni Advisory Board
LCAP disbands and house is put on open market and chapter is told that this is last year to have the house
Lambda Chi Alpha Chapter fails to attend general assembly
Alumni Corporation of Lambda Chi Alpha ceases regular operations, High Pi resigns from Chapter

2008
Lambda Chi Alpha Alumni fearing chapter will destroy house move out memorabilia from house
Lambda Chi Alpha Chapter fails to attend general assembly second year in a row
Lambda Chi Alpha Chapter illegally is living in house over summer
Lambda Chi Alpha Undergrads destroy house in August
Lambda Chi Alpha International HQ unanimously votes to close Shippensburg Chapter due to vandalism, large debts and lack of chapter accoutability

2009
TKE destroys house on Greek Row, and is evicted
Lambda Chi Alpha 's close chapter illegally begins operating as an underground chapter
Lambda Chi Alpha Alumni reform, and elect a new active alumni board in August
Lambda Chi Alpha Alumni Membership Review Board is Formed in September to hold membership accountable for past few years that led to closing of chapter and the destruction of the house.