In his excerpt, Eliot acknowledges that at the end of all our exploring, we shall arrive back where we started. To arrive back where we started indicates the immortality of existence. However, he seems to acknowledge a defined beginning. For Eliot, the beginning determines the nature of existence. The beginning determines the point to which one must eventually return. At some point, exploration must begin, but upon its initiation, it never ends. "We shall never cease from exploration," he says.
Our beginnings as an international fraternity have invariably defined the nature of our existence. We have developed out of a dedication to the lifelong pursuit of ideals. We continually arrive at those ideals upon which we were founded, as we use them to guide us through our explorations of life. With each new chapter, the international fraternity arrives again at the ideals upon which it was started, as it realizes those ideals for the first time.
Perhaps more importantly, the beginning of each chapter determines the nature of its existence. For most brothers, memories of the undergraduate chapter to which he pledged defines what Sigma Chi means to him. Although the founding of the international fraternity defines a model, the starting point of each chapter defines the nature of its existence, and gives meaning to the fraternal experiences of each brother it initiates.
We turn then to the founding of Iota Sigma of Sigma Chi. Our early roots lie within a fraternal organization known as Delta Theta Phi. During a time when Valparaiso University offered a six year law program, in which the final two undergraduate years doubled as the first two years of the law program, DTP prospered in mediocrity, continuing in the tradition of fraternal life at Valparaiso University. With the abolishment of the six-year program, Delta Theta Phi became a professional fraternity at law schools with no program for undergraduate chapters. At Valparaiso, the chapter became dependent on alcohol sales to survive financially. With the enforcement of the legal drinking age, the fraternity found itself on the verge of collapse.
Amidst the chaos of a collapsing fraternity, several minds began to explore. Troy Swanson and Ash Narayanan first introduced Sigma Chi to the remaining members of Delta Theta Phi. Dan Peterson and a few others listened, and worked to sow the seeds of Sigma Chi at Valparaiso University. Eying the ideals represented by the White Cross of Sigma Chi, these men set out to establish a fraternity that would not receive a charter until long after their graduation. Their exploration began with ambitious purposes, relying on men of good character, students of fair ability, men with congenial dispositions, men possessed of good morals who displayed a high sense of honor and a deep sense of personal responsibility to continue in pursuit of Sigma Chi and the high ideals symbolized in her badge.
Troy Swanson emphasizes that although several DTPs, such as Bruce Berner, Roger Scommegna, and Robert Schmidt succeeded after college, the fraternity itself failed to prepare members for life after college. DTP was not a lifelong commitment. It had become an organization that lacked guidance. DTP merely existed in the tradition of Greek Life at Valparaiso University. Eventually a lack of ambition caused Delta Theta Phi to implode. Together with Ash Narayanan, Brother Swanson initiated exploration, and planted the seeds of Sigma Chi at Valparaiso.
Daniel Peterson, who served as the last Dean of DTP and the first consul of Sigma Chi Sigma, also gave significant contributions to our chapter of Sigma Chi. Peterson wanted an organization that benefitted its members. He did not want a fraternity emblematic of "Animal House," where people party college away. He began to explore. He embraced the ideals of Sigma Chi brought forth by Troy and Ash, and lead Sigma Chi Sigma through its early petitioning process. Under his leadership, Sigma Chi Sigma broke away from DTP, becoming a result of DTP’s demise rather than a transition from it. The skills he learned in his experience with Sigma Chi benefited him, and he continues to explore the business world, pursuing the ideals he sought as an undergrad.
After de-pledging Sigma Tau Gamma, where he served as pledge class president, Frank Schmer dedicated his undergraduate years to the pursuit of ideals, represented by Sigma Chi. It was Frank who served as the Dick Hester Chair for Sigma Chi Sigma, calling Dick Hester each and every day. His efforts demonstrated the high ambition of the brothers of Sigma Chi Sigma, later recognized with the issuance of a charter to the Iota Sigma Chapter.
Although he didn’t formulate the original plan to petition Sigma Chi, Michael Joesten’s dedication to principle laid the foundations for traditions and ideals that pride Iota Sigma to this day. Casting aside the hazing traditions set forth by old members of DTP, Joesten challenged his brothers, and stood up for what he knew was right. Because of his blatant opposition to hazing, the Iota Sigma chapter takes pride in a constructive pledgeship for all members, which currently excludes any and all forms of hazing.
As we begin to examine the history of our chapter, we must pay attention to the point from which we started. Although DTP resembles in no way the Iota Sigma Chapter of Sigma Chi, it was the dissatisfied members who paved the way for the founding of Sigma Chi Sigma and eventually Sigma Chi. The ideals pursued by our founding members determined the nature of our existence, as our chapter continually revisits the ideals out from which it emerged.