Eta Chapter
Eta Chapter (Founded 30 April 1929, reactivated 5 March 1989) is located at Indiana University of Pennsylvania in Indiana, Pennsylvania. The Chapter was founded by Walter Percival (Η 1) and is a member of the Allegheny Region.
Contents
Chapter History
Founding
IUP (Indiana University of Pennsylvania) was founded in 1875 as a normal school, a school that educates teachers. It became a liberal studies university in 1965. Now, there are three campuses (Indiana, Punxsutawney, and Kittaning). Three buildings on the main campus (Indiana) were named after Phi Sigma Pi Brothers: Foster, Walsh, and Wilson. Beard Auditorium, located in Stouffer Hall, is also a namesake of a Brother.
Eta Chapter was established on April 30, 1929, becoming the first fraternity on the IUP campus. The chapter forms from an already existing group on campus, Omega Chi Fraternity. The chapter's first group residence was on the 4th floor of the Indiana YMCA. On May 22, 1951, Eta's president, Joe Caletvi, asked Nationals to close the charter because Eta was not living up to the National Constitution.
World War II
In 1942 Phi Sigma Pi closed Eta Chapter due to the start of the war. In February 1946 members returned to campus and started the petition efforts to reactive their chapter. Ellwood Sheeder, past president, lead the reactivation efforts. Charles Tyger, John Feather, and Charles Stewart all helped work on the reactivation.
Early Years
Eta was originally incorporated on August 2, 1948. The incorporation was set up to allow the chapter to purchase a house. The chapter originally had a house located at 413 College Street. 1
The Active Chapter
Eta Chapter was reactivated on March 5, 1989. It is the the only coed national honor fraternity at IUP. The chapter's philanothropy is the Muscular Dystrophy Association. The current chapter has 32 undergraduate members
Past Chapter Officers
- (1934-1935, first semester) President Ray Miller, Recording Secretary Leonard Pearson, Corresponding Secretary Louis Nanassy, Assistant Corresponding Secretary Robert Blanc, Treasurer Carl Walker, Chaplain Paul Christy, Sergant-at-Arms Joseph Sheehe, Historian Alex Savukas, Representative to Inter-Fraternity Council Julian Shinol
- (1934-1935, second semester) President Arnold Steiner, Recording Secretary John Valentine, Corresponding Secretary Louis Nanassy, Assistant Corresponding Secretary Robert Blanc, Treasurer Carl Walker, Chaplain Paul Christy, Sergant-at-Arms Joseph Sheehe, Historian John Malone, Representative to Inter-Fraternity Council Julian Shinol
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- (1946) President Robert Reynolds, Recording Secretary Charles Stewart, Corresponding Secretary John Feather, Treasurer Paul Nealer
- (1946-1947 first semester) President Donald Corey
- (1946-1947 second semester) President James Smith
- (1947-1948 first semester) President Richard Frye, Vice President Harry Startzell, Recording Secretary Joseph Shomo, Corresponding Secretary Todd Dravis, Historian]] Leo Vogel
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- (1949-1950, first semester) President Joseph P. Quinn, Vice President Narciso Gamberoni, Recording Secretary Leo Vogel, Corresponding Secretary Donald Trone, Treasurer Michael Vidischak, Chaplain James Iams, Sergant-at-Arms Mike Michaell, Historian Loyal Weaver, Representative to Inter-Fraternity Council John Standberg
- (1949-1950, second semester) President David Broffman, Vice President Leo Vogel, Recording Secretary William Grundy, Corresponding Secretary Donald Trone, Treasurer Edward Ballute, Chaplain James Iams, Sergant-at-Arms James Krofta, Historian Andrew Daskivich, Representative to Inter-Fraternity Council Narciso Gamberoni
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- (2001-2002) President: Anna Balitzky
- (2002-2003) President: Tina Black
- (2003-2004) President: Laura Huss Vice President: Initiate Advisors: Mike Holzer, Bethany Williams, Andrea Barner
- (2004-2005) President: Marquis Hawkins Vice President: Jessica Martinez
- (2005-2006) President: Bethany Williams Vice President: Carolyn Slusser Recording Secretary: Christy Burford Corresponding Secretary: Audrey Lilley Treasurer: Wes Lausch Historian: Leyna Belinsky Initiate Advisors:
- (2006-2007) President: Leyna Belinsky Vice President: Audrey Lilley Recording Secretary: Max Houseknecht Treasurer: Wes Lausch Parliamentarian: Julie Brett Corresponding Secretary Joe Bowman Initiate Advisors: Meghan Dunbar (Fall 06) Brian Deighan (Fall 06) Laura Mills (Spring 07) Nathan Angerett (Spring 07) Historian: Janine Garrett
- (2007-2008) President: Max Houseknecht Vice President: Laura Kelly Recording Secretary: Lauren Judge Treasurer: Leah Zeman Parliamentarian: Kari Andren Corresponding Secretary: Benton Wheeler =Initiate Advisors: Ashley Orlando (Fall 07) Audrey Lilley Emily Wurm (Spring 08) Historian: Darcee Schmidt
- (Current) President: Emily Wurm Vice President: Jess Beck Recording Secretary: Samantha Nolt Treasurer: John Murphy Parliamentarian: Lauren Judge Historian: Cori Mazzitti Corresponding Secretary: Matt Miceli Initiate Advisors: Colleen Kotzmoyer Joe Bowman (Fall 08) Andrew Vinton (Spring 09)
Initiate Classes
View main article: List of Eta Chapter Initiate Classes
Chapter Events & Activities
Founder's Weekend
Eta Chapter is recognized for starting the tradition of chapters holding Founder's Day events. In 1930 Eta reached out to the other chapters of Phi Sigma Pi and invited them to celebrate in their chapter's founding. The invite in part reads;
An annual affair that we are starting is the Founder's Day Banquet, to be held every April 30, commemorating our entrance into Phi Sigma Pi. Every year at this banquet, we intend to invite a widely-known figure in educational circles to address us and in the manner automatically making him an honorary member of our fraternity in the Eta chapter. This year our invitation to Dr. John Keith, Superintendent of Public Instruction in the State of Pennsylvania, has been accepted and we are expecting a fine address at the Founder's Day Banquet, April 30.
Other Event or Activity
This event is...
Dogs and Hogs
This activity is DOGS AND HOGS interchapter event! This semester it will be held April 13-15th. This event includes hayrides, bonfires, a picnic, pig roast, color wars (chapter vs. chapter competitions), a goodwill formal, a canned food drive, and the best fellowship around! More information can be found at Eta Chapter's website- http://www.phisigmapi-eta.org!
Notable Alumni
- Founding Member
- National President (1930-1931)
- President, Initiate Advisor, Corresponding Secretary
- National President (1931-1935)
- National Vice President (1935-1937)
- National Secretary (1939-1946)
- National Counselor (1946-1951, 1951-1953)
Campus Buildings
There are five buildings on campus named in honor of chapter members;
- George P. Miller Football Stadium
- Charles R. Foster Hall
- Walsh Hall is named for Dr. Mathew J. Walsh
- John A. H. Keith School is named for Dr. John A. H. Keith
- Whitmyre Hall, named for Walter M. Whitmyre
Honorary Members
- Dr. Charles R. Foster
- President of Indiana State Teacher's College
- Hon. John S. Fisher, inducted November 17, 1933
- Governor of Pennsylvania, elected 1926
- State Senator, 1900-1909
- Hon. Charles J. Margiotti, inducted April 29, 1935
- Attorney General of Pennsylvania, 1935-1938
- Dr. M. J. Waslh
- W. M. Whitmyre
- Dr. Ben Graham
- Superintendent of Schools, City of Pittsburgh
- Dr. Q. A. W. Rohrbach
- President, State Teachers College, Kutztown, Pennsylvania
- Jesse A. Lubold, inducted May 8, 1947
- Principal Indiana High School
- Kareem Abdullah, inducted February 2009
Chapter Honors and Awards
Chapter Awards
- Phi Sigma Pi Memorial Scholarship in memorial of Brothers who died during World War II. The award went to male students dedicated to scholarship, socially active and deemed most likely to succeed as a teacher. In the first few years the award was given to veterans of the war. 1
- 1947 recipient James Penney
- 1949 recipient Robert Warren
National Awards
- 1993 Joseph Torchia Outstanding Chapter Award
- 1994 Joseph Torchia Outstanding Chapter Award
- 1994 Charles W. Chance Alumni Award
- 1995 Joseph Torchia Outstanding Chapter Award
- 1995 Charles W. Chance Alumni Award
- 2006 Top in Region Award
University Awards
Other Awards
- 4th place IUP Homecoming float 2005
- 1st place IUP Homecoming float 2006
- 4th place IUP Homecoming float 2007
Further Resources
- Eta Chapter Website Our website is finally up and running. Check it out!