Epsilon Eta Chapter History
The Greek system at Texas A&M started in 1974 when Sigma Phi Epsilon formed a colony. Slowly, other organizations joined in and A&M saw the emergence of Alpha Tau Omega, Pi Kappa Alpha, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Kappa Alpha, and Sigma Chi. Sororities also emerged: Zeta Tau Alpha, Chi Omega, Alpha Delta Pi, Delta Zeta, and Kappa Kappa Gamma. In 1978, the Greek system had grown to seven fraternities and five sororities, however, their direction and purpose was not clear. With hazing practices frequent and a constant fight between fraternities, a group of six men (the vice-president and two pledges from Pi Kappa Alpha and three of their close friends) sought to found an organization rooted in non-hazing; soon the Aggie Cowboys were formed.
The Aggie Cowboys flourished immediately and the founding fathers gave bids to seventeen men. The following semester they extended 30 bids of membership. As the aggie Cowboys grew, so too did the Greek system at A&M. As a result, the Aggie Cowboys formed the I.F.C. or Interfraternity Council in an attempt to get the fraternities to work together. In 1983, the IFC voted to remove the Aggie Cowboys because they were not Greek affiliated and simply did not belong.
In 1984 the Cowboys were approached by Phi Delta Theta to become a colony. The acting president was deeply in favor of this proposal because he feared the Greek system developing to a point that was difficult for the Aggie Cowboys to compete. Others disagreed and the proposal was turned down. One year later, after many debates in the chapter, the Cowboys decided that joining the Greek system was a must in order to maintain their strong social position. After a careful selection process, the Cowboys narrowed the candidates down to one unanimous choice: Beta Theta Pi. Under the careful guidance of Paul Van Riper - DePauw ’38, the University of Texas at Austin chapter, the Aggie Cowboy leadership, and Betas from the Administrative Office in Oxford, Ohio, the Cowboys were able to obtain colony status at the 146th General Convention. On April 18th 1986, the Aggie Cowboys were instilled as the Epsilon Eta chapter of Beta Theta Pi. This was the fastest colony to ever become a chapter in the history of the fraternity, and the second fastest of any chapter in the nation.
Adapted from the Beta Theta Pi Administrative Office Archived Chapter History.
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