Alpha Xi Delta History

Alpha Xi Delta of Chi Psi Fraternity was founded at Texas Tech University in 1983. It was Paul Braswell, who after transferring from the University of the South as a Chi Psi to Texas Tech decided to create an interest group for the fraternity at his new university. It was because of his and our other founders' devotion that we are here today and the rest is history. We are a young alpha (most of you recognize it as a "chapter"), but an extremely strong one. As a whole, Chi Psi tends to keep its numbers small compared to some of the other greek organizations on campus to maintain a more close-knit brotherhood. This also gives pledges an opportunity to come in and make a difference, possibly even holding a position within the fraternity immediately following pledgeship. The input of a pledge is equally as important as that of an active brother.

It was the 142nd Chi Psi National Convention where history was made. The group of nine men who began the Chi Psi Colony of Texas Tech, then known publicly as "The Lodge Club," petitioned for full chartership to achieve Alpha status in Chi Psi Fraternity. The nine men were Paul Bradford Braswell, Mark Allen Ehrlich, William Mark Spence, Neal Blake Braswell, Bruce Cary Clark, Donald Hodges Bowman Braswell, Bruce Alan Schrader, Thomas Wayne Rathjen, and Mark Robert Reinking. These men succeeded in their efforts to bring Chi Psi to Texas Tech, when on August 19th, 1983, Chi Psi: Alpha Xi Delta was granted its charter to become an Alpha of Chi Psi by a unanimous vote, the first to ever do so in the history of Chi Psi. It was because of the hard work, diligence, and determination that these men gave that it was possible. The members at the Convention noticed this hardwork, and Chi Psi: Alpha Xi Delta became the first extension in Chi Psi since 1977, and the first extension into the Southwest.

September 1983 - The first initiates of Chi Psi: Alpha Xi Delta.
From left: (back row) Donald Beeson (Central office), Bruce Clark, Unknown, Mark Reinking, Neal Braswell, Fred Phister (Central office), Unknown (Alpha Lambda Delta), Unknown (Alpha Lambda Delta), Mark Spence, Donald Braswell, Bud Carrol (Central Office). (Front row) Mark Ehrlich, Tom Rathjen, Paul Braswell, Bruce Schrader, Bill Hattendorf (Central Office), Unknown.
Not Pictured: Oliver Rowe.
Picture Credit: Brother Mark Ehrlich, XD '83.

Chi Psi chose Texas Tech over all other Texas Universities because of the brothers' dedication to all that Chi Psi upholds. We are the only Chi Psi alpha in the entire state of Texas. Therefore, we have obtained the nickname Lone Star Alpha (hence the website address). Many other universities in Texas have strived to receive a grant from the national office to start their own Alpha, but none have succeeded. Unfortunately, in 1995 Alpha Xi Delta had to give up its charter and return to colony status for reasons unknown. However, the brothers quickly corrected the situation and we received our Charter back in the fall semester of 2000. Since then, Alpha Xi Delta has built itself on the foundations of brotherhood, commitment, and integrity. As an Alpha of Chi Psi, Alpha Xi Delta upholds all ideals and goals of the national fraternity. Our bond is greater than others because we are an extremely tight-knit, family like group of guys that enjoy celebrating our heritage.

Our founders stressed sholarship and gentlemanly characteristics above all. We believe that pledging Chi Psi is the perfect start to a rewarding lifetime. Once pledging Chi Psi, you will find that the rewards far out-weigh any costs. All the years that you spend as a Chi Psi during your undergraduate education will enhance you knowledge in areas of life that you would not be able to experience anywhere else. Chi Psi is not for everybody. It takes a unique and special individual to even consider membership in Chi Psi. You may be that person...

Chi Psi National History

On May 20, 1841 Chi Psi Fraternity was founded at Union College. While it was the eighth fraternity in the country and the fifth to be founded at Union (Union College is known as the "Mother of Fraternities"), it was the first to emphasize the fraternal and social principles of a brotherhood, rather than the literary characteristics of existing societies. From its founding Chi Psi has had a uniqueness that has persisted throughout its history particularly because it has sustained an innovative tradition.



This innovative spirit has spawned many firsts in the fraternity world. In 1846 Chi Psi Fraternity was responsible for constructing the first fraternity house in America. The undergraduates at the University of Michigan constructed a log cabin in the woods in Ann Arbor to provide a meeting place for the Fraternity, as the faculty was then hostile to secret societies. The undergraduates dubbed the cabin "the Lodge" and this tradition has continued today as all Chi Psi chapter houses are called "Lodges."

Chi Psi is known by the fact that it extends to only the very best schools. Chi Psi chooses its host institutions by carefully analyzing the student body, the academic standards, the endowment, the faculty, and the alumni activity of the institution. Additionally, the Fraternity extends only to institutions which have sufficient regional concentrations of active alumni to support the chapter.

To properly oversee the chapters, Chi Psi developed the first consultant program in which full time professionals of the Fraternity visit each chapter to ensure that the undergraduates adhere to the ideals of the fraternity. Today, this program is a standard practice in the fraternity world. Chi Psi has still remained unique, however, in conducting this standard program. Whereas other fraternity consultants visit 60 to 70 chapters a year, Chi Psi's consultants visit no more than 15 chapters allowing for thorough and effective visits due to the small size of our intimate association.

In 1926, Chi Psi anticipated the enormous educational pressures that would begin to bear on college undergraduates and as a result the Fraternity undertook the first Alumni subscribed Educational Trust Fund in the fraternity world. A unique outcome of this first fund drive was that almost 50% of all living Chi Psis contributed to the effort. Also, in less than five years the Trust fund had received approximately $565,000, an astonishing figure especially given the fact that the drive was conducted at the height of the Depression! This fund now maintains manageable assets of approximately $2 million in addition to each chapter being required to have its own independent educational foundation. The Trust has been responsible for providing innovative leadership programs and generous fellowships and scholarships to fulfill the needs of undergraduates.

Our latest "first" revolves around leadership training. In 1990 Chi Psi became the first fraternity to offer a National Leadership Training Program (NLTP) to every undergraduate Brother. Although other fraternities have offered leadership programs, their training has been restricted only to elected officers of each chapter. The Chi Psi Educational Trust realized the need to offer all undergraduates a sequential four unit program that coincides with the four years of college.

The result is a comprehensive four year National Leadership Training Program that begins with the freshman's introduction to college life and study requirements, then turns to self awareness, moves to group and community leadership skills and concludes with career guidance in the senior year.

The benchmark of the final career guidance unit is the mentoring program. Seniors are matched with alumni mentors working in the studentâs chosen field to provide counseling and to assist them in employment search techniques.

For over 150 years Chi Psi has dedicated itself to refining and elevating fraternal friendship. Concomitant with this realization has been the need to foster more than just friendship by assuming the complimentary role of educator in the name of brotherhood. With its innovative leadership and scholarship programs, small size, committed alumni volunteers, and rich financial resources, Chi Psi looks forward to the challenges of the 21st Century and to maintaining its status as one of America's preeminent fraternities.

Provided by The Chi Psi Educational Trust