Letter From The President

Dear Parents,

First off, thank you for taking the time to gather information about the organization that your son is considering joining, or is already a member of. We hope that your visit to our website will provide some helpful insight to our strong brotherhood. Alpha Xi Delta of Chi Psi Fraternity is located at the wonderful Texas Tech University in Lubbock and we are proud of all we have to offer the men at the university.

Founded locally in 1983, Chi Psi is one of the newest fraternities on the Texas Tech University campus. What makes us unique and very proud, however, is that we are the oldest national fraternity on campus, founded May 20th 1841. Chi Psi was the first greek-lettered society to be based upon social principles and brotherhood. A saying among Chi Psi's since the beginning is "A Chi Psi is first and foremost a Gentleman," a quality that we exhibit to this day. During our short time at Texas Tech University, Chi Psi has been a positive influence on the many men who have become members.

Behind every great fraternity is an even greater group of Alumni. Our Alumni provide guidance and leadership that has been instilled in the undergraduate members to learn from and take advantage of later in life after graduation. Two of the many benefits of belonging to a fraternity are the opportunities to have leadership responsibility and learning how to work with others. Many members of Alpha Xi Delta Alumni have recently formed an Alumni Corporation, which will only further the development and growth of our fraternity in the future with aspirations of a capital campaign and the acquisition of a new lodge in development.

Chi Psi has several goals for its men while at the University. First and foremost is the acquisition of a degree. If there is ever an issue of grades versus the Fraternity, we will support grades 100%. We understand that the primary reason parents send their sons to the college is to earn a degree. Secondary objectives include the social, personal and professional growth opportunities that Texas Tech and Chi Psi offer.

What also makes us unique in the greek community is our size. Nationally, Chi Psi is very selective when choosing collegiate institutions for its fraternity for the purpose of making sure that the university posseses the outstanding qualities that our fraternity upholds. When it was founded, members of Chi Psi were said to be select individuals, chosen because they were the best of the best. Our numbers are comparatively smaller than many of the other fraternities on campus to maintain our tight-knit brotherhood. When your son joins Chi Psi, he will be more than a number; he will be an integral part of our brotherhood, a characteristic not always possible in larger fraternities.

We want all men of Chi Psi to enjoy the lifelong brotherhood that comes from being a member of Chi Psi. Membership in a fraternity is not limited to the years one is in college. It is a lifelong endeavor. It is friendships that we all carry with us long after leaving college. Each Fall, our Alumni hold an Alumni Weekend in Lubbock which not only gives them a chance to take care of Alumni Fraternity business, but as well allows our undergraduates to re-kindle or form relationships with those Alumni who have been where we are currently going in life. We also hold our Annual Parents' Weekend every fall which is a great time for us to meet our brothers' family members and to demonstrate in person to our parents, exactly why we chose Chi Psi.

Along with the benefits of being in a fraternity, there are, of course, responsibilities. This includes each member's financial responsibility to the alpha (other Greeks call it a chapter). An alpha can be considered a small business and depends upon every member to contribute. Our financial obligations help to take care of our lodge expenses, events, national dues, and insurance. From time to time there are also special assessments for such items as initiation, composites (annual group pictures), and other items voted on by the alpha.

Parents are very important to Chi Psi: Alpha Xi Delta. If you are a parent and haven't already done so, we hope that you will soon visit the Lodge so you can personally meet the brothers, or join us at future Parents' Weekends and other formal events. Again, we thank and appreciate you for allowing (or considering) your son to be a part of our alpha. As we start the current semester, we are very excited and pleased to have him in our bonds.

Most of our men would never have made it to college had it not been for the support of their family. Since our members are all brothers, their family soon becomes our family. If you ever have any questions or comments please contact the Fraternity.

Sincerely,

Terronald Logan
President, Chi Psi Fraternity

Your Son And The Fraternity

For your son, making the life-changing transition from high school to the collegiate level of their education may seem like an overwhelming challenge. One or more of the following questions might be on his mind:

Will I succeed academically?
Will I enjoy my time at college and meet girls?
Will I be able to be involved in intramural sports?
Will I meet people with similar interests as myself?
How can I best prepare for the life obstacles that lie ahead of me?

Fraternities exist as a proven support network for your son to help him along his journey as he embarks upon this new period in his life. Chi Psi: Alpha Xi Delta will enhance your child's college experience by providing:

A family-like environment upheld by a tight-knit group of brothers
A positive social environment
A scholastic support system
Leadership skills and financial management
Campus-wide involvement with faculty and other organizations
Contact with Alumni in the fraternity
Involvement with serving the community

With all of the above opportunities available to them and more, it is no wonder why young men who decide to go Greek tend to graduate college at a higher rate than those men who choose not to join a fraternity.

Addressing Concerns About Greek Life

Again, we thank you for taking time to visit Alpha Xi Delta of Chi Psi Fraternity. We appreciate your desire to learn more about our strong brotherhood and values.

If you are like most parents of in-bound college students, you are probably wondering if Greek life is the right choice for your son. On top of your worries, there are surely several questions you would like answered. Things like what exactly is a fraternity all about? What is Chi Psi all about? Do you require any study hours? What is your policy on hazing? And probably most importantly, how much does it all cost?

When your son joins Chi Psi, he will not only become part of a fraternity, he will be entering a time-tested brotherhood of over 150 years. In doing so, your son will learn valuable life lessons that he will take with him forever.

Why should my son join Chi Psi?
Joining a fraternity is an important decision. Although there are many available, we always suggest for parents to help their son find one that meets their individual needs. One that is respectful to the virtues of its members and an organization that greatly stresses brotherhood, academics and leadership.

Founded more than a century ago in 1841, Chi Psi is the fifth=oldest Greek social fraternity in the nation. After its founding, Chi Psi was considered the most prestigious of societies and at its ivy league and other distinguished universities only considered membership to those men who upheld Chi Psi's important values including a Chi Psi is first and foremost a Gentleman. This value, among many others is still upheld to this day in Chi Psi. Chi Psi is a fraternity with a history unlike any other; a history that your son will be taught and will learn as a pledged member of our fraternity. This same history is the one that several books, documentaries, television shows, and movies have been, and continue to be based on.

"Chi Psi wants not parts of men, but men of parts" is another saying that helps set our fraternity apart. We don't want a group of guys all from the same background, academic major, and who are interested in the same things. It is a diverse group of individuals that contribute to the success of any organization. Through our membership development and education programs, every Chi Psi can achieve his personal best in all areas of college life, preparing him for success later in life.

The lessons and values learned as an undergraduate in Chi Psi are inestimable and continue to help produce great leaders and businessmen around the United States and the World. Just ask Prince Albert of Monaco...

What importance is put on academics?
Your son's academic standing at Texas Tech University is of utmost importance to us. After all, your son is attending college to receive an education. We want you to know that we firmly believe Greek life comes second to keeping good grades and maintaining good study habits. Because of this, we have implemented a mandatory study hall for all pledges of our fraternity. Pledges must complete five hours of study hall every week. Studying is not only important to the pledges, and the active brothers have study hours as well, based on current GPA.

The brothers of Alpha Xi Delta belong to almost every College in the Texas Tech University system ranging from Business, Engineering, Liberal Arts, Law, Communication, and more. With this wide variety of academics, brothers can act as mentors to all new members. Your son can also access the plethora of brothers who are already accustomed to the university resources such as the libraries, computer labs, and academic advisors. Chi Psi is also ranked #3 in GPA out of the 21 NIC fraternities at Texas Tech, beating the all-men's and men's greek averages, respectively. Grades are something that we take seriously and we stress their importance to all of our members.

Doesn't it cost a lot of money to be in a fraternity?
Any Chi Psi Alumnus will attest that the short-term cost of dues is greatly offset by the tremendous benefits of lifelong membership. Our fraternity is self-supported through dues charged to all members. Maintaining a fraternity requires the availability of funds to help keep the brotherhood alive. Dues help with the costs of insurance, lodging, chapter and member services, publications to be mailed to parents and alumni, alumni and parents weekends, recruitment, and more. In addition, part of a pledge's dues are sent to both the Texas Tech Interfraternity Council and the Chi Psi Central Office as part of member fees.

With the ever-changing tuition and fee rates, paying for your child's additional expenses during their time at college might seem mind-boggling. It is because of this reason that Chi Psi is proud to offer dues that are not only competitive, but are also lower than most other Greek organizations on campus. Dues are set every semester. Chi Psi strives to select members based on the individual, not their wallet sizes. It is because of this that we want to make sure that the cost of joining a fraternity is not going to deter anyone from making the decision to go Greek.

What about hazing?
The Chi Psi Fraternity definition of hazing reads as follows:

Any action taken or situation created by any Insured, intentionally, whether on or off Alpha, Colony or Fraternity premises, with or without the consent of another party, including to produce punishment, harassment, disturbance, embarrassment, intimidation, ill treatment, discomfort, personal abuse, persistent torment, criticism, or ridicule, of a physical or mental nature, which is imposed upon any person via the execution upon them, their subjection to, or the extraction from them of any unnecessary, needless, unpleasant, disagreeable, difficult, absurd, abusive, offensive, or ridiculous tricks or tasks, including those of a foolish, deceptive, or fraudulent nature.

Because hazing and other pseudo-initiation practices have not been completely removed from pledgeship activities across the nation, and therefore remain a nuisance to the well-being of the fraternal system, Alpha Xi Delta of Chi Psi Fraternity sternly upholds its position against hazing of any kind.

As a brotherhoood stressing the importance of gentlemanly behavior and mutual respect, hazing has absolutely no place in Chi Psi and is strictly forbidden. Active members are not to engage in any activity remotely considered hazing and new members are to refuse any form of hazing against them.

Who runs the fraternity?
Undergraduate fraternity members in elected positions manage the day-to-day needs of the Alpha. We are assisted by our Alumni Corporation, the Interfraternity Council (IFC) at Texas Tech University, our wonderful and supportive parents, and the Chi Psi Central Office which offers us immeasurable support, advice, and guidance.

Don't fraternities require a lot of time?
We believe that participating in any worthwhile activity requires a significant investment of one's time. Through your son's fraternity involvement, he will learn how to balance his academic course load, other campus activities, and social commitments. During a new member's pledgeship, we do ask that some time be spent with the brothers and at our lodge. This is not to seclude our pledges from other activities, but rather for them to build a bond with the brothers and to learn about our great fraternity.

What is the process of joining?
The first step to joining a fraternity is to attend the upcoming Recruitment events. It is important for all rushees to be selective and choose which fraternity they fill best suits them. During Rush activities, your son should come prepared with several questions and also be prepared to answer some. During this time your son will have the chance to meet the brothers and to learn what benefits Chi Psi has to offer.

For more information, please contact us.