History of Iota Sigma

1919 Omicron Theta Phi occupied local fraternity house at 356 Greenwich Street.

1920 Omicron Theta Phi merged with Kappa Delta Pi becomes a national fraternity.

1921 Kappa Delta Pi national fraternity passed a series of resolutions to become independent.
Known as a University dorm called Co-op.

1946 Nov. 21st, Forty-two war veterans form Rho Lambda Tau, First President – Bob Raddatz

1953 May 7th, Rho Lambda Tau becomes a colony of Lambda Chi Alpha.

1954 May 8th, Rho Lambda Tau becomes Iota Sigma Zeta of Lambda Chi Alpha

1969 Dec. 7th, Iota Sigma Zeta moved from 356 Greenwich to 702 Mound Street.

1972 Oct. 20th, Old house, “Big Green” burned down.

1975, March 8th, Room #5 Fire, all files burned

1991 April 29th, House ordered to remove the “BAR” from the downstairs area by Nationals and University. (On short notice, Weed, Keith Larson, Bill Ranieri, Block, Sab, Adam Graham, Rambo, Paul Sloup, and Max Burrus, meet to have one last beer at the bar before it is dismantled.)

1996 April 12th, due to new National Fraternity restrictions against alcohol, smoking, and unescorted guests in house, current members decide to disband.

1996 August 2nd, First Annual Alumni Northern Chop Block Party held in Minneapolis, MN.
Only five brothers attended but groundwork for annual gathering was decided upon.
(Brothers attending were: Max Burrus, Pete Sturmfels, Mark Serstock, Rob LaVeau and Brian Kollars.)

1997 Spring, University in a cleaning up mood – house at 702 Mound Street torn down. Mound still stands – chair still in tree branches.

1997 March 5th, The new “Signal” is sent out to seventy brothers marking the return
of our Fraternity Alumni Newsletter.

1997 November 21st, Iota Sigma Zeta Website established to increase communication
and distribution of information.

1997 August 1st, Second Annual Alumni Northern Chop Block Party held in Minneapolis, MN. “Northern” is dropped from the title and it is voted upon to hold the next party in Chicago, IL.

1998 July 31st, Alumni Chop Block Party Three in Chicago is a tremendous success with sixty brothers in attendance.

1999 August 6th, Alumni Chop Block Party Four Held in Rolling Meadows, IL.
Again a huge success with over 70 Chops in Attendance. A Re-furbished “Brother Count”
makes his appearance as well as the original “Lamp” (Thanks to Tom Konizeka)!

2000 August 11th, Alumni Chop Block Party Five again in Chicago!
Eighty-eight brothers make an appearance with all five original attendees again present
plus Grand High Alpha Marty Smith and Brothers Terry Coram, Chuck Wilde, Craig Schlenker, Bill Loesch, and Tim Radtke. Lambda Chi Alpha Grand High Alpha Marty Smith explained the process of colonization for a new chapter at Valparaiso, and that he wants personally to be established before he leaves office in the Grand High Zeta.

2003 February 19th, Rebirth of Lambda Chi Alpha at Valparaiso. The Brothers from the Lambda Chi Alpha chapter at Elmhurst College in Chicago, IL. preformed the Associate Member Ceremony for 21 new members of the Lambda Chi Alpha colony at Valparaiso University. The ceremony was attended by the: University President, Dean of Students, Assistant Dean of Students, Assistant to the Office of Student Activities, Director of Institutional Giving, and guests. The ceremony officially marked the return of Lambda Chi Alpha as the 10th fraternity on the Valparaiso University campus.