A Rumble in the South

TAMPA, Florida - The University of Tampa is a small private school located in the heart of Downtown Tampa. It has several impressive division II sports teams including its highly touted baseball and basketball teams. It has a beautiful campus with parks, modern dormitories, excellent dining and as of January 29th is also home to the newest Floridian TKE Colony, Epsilon-Beta. The Expansion Team has been working hard over the past few months to redefine fraternity at UT, and the young, enthusiastic re-founding fathers of the organization have grown into the largest, most respected fraternity on campus in a matter of weeks. Colonizing just two weeks into the expansion with 36 men, the chapter now sits at 56 men (24 of those have initiated).

"We have developed a formula of success," said Expansion Coordinator Aaron Pattison, "I've lead the effort on site, but have been aided by several staff members throughout the time here. They have each provided a perspective to show members what TKE is all about." Director of Programs Donald Aldrich (Rho-Upsilon, Franklin College) came for the initial campus blitz and marketing, followed by Frater Bryan Rickard (Zeta-Mu, Worcester Polytechnic Institute) the newest Expansion Coordinator who helped with recruitment and team-building. 

The officers were initiated at the Elmer & Donna Smith Regional Leadership Conference in Atlanta. The ritual was in front of a record number of attendees and made an immediate impact on the newest members of the organization.

"The ideas of starting healthy traditions, raising the bar, and truly redefining “fraternity” has turned a group of strangers into the largest brotherhood on campus," said Frater PK Creedon, the Hegemon of the chapter. "This experience has already built friendships that will last a lifetime and instilled a personal desire within me to be one of those better men for a better world. The RLC experience was an amazing way to learn about the breadth and depth of the fraternity and all the impressive alumni and collegiate fraters that bear our letters. I can’t wait to see where my chapter, and our TKE Nation, goes from here."

Epsilon-Beta was founded in 1955 and had a long run on Campus before closing in the late 90’s. A transfer student from Texas and a well-formed, fully functioning alumni association (Tampa Bay Area Alumni Association) in place have provided a perfect storm for the expansion. The members have been well supported during the expansion and have the alumni to assist them moving forward.

"The alumni association played the perfect role in the expansion," said Frater Aaron Pattison. "They hosted several functions in which the staff team was able to meet them and choose the correct Board of Advisors. They also worked with the colony to network, meet the alumni and get to know what it means to be Life Loyal Teke. I am confident that in my absence the colony advisor and Board of Advisors will do an excellent job supporting the group."

The University has a small, but growing Greek Life system. Along with swiftly growing to become the largest chapter on campus they also took first place in the first competition of the year, winning Kappa Alpha Theta’s “Kicks for Casa” kickball tournament. 

If you would like more information on this colony or want to volunteer, please email us.

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