The brothers of Lambda Chi Alpha- Epsilon Omicron chapter spent the last Tennessee Volunteer home football game this Saturday in celebration and with respect to the brotherhood of their Alumni. Hotdogs, hamburgers, and brotherhood were what you could find from noon to kickoff at the Fraternity house on campus. Active brothers, alumni of all ages, and visitors tailgated and socialized until after 7:30 PM.

In the past few years, fraternities around the country have been negatively scrutinized for hazing, illegal activity, and immoral values. Stories have gone viral and universities are cracking down. At the University of Tennessee, some fraternities have been kicked off campus in the past few years, with even more being put on probation. The 114 brothers of Lambda Chi Alpha at UTK and their alumni are looking to change that stereotype that is becoming associated with every fraternity. 

Patrick McCabe, alum to the Epsilon Omicron chapter of 35 years and the chapter advisor, claims that their difference is due to their fraternity’s values. “We have 7 core values that we are teaching and [we] hold our men to [them]. The acronym is LDRSHIP,” McCabe said. The acronym that is pronounced ‘leadership’ stands for loyalty, duty, respect, service and stewardship, honor, integrity, and personal courage. When asked about the values, another alum, Cleveland May, stated, “ They are [like] a nice pair of shoes that you put on. They are the right things to take up to go into the world and do what is right.” Lambda Chi Alpha respects and includes their alumni in their activities and that is how the values are taught to their active members.

At the Saturday tailgate, there were multiple alumni, all familiar faces to the active members. These alumni range in ages from graduating just 1 year ago to thirty-five years ago and they are all involved. Grant Barret, a young businessman who graduated just 3 years ago contributes to the fraternity with his time. Barret said, “I feel like I can come back and really show the new members what it is about to be in this fraternity. I really try to apply the values that we’ve learned though our association of Lambda Chi Alpha to everything I do each and every day. I try to help people.” Barret believes that his time spent with the active brothers is much more valuable then any money that he could donate. The brothers realize that this is all a work in progress. Many alumni of the fraternity are thoroughly involved in the chapter but the brothers are looking for more. They want even more alumni involvement. McCabe talked about a new program that was started 3 years ago in attempt to contact and connect more alumni.

McCabe sums it up by saying, “Different alumni are looking for different things. If you don’t want to help and you don’t want to donate then just be a good Lambda Chi.” Lambda Chi Alpha was founded in 1909 and the Epsilon Omicron chapter was founded at the University of Tennessee in 1932.

Check out the video about their event here:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZxH4uegEZk