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Theta Chi alumni sell frat house, donate proceeds to URIAlumni of Theta Chi fraternity this summer announced the sale of their fraternity house for $375,000 to the University of Rhode Island. The proceeds of the sale were donated to the URI Foundation to fund student scholarships, faculty research and other charitable activities. "This is the best way to ensure that Theta Chi's influence continues to be felt at URI. We envision that scholarships, classroom and study areas and even parks will carry on our name," said Ronald Cruff, president of the fraternity's alumni organization, and a 1956 graduate. It is the first such donation by one of URI's fraternal organizations, according to Robert Coleman, executive director of the URI Foundation. Built by the fraternity's brothers and alumni in 1921, the four-level, 14,000-square-foot house is located at 14 Upper College Road close to the entrance to the Kingston campus. The University closed the house in 1992. Last year a steering committee comprised of Theta Chi alumni from the last six decades decided to sell the chapter house and donate the proceeds to charity. Several charities were considered. However, there was a clear preference to give the money to URI, according to Chris Barnett '78, who spearheaded the effort. The committee wrote to more than 500 Theta Chi alumni telling them of its recommendation and asking for their advice. The alumni overwhelmingly approved. "All of us have close ties to URI," said Barnett. "It's hard, if not impossible to separate our memories of URI from Theta Chi." Theta Chi and URI share a long history. The chapter was founded in 1911, the first national fraternity at the then-called Rhode Island State College. The house was the first fraternity house on the Kingston campus. Harold Browning and John Meade, whose names are memorialized on two URI buildings -- Browning Hall and Meade Stadium -- were among the first brothers. The house was renovated over the years. While the house's physical shape was altered over the years, certain customs remained unchanged. One was the fraternity's commitment to serving others. Its motto of "the helping hand" was embodied in its annual fundraising efforts for The Salvation Army and the Leukemia Society of Rhode Island "We hope this fund will serve as a reminder to alumni and recipients that the spirit of Theta Chi is important and still very much alive," said Lorne Adrain '76, vice president of the fraternity's alumni organization. URI has renovated the 80-year-old structure that will temporarily house the Admissions Office during the renovation of Green Hall. By Jan Wenzel |
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