April 11, 1966
On April 11, 1966, the founders (at that time, a group of Sophomores and Freshmen) submitted a petition to the Rose Board of Managers, asking permission to form a Colony of Triangle Fraternity. Since a new fraternity had not been established on campus for nearly 40 years, a Faculty Committee on Fraternities, Honoraries, and Societies was established, to formulate the Institute's policy and regulations on the establishment of a fraternity, under the direction of Prof. Alfred R. Schmidt.
September 4, 1966
The Executive Council of the proposed Triangle Colony met on September 4, 1966, in preparation for classes beginning September 26, discussed the current status and planned a picnic on Sunday, September 25. Shortly thereafter, the first issue of "Tri-Notes from Rose Tech" (renamed "Elephant Talk" for the third issue) was mailed.
EC (picture from November, 1966): Randy Drew, Steve Ahlbrand, Karl Beeson, Ricki Vick, Skip Douglas, Gar Vana, Tom Snow
October 16, 1966
November 17, 1966
November 22, 1966
November 25, 1966
December 10, 1966
The following appeared in the "Institute Inklings," the Rose Poly Student Newspaper.
"What are the chances of a new fraternity on campus? Several students of Rose feel that the four existing fraternities on campus are inadequate and have petitioned for another fraternity.
"Several national fraternities have petitioned for the start of a colony but apparently the biggest support from the students has been for Triangle. Triangle is not a Greek letter fraternity but is primarily concerned with architects, engineers, and scientists. Triangle will be a social fraternity but their national is not as strong as existing fraternities on campus, for their chapters number only around twenty-five.
"Skip Beard, president of the Interfraternity Council, stated that the council was definitely not against a new fraternity on campus since Rose is a growing school and must take the future into consideration. The administration is also apparently looking toward the future and considers a new fraternity as a benefit to the school.
"However, the biggest problem comes from the large housing problem that exists in Terre Haute. The administration is now working with the council to find adequate housing for the four existing fraternities who all seem to be having their problems with housing. The administration wants to give the four exiting fraternities a firm footing in adequate housing before looking for housing facilities for a fifth fraternity.
"Both the administration and the council can see the benefits of a fifth fraternity on campus but the possibilities of such an organization on campus in the near future are remote."
On November 17, 1966, members of the proposed Triangle Colony met with the Rose Interfraternity Council. A meeting which could best be described as openly hostile. At the conclusion of the meeting, the IFC voted unanimously to reject the group's request to become the fifth fraternity at Rose.
On November 22, 1966, the Faculty Committee on Fraternities, Honoraries, and Societies acted (finally!) on the Triangle group's April 11 petition, and, ignoring the IFC's position, allowed Triangle to establish a Colony at Rose, making it the fifth Rose fraternity.
What's a "Colony"? It's essentially a probationary Chapter... a period for the organizers to prove to both the national fraternity and the school that they're qualified to become a fully-chartered Chapter. Colonies do about everything a Chapter does, but cannot conduct initiations. Colony members are pledges to the national organization. The Faculty Committee imposed a minimum two-year requirement before the Colony could become a Chapter.
The afternoon of November 22, ATOs were astonished to see Jim Mathews in their house already sporting a Triangle sweatshirt. Freshmen living in Speed (and anyone who parked in the Speed lot) were mystified by the sudden appearance of what was some kind of fraternity pin light (the Triangle Purdue Chapter's) glowing proudly in Tom Snow's room on the south end of BSB.
Later that day, eleven of the new Colony members left for Chicago, where the Triangle National Convention was being held over the Thanksgiving weekend.
On November 25, 1966, at the Triangle National Convention at the Sherman House in Chicago, 11 men from Rose took the pledge oath and received Colony Pins: juniors Bob Casey, Randy Drew, Al Hoskin, John Mercer, Mike Nicksic, Heinz Ropers, Gar Vana, Ricki Vick and Russ Zimmerman, and sophomores Jim Mathews and Greg Michael.
Triangle is officially at Rose.
On December 10, 1966, the Rose Polytechnic Institute Colony of Triangle was formally installed in a ceremony held in the private dining room in the Hulman Memorial Union. Dr. John A. Logan, president of the Institute, granted permission to John Merrill Weed, Triangle National President, to form a Colony at Rose. Eighteen additional men received Colony Pins: Juniors Steve Ahlbrand, Mel Bartlett, Karl Beeson, Rodger Casey, Tom Compton, Steve Flannigan, Harold Schroer, Chuck Smith, and Tom Snow; and Sophomores Joe Billman, Bob Crampton, Skip Douglas, Don Gregurich, Mike Jackson, Bob Kraus, Chip Lausman, Rusty Patterson, and John Piper (Juniors Bob Casey, Randy Drew, Al Hoskin, John Mercer, Mike Nicksic, Heinz Ropers, Gar Vana, Ricki Vick and Russ Zimmerman, and Sophomores Jim Mathews and Greg Michael had already received them at the Triangle National Convention on November 25).
At the beginning of winter quarter, 1967, the Rose Tech Colony of Triangle welcomed two new members… Jimmy Stewart and Memphis Tufts… men who would be a worthy addition to the existing fraternities by any criteria save one… they were African-American. With that bold move, Triangle changed the fraternity scene at Rose forever.
The addition of Memphis and Jimmy brought the Colony membership to 31, and they would be the last of the “original” members, all following would become "pledges" before being accepted as an Active Member.
After Preference Monday, 1967, and some additional rushing, the Colony welcomed 13 pledges (as many as 2 of the 4 existing fraternities).
The pledges received the same Colony Pin as the rest of the Colony (in reality, all Colony members were pledges to National)... the pledges' first assignment was to come up with a way to distinguish themselves from the "Actives"... the result was a red plastic triangular backing to the Colony Pin.
John Merrill Weed administers Pledge Oath to Tom Compton, Karl Beeson, Bob Kraus, Don Gregurich, John Piper, Harold Schroer, Tom Snow, Bob Crampton, Chip Lausman, Mike Jackson, Roger Casey, Steve Flannigan, Steve Ahlbrand, Skip Douglas, and Joe Billman.
Jan 6, 1967
Pictured: Rusty Patterson, Jimmy Stewart, Mike Jackson, Skip Douglas, Ricki Vick, Bob Crampton, Steve Flannigan, Tom Snow, Mike Nicksic, Jim Mathews, Al Hoskin, Bob Kraus, Karl Beeson, Greg Michael, Rodger Casey, Harold Schroer, John Piper, Mel Bartlett, Don Gregurich, Joe Billman, Memphis Tufts, Stephen D. Ahlbrand, Bob Casey, Heinz Ropers, and John Mercer.
Congratulatory remarks were given by Dr. Harold A, Sabbagh pur58, the group's Advisor, Dean of Students Ralph M. Ross, Director of Counseling Dr. Marvin R. McMillan, Chairman of the Faculty Committee on Fraternities, Honoraries and Societies Prof. Alfred R. Schmidt, and Rose Vice President Herman A. Moench. Also in attendance were Triangle Executive Director Herb Scobie, Past National President William Swihart, and Triangle Building Loan Fund Director Ed Larson, along with representatives of the four existing fraternities, and Leonard A. Vick pur43 (In other words, this was a Big Deal). The ceremony concluded with the presentation of the President's Gavel to Ricki Vick.
January 30, 1967
In this picture -- (front) Sophomore Dave Szczepanek, Toby Kraft, Steve Hartpence, (standing) Denny Colvin (all of 118 pounds, with a 28" waist), Dale Kluesing, Gale Whiteneck, Dave Ford, Leigh Lundin, Sophomore Skip Brackbill, Larry Flowers, Dave Brown, and Don Grant; not pictured -- Dan Weatherman.
April 15, 1967
May 6, 1967
May 7, 1967
The Triangle Colony celebrated its first Founders' Day with a banquet, featuring Triangle Executive Director Herb Scobie minn35 as speaker, held in the Hulman Union private dining room. The first Outstanding Teacher Award was presented to Dr. Oran Knudsen of the Chemistry Department. The Colony's first Honorary Member, Dr. John A. Logan, and the first Associate Members, Prof. Kenneth R. Carr and Dr. Charles C. Rogers, were given the pledge oath. As it turns out, Honorary Members aren't supposed to take the pledge oath, but that, and other procedural matters, including how to celebrate Founders' Day, was then-contained in the Triangle Ritual document, which, of course, none of the Colony members had seen.
A semi-formal dance followed in the Union main dining room, with the theme, "As We Look Ahead." The center of attraction was a seven-foot tall rotating hourglass, with the pledges contributing hand-painted Coat of Arms plaques as favors.
The first (ever) Rose “Greek Day” was held on May 6, 1967, with a tricycle relay, water balloon throw, pie eating relay, egg toss, canoe race, and concluded with the Inter-Fraternity Songfest. The Colony performed the “Triangle Love Song” and “We Ain’t Got Dames”.
In response to Rose’s two-year probationary period before the Colony could be installed as a Chapter, the Triangle National Council voted to allow Triangle Members-at-large — key Colony members initiated by an existing Chapter of Triangle — so that these members would be aware of the precepts upon which Triangle is based (and all the procedural stuff then in the Ritual). The first (ever) Triangle Members-at-large were initiated by the Purdue Chapter on May 7, 1967: juniors Steve Ahlbrand, Karl Beeson, Bob Casey, Randy Drew, Al Hoskin, John Mercer, Mike Nicksic, Tom Snow, Gar Vana, and Ricki Vick; and sophomores Skip Douglas, Mike Jackson, and Rusty Patterson.
As far as we know, all but Gar Vana and Skip Douglas are still with us.
May 19-21, 1967
The First Pledge Class experienced the Colony's First "Help" Weekend May 19-21, 1967, at Harold Schroer's farm, and later at the Glenn Home.
Note: Hazing was "legal" (within limits) and part of the culture at the time, both for fraternities in general and specifically at Rose. Times have changed.
The "Royal Order of the Doughnut" is conferred on the pledges, with "badges" consisting of moldy doughnuts from a batch of stale doughnuts the pledges had sold the actives
Pictured: Founding Father Ricki Vick, Dave Szczepanek, Skip Brackbill, Don Grant, Dale Kluesing, Steve Hartpence, Leigh Lundin, Dave Brown, Founding Father (and then-Active Organization President) Steve Ahlbrand, Toby Kraft, and Denny Colvin.
May 21, 1967
May 26, 1967
November 4, 1967
Members of the First Pledge Class were initiated into the Colony. The pledges couldn't be initiated as Brothers, so Karl Beeson and Mike Jackson (both recently initiated as Triangle Members-at-Large) authored a "Colony Ritual", first used to initiate Skip Brackbill, Dave Brown, Denny Colvin, Don Grant, Steve Hartpence, Dale Kluesing, Toby Kraft, and Dave Szczepanek on May 21, in the Old Student Center. At a banquet later that evening, Prof. Schmidt was the guest speaker.
To our Pledge Brothers still living, Larry Flowers, Don Grant, Steve Hartpence, Dale Kluesing, Toby Kraft, Leigh Lundin, and Dave Szczepanek, we salute you on this anniversary. To Skip Brackbill and Dave Brown, may you rest in peace.
For the purpose of owning and operating a fraternity house, the Rose Polytechnic Institute Chapter of Triangle, Inc., was incorporated as a non-profit organization under the laws of the state of Indiana on May 26, 1967.
For many years, Rose Fraternities built large Homecoming Displays in front of their houses (all in Terre Haute), in a friendly competition. The Triangle Colony was allowed to build their display on campus, where the main driveway from Wabash Avenue intersects with the road to Speed Hall, near what was then the mainly unused Old Student Center (i.e., a really prime location). Unlike the fraternities in town, which used their houses to support the displays, the Triangle display would have to be freestanding. The other fraternities also had a ready supply of display materials from previous years. The weather was miserable.
Using only wood, chicken wire and napkins (we hadn't discovered float paper), the Colony constructed a display depicting 11 St. Procopius Eagles, showing alternately their heads, tails, and a mound of dirt covering them. In the course of construction, it was determined that a 1000:1 gear reducer was needed to power the shaft on which the eagles rotated. The ME department claimed no such device existed. The Triangle EE's obtained one from Dean Herman Moench's basement.
Above the eagles were 11 tombstones, on which the lighted letters cycled "RPI" "SAYS:" "R" "I" "P", controlled by a copper drum attached to the rotating shaft. Above the tombstones was a billboard-style caricature of Rosie with the display theme, "Here Lie The Eagles". That caricature has now made multiple appearances, on the cover of the "Rosie-Hulman" issue of Elephant Talk when Rose was renamed, on caps for the 25th anniversary of Chapter Installation, and for the upcoming 50th anniversary.
That display did not win the competition, but it served notice that Triangle Fraternity was alive and well. That afternoon, the Engineers scored their only football win of the season, 41-7 over St. Procopius.
November 4, 1967
November 12, 1967
May 4, 1968
The first Annual Meeting of the Rose Polytechnic Institute Chapter of Triangle, Inc., was held November 4, 1967. Since the fraternity had no alumni, several "synthetic alumni" who lived in the area were elected to the Alumni Organization: Al Campbell os20, Donald Horack wis47, Charles Lovell lou45, Elias Sabbagh pur assoc, Harold Sabbagh pur58, Arthur Thorsell ill20, and Bert Westover pur10. (Note that later, Triangle National changed the year designation from graduation year to initiation year, because, ahem, not everyone graduated when they were supposed to.) Benjamin Elliott nat hon and Rose class of 1910 was later added to the list.
Elected to the Board of Directors were: Harold Sabbagh, president; Bert Westover, vice president; Donald Horack, secretary-treasurer, Al Campbell and Elias Sabbagh, alumni members; senior Steve Ahlbrand and junior Skip Douglas, active members. Based on the lack of adequate housing in Terre Haute and Rose's desire to develop a Fraternity Row adjacent to the campus, a resolution was passed declaring the intention to build a new fraternity house on the Institute-owned property. In order to enhance rush prospects, it was decided to immediately hire an architect to produce a drawing of the proposed Triangle House, to be displayed at rush parties.
On November 12, 1967, six more members of the Rose Tech Colony were initiated by the Ohio State Chapter as Triangle Members-at-large: seniors Mel Bartlett, Rodger Casey, Tom Compton, Steve Flannigan, Harold Schroer, and Russ Zimmerman.
This would leave, from the Class of 1968, only Heinz Ropers, who would be initiated at Chapter Installation, and Chuck Smith, who would be initiated as an Alumni a couple of years later.
The Rose Tech Chapter of Triangle was installed.